Mr. Broadway (TV series)

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Mr. Broadway
Liza Minnelli with Horace McMahon in "Nightingale for Sale", 1964.
Created byGarson Kanin
StarringCraig Stevens
Lani Miyazaki
Horace McMahon
Theme music composerDave Brubeck
Opening theme"Theme From 'Mr. Broadway'"
ComposerDave Brubeck
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producerDavid Susskind
ProducerDaniel Melnick
Running time60 min.
Production companiesTalent Associates, in association with the CBS Television Network
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 26 (1964-09-26) –
December 26, 1964 (1964-12-26)

Mr. Broadway is an American 13-episode CBS adventure and drama television series starring Craig Stevens as New York City public relations specialist Mike Bell. It ran from September 20, 1964 until December 26, 1964.[1]

Premise and cast[edit]

Stevens portrayed Mike Bell, whose Michael Bell Associates public-relations firm created and maintained for actors, politicians, and other high-profile people.[2] Producer David Susskind described Bell as "a dynamic bman of a thousand facets".[3] Bell's assistant was former newspaperman Hank McClure, portrayed by Horace McMahon. Lani Miyazaki played Bell's girl Friday.[2]

Production[edit]

Playwright Garson Kanin wrote the script for the pilot episode of Mr. Broadway, and by September 1963, he had created synopses for 22 episodes. He was also a part-owner of the series. He based much of the content on elements of short stories that he had written.[4]

Susskind and Daniel Melnick of Talent Associates-Paramount produced Mr. Broadway.[5] Dave Brubeck composed musical scores for the episodes.[6]

Kanin's involvement diminished after he wrote the first episode. He directed another episode, but his name did not appear among the screen credits thereafter. CBS ended production of the show after 13 episodes had been completed. It concluded with the December 26, 1964, broadcast.[5] A representatives of CBS said that filming of two more episodes was proposed, but Stevens rejected the idea.[7]

Mr. Broadway was filmed at the Biograph studio in the Bronx. Locations used in filming included El Morroco, The Forum, the Four Seasons, the Rainbow Room, The Tavern on the Green, and The Tower Suites.[3]

Sponsors included Procter & Gamble,[8] Brown & Williamson, Lipton, Alberto-Culver,[8]: 42  and Pontiac.[9]

Mr. Broadway was one of a group of CBS Films series sold to Austarama for broadcast in Australia.[10]

Episodes[edit]

Episode list
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"An Eye on Emily"Garson KaninGarson KaninSeptember 26, 1964 (1964-09-26)
Mike is asked by a friend from Cincinnati to serve as a guide for his daughter (Tuesday Weld) while she's in New York City.
2"Take a Walk Through a Cemetery"UnknownUnknownOctober 3, 1964 (1964-10-03)
A textile tycoon puts his family name in jeopardy, forcing Mike to help him out.
3"Try to Find a Spy"UnknownUnknownOctober 10, 1964 (1964-10-10)
Mike is fired by a client after he's accused of pirating the company's invention.
4"Between the Rats and the Finks"UnknownUnknownOctober 17, 1964 (1964-10-17)
A nightclub comic asks Mike for protection from a newspaper columnist.
5"Nightingale for Sale"UnknownUnknownOctober 24, 1964 (1964-10-24)
Mike helps launch the career of a young, unknown opera singer (Liza Minnelli).
6"The He-She Chemistry"UnknownUnknownOctober 31, 1964 (1964-10-31)
Settling a long-time theatrical feud is the job facing Mike.
7"Don't Mention My Name in Sheboygan"UnknownUnknownNovember 7, 1964 (1964-11-07)
A wheeler-dealer (Chester Morris) from the Midwest accuses Mike of blackmail.
8"Maggie, Queen of the Jungle"UnknownUnknownNovember 21, 1964 (1964-11-21)
Mike attempts to help a fading designer (Nina Foch) with her fashion show in order to help her regain her prestige.
9"Smelling Like a Rose"UnknownUnknownNovember 28, 1964 (1964-11-28)
Mike looks into a homicide in which an artist was found dead in the home of a wealthy publisher (Art Carney).
10"Bad Little Rich Girl"UnknownUnknownDecember 5, 1964 (1964-12-05)
A wealthy socialite (Diana van der Vlis) is on the verge of withdrawing her support of a boys' summer camp until Mike gets involved.
11"Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones"UnknownUnknownDecember 12, 1964 (1964-12-12)
A woman enlists Mike's help to try and get her daughter to love the politician she intends to marry.
12"Something to Sing About"UnknownUnknownDecember 19, 1964 (1964-12-19)
A down-and-out singer (Lauren Bacall) is given a new lease on life, thanks to Mike.
13"Pay Now, Die Later"UnknownUnknownDecember 26, 1964 (1964-12-26)
The owner of a hauling company (David Wayne) puts his life at risk with organized crime after he sells his business.

References[edit]

  1. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 556. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. ^ a b Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 670. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  3. ^ a b Newton, Dwight (September 5, 1964). "Mr. Broadway And Girls". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 17. Retrieved December 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Adams, Val (September 4, 1963). "Pilot TV scripts written by Kanin". The New York Times. p. 57. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Adams, Val (November 18, 1964). "C.B.S. Quits on 'Mr. Broadway;' A.B.C. Will Drop Ron Cochran". The New York Times. p. 95. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  6. ^ Garber, Arlene (June 18, 1964). "Susskind In Hollywood". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. p. 27. Retrieved December 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "CBS=TV to drop 'Mr. Broadway'" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 23, 1964. p. 76. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Six top $100 million in radio-TV" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 23, 1964. pp. 21–25, 28, 30, 33, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "On the Networks This Fall" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 5, 1964. pp. 83–85. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "Sullivan show scores 1st overseas sales" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 31, 1964. p. 72. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
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