Title: “Cavalcade of America” Films
Inclusive Dates: 1955-1957

Call Number: DF 266-DF 275

Quantity: 10 reels of film (16 mm)

Repository:

Housed at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives and Museum Collections; owned by the Wisconsin Center for Film & Theater Research

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Ten episodes from the last two seasons of the half-hour anthology television series Cavalcade of America, which aired on NBC (1952-1953) and ABC (1953-1957). The series was sponsored by DuPont and based on the popular radio series Cavalcade, featuring dramatizations of historical events and later contemporary story subjects focusing on “modern American life.”

Note:

There is a restriction on use of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

The series changed its title several times from original title of Cavalcade of America to DuPont Cavalcade Theater (1955-1956) and then DuPont Theater (1956-1957). The collection consists of DuPont Cavalcade Theater and DuPont Theater prints.

Forms part of the Television Collection.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-df266

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

This collection consists of ten episodes from the half-hour anthology television series Cavalcade of America. The series, which originally focused on incidents in American history, aired on both NBC (1952-1953) and ABC (1953-1957), was initially based on the broadcast radio anthology series Cavalcade, which aired from 1935 to 1953, and like its predecessor, pioneered the use of anthology drama for company voice advertising of its sponsor, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont). Similarly the series celebrated acts of individual initiative and achievement through a historical-documentary format, often touching on stories featuring science and invention, in line with DuPont's motto of: “Better things for better living.” In response to increasing competition with other series at the time featuring “actuals” such as General Electric Theater and Armstrong Circle Theater, Cavalcade changed its format in its second season, introducing contemporary story subjects and began a focus on stories of “modern American life,” which resulted in a title change for the 1955-1956 season to DuPont Cavalcade Theater and again in its last season to DuPont Theater. In the fall of 1957 the series was replaced by The DuPont Show of the Month, a 90-minute live dramatization of popular novels and short stories which ran until 1961.

While a total of approximately 133 episodes of Cavalcade of America aired on NBC and ABC over its five year run, this collection contains only 10 of the original episodes from the last two seasons when the series was airing on ABC as the DuPont Cavalcade Theater and the DuPont Theater. All of the episodes in this collection consist of 16 mm black and white prints and include promotion spots for DuPont products and services. Each reel runs approximately twenty to thirty minutes. The visual quality of these prints is very good in general, but varies between individual reels.

The episodes in this collection are arranged chronologically by season and the date each episode originally aired on television.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Warren Lewis. Accession Number: M90-398/WCFTR

Use Restrictions

No duplication or public screening without consent of copyright holder.

DF 266	“A Chain of Hearts,” 1955 November 1 Note The true story of merchant seaman John Staniszewski and his wife Dolly, and their efforts to gain citizenship in the United States. Episode includes DuPont Cavalcade promotion. Director: Laslo Benedek Writer: Frederic Brady (screenplay) Producer: Warren Lewis Cast: Charles Bronson, Joyce McCluskey, Robert Burton Episode: 117
DF 267	“The Boy Who Walked to America,” 1955 January 3 Note A Korean War orphan who learned of America's wealth from magazines around the Korean Army bases is determined to share in it, even if it means walking all the way to America. DuPont Cavalcade Theater. Includes DuPont promotions for textile research lab. Director: Laslo Benedek Writer: Frederic Brady (screenplay) Producer: Warren Lewis Cast: Danny Chang, Hugh Beaumont, John Dennis, John Stephenson Episode: 126
DF 268	“The Prison Within,” 1955 January 17 Note The strange case of Mary Fletcher, a convicted forger, to whom parole officer Edith Carlson gives sympathetic help to free the girl not only from prison but from the mental turmoil that led her to break her parole. DuPont Cavalcade Theater. Includes DuPont promotions for plastic ware. Director: John Meredyth Lucas Writer: John Meredyth Lucas (screenplay); David Dressler (story) Producer: Warren Lewis Cast: Edward Platt, Gloria Talbott, Claire Carleton, Mark Damon Episode: 128
DF 269	“A Life to Live By,” 1956 March 20 Note A California schoolboy who, in spite of the knowledge that he has an incurable and fatal kidney disease, goes on to marry and live a happy, fruitful life before death overtakes him. DuPont Cavalcade Theater; DuPont promotion. Director: Wm. A. Seiter Writer: Laszlo Gorog from an article by Melvin Durslag Producer: Warren Lewis Cast: John Ericson and Sally Fraser Episode: 137
DF 270	“Diplomatic Outpost,” 1956 May 1 Note A young Vice-Consul on his first foreign assignment finds himself put to the test. DuPont Cavalcade Theater; DuPont promotion for gardening product. Director: Reginald LeBorg Writer: John R. Roberts (screenplay and story) Producer: Warren Lewis Cast: John Hudson, Cynthia Stone, Willis Bouchey, Richard Loo Episode: 143
DF 271	“Danger on Clover Ridge,” 1956 May 8 Note A forest ranger works to clear the name of an eccentric guide who is suspected of robbery, attempted murder, and arson. DuPont Cavalcade Theater; DuPont promotion for weed killer. Director: Lewis R. Foster Writer: Al C. Ward Cast: Robert Horton, Harry Shannon, Gordon Mills, Jean Howell, Ray Teal Episode: 144
DF 272	“The Hobo Kid,” 1956 October 23 Note The daughter of an itinerant peddler in town after town, Billie strives to get an education despite her parents' protest. DuPont Cavalcade Theater. Includes DuPont promotions for furniture. Director: George Archainbaud Writer: A.I. Bezzerides (screenplay); Billie Davis (story and article) Producer: Warren Lewis Cast: Reba Waters, Caroline Craig, Robert Foulk, Adrienne Marden, Sarah Selby Episode: 166
DF 273	“Woman's Work,” 1956 November 20 Note A comedy about a terrible-tempered old man and the slip of a girl who cuts him down to size and makes him like it. DuPont Theatre. Includes DuPont promotion for tires and silverware. Director: William A. Seiter Writer: John D. Weaver (story and screenplay) Cast: James Best, Jane Darwell, Walter Brennan, Mary Murphy Episode: 169
DF 274	“A Leap to Heaven,” 1957 January 15 Note The story of Bob Richards, the famed “pole-vaulting priest,” and how, through the mentorship of Reverend Merlin Garber, he becomes a world famous United States Olympic athlete. DuPont Theatre; DuPont promotion ad. Director: Alvin Ganzer Writer: Frederic Brady (screenplay) Producer: Warren Lewis Cast: Bob Richards, James McCallion, Gloria Castillo Episode: 177 Digital access file available.
DF 275	“Dowry for Ilona,” 1957 January 22 Note A cheap violin, the bombastic head of a Hungarian American household, and a love affair combine to make this delightful story. DuPont Theater; includes DuPont education program promotions. Director: Laslo Benedek Writer: Al Martin and Laszlo Gorog (screenplay); Al Martin (story) Cast: Oscar Homolka, Steven Geray, Dan Barton, Carolyn Craig, Lisa Golm Episode: 178