Lost TV of the 50s, Volume 2

Telephone Time evolved from The Passing Parade, a long-running radio show hosted by writer and raconteur John Nesbitt. A former announcer, Nesbitt narrated tales supposedly inspired by a trunk left to him by his father that contained press clippings of odd news stories from around the world. At least that's what he said -- Usually, Nesbitt wrote the stories in a rush an hour before airtime. Regardless, it was popular enough to last 12 years on radio, and inspire a series of theatrical short subjects from MGM. Adapting a full-cast drama format, the series became known as Telephone Time upon its move to television, due to sponsor Bell Telephone. After two seasons on CBS, the program moved to ABC. The network replaced Nesbitt with Dr. Frank Baxter, host of the popular Bell Science television specials. This was most likely due to Nesbitt's bad health -- He died in 1960 at the relatively young age of 49.

THE KEY: The story of Laura Bridgman, a 19th century Helen Keller. She was the first deaf and blind child to receive an education in the English language. Starring Beverly Washburn and Kevin McCarthy.

THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED O'HENRY: Will Porter escapes a life of crime to become the most celebrated American short story writer of all time, O. Henry. Starring Eddie Firestone.

THE RESCUE: Bell Telephone linemen risk their lives to save a man dangling from a cliff on the California coast. This episode unabashedly boosts the show's sponsor. Starring Douglass Dumbrille.

CAVALRY SURGEON: William Roberts, a military doctor, struggles to keep his men alive during the Mexican-American War. "Cavalry Surgeon" was meant to be the first episode of a series starring Gunfight at the O.K. Corral's John Hudson as Roberts.

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