Kraft Television Theatre

American television program

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July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Kraft Television Theatre was an American anthology drama series that aired from 1947 to 1958 on NBC and ABC. It was a prominent program during television's "Golden Age" (1948–59), a period characterized by live, theatrical-style productions.1

Anthology dramas, like Kraft Television Theatre, presented original and adapted plays under a single umbrella title each week. These shows were often more cerebral than other genres of the time and are fondly remembered by critics for their quality and live theater feel. Many acclaimed writers, such as Paddy Chayefsky, provided teleplays for these series, with some later being adapted into successful films.1

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George Roy Hill
Early work
…he wrote a teleplay for Kraft Television Theatre, in which he also acted, and he later directed A Night to Remember (1956), about the sinking of the Titanic, for the show. The following year he began directing for Playhouse 90, a program that featured 90-minute live episodes. His notable productions…
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…he wrote a teleplay for Kraft Television Theatre, in which he also acted, and he later directed A Night to Remember (1956), about the sinking of the Titanic, for the show. The following year he began directing for Playhouse 90, a program that featured 90-minute live episodes. His notable productions…
Read More