The practice of television executives of ordering dozens of pilots for proposed television series each year – far more than their networks could possibly broadcast as series – created a sizable body of unsold pilots that had never aired.[2] Packaging these unsold pilots in anthology series and airing them during the summer provided television networks with a way of both providing fresh programming during the summer rerun season and recouping at least some of the expense of producing them.[2]
The fifth episode of Colgate Theatre, "The Fountain of Youth," won a Peabody Award in 1958 for Orson Welles,[1][6] who wrote, directed, narrated, arranged the music for, and designed the sets for it. On September 16, 1958, the Chicago Tribune wrote, "Orson Welles hasn't lost his touch. This is as witty and imaginative a TV film as we've ever seen. Welles has written the screen play, designed the sets, arranged the music, directed the show, and narrated the action, and he comes out ahead on all fronts. Based on a short story by the macabre humorist, John Collier, the film tells of the hilariously harrowing triangular relationship of a vengeful scientist, a lush actress, and a tennis playing playboy. The performances of Dan Tobin, Joi Lansing and Rick Jason as the leads, plus those of everybody else, are superb. But perhaps the outstanding feature of the production is that, for once, every aspect of TV filming has been used for maximum effect. Unlike most films for TV, this one indicates taste, care, intelligence and a sense of humor."[7]
Of the sixth episode, "McCreedy's Woman," which starred Jane Russell, the Chicago Tribune wrote, "All it proves is that Miss Russell would be a welcome addition to the TV roster, if somebody could find the right format for her. In this play, she appears as the owner of a small night club, wears some attractive clothes, sings a few songs, and struggles thru an extremely obvious teleplay."[8]
Broadcast history
Colgate Theatre ran for eight episodes on eight consecutive weeks in the summer and early autumn of 1958 on Tuesday evenings from 9:30 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time.[1][2][3] It premiered on August 19,[2][5] and its last episode aired on October 7.[1][5]
A newly married woman receives as a wedding gift from her vengeful scientist ex-boyfriend a vial containing a potion that can provide a person with 200 years of youthful vigor and good looks — but there is only enough potion in the vial for one person, leading to conflict as she ponders whether to take the potion herself or give it to her new husband. Starring Dan Tobin, Joi Lansing, Rick Jason, Billy House, Nancy Culp, and Madge Blake. Narrated by Orson Welles.
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. ISBN0-345-42923-0.
