Lost TV of the 50s, Volume 3

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.

THE VESTRIS: The ghost of a dead man (Boris Karloff) tries to warn a ship's crew of impending disaster. This episode was also the unofficial pilot for the horror anthology series The Veil, hosted by Karloff.

FIGHT FOR THE TITLE: A young fighter (Michael Landon) suffers brain damage but refuses to give up boxing. A moving early performance from Landon, broadcast a few months before he starred in I Was a Teenage Werewolf.

HATFIELD, THE RAINMAKER: The story of "rainmaker" Charlie Hatfield, who solved San Diego's drought by causing the worst deluge in recorded history. Starring John Hudson, Susan Morrow, and Byron Foulger.

THE OTHER VAN GOGH: Theo Van Gogh struggles with his famous brother Vincent's mental illness. Starring Beverly Garland and Harry Townes.