| The Dick Powell Show | |
|---|---|
 Title Card | |
| Also known as | The Dick Powell Theatre |
| Directed by | Blake Edwards,Sam Peckinpah,Ralph Nelson,Arthur Hiller,Robert Ellis Miller,Lewis Allen,Ray Milland,Buzz Kulik,Don Medford |
| Starring | Dick Powell Milton Berle Charles Boyer Jackie Cooper Glenn Ford Rock Hudson Jack Lemmon Dean Martin Steve McQueen Robert Mitchum David Niven Gregory Peck Frank Sinatra Robert Taylor Danny Thomas Robert Vaughn Robert Wagner Jeanne Carmen John Wayne |
| Composer | Herschel Burke Gilbert |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 60 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 45–48 minutes |
| Production company | Four Star Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | September 26, 1961 (1961-09-26) – April 30, 1963 (1963-04-30) |
The Dick Powell Show is an American televisionanthology series that aired onNBC from September 26, 1961 until September 17, 1963,[1] primarily sponsored by theReynolds Metals Company.
The series was an anthology of various dramas and comedies. Programs were initially hosted by longtimefilm starDick Powell until his death fromlung cancer on January 2, 1963, then by a series of guest hosts (under the revised titleThe Dick Powell Theatre) until the series ended. The first of these hosts wasGregory Peck, who began the January 8 program with a tribute to Powell, recognizing him as "a great and good friend to our industry."[2] Peck was followed by fellow actors such asRobert Mitchum,Frank Sinatra,Ronald Reagan,Glenn Ford,Charles Boyer,Jackie Cooper,Rock Hudson,Milton Berle,Jack Lemmon,Dean Martin,Robert Taylor,Steve McQueen,David Niven,Danny Thomas,Robert Wagner andJohn Wayne.[3]
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It featured many future stars, producers, and directors early in their careers, includingAaron Spelling,Sam Peckinpah andBruce Geller.Blake Edwards[4] wrote and directed a number of episodes, including two featuringRobert Vaughn as anIvy League private eye known as "The Boston Terrier". Several episodes, including those featuring The Boston Terrier, doubled aspilots for potentialFour Star Television series, including an unsuccessful attempt to reviveThe Westerner in a modern-day setting, featuringLee Marvin inBrian Keith's original role. The original pilot episode forBurke's Law ("Who Killed Julie Greer?"), starring Powell as Amos Burke, appeared as the debut episode of this series.
The Dick Powell Show was one of the many productions of Four Star Television. The series' theme, "More Than Love" ("Theme fromThe Dick Powell Show"), and the majority of musical compositions heard throughout the series were the work ofHerschel Burke Gilbert.
The Navy Motion Picture Service madeThe Dick Powell Show available for viewing aboard ships in 1964. Episodes were packaged with episodes ofThe Untouchables in 108-minute programs on 16-millimeter film.[5]
In 1962, Peckinpah directed and co-wrote the episode "Pericles on 31st Street, which featured Theodore Bikel, Carroll O'Connor, Arthur O'Connell, and Strother Martin.[6]