The Marriage (American TV series)

*The Marriage*
The Marriage
Genre	Sitcom
Written by	Ernest Kinoy
Directed by	Jack Garfein
Starring	Hume Cronyn; Jessica Tandy
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	8
Production
Producer	Hume Cronyn
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	24 mins.
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	July 8 –; August 19, 1954

The Marriage is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from July to August 1954. The series is noted as the first prime time network color television series.^[1] Broadcast live by NBC for seven episodes in the summer of 1954, the series stars real-life couple Hume Cronyn (who also produced the show) and Jessica Tandy as a New York lawyer and his wife with two children, played by Susan Strasberg and Malcolm Brodrick.^[2]

Synopsis

The half-hour show, written by Ernest Kinoy, debuted on July 8, 1954,^[3] originating from the Colonial Theatre in New York City, NBC's color television production facility.

The television series was adapted from an NBC radio series of the same title, also starring Cronyn and Tandy and written by Kinoy, that ran from October 1953 to February 1954. The television show was directed by Jack Garfein and Marc Daniels.^[4]

Reception

The New York Times television critic called the show "new and different and delightful," and wrote, "'The Marriage' is a sparkling, crisp portrayal of some charming people."^[5] The Washington Post called it among the best of the summertime replacement series, praising its "adult approach to situation comedy," with believable situations and intelligent characters.^[6]

The show was suspended after August 19, when Cronyn and Tandy left to tour on stage. There was talk in late 1954 of resuming the series, but it did not happen.^[7]

References

^ "News of TV and Radio," New York Times, June 20, 1954, p. X11.
^ "'The Marriage' Makes Its Television Debut," New York Times, June 27, 1954, p. X13.
^ "Tiny Microphone for TV Displayed", New York Times, July 2, 1954, p. 15. The premiere was originally scheduled for July 1, but was cancelled at the last moment due to Jessica Tandy's illness.
^ "Director Leaves 'Marriage' Series," New York Times, July 20, 1954, p. 17.
^ "Television in Review: 'Marriage'," New York Times, July 19, 1954, p. 25.
^ Lawrence Laurent, "It's Not the Heat; It's the Replacements," Washington Post, Aug. 29, 1954, p. T3.
^ "'The Marriage' May Be Resumed," New York Times, Dec. 8, 1954, p. 51. "TV Comedy Show Tries Psychology," New York Times, Dec. 14, 1954, p. 50.