PLAYHOUSE 90: FREE WEEKEND (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic anthology series. In this drama, unresolved issues between parents, their children, and their pasts come to a head during Parents' Weekend at Camp Mojave. During a preparatory meeting of the counselors, Marvin, the beloved founder and co-owner of the camp, does little to hide his disgust that the awards and activities of this event have become more about the parents and less about their children. After the meeting, Marvin suggests to Jerry, the other co-owner, that he may be considering selling his share of the camp. As noisy parents, many of whom are alumni of Camp Mojave or its sister camp, Camp Minnetonka, check in, one infamous parent turns a few heads: Guy Cato, a big-time gambler, husband of a former camper and father of a current one, particularly arouses the concern of Wanda Newton, one of the most popular former campers and now an apparently wealthy woman. The adults reunite with their children and childhood friends, stirring up mixed emotions all around. Richard Cato is embarrassed by his father and fears that his name will keep him from earning his just rewards. Shirley Cato introduces her husband to Sam Gordon, her first lover, who was gawky and shy back in their camping days. Sam pushes his son, Victor, to win the All Around Athlete Award, the award he had wanted so badly for himself. Larry Newton, the son of former All Around Camper Award winners Wanda and Paul Newton, feels that he is being forced by his mother to reclaim his parents' former glory; Paul Newton, who is much less successful than Wanda wishes him to appear, cannot convince his wife that their son wants to lead his own life in a much more modest way. On the night before the awards ceremony, the parents are the ones involved in heated competition for the campers' awards. Commercials deleted. Includes promos.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: December 4, 1958 Thursday 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:19:15
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:44861
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Families; Summer camp
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1956-1961
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "Playhouse 90: Rumors of War"
CREDITS
- John Houseman … Producer
- Charles H. Schultz … Associate Producer
- Russell Stoneham … Associate Producer
- Fielder Cook … Director
- Steven Gethers … Writer
- Charles Bickford … Cast, Marvin
- Jim Backus … Cast, Jerry
- Buddy Ebsen … Cast, Phil
- Ned Glass … Cast, Lester Green
- Henny Backus … Cast, Mrs. Green
- James Whitmore … Cast, Guy Cato
- Kim Hunter … Cast, Shirley Cato
- Nina Foch … Cast, Wanda Newton
- Jack Albertson … Cast, Herbert Sands
- Nancy Marchand … Cast, Sylvia Sands
- Paul Langton … Cast, Paul Newton
- Lee Kinsolving … Cast, Richard Cato
- June Dayton … Cast, Dorothy Gordon
- Mike Landon (see also: Michael Landon) … Cast, Victor Gordon
- Dee Pollack … Cast, Larry Newton
- Peter Votrian … Cast, Neil Sands