PHILCO TELEVISION PLAYHOUSE: HOLIDAY SONG (TV)
Summary
One in this live dramatic anthology series. Cantor Boaz Sternberger is having a crisis of faith the day before he is to sing at Rosh Hashanah services. His niece Naomi enlists the help of Boaz's friend Zucker, who sends Boaz to see Rabbi Marcus in New York City. At the Atlantic Ave. IRT stop in Brooklyn, a mysterious subway guard pushes Boaz onto the Brooklyn-bound train rather than the Manhattan-bound train Boaz requested. There Boaz encounters Marya, who is about to commit suicide by jumping between the subway cars, and rescues her. Boaz sees her home and learns that she is a survivor of Auschwitz who lost her husband and children to the Nazis. Her story reinforces Boaz's loss of faith. Meanwhile Naomi's friend Mrs. Davis introduces Naomi to her bachelor brother George. Naomi and George consider themselves "a match," and George is pleased to be marrying a cantor's niece. When Boaz returns home, his lack of faith now threatens Naomi's engagement. Zucker and Boaz talk to the local rabbi, who advises Boaz to return to New York City and meet with Rabbi Marcus. Once again the subway guard at Atlantic Ave. pushes Boaz onto the Brooklyn-bound train. Boaz talks to Leopold, the only other person in the subway car, whose story and situation finally renew Boaz's faith in God. That night, Boaz is able to sing in the synagogue. Includes commercials for Philco products; a public service announcement reminding viewers to register to vote; and a promo for the following week's program, "The Thin Air."
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Michael Finkelstein and Sue-ann Friedman, 1996.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: September 20, 1953 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:33
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T87:0491
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Judaism - Customs and practices
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1948-1955
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Philco
- TV - PSA - Voter registration
- TV - Promos - "The Thin Air"
CREDITS
- Fred Coe … Producer
- Gordon Duff … Director
- Paddy Chayefsky … Writer
- Jay Jackson … Announcer
- Joseph Buloff … Cast, Cantor Boaz Sternberger
- Herbert Berghof … Cast, Zucker
- Frances Chaney … Cast, Naomi
- Dora Weissman … Cast, Mrs. Davis
- David Opatoshu … Cast, George
- David Kerman … Cast, The Rabbi
- Werner Klemperer … Cast, Leopold
- Irja Jensen … Cast, Marya
- Martin Greene … Cast, Subway Guard
- Ann Dere … Cast, Woman Next Door