HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: MY NAME IS BILL W. (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas presented by Hallmark. This drama portrays the life of Bill Wilson, who founded Alcoholics Anonymous with his friend and fellow alcoholic, Dr. Bob Smith. Wilson is an enterprising young man whose marriage and life are threatened by his alcoholism. After returning from World War I, Wilson embarks on a Wall Street career in New York, using ingenuity to become wealthy and create a comfortable life for himself and his wife, Lois. Uncontrollable drinking binges, however, jeopardize his success. When the 1929 stock market crash ruins Wilson economically, his spirit is crushed. The desperate man sinks deeper into alcoholism until a spiritual experience in a detoxification center saves his life. The sober Bill wants to help others who are battling the disease, but he has little success until he meets fellow alcoholic Dr. Bob Smith on a business trip in Akron, Ohio. The two men realize that they need a communal sense of support if they are to remain sober. In 1935, they create Alcoholics Anonymous and base the group on friendly encouragement, honesty, anonymity, and spirituality without preaching. Includes commercials, promos, and a public service announcement. This program is closed-captioned.
("Hallmark Hall of Fame" aired on NBC from 1952 to 1978; network affiliation varies after 1978.)
(Beginning with the live telecast of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on December 24, 1951, Hallmark has sponsored a series of dramatic specials which since 1952 have been titled "Hallmark Hall of Fame." From 1952 to 1955 Hallmark also presented "Hallmark Hall of Fame," a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology series hosted by Sarah Churchill. The first program, "Dr. Serocold," was televised in January 1952 under the title "Hallmark Television Theatre." This series also ran under the title "Hallmark Summer Theatre" in July and August 1952.)
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: April 30, 1989 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:56:53
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:29740
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Alcoholism - Drama; Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1989
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark cards
- TV - PSA - National Council on Alcoholism
- TV - Promos - "ABC's World News Tonight"
- TV - Promos - "ABC News Special: America's Kids: Teaching Them to Think"
- TV - Promos - "China Beach"
- TV - Promos - "Coach"
- TV - Promos - "Columbo"
- TV - Promos - "Growing Pains"
- TV - Promos - "Head of the Class"
- TV - Promos - "Home Show"
- TV - Promos - "MacGyver"
- TV - Promos - "Roseanne"
- TV - Promos - "The Robert Guillaume Show"
- TV - Promos - "War and Remembrance"
- TV - Promos - "have Faith"
- TV - Promos - "thirtysomething"
CREDITS
- Peter K. Duchow … Executive Producer
- James Garner … Executive Producer
- Daniel Petrie … Producer, Director
- Paul Rubell … Associate Producer
- William G. Borchert … Writer
- Laurence Rosenthal … Music by
- James Woods … Cast, Bill Wilson
- JoBeth Williams … Cast, Lois Wilson
- James Garner … Cast, Dr. Bob Smith
- Gary Sinise … Cast, Ebby
- George Coe … Cast, Frank Shaw
- Robert Harper … Cast, Dr. Partlin
- Ray Reinhardt … Cast, Dr. Silkworth
- Fritz Weaver … Cast, Dr. Burnham
- Rick Warner … Cast, Bill D.
- Joe Inscoe … Cast, Fred
- Susan Duchow … Cast, Adele
- Rich Valliere … Cast, Charley
- Mark Joy … Cast, Guy Kolb
- Bill Aylward … Cast, the Controller
- Richard Travis … Cast, the Stockquoter
- Mike McBlair … Cast, the Mayflower clerk
- Wally Doyle … Cast, the Mayflower Bartender
- Norman Aronovic … Cast, the Hospital Attendant
- Bruce Morrow … Cast, the Chief Engineer
- Catherine Shaffner … Cast, the Head Nurse
- Celia Clark … Cast, the Nurse
- Greg Babers … Cast, Soldier #1
- Walter Borchert … Cast, Soldier #2
- Daniel Moore … Cast, Soldier #3
- Jim Scopeletis … Cast, Pete
- Jack Garner … Cast, Zack
- William Borchert … Cast, Wade
- Max Maxwell … Cast, Casey
- Rick Marshall … Cast, Artie
- Belle Doughty … Cast, Ellen
- Bev Appleton … Cast, Hank
- David Frisinger … Cast, Shorty
- Bill Sullivan … Cast, Michael
- Meredith Strange Boston … Cast, Dorothy Strong
- John Bedila … Cast, Leonard Strong
- Margo Tully … Cast, Seiberling, Henrietta
- Helen Carey … Cast, Anne Smith
- Joseph McCartney … Cast, the Customer
- Chris Bass Randolph … Cast, Norene
- Gail Summer … Cast, Lottie
- Kweli Leapart … Cast, Lizzie