ABC Theater is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC and featured dramatic presentations over a period of 12 years. Although some sources indicate the series began in 1974,Terrace, Vincent (1981). Television 1970-1980. San Diego: A.S. Barnes and Company. . ABC lists the first production in 1972,ABC Theater (1984). New York: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. with irregular broadcasts until 1984.
Directors for the series of television movies included George Schaefer, Stanley Kramer, Joseph Papp, George Cukor, José Quintero, Daniel Petrie, Randal Kleiser and Delbert Mann.
Writers contributing original material for the series included James Costigan, Alice Childress, Lonne Elder III and Loring Mandel.
In 1973, ABC shared in a joint Peabody Award with NBC and CBS "for their outstanding contributions to entertainment through an exceptional year of televised drama." The award particularly noted the ABC Theater productions of The Glass Menagerie and Pueblo.
Selected episodes Episode Airdate Cast Major Awards Director Writer If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band 12/19/1972 Donna M. Bryan, Georgia Burke, Laurence Fishburne, Moses Gunn, Albert Hall Fred CoeStanley L. Gray Long Day's Journey Into Night 03/10/1973 Laurence Olivier, Constance Cummings, Denis Quilley Laurence Olivier, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Lead ActorO'Neil, Thomas (2000). The Emmys (3rd ed.). New York: Berkley Publishing Group. .Peter WoodEugene O'Neill Pueblo 03/29/1973 Hal Holbrook, Ronny Cox, Andrew Duggan, Stephen Elliott Hal Holbrook, Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Anthony Page Stanley R. Greenberg The Glass Menagerie 12/16/1973 Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston, Joanna Miles, Michael Moriarty Joanna Miles, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in DramaMichael Moriarty, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in DramaAnthony HarveyTennessee Williams F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles' 01/07/1974 Richard Chamberlain, Blythe Danner, Susan Sarandon George SchaeferJames Costigan Judgment: The Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg 01/28/1974 Allan Arbus, Herschel Bernardi, Barbara Colby Stanley Kramer Harry Kleiner Wedding Band 04/24/1974 Ruby Dee, J.D. Cannon, Eileen Heckart Joseph PappAlice Childress The Missiles of October 12/18/1974 William Devane, Martin Sheen, Howard Da Silva, Ralph Bellamy Anthony PageStanley R. Greenberg Ceremonies in Dark Old Men 01/06/1975 J. Eric Bell, Godfrey Cambridge, Rosalind Cash, Robert Hooks, Glynn Turman Judgment: The Court Martial of Lieutenant William Calley 01/12/1975 Tony Musante, Richard Basehart, Harrison Ford Stanley KramerHenry Denker Love Among the Ruins 03/06/1975 Katharine Hepburn, Laurence Olivier, Colin Blakely Peabody AwardKatharine Hepburn, Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a SpecialLaurence Olivier, Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a SpecialGeorge Cukor, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a SpecialJames Costigan, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay) George Cukor James Costigan I Will Fight No More Forever 04/14/1975 James Whitmore, Sam Elliott, Ned Romero Richard T. HeffronTheodore Strauss A Moon for the Misbegotten 05/27/1975 Jason Robards, Colleen Dewhurst, Ed Flanders Ed Flanders, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Special Eleanor and Franklin 01/11 & 01/12/1976 Jane Alexander, Edward Herrmann, Rosemary Murphy Peabody AwardEmmy for Outstanding Drama SpecialRosemary Murphy, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a SpecialDaniel Petrie, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a SpecialJames Costigan, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay)Daniel PetrieJames Costigan Green Eyes 01/03/1977 Paul Winfield, Rita Tushingham, Jonathan Goldsmith Peabody AwardHumanitas PrizeJohn ErmanDavid Seltzer Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years 03/13/1977 Jane Alexander, Edward Herrmann, Priscilla Pointer, Blair Brown Emmy for Outstanding Special (Tie with Sybil)Daniel Petrie, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a SpecialDaniel PetrieJames Costigan Mary White 11/18/1977 Ed Flanders, Fionnula Flanagan, Tim Matheson, Kathleen Beller Caryl Ledner, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Adaptation)Jud TaylorCaryl Ledner The Gathering 12/04/1977 Edward Asner, Maureen Stapleton Emmy for Outstanding SpecialRandal KleiserJames Poe Breaking Up 01/02/1978 Lee Remick, Granville Van Dusen Delbert MannLoring Mandel The Last Tenant 06/25/1978 Tony Lo Bianco, Lee Strasberg, Christine Lahti George Rubino, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay)Jud TaylorGeorge Rubino Friendly Fire 04/22/1979 Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston, Timothy Hutton Peabody AwardEmmy for Outstanding SpecialDaniel Greene, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or SpecialDavid GreeneFay Kanin Attica 03/02/1980 Charles Durning, Morgan Freeman, George Grizzard Marvin J. Chomsky, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a SpecialMarvin J. ChomskyJames S. Henerson The Women's Room 09/14/1980 Lee Remick, Ted Danson, Colleen Dewhurst, Patty Duke Glenn JordanCarol Sobieski The Shadow Box 12/28/1980 Joanne Woodward, Christopher Plummer, Valerie Harper, James Broderick Humanitas PrizeGolden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Made For TelevisionPaul NewmanMichael Cristofer Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige 05/31/1981 Louis Gossett Jr., Beverly Todd, Cleavon Little Richard A. CollaRonald Rubin The Elephant Man 01/04/1982 Philip Anglim, Kevin Conway, Penny Fuller Penny Fuller, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a SpecialJack HofsissSteve Lawson Divorce Wars: A Love Story 03/01/1982 Tom Selleck, Jane Curtin, Candice Azzara Humanitas PrizeDonald WryeDonald Wrye My Body, My Child 04/12/1982 Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Albertson, Joseph Campanella, Stephen Elliott The Letter 05/03/1982 Lee Remick, Ronald Pickup, Jack Thompson Benny's Place 05/31/1982 Louis Gossett Jr., Cicely Tyson, Terry Alexander Who Will Love My Children? 02/14/1983 Ann-Margret, Frederic Forrest, Donald Moffat Ann-Margret, Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TelevisionJohn ErmanMichael Bortman The Day After 11/20/1983 Jason Robards, JoBeth Williams, John Lithgow, Amy Madigan Nicholas MeyerEdward Hume Heart of Steel 12/04/1983 Peter Strauss, Pamela Reed, John Doucette Donald WryeGary DeVore Something About Amelia 01/09/1984 Ted Danson, Glenn Close, Roxana Zal Emmy for Outstanding Drama/Comedy SpecialRoxana Zal, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a SpecialWilliam Hanley, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a SpecialRanda HainesWilliam Hanley A Streetcar Named Desire 03/04/1984 Ann-Margret, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo John ErmanOscar Saul The Dollmaker 05/13/1984 Jane Fonda, Levon Helm, Amanda Plummer Humanitas PrizeJane Fonda, Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or a SpecialDaniel PetrieSusan CooperHume Cronyn Heartsounds 09/30/1984 James Garner, Mary Tyler Moore, Sam Wanamaker Peabody AwardGlenn JordanFay Kanin Consenting Adult 02/04/1985 Martin Sheen, Marlo Thomas Gilbert CatesJohn McGreevey
ABC Theater Award In 1977, ABC Inc., established the “ABC Theater” Award. The award provided a grant to the National Playwrights Conference of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and a cash award of $10,000 to the winning playwright. The playwright's work was then telecast as an ABC Theater Presentation. Winners of the award have included George Rubino for The Last Tenant, Lee Hunkins for Hollow Image, Preston Ransone for King Crab, J. Rufus Caleb for Benny's Place and Phil Penningroth for Ghost Dancing.
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