O. Henry Playhouse
Season 1
Anthology series based on the short stories of O. Henry.
Where to Watch O. Henry Playhouse • Season 1
40 Episodes
- The Reformation of CalliopeE1
The Reformation of CalliopeIn the premiere episode, author O. Henry relates to his housekeeper a western story he wrote about experiences while living in Texas. Quicksand sheriff Buck (Ernest Borgnine) insists on law, order, and no guns in town. Former notorious badman Calliope (Dick Foran) returns to town to free his reckless young brother from jail. The merchants pressure Buck to go easy since a little notoriety is good for business, but has Cal really gone straight? Has he really mellowed toward violence? - Man About TownE2
Man About TownOne evening O. Henry sets out on a mission to find a "Man About Town," an elusive character he's been writing about but does not fully grasp who or what such a Man might be like. His quest leads from flower woman Mary to an elegant tramp on a park bench (Hans Conreid), to a shop girl who refused to date such a "Man," to a newspaper reporter (Alan Hale Jr.), to Follies dancer Trixie and a runaway automobile. You will never guess O. Henry's startling discovery in the surprise ending! - Sam Plunkett's PromiseE3
Sam Plunkett's PromiseSheriff Sam Plunkett (Denver Pyle) swears to avenge the murder of Millie (Jan Harrison), the love of his life. His relentless pursuit of the killer Wade Williams (Philip Reed) extends across the west until a tip leads him to an island off the coast of Argentina. Sam's plea to the American Counsel for help leads nowhere before a shocking conclusion and ironic twist ending. - Two RenegadesE4
Two RenegadesIn Panama, Civil War veteran and avid adherent of the Confederate cause Doc Milliken (John Carradine) befriends a young Northerner (Charles Bronson) when he becomes ill. Bronson turns soldier of fortune, joins a failed coup attempt, and is sentenced to the firing squad. O. Henry relates the story and twist ending to his publisher back in New York over lunch and just before the start of the annual Confederate Memorial Day Parade. - MarionettesE5
MarionettesO. Henry relates to his housekeeper the strange tale of Charles Spencer James (Gerald Mohr), a safecracker who by day poses as a doctor. One fateful night, a policeman stops James on his way home from a burglary to aid an upscale family that needs immediate medical attention. The husband lies paralyzed from a seizure, while his battered wife needs much more help than it appears. When "Doc" James learns there is $10,000 in cash to be had, only the paralyzed husband stands in the way. - Fog in SantoneE6
Fog in SantoneOn a foggy night, author O. Henry (Thomas Mitchell) relates to a policeman his latest story about a man with an incurable disease who has given up on living. Carter (DeForest Kelley) travels to Texas where he meets an equally disillusioned young woman Rosa (Jean Cooper) who works as a "hostess" in a San Antonio saloon. They learn about each other's personal struggles and begin to fall in love. - Hearts and HandsE7
Hearts and HandsO. Henry relates a humorous crime story to Hermitage, a precocious ten-year-old boy (Johnny Crawford). Suave safecracker Reginald Easton (Louis Hayward) crashes a ritzy party and falls in love at first sight with the lady of the house (Maureen Stephenson). When Reggie later opens the safe, the jewels are gone, and the real thief confronts him! The sly twist ending is amusing, and a second twist reveals O. Henry's reason for telling the boy a fable for which he shows no interest in the outcome. - Blackjack BargaineerE8
Blackjack BargaineerO. Henry discusses with his publisher the story of an ancient feud between the Goree and Coltrane families in the town of Bethel. The only two remaining family survivors are determined to end the feud in friendship, but one of them is going to die. Hillbilly Pike Garvey and his ambitious wife come into money and move to Bethel to hopefully gain prestige among the townspeople and fulfill his wife's desire to become "quality folk." Pike buys his way into Goree's half of the feud and plots to shoot Coltrane to collect on his investment. - The World and the DoorE9
The World and the DoorO. Henry spends a few nights in the only hotel on the tropical island of LaPaz. He meets two American visitors Ralph (Donald Barry) and Jean (Florence Conant) and spins the characters into a fanciful story in which each is hiding in exile because of committing murders back in the states. While relating the fictional story he is devising to hotel owner Tio (Pedro Gonzalez), to O. Henry's consternation, Tio fails to grasp the literary difference between poetic license and reality! - The Guilty PartyE10
The Guilty PartyO. Henry pitches one of his early, more dramatic tales to his publisher Col. Derbin (Russ Thorson). A young woman (Gail Kobe) with abusive parents has led a sheltered life. A handsome hoodlum (Raymond Koslo) falls for her innocence and smile, but their budding romance is interrupted by his two-year jail sentence. They reunite when he is released, but more trouble lies ahead. - A Ramble in AphasiaE11
A Ramble in AphasiaO. Henry debates writing a fictional version of a current news story with his publisher, Col. Derbin (Russ Thorson). A lawyer (Larry Dobkins) develops aphasia (memory loss) and disappears. When he is found living in a New York hotel his wife (Mary Shipp) and doctor visit him. The husband is then given the unique opportunity to romance and fall in love with his wife a second time while she discovers a kinder side of him she never knew. - After Twenty YearsE13
After Twenty YearsWith his typewriter "Old Faithful" in the shop, O. Henry dictates to a secretary a saga that spans twenty years . The plot concerns two life-long friends in New York who become separated when Silk Arnold (James Davis) grows ambitious and decides to go west to seek his fortune. They agree to meet again 20 years later in the same place, assuming both are still alive. After hearing about Billy's often shady adventures over the years, the secretary asks if Silk ever killed anyone. O. Henry responds, "Emily, he broke the law every which way, but he never broke the law of God." What Silk discovers when he returns to New York after 20 years involves one of O. Henry's more ironic twist endings - A Trick of NatureE14
A Trick of NatureO. Henry discusses his new story with his publisher Col. Derbin. The mystery begins with the gripping climax scene -- a gun, a pleading woman and darkness. Derbin: "I don't know how the public will react when they realize that to understand the beginning they need to read through to the ending." Anyone who watches this preview will understand how O. Henry could grab and hold his audience. - Sisters of the Golden CircleE15
Sisters of the Golden CircleO. Henry pays his weekly visit to friends at the local police station and bumps smack into the characters in his next yarn. Kathy Williams claims the man with her (actually, her husband Philip) was rightfully arrested by the police and is the criminal they sought named James Williams. Confusing? You bet, but O. Henry spins it into a beguiling romantic comedy with a happy ending. The "golden circle" is a wedding ring. - Hygeia at the SolitoE16
Hygeia at the SolitoO. Henry relates this story of redemption to his New York barber. A good-hearted Texan crosses paths with no-good drifter Cricket McGuire, who has health and attitude problems, and brings him back to his ranch to recuperate. Can any compassion bring bitter Cricket back to the world of the living? Is every human soul worth saving? - Only the Horse Would KnowE17
Only the Horse Would KnowO. Henry discusses the dilemma his current characters find themselves in with his publisher Col. Derbin. Johnny Carter, a professional gambler, played by Chuck Connors, has the best horse in he National Handicap, but he begins to suspect that his long-time friend the jockey may need to throw the race for personal reasons. - The Atavism of John Tom Little BearE18
The Atavism of John Tom Little BearO. Henry revisits a Texas town where he had lived some years earlier and runs into new characters with a dramatic story! An educated Cherokee Indian meets a runaway boy while traveling with a medicine show. When he returns the boy to his mother, they strike up a close friendship that is agreeable to all ... except to the lady's estranged husband! - One Dollars WorthE21
One Dollars WorthO. Henry attends a birthday party honoring his old friend judge Tom Derwent. A startling revelation ensues when the judge opens a present that contains a deadly rattle snake! The mystery of who is seeking vengeance against the judge, and the link to a counterfeit dollar coin, unfolds over the course of the story. The exciting climax takes place in a Texas ghost town after which the surprise twist ending is revealed! - The Fool KillerE22
The Fool KillerIn a Bohemian art gallery, O. Henry runs into Rudy Kerner, an aspiring but talentless artist who is too proud to take help from his shoe manufacturing father. His dipsy fiancee can't make headway in reconciling them, but O. Henry himself comes up with a secret plan that just might work! - Vanity and Some SablesE23
Vanity and Some SablesWalking the streets at night O. Henry admires a fur coat on a mannequin in a store window and relates a yarn about sables to the store janitor. Former hooligan Eddie Kid Brady forsakes leadership of the Stovepipe Gang and trains to be a plumber out of love for his sweetheart Molly McKeever. He gifts her a sable stole on the same day that one disappears from a swank apartment where Eddie had just repaired the plumbing. Will their mutual love and trust prevail or will the law step in? - GirlE24
GirlO. Henry meets a girl in a book shop who aspires to be a writer. Together they create characters and whip out a (mostly O. Henry) short story. A businessman hires a detective to locate Vivienne, a special young woman whose true nature is unknown to his wife and nagging mother-in-law, and unknown to O. Henry's readers until the comical twist denouement! - Christmas By InjunctionE25
Christmas By InjunctionChristmas story set in an Arizona western town. A bitter but wealthy man Cherokee will not permit women and children to be in his home because he lost his own family ten years before. He begins to open his heart when he meets a young boy named California who was caught stealing food from his ranch. - Georgias RulingE26
Georgias RulingO. Henry relates a tale of redemption with supernatural overtones. A wealthy land commissionar shaves the law so boundaries favor his cronies, until the spirit of his deceased young daughter reaches down from the great beyond to change his path. You will never guess this twist ending!