Mobil Showcase Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Mobil Showcase Network was the umbrella title
for a series of syndicated
television special
s showcasing cultural dramas and specials sponsored by Mobil
. From 1983 to 1984, it was known as Mobil Showcase Theatre and hosted by Peter Ustinov
(prior to 1983, it was unhosted).
The series was unusual in that it was not shown by PBS, but on local commercial television
affiliate
s in some cities, representing most likely the last efforts of commercial television station
s to bring "cultural fare" to a television audience, rather than relegating it to PBS.
Most of the specials in this series, especially in the 1980s, were British imports that had already been shown in the U.K. Two of them featured Laurence Olivier
as star, but perhaps the most notable of the telecasts was one that did not - the nine-hour stage version of Charles Dickens
's The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
, with the Royal Shakespeare Company
. Most of the actors played their original stage roles, although a few, such as Ben Kingsley
, the original Squeers, were replaced by others. This historic telecast was spread out over four evenings in a row -three of the episodes lasting two hours and the last taking three hours to perform. Other telecasts included the Olivier King Lear (1983).
Three of the productions have been released on DVDs - King Lear, A Voyage Round My Father
and Nicholas Nickleby. Two by Forsyth, featuring two short stories by Frederick Forsyth
, has not.
During the 1970s, its most distinguished production was the 1975 television version of Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.
Umbrella title
An umbrella title is a formal or informal name connecting a number of individual items with a common theme. It is most often used in lieu of listing separately the separate components or providing a convenient "label" for a collection of disciplines.-Academia:...
for a series of syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
television special
Television special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
s showcasing cultural dramas and specials sponsored by Mobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
. From 1983 to 1984, it was known as Mobil Showcase Theatre and hosted by Peter Ustinov
Peter Ustinov
Peter Alexander Ustinov CBE was an English actor, writer and dramatist. He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter...
(prior to 1983, it was unhosted).
The series was unusual in that it was not shown by PBS, but on local commercial television
Commercial Television
Commercial Television was the third free-to-air broadcast television station in Hong Kong. It first went on air in 1975, and ceased transmissions in 1978.-History:...
affiliate
Affiliate
An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity.- Corporate structure :A corporation may be referred to as an affiliate of another when it is related to it but not strictly controlled by it, as with a subsidiary relationship, or when it is desired to avoid...
s in some cities, representing most likely the last efforts of commercial television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
s to bring "cultural fare" to a television audience, rather than relegating it to PBS.
Most of the specials in this series, especially in the 1980s, were British imports that had already been shown in the U.K. Two of them featured Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
as star, but perhaps the most notable of the telecasts was one that did not - the nine-hour stage version of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
's The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (play)
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby is an eight-hour stage play, presented over two performances, adapted from the Charles Dickens novel of the same name by David Edgar. Directed by John Caird and Trevor Nunn, it opened on 5 June 1980 at the Aldwych Theatre in London. The music and lyrics...
, with the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
. Most of the actors played their original stage roles, although a few, such as Ben Kingsley
Ben Kingsley
Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE is a British actor. He has won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career. He is known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
, the original Squeers, were replaced by others. This historic telecast was spread out over four evenings in a row -three of the episodes lasting two hours and the last taking three hours to perform. Other telecasts included the Olivier King Lear (1983).
Three of the productions have been released on DVDs - King Lear, A Voyage Round My Father
A Voyage Round My Father
A Voyage Round My Father is an autobiographical play by John Mortimer, later adapted for television.The first version of the play appeared as a series of three half-hour sketches for BBC radio in 1963. It then became a television play with Ian Richardson playing Mortimer, Tim Good as the young...
and Nicholas Nickleby. Two by Forsyth, featuring two short stories by Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth, CBE is an English author and occasional political commentator. He is best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan and The Cobra.-...
, has not.
During the 1970s, its most distinguished production was the 1975 television version of Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.