Allene Roberts
Acting
Biography
Allene Roberts (September 1, 1928 - May 9, 2019) was an American actress. Born in Fairfield Highlands, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, she starred in twelve movies between 1947 and 1954 and appeared on TV in Four Star Playhouse, The Adventures of Superman and Dragnet. Her first big picture was The Red House starring Rory Calhoun, Julie London and Edward G. Robinson. That movie was considered by the critics to be the 'sleeper hit' of the year. She starred in Knock on Any Door starring John Derek and Humphrey Bogart, and in Union Station with William Holden. As well other films, such as the serial Bomba on Panther Island (Monogram Pictures, 1949). As of 2009, she resides in Huntsville, Alabama, the widow of Ralph Cochran; the couple had four children, John, Leslie, Julie and Laurie.
Known For
Follows the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Dragnet
Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956, sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company; Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953. The original premise was that Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes. However, several other performers took the lead from time to time, including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine. Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series. Edwards created the recurring character of illegal gambling house operator Willie Dante for Dick Powell to play on this series. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff, then-husband of Lupino. The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here, as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat.
Four Star Playhouse
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a syndicated TV adaptation of the beloved DC Comics superhero! You know the drill: When he isn't fighting for truth, justice and the American way, the man in tights dons a suit and glasses for his secret identity as Daily Planet newspaper reporter Clark Kent, who works alongside friends Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen for gruff boss Perry White.
Adventures of Superman
The Public Defender is a half-hour 69-episode television dramatic series starring Reed Hadley as Bart Matthews, an attorney for the indigent. The series aired on CBS from March 11, 1954 to June 23, 1955, a season and a half.
Public Defender
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse is an American dramatic anthology series that aired on ABC from 1953 to 1955, sponsored by Pepsi-Cola. The show was hosted by Arlene Dahl, Anita Colby, and, finally, Polly Bergen
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
Crime drama starring Rod Cameron as 43-year-old Bart Grant, a tough 1950s New York City police lieutenant.
City Detective
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The title was shortened to Schlitz Playhouse, beginning with the fall 1957 season.
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
The first ever made for TV miniseries documents the story of Jesus Christ from birth to resurrection.
The Living Christ
An old man and his sister are concealing a terrible secret from their adopted teen daughter, concerning a hidden abandoned farmhouse, located deep in the woods.
The Red House
Police catch a break when suspected kidnappers are spotted on a train heading towards Union Station. Police, train station security and a witness try to piece together the crime and get back the blind daughter of a rich business man.
Union Station
An attorney defends a hoodlum of murder, using the oppressiveness of the slums to appeal to the court.
Knock on Any Door
A wheelchair-bound woman manipulates her family to a point where they suspect she may be unhinged.
The Sign of the Ram
In this second film in the Bomba, the Jungle Boy series, Bomba tracks a dangerous panther.
Bomba on Panther Island
After their service in the Civil War, four brothers go their separate ways, but later find themselves on opposite sides of a final showdown.
Santa Fe
Vincent Lubeck is a vicious ex-convict. His criminal activities are despised by his family, but he uses and abuses them in the course of his crimes. Eventually his own brother must stand up to him.
The Hoodlum
Sponsored by The Protestant Film Commission, this religiously-affiliated tale centers around citizen Henry Wood (played by Oscar winner James Dunn from "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"), who loved family and church, gave to the needy, and donated most of his money to charity. Now deceased, his somewhat neglected daughter reflects on his past and ponders that age-old question, did he indeed have such "a wonderful life"?
A Wonderful Life
Leonard Nimoy is "Kid" Monk Baroni, the leader of a street gang who becomes a professional boxer to escape his life in "Little Italy" New York.
Kid Monk Baroni
A young crippled girl and her love for a teenage newsboy despite her over-protective and alcoholic mother's objections.