Hal Collins

NBC Sunday Showcase was a series of hour-long specials telecast in color on NBC during the 1959-60 season. The flexible anthology format varied weekly from comedies and science fiction to musicals and historical dramas. The recent introduction of videotape made repeats possible, and two 1959 dramas had repeats in 1960. On the heels of his Broadway hits The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, Richard Adler composed the opening Sunday Showcase theme music, titled "Sunday Drive".

The growth of small-town juvenile crime starts a movement for the construction of a youth center. The project leaders discuss with town mayor Phineas Wharton Sr. about buying an old warehouse and rebuilding it as the Center. However, Wharton has plans to buy it himself for another project from which he would profit. But the Teen-Agers--Freddie, Dodie, Betty, Lee and Roy--now attending San Juan Junior College, think otherwise.

A photographer is murdered just outside a college dance. The body is found by Lee Watson, but promptly disappears, as it's being whisked from one point to another on campus by an ex-con night watchman. However, he isn't the killer, and Freddie, Dodie, Betty and Lee set out to find the culprit who put a big damper on their big event.

A college professor falls in with the counterculture crowd in San Francisco after resigning from his position in solidarity with two expelled hippie students.

Anne and Helen move into a California apartment complex for single only where all the occupants are looking to hook up. With Milton Berle as the building manager.

Beloved teacher Miss Hinklefink inherits a western ranch, and to spend the summer with Professor Townley, she invites students Freddie, Dodie, Betty, Lee and Roy to join if Townley will co-chaperone. Sketchy real-estate agent Tom Sneed tries to persuade her to send the kids home when desperadoes rob the bank. Sneed's henchman mistakes Freddie for a baby-faced killer framed for a murder actually committed by Sneed, and ranch foreman Big Jim, also working for Sneed, tries to kill Freddie.

Patty Nelson lands a job as a singer with orchestra leader Al Tyler, and tours with the band as "Patty Hart." Patty's father Russ is dismissed from his radio-station job, and the disc jockey selected to replace him is Al Tyler. Patty rushes home to keep Russ company on the air for the final few days, and Al wonders why she suddenly walked out on him. The new "Patty and Russ" radio show catches on, causing complications with Al and the radio-station bosses.

A wealthy man's son is running for high school student body president, and the boy's father tells the principal that if his son wins, he will make a sizable donation that will pay for the football team's much-needed uniforms.

When teen heartthrob Frankie Troy disappears, high schooler Freddie Trimble–a dead ringer for the crooner–is singled out by his so-called friends as the radio star. As hijinks ensue, things worsen when Troy's wife and newborn arrive.

The Teen-Agers are down in the dumps: their football team faces almost-certain defeat, the school paper might need to suspend publication because circulation is so low, and the principal intends to replace student performers with professionals.

A Marine Sergeant wounded in overseas combat requires an operation, and the Navy psychiatrist recommends that ‘Sarge’ be given a few weeks’ rest before hospitalization. Through the Dean of San Juan Junior College, Sarge enters on a temporary basis. Meanwhile, the Teen-Agers are rehearsing a show and Freddie's worried as they have no band.