ABC Mystery Theater

ABC Mystery Theater
GenreAnthology/Crime drama
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home stationABC
TV adaptations
  • Mystery Theater (also Mark Saber: Homicide Squad)
  • The Vise (also Saber of London)
StarringRobert Carroll (season 1)
Les Damon (seasons 2–3)
Douglas Chandler (season 1)
James Westerfield (season 1)
Walter Burke (seasons 2–3)
AnnouncerRoger Foster
Written byRobert Tallman
Original releaseOctober 3, 1951 (1951-10-03) –
June 30, 1954 (1954-06-30)
No. of series3
No. of episodes115

ABC Mystery Theater, also known as just simply Mystery Theater or Mystery Theatre, was an American radio anthology, crime and mystery series from the 1950s. The program starred originally, actor Robert Carroll in the title role of Inspector Mark Saber, a British detective from the Homicide Squad then by actor Les Damon for seasons two and three. The program also centered on Saber's assistant Sgt. Tim Maloney, originally portrayed by character actor James Westerfield for the first half of season one, actor Douglas Chandler for the second half of season one and finally by character actor Walter Burke for seasons two and three.

The program was broadcast over the ABC for 115 episodes and three seasons from October 3, 1951–June 30, 1954.

While ABC Radio broadcast ABC Mystery Theater, ABC Television broadcast a program with the same format, storyline, plot and characters entitled Mystery Theater which starred Tom Conway as Mark Saber. This too ran through June 1954.[1]

Afterwards, the television series was given a reboot and retitled The Vise. It premiered in December 1955 on ABC, and was later moved to NBC and retitled Saber of London in 1957 where it ran through 1960.[1][2]

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