In 1954, the Climax! episode 'Casino Royale' featured secret agent James Bond in a television adaptation of Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale. It said, 'The sponsor, Chrysler, has been discontent with the restrictive suspense-horror formula,' and that future episodes would be 'designed to accent adventure and emotional climaxes rather than stark melodrama'. The trade publication Variety reported that the change in producers would be accompanied by a change in format. In February 1955, Martin Manulis became the producer, replacing Bretaigne Windust. The series finished at #22 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1955-1956 season and #-1957.
Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live, but, although the series was transmitted in color, only black-and-white kinescope copies of some episodes survive to the present day. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color, using the massive TK-40A color cameras pioneered and manufactured by RCA, and used primarily by CBS's rival network, NBC (the broadcasting division of RCA). The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. Dennis O'Keefe, Phyllis Kirk, and Lloyd Bridges in 'Edge of Terror', 1955.Ĭlimax! (later known as Climax Mystery Theater) is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958.
