11th Primetime Emmy Awards

11th Primetime Emmy Awards
11th Primetime Emmy Awards
Date	May 6, 1959
Location	Moulin Rouge Nightclub, Hollywood, California
Presented by	Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Hosted by	Raymond Burr
Highlights
Most awards	An Evening with Fred Astaire (5)
Most nominations	Playhouse 90 (9)
Best Comedy Series	The Jack Benny Show
Best Dramatic Series - Less Than One Hour	Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre
Best Dramatic Series - One Hour or Longer	Playhouse 90
Best Musical or Variety Series	The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Best Special Dramatic Program - One Hour or More	Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Little Moon of Alban"
Television/radio coverage
Network	NBC
	← 10th; Primetime Emmy Awards; 12th →;

The 11th Emmy Awards, later referred to as the 11th Primetime Emmy Awards, were held on May 6, 1959, to honor the best in television of the year. The ceremony was held at the Moulin Rouge Nightclub in Hollywood, California. It was hosted by Raymond Burr. All nominations are listed, with winners in bold and series' networks are in parentheses.

For the first time in Emmy history, all major categories were split into genre-specific fields, this would become standard for later ceremonies. The top show of the night was the NBC special, An Evening with Fred Astaire, it tied the record of five major wins. Father Knows Best also set a milestone, becoming the first show to be nominated in every major category (series, writing, directing, and the four major acting categories).

Winners and nominees[]

^[1]

Programs[]

Best Comedy Series	Best Dramatic Series Less than One Hour
The Jack Benny Show, (CBS) The Bob Cummings Show, (NBC) The Danny Thomas Show, (CBS) Father Knows Best, (CBS), (NBC) The Phil Silvers Show, (CBS) The Red Skelton Show, (CBS)	Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre, (NBC) Alfred Hitchcock Presents, (CBS) General Electric Theatre, (CBS) The Loretta Young Show, (NBC) The Naked City, (ABC) Peter Gunn, (NBC)
Best Dramatic Series One Hour or Longer	Best Musical or Variety Series
Playhouse 90, (CBS) The United States Steel Hour, (CBS)	The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, (NBC) The Perry Como Show, (NBC) The Steve Allen Show, (NBC)
Best Public Service Program or Series	Best Western Series
Omnibus, (NBC) Bold Journey, (ABC) Meet the Press, (NBC) Small World, (CBS) The Twentieth Century, (CBS) New York Philharmonic: Young People's Concerts, (CBS)	Maverick, (ABC) Gunsmoke, (CBS) Have Gun, Will Travel, (CBS) The Rifleman, (ABC) Wagon Train, (NBC)
Best Panel, Quiz or Audience Participation Series	Best Special Musical or Variety Program - One Hour or Longer
What's My Line?, (CBS) I've Got a Secret, (CBS) The Price Is Right, (NBC) Keep Talking, (CBS) This Is Your Life, (NBC) You Bet Your Life, (NBC)	An Evening with Fred Astaire, (NBC) Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf, (ABC)
Most Outstanding Single Program of the Year	Best Special Dramatic Program - One Hour or More
An Evening with Fred Astaire, (NBC) Hallmark Hall of Fame, (Episode: "Little Moon of Alban"), (NBC) Playhouse 90, (Episode: "Child of Our Time"), (CBS) Playhouse 90, (Episode: "Old Man"), (CBS)	Hallmark Hall of Fame, (Episode: "Little Moon of Alban"), (NBC) DuPont Show of the Month (Episode: "The Bridge of San Luis Rey"), (CBS) DuPont Show of the Month (Episode: "The Hasty Heart"), (CBS) DuPont Show of the Month (Episode: "Hamlet"), (CBS) Hallmark Hall of Fame (Episode: "Johnny Belinda"), (NBC)

Acting[]

Lead performances[]

Best Performance by an Actor (Continuing Character) in a Musical or Variety Series	Best Performance by an Actress (Continuing Character) in a Musical or Variety Series
*Perry Como as Himself on The Perry Como Show, (CBS)* Steve Allen as Himself on The Steve Allen Show, (NBC) Jack Paar as Himself on Tonight Starring Jack Paar, (NBC)	*Dinah Shore as Herself on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, (NBC)* Patti Page as Herself on The Patti Page Oldsmobile Show, (ABC)
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series	Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series
*Jack Benny as Jack Benny on The Jack Benny Show* (NBC)** Walter Brennan as Grandpa Amos McCoy on The Real McCoys (CBS), (NBC) Bob Cummings as Bob Collins on The Bob Cummings Show (NBC) Phil Silvers as MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko on The Phil Silvers Show (CBS) Danny Thomas as Danny Williams on The Danny Thomas Show (ABC), (CBS) Robert Young as Jim Anderson on Father Knows Best (CBS), (NBC)	*Jane Wyatt as Margaret Anderson on Father Knows Best* (CBS), (NBC)** Gracie Allen as Gracie Allen on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (CBS) Spring Byington as Lily Ruskin on December Bride (CBS) Donna Reed as Donna Stone on The Donna Reed Show (ABC) Ida Lupino as Eve Drake on Mr. Adams and Eve (CBS) Ann Sothern as Katy O'Connor on The Ann Sothern Show (CBS)
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series	Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series
*Raymond Burr as Perry Mason on Perry Mason* (CBS)** James Arness as Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke (CBS) Richard Boone as Paladin on Have Gun, Will Travel (CBS) James Garner as Bret Maverick on Maverick (ABC) Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn on Peter Gunn (NBC) Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Stuart Bailey on 77 Sunset Strip (ABC)	*Loretta Young as Herself on The Loretta Young Show* (NBC)** June Lockhart as Ruth Martin on Lassie (CBS) Phyllis Kirk as Nora Charles on The Thin Man (NBC) Jane Wyman as Herself on Fireside Theatre (NBC)

Supporting performances[]

Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series	Best Supporting Actress (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series
*Tom Poston as Himself on The Steve Allen Show, (NBC)* Richard Crenna as Luke McCoy on The Real McCoys, (ABC) Paul Ford as Col. John T. Hall on The Phil Silvers Show, (CBS) Maurice Gosfield as Pvt. Duane Doberman on The Phil Silvers Show, (CBS) Billy Gray as Bud on Father Knows Best, (CBS), (NBC) Harry Morgan as Pete Porter on December Bride, (CBS)	*Ann B. Davis as Charmaine Schultz on The Bob Cummings Show, (NBC)* Rosemary DeCamp as Margaret MacDonald on The Bob Cummings Show, (NBC) Elinor Donahue as Betty on Father Knows Best, (CBS), (NBC) Verna Felton as Hilda Crocker on December Bride, (CBS) Kathleen Nolan as Kate McCoy on The Real McCoys, (ABC) Zasu Pitts as Susanna Pomeroy on The Gale Storm Show, (CBS)
Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series	Best Supporting Actress (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series
*Dennis Weaver as Chester on Gunsmoke, (CBS)* Herschel Bernardi as Lt. Jacoby on Peter Gunn, (NBC) Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain on The Rifleman, (ABC) William Hopper as Paul Drake on Perry Mason, (CBS)	*Barbara Hale as Della Street on Perry Mason, (CBS)* Lola Albright as Edie Hart on Peter Gunn, (NBC) Amanda Blake as Kitty on Gunsmoke, (CBS) Hope Emerson as Mother on Peter Gunn, (NBC)

Single performances[]

Best Single Performance by an Actor	Best Single Performance by an Actress
*Fred Astaire as Himself on An Evening with Fred Astaire,* (NBC)** Robert Crawford Jr. as Tanguy on Playhouse 90, (Episode: "Child of Our Time"), (CBS) Paul Muni as Sam Arlen on Playhouse 90, (Episode: "Last Clear Chance"), (CBS) Christopher Plummer as Kenneth Boyd on Hallmark Hall of Fame, (Episode: "Little Moon of Alban"), (NBC) Mickey Rooney as Eddie on Alcoa Goodyear Theatre, (Episode: "Eddie"), (NBC) Rod Steiger as Harvey Denton on Playhouse 90, (Episode: "A Town has Turned to Dust"), (CBS)	*Julie Harris as Bridgid Mary on Hallmark Hall of Fame, (Episode: "Little Moon of Alban"), (NBC)* Judith Anderson as Marquesa de Montemayor on The DuPont Show of the Month, (Episode: "The Bridge of San Luis Rey"), (CBS) Helen Hayes as Mother Seraphim on The United States Steel Hour, (Episode: "One Red Rose for Christmas"), (CBS) Piper Laurie as Kirsten Clay on Playhouse 90, (Episode: "Days of Wine and Roses"), (CBS) Geraldine Page as The Young Woman on Playhouse 90, (Episode: "Old Man"), (CBS) Maureen Stapleton as Sadie Burke on Kraft Television Theatre, (Episode: "All the Kings Men"), (NBC)

Directing[]

Best Direction of a Single Musical or Variety Program	Best Direction of a Single Program of a Comedy Series
*Bud Yorkin for An Evening with Fred Astaire,* (NBC)** Clark Jones for Kraft Music Hall, (NBC) Joseph Cates, Gower Champion for Pontiac Star Parade, (NBC)	*Peter Tewksbury for Father Knows Best,* (Episode: "Medal for Margaret"), (CBS)** Hy Averback for The Real McCoys, (Episode: "Kate's Career"), (ABC) Seymour Berns for The Jack Benny Program, (Episode: "Gary Cooper"), (CBS) Richard Kinon for Mr. Adams and Eve, (Episode: "The Interview"), (CBS) Sheldon Leonard for The Danny Thomas Show, (Episode: "Pardon My Accent"), (CBS)
Best Direction of a Single Program of a Dramatic Series Less Than One Hour	Best Direction of a Single Dramatic Program - One Hour or Longer
*Jack Smight for Alcoa Goodyear Theatre,* (Episode: "Eddie"), (NBC)** Herschel Daugherty for General Electric Theatre, (Episode: "One is a Wanderer"), (CBS) Blake Edwards for Peter Gunn, (Episode: "The Kill"), (NBC) Alfred Hitchcock for Alfred Hitchcock Presents, (Episode: "Lamb to the Slaughter"), (CBS) James Neilson for General Electric Theatre, (Episode: "Kid at the Stick"), (CBS)	*George Schaefer for Hallmark Hall of Fame,* (Episode: "Little Moon of Alban"), (NBC)** John Frankenheimer for Playhouse 90, (Episode: "A Town has Turned to Dust"), (CBS) George Roy Hill for Playhouse 90, (Episode: "Child of Our Time"), (CBS)

Writing[]

Best Writing of a Single Musical or Variety Program	Best Writing of a Single Program of a Comedy Series
*Herbert Baker, Bud Yorkin for An Evening with Fred Astaire, (NBC)* Goodman Ace, Mort Green, George Foster, Jay Burton for Kraft Music Hall, (NBC) Larry Gelbart, Woody Allen for The Sid Caesar Show, (NBC) A.J. Russell for Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf, (ABC) Leonard Stern, Stan Burns, Herbert Sargent, Bill Dana, Don Hinkley, Hal Goodman, Larry Klein for The Steve Allen Show, (NBC)	*George Balzer, Hal Goldman, Sam Perrin, Al Gordon for The Jack Benny Show, (CBS)* Paul Henning, Dick Wesson, for The Bob Cummings Show, (Episode: "Grandpa Clobbers the Air Force"), (NBC) Roswell Rogers for Father Knows Best, (Episode: "Medal for Margaret"), (CBS) Billy Friedberg, Arnie Rosen, Coleman Jacoby for The Phil Silvers Show, (Episode: "Bilko's Vampire"), (CBS) Bill Manhoff for The Real McCoys, (Episode: "Once There Was a Traveling Salesman"), (ABC)
Best Writing of a Single Program of a Dramatic Series Less Than One Hour	Best Writing of a Single Dramatic Program One Hour or Longer
*Alfred Brenner, Ken Hughes, for Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre, (Episode: "Eddie"), (NBC)* Blake Edwards for Peter Gunn, (Episode: "The Kill"), (NBC) Roald Dahl for Alfred Hitchcock Presents, (Episode: "Lamb to the Slaughter"), (CBS) Christopher Knopf for Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre, (Episode: "The Loudmouth"), (NBC) Samuel A. Taylor for General Electric Theatre, (Episode: "One is a Wanderer"), (CBS)	*James Costigan, for Hallmark Hall of Fame, (Episode: "Little Moon of Alban"), (NBC)* Horton Foote for Playhouse 90, (Episode: Old Man"), (CBS) J.P. Miller for Playhouse 90, (Episode: "Days of Wine and Roses"), (CBS) Irving G. Neiman for Playhouse 90, (Episode: "Child of Our Time"), (CBS) Rod Serling for Playhouse 90, (Episode: "A Town has Turned to Dust"), (CBS)

Most major nominations[]

By network ^{[note 1]}

CBS – 69
NBC – 57
ABC – 16

By program

Playhouse 90 (CBS) – 9
Father Knows Best (NBC) / Peter Gunn (NBC) – 7
Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre (NBC) / The Bob Cummings Show (NBC) / An Evening with Fred Astaire (NBC)
Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC) / The Phil Silvers Show (CBS) / The Real McCoys (ABC) – 5
General Electric Theatre (CBS) / Gunsmoke (CBS) / The Jack Benny Show (CBS) / The Steve Allen Show (NBC) – 4

Most major awards[]

By network ^{[note 1]}

NBC – 19
CBS – 10
ABC – 1

By program

An Evening with Fred Astaire (NBC) – 5
Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre (NBC) / Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC) / The Jack Benny Show (CBS) – 3
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (NBC) / Father Knows Best (CBS) / Perry Mason (CBS) – 2

Notes

^ ^a ^b "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.

References[]

^ Emmys.com list of 1959 Nominees & Winners

External links[]

[MW_Note-2] "Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories.

[Winners/Nominees-1] Emmys.com list of 1959 Nominees & Winners

[1]

[note 1]