''Accused'' is a 1958 dramatized court show consisting of filmed reenactments of actual court cases. The show was cancelled at the end of its first season.

Background

In the summer of 1957, local television station KABC-TV began broadcasting ''Traffic Court'', presenting re-enactments of traffic court cases and arraignments. The format proved popular and the show moved to ABC's national daytime schedule. It was soon followed by the syndicated '' Divorce Court'' and '' Day in Court''. In December 1958, ''Accused'' debuted as the prime time version of '' Day in Court''.

Casting

Similar to other courtroom dramas of the time, the defendants and witnesses were actors (including, for example,

Pamela Mason Pamela Mason (10 March 1916 – 29 June 1996), also known as Pamela Kellino, was an English actress, author, and screenwriter, known for being the creative partner and first wife of English actor James Mason. Early life and personal life Born ...

and Robert Culp). However, the defense and prosecution attorneys were real-life lawyers. The court was presided over by Edgar Allan Jones, Jr. Jones had a law degree from the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...

, was a member of the

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

law faculty and a labor arbitrator. * Edgar Allan Jones, Jr. as the Judge * William Gwinn as the Substitute Judge * Jim Hodson as the Clerk * Tim Farrell as the Bailiff * Violet Gillmore as the Court Reporter (and Announcer)

Production

The show was produced by Selig J. Seligman, a former U.S. Army lawyer who served at the

Nuremberg Trials The Nuremberg trials were held by the Allies of World War II, Allies against representatives of the defeated Nazi Germany, for plotting and carrying out invasions of other countries, and other crimes, in World War II. Between 1939 and 1945 ...

. He later became an ABC Vice President as well as executive producer of '' Combat!'' and ''

Garrison's Gorillas ''Garrison's Gorillas'' is an American Broadcasting Company, ABC Television program, TV series originally broadcast from 1967 to 1968; a total of 26 hour-long episodes were produced. It was inspired by the 1967 film ''The Dirty Dozen'', which fea ...

''.Terrace, Vincent (1976). ''The Complete Encyclopedia of Television Programs 1947-1976'' (Vol. 1). South Brunswick and New York: A.S. Barnes and Company. .

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0051248 1950s American drama television series 1958 American television series debuts 1959 American television series endings American Broadcasting Company original programming Black-and-white American television shows Dramatized court shows