They Stand Accused
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''They Stand Accused'' (also known as ''Cross Question'') is an American Court show#Dramatized court show, dramatized court show broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network from September 11, 1949, to October 5, 1952 and again from September 9 to December 30, 1954.


Overview

The series was recorded in a courtroom presided over by attorney Charles Johnston (attorney), Charles Johnston and broadcast live from Chicago's WGN-TV, with jurors chosen from the studio audience.McNeil, Alex (1980). ''Total Television'' (4th ed.). New York: Penguin Books. . On most DuMont affiliates, ''They Stand Accused'' aired Sundays at 9pm ET during the 1949-1950 television season, then Sundays at 10pm ET, and then Thursdays at 8pm ET during 1954. William C. Wines, assistant attorney general of Illinois, wrote the program's dramatizations.


Reception

Reviewer Jack Gould wrote in ''The New York Times'' that ''They Stand Accused'' was "one of the more remarkable and consistently absorbing programs on television". He complimented the program's combination of documentary and dramatic styles and its way of having a natural appearance despite its "careful preparation".


Episode status

At least two episodes exist: the December 23, 1950, episode is held in the J. Fred MacDonald collection at the Library of Congress, while an episode from late 1954 ("The Johnny Roberts Story") can be viewed online at the Internet Archive.


See also

* List of programs broadcast by the DuMont Television Network * List of surviving DuMont Television Network broadcasts * 1949-50 United States network television schedule * 1950-51 United States network television schedule * 1951-52 United States network television schedule * 1954-55 United States network television schedule


References


Bibliography

* David Weinstein, ''The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television'' (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2004) * Alex McNeil, ''Total Television'', Fourth edition (New York: Penguin Books, 1980) * Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows'', Third edition (New York: Ballantine Books, 1964)


External links

* {{imdb title, id=0319983
DuMont historical website

Late-1954 episode "The Johnny Roberts Story" at the Internet Archive
1949 American television series debuts 1954 American television series endings American crime television series American legal drama television series Black-and-white American television shows DuMont Television Network original programming English-language television shows Dramatized court shows American live television series