Dark of Night is an American dramatic anthology series that aired on the DuMont Television Network on Fridays at 8:30pm EST from October 3, 1952, to May 1, 1953.

The series starred mostly unknown actors. In it, the character known as "The Stranger" traveled to a different site each week in order to solve a crime. Each episode was filmed at a different location in the New York City area. , Locations included a Coca-Cola bottling plant, Brentano's book store in Manhattan, a castle in New Jersey, and the American Red Cross Blood Bank. Dark of Night was one of the first network dramas to use such locations, which saved money for the network.

Actors who performed on the program included Joel Ashley,"Friday February 27". Ross Reports on Television. February 29, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Raymond Bailey,"Friday March 13". Ross Reports on Television. March 15, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Martin Balsam,"Friday December 12". Ross Reports on Television. December 14, 1952. p. 7. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Patricia Barry, Wolfe Barzell, Ray Boyle, Frank Campanella,"Friday May 1". Ross Reports on Television. May 3, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Flora Campbell,"Friday November 28". Ross Reports. November 30, 1952. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Hal Cooper, Joe Downing,"Friday March 20". Ross Reports on Television. March 22, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Bramwell Fletcher,"Friday October 17". Ross Reports on Television. October 19, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Scott Forbes, Joey Forman, Joy Geffen,"Friday October 31". Ross Reports on Television. November 2, 1952. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Lauren Gilbert, Bruce Gordon, Leo Gordon,"Friday October 10". October 12, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Sally Gracie,"Friday April 17". Ross Reports on Television. April 19, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Allan Hale,"Friday January 23". Ross Reports on Television. January 25, 1952. p. 7. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Peg Hillias, Betty Lou Holland, Joseph Holland, Arch Johnson, Bernard Kates, Brian Keith (as Robert Keith Jr.),"Friday April 3". Ross Reports on Television. April 5, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Jack Klugman,"Friday March 27". Ross Reports on Television. March 29, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Doreen Lang,"Friday January 9". Ross Reports on Television. January 11, 1953. p. 7. Will Lee,"Friday April 24". Ross Reports on Television. April 26, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Paul Lipson,"Friday April 10". Ross Reports on Television. April 12, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025. George Lowther, Jock MacGregor, Jack Manning, Bill McCutcheon,"Friday February 13". Ross Reports on Television. February 15, 1952. p. 8. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Mercer McLeod,"Friday March 6". Ross Reports on Television. March 8, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved September 11, 2025. Robert Middleton, Dick Moore, Lois Nettleton, Allen Nourse, Vince O'Brien, Judson Pratt, Logan Ramsey, Hal Riddle, Norman Rose,"Friday October 24". Ross Reports on Television. October 26, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025. P. Jay Sidney, Art Smith, John Stanley, Rod Steiger, Harold Stone, Michael Strong, Grant Sullivan, Victor Thorley, Harry Townes, Peter Turgeon, Richard Ward, and Ruth White."Friday February 20". Ross Reports on Television. February 22, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2025.

When the program was canceled, the trade publication Variety reported that it "had good critical reaction but no sponsor interest".

Production Dark of Night was broadcast live. Frank Bunetta was the producer and director. Preparation for each episode began with selection of the set to be used. Then a writer was chosen to write a script suited to the set, after which actors were chosen for the cast.

Episode status Though most episodes of DuMont series were eventually destroyed, the UCLA Film and Television Archive has one episode of Dark of Night, from January 30, 1953.

See also List of programs broadcast by the DuMont Television Network List of surviving DuMont Television Network broadcasts 1952-53 United States network television schedule at CVTA with episode list

References

External links

DuMont historical website Dark of Night at CVTA with episode list