11th Primetime Emmy Awards

1959 American television programming awards February 2025 July 2026 11th Primetime Emmy Awards May 6, 1959 Moulin Rouge Nightclub, Hollywood, California Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Raymond Burr NBC An Evening with Fred Astaire (5) Playhouse 90 (14) 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" 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 Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1959 Emmys.com list of 1959 Nominees & Winners Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Programs + Programs #EEDD82 Best Comedy Series The Jack Benny Show (CBS)Winner 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) #EEDD82 Best Dramatic Series Less than One Hour Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre (NBC)Winner Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS) General Electric Theater (CBS) The Loretta Young Show (NBC) Naked City (ABC) Peter Gunn (NBC) #EEDD82 Best Dramatic Series One Hour or Longer Playhouse 90 (CBS)Winner The United States Steel Hour (CBS) #EEDD82 Best Musical or Variety Series The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (NBC)Winner The Perry Como Show (NBC) The Steve Allen Show (NBC) #EEDD82 Best Public Service Program or Series Omnibus (NBC)Winner Bold Journey (ABC) Meet the Press (NBC) Small World (CBS) The Twentieth Century (CBS) New York Philharmonic: Young People's Concerts (CBS) #EEDD82 Best Western Series Maverick (ABC)Winner Gunsmoke (CBS) Have Gun – Will Travel (CBS) The Rifleman (ABC) Wagon Train (NBC) #EEDD82 Best Panel, Quiz or Audience Participation Series What's My Line? (CBS)Winner I've Got a Secret (CBS) Keep Talking (CBS) The Price Is Right (NBC) This Is Your Life (NBC) You Bet Your Life (NBC) #EEDD82 Best Special Musical or Variety Program - One Hour or Longer An Evening with Fred Astaire (NBC)Winner Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf (ABC) #EEDD82 Most Outstanding Single Program of the Year An Evening with Fred Astaire (NBC)Winner Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Little Moon of Alban" (NBC) Playhouse 90: "Child of Our Time" (CBS) Playhouse 90: "Old Man" (CBS) #EEDD82 Best Special Dramatic Program - One Hour or More Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Little Moon of Alban" (NBC)Winner DuPont Show of the Month: "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" (CBS) DuPont Show of the Month: "Hamlet" (CBS) DuPont Show of the Month: "The Hasty Heart" (CBS) Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Johnny Belinda" (NBC) Acting Lead performances + Lead performances #EEDD82 Best Performance by an Actor (Continuing Character) in a Musical or Variety Series Perry Como – The Perry Como Show as himself (CBS)Winner Steve Allen – The Steve Allen Show as himself (NBC) Jack Paar – Tonight Starring Jack Paar as himself (NBC) #EEDD82 Best Performance by an Actress (Continuing Character) in a Musical or Variety Series Dinah Shore – The Dinah Shore Chevy Show as herself (NBC)Winner Patti Page – The Patti Page Oldsmobile Show as herself (ABC) #EEDD82 Best Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series Jack Benny – The Jack Benny Show as Jack Benny (NBC)Winner Walter Brennan – The Real McCoys as Grandpa Amos McCoy (ABC) Bob Cummings – The Bob Cummings Show as Bob Collins (NBC) Phil Silvers – The Phil Silvers Show as MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko (CBS) Danny Thomas – The Danny Thomas Show as Danny Williams (ABC / CBS) Robert Young – Father Knows Best as Jim Anderson (CBS / NBC) #EEDD82 Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series Jane Wyatt – Father Knows Best as Margaret Anderson (CBS / NBC)Winner Gracie Allen – The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show as Gracie Allen (CBS) Spring Byington – December Bride as Lily Ruskin (CBS) Ida Lupino – Mr. Adams and Eve as Eve Drake (CBS) Donna Reed – The Donna Reed Show as Donna Stone (ABC) Ann Sothern – The Ann Sothern Show as Katy O'Connor (CBS) #EEDD82 Best Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series Raymond Burr – Perry Mason as Perry Mason (CBS)Winner James Arness – Gunsmoke as Matt Dillon (CBS) Richard Boone – Have Gun – Will Travel as Paladin (CBS) James Garner – Maverick as Bret Maverick (ABC) Craig Stevens – Peter Gunn as Peter Gunn (NBC) Efrem Zimbalist Jr. – 77 Sunset Strip as Stuart Bailey (ABC) #EEDD82 Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series Loretta Young – The Loretta Young Show as herself (NBC)Winner Phyllis Kirk – The Thin Man as Nora Charles (NBC) June Lockhart – Lassie as Ruth Martin (CBS) Jane Wyman – Fireside Theatre as herself (NBC) Supporting performances + Supporting performances #EEDD82 Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series Tom Poston – The Steve Allen Show as himself (NBC)Winner Richard Crenna – The Real McCoys as Luke McCoy (ABC) Paul Ford – The Phil Silvers Show as Col. John T. Hall (CBS) Maurice Gosfield – The Phil Silvers Show as Pvt. Duane Doberman (CBS) Billy Gray – Father Knows Best as Bud (CBS / NBC) Harry Morgan – December Bride as Pete Porter (CBS) #EEDD82 Best Supporting Actress (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series Ann B. Davis – The Bob Cummings Show as Charmaine Schultz (NBC)Winner Rosemary DeCamp – The Bob Cummings Show as Margaret MacDonald (NBC) Elinor Donahue – Father Knows Best as Betty (CBS / NBC) Verna Felton – December Bride as Hilda Crocker (CBS) Kathleen Nolan – The Real McCoys as Kate McCoy (ABC) Zasu Pitts – The Gale Storm Show as Susanna Pomeroy (CBS) #EEDD82 Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series Dennis Weaver – Gunsmoke as Chester (CBS)Winner Herschel Bernardi – Peter Gunn as Lt. Jacoby (NBC) Johnny Crawford – The Rifleman as Mark McCain (ABC) William Hopper – Perry Mason as Paul Drake (CBS) #EEDD82 Best Supporting Actress (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series Barbara Hale – Perry Mason as Della Street (CBS)Winner Lola Albright – Peter Gunn as Edie Hart (NBC) Amanda Blake – Gunsmoke as Kitty (CBS) Hope Emerson – Peter Gunn as Mother (NBC) Single performances + Single performances #EEDD82 Best Single Performance by an Actor Fred Astaire – An Evening with Fred Astaire as himself (NBC)Winner Robert Crawford Jr. – Playhouse 90: "Child of Our Time" as Tanguy (CBS) Paul Muni – Playhouse 90: "Last Clear Chance" as Sam Arlen (CBS) Christopher Plummer – Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Little Moon of Alban" as Kenneth Boyd (NBC) Mickey Rooney – Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre: "Eddie" as Eddie (NBC) Rod Steiger – Playhouse 90: "A Town Has Turned to Dust" as Harvey Denton (CBS) #EEDD82 Best Single Performance by an Actress Julie Harris – Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Little Moon of Alban" as Bridgid Mary (NBC)Winner Judith Anderson – The DuPont Show of the Month: "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" as Marquesa de Montemayor (CBS) Helen Hayes – The United States Steel Hour: "One Red Rose for Christmas" as Mother Seraphim (CBS) Piper Laurie – Playhouse 90: "Days of Wine and Roses" as Kirsten Clay (CBS) Geraldine Page – Playhouse 90: "Old Man" as the Young Woman (CBS) Maureen Stapleton – Kraft Television Theatre: "All the King's Men" as Sadie Burke (NBC) Directing + Directing #EEDD82 Best Direction of a Single Musical or Variety Program An Evening with Fred Astaire – Bud Yorkin (NBC)Winner The Perry Como Show – Clark Jones (NBC) Pontiac Star Parade – Joseph Cates and Gower Champion (NBC) #EEDD82 Best Direction of a Single Program of a Comedy Series Father Knows Best: "Medal for Margaret" – Peter Tewksbury (CBS)Winner The Danny Thomas Show: "Pardon My Accent" – Sheldon Leonard (CBS) The Jack Benny Show: "Gary Cooper" – Seymour Berns (CBS) Mr. Adams and Eve: "The Interview" – Richard Kinon (CBS) The Real McCoys: "Kate's Career" – Hy Averback (ABC) #EEDD82 Best Direction of a Single Program of a Dramatic Series Less Than One Hour Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre: "Eddie" – Jack Smight (NBC)Winner Alfred Hitchcock Presents: "Lamb to the Slaughter" – Alfred Hitchcock (CBS) General Electric Theater: "Kid at the Stick" – James Neilson (CBS) General Electric Theater: "One Is a Wanderer" – Herschel Daugherty (CBS) Peter Gunn: "The Kill" – Blake Edwards (NBC) #EEDD82 Best Direction of a Single Dramatic Program - One Hour or Longer Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Little Moon of Alban" – George Schaefer (NBC)Winner Playhouse 90: "Child of Our Time" – George Roy Hill (CBS) Playhouse 90: "A Town Has Turned to Dust" – John Frankenheimer (CBS) Writing + Writing #EEDD82 Best Writing of a Single Musical or Variety Program An Evening with Fred Astaire – Herbert Baker and Bud Yorkin (NBC)Winner Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf – A.J. Russell (ABC) The Perry Como Show – Goodman Ace, Mort Green, George Foster and Jay Burton (NBC) The Sid Caesar Show – Larry Gelbart and Woody Allen (NBC) The Steve Allen Show – Leonard Stern, Stan Burns, Herbert Sargent, Bill Dana, Don Hinkley, Hal Goodman and Larry Klein (NBC) #EEDD82 Best Writing of a Single Program of a Comedy Series The Jack Benny Show: "Ernie Kovacs" – George Balzer, Hal Goldman, Sam Perrin and Al Gordon (CBS)Winner The Bob Cummings Show: "Grandpa Clobbers the Air Force" – Paul Henning and Dick Wesson (NBC) Father Knows Best: "Medal for Margaret" – Roswell Rogers (CBS) The Phil Silvers Show: "Bilko's Vampire" – Billy Friedberg, Arnie Rosen and Coleman Jacoby (CBS) The Real McCoys: "Once There Was a Traveling Salesman" – Bill Manhoff (ABC) #EEDD82 Best Writing of a Single Program of a Dramatic Series Less Than One Hour Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre: "Eddie" – Alfred Brenner and Ken Hughes (NBC)Winner Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre: "The Loudmouth" – Christopher Knopf (NBC) Alfred Hitchcock Presents: "Lamb to the Slaughter" – Roald Dahl (CBS) General Electric Theater: "One Is a Wanderer" – Samuel A. Taylor (CBS) Peter Gunn: "The Kill" – Blake Edwards (NBC) #EEDD82 Best Writing of a Single Dramatic Program One Hour or Longer Hallmark Hall of Fame: "Little Moon of Alban" – James Costigan (NBC)Winner Playhouse 90: "Child of Our Time" – Irving G. Neiman (CBS) Playhouse 90: "Days of Wine and Roses" – J.P. Miller (CBS) Playhouse 90: "Old Man" – Horton Foote (CBS) Playhouse 90: "A Town Has Turned to Dust" – Rod Serling (CBS) Most major nominations +Networks with multiple major nominations"Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories. Network Number ofNominations CBS 69 NBC 57 ABC 16 +Programs with multiple major nominations Program Category Network Number ofNominations Playhouse 90 Drama CBS 14 Father Knows Best Comedy CBS/NBC 7 Peter Gunn Drama NBC Little Moon of Alban 6 Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre 5 The Bob Cummings Show Comedy An Evening with Fred Astaire Musical/Variety The Phil Silvers Show Comedy CBS The Real McCoys ABC General Electric Theater Drama CBS 4 Gunsmoke Western The Jack Benny Show Comedy The Perry Como Show Musical/Variety NBC The Steve Allen Show Alfred Hitchcock Presents Drama CBS 3 The Danny Thomas Show Comedy December Bride Perry Mason Drama Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf Musical/Variety ABC 2 The Bridge of San Luis Rey Drama CBS The Dinah Shore Chevy Show Musical/Variety NBC Have Gun – Will Travel Western CBS The Loretta Young Show Drama NBC Maverick Western ABC Mr. Adams and Eve Comedy CBS The Rifleman Western ABC The United States Steel Hour Drama CBS Most major awards +Networks with multiple major awards"Major" constitutes the categories listed above: Program, Acting, Directing, and Writing. Does not include the technical categories. Network Number ofAwards NBC 19 CBS 10 +Programs with multiple major awards Program Category Network Number ofAwards An Evening with Fred Astaire Musical/Variety NBC 5 Little Moon of Alban Drama 4 Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre 3 The Jack Benny Show Comedy CBS The Dinah Shore Chevy Show Musical/Variety NBC 2 Father Knows Best Comedy CBS Perry Mason Drama Notes "note" References External links Emmys.com list of 1959 Nominees & Winners 0000223/1959 011 Primetime Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Awards