11th Primetime Emmy Awards


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. Playhouse 90 only took home one award, but it did set the record for most major nominations, with 14. Father Knows Best also set a milestone, becoming the first show to be nominated in every major category.

Winners and nominees

Programs

Best Comedy SeriesBest Dramatic Series Less than One Hour

  • Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre,
  • * Alfred Hitchcock Presents,
  • * General Electric Theatre,
  • * The Loretta Young Show,
  • * The Naked City,
  • * Peter Gunn,
    • Best Dramatic Series One Hour or LongerBest Musical or Variety Series
  • Playhouse 90,
  • * The United States Steel Hour,
  • The Dinah Shore Chevy Show,
  • * The Perry Como Show,
  • * The Steve Allen Show,
    • Best Public Service Program or SeriesBest Western Series
  • Omnibus,
  • * Bold Journey,
  • * Meet the Press,
  • * Small World,
  • * The Twentieth Century,
  • * New York Philharmonic: Young People's Concerts,
  • Maverick,
  • * Gunsmoke,
  • * Have Gun, Will Travel,
  • * The Rifleman,
  • * Wagon Train,
    • Best Panel, Quiz or Audience Participation SeriesBest Special Musical or Variety Program - One Hour or Longer
  • What's My Line?,
  • * I've Got a Secret,
  • * The Price Is Right,
  • * Keep Talking,
  • * This Is Your Life,
  • * You Bet Your Life,
  • An Evening with Fred Astaire,
  • * Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf,
    • Most Outstanding Single Program of the Year
  • An Evening with Fred Astaire,
  • * Hallmark Hall of Fame,,
  • * Playhouse 90,,
  • * Playhouse 90,,

    • Acting

    Lead performances

    Supporting performances

    Single performances

    Directing

    Writing

    Most major nominations

    ;By network
    ; By program
    Hallmark Hall of Fame / The Phil Silvers Show / The Real McCoys – 5
    ;By network
    ; By program
    ;Notes