# Identify this play that was on PBS in the very early '70's **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 17, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-play-that-was-on-pbs-in-the-very-early-70s/536484 "2010-04-17T21:38:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-play-that-was-on-pbs-in-the-very-early-70s/536484/1 "2010-04-17T21:38:35Z")
When I was a young child, I watched this play on PBS. This was pre-cable and it was a boring, lazy weekend afternoon with nothing to do. So, even though there was no way I’d understand it, I watched this really weird show about a guy in some sort of prison cell. Here’s what I remember: [ul] [li]White looking walls with black looking lines to simulate the appearance of tiles;[/li][li]A cook bringing food in and this seeming to be an opportunity to escape - but it’s not;[/li][li]A harpy of a mother visiting the prisoner;[/li][li]Some crazy seeming younger female visitor who leaves the cell via a wall that disappears revealing a busy city street.[/li][/ul] Google reveals nothing. So, I appeal to my fellow Dopers, one of whom revealed the name of the movie I’d always known as “Murderer, Murderer” to be “The Black Menace” in one post: what was this bizarre play, movie, show or whatever? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-play-that-was-on-pbs-in-the-very-early-70s/536484/2 "2010-04-17T23:40:41Z")
Sounds like it could be [The Cube](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6203080879952576646#). Jim Henson (yes, him) wrote and directed it, and it was first broadcast on **NBC’s Experiment in Television** (which would explain why you might think it was on PBS – **[Experiment in Television](http://www.sff.net/people/rothman/GBF/ExperimentinTV.htm)** was shown commercial free). ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-play-that-was-on-pbs-in-the-very-early-70s/536484/3 "2010-04-18T00:36:37Z")
[Here’s a Wikipedia article on The Cube](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cube_(1969_film)). Your memory is pretty impressive, **Caricci** – this was apparently only played twice, once in 1969 and once in '70! But considering how creepy it looks, I can imagine this staying with you as a young kid. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-play-that-was-on-pbs-in-the-very-early-70s/536484/4 "2010-04-19T03:28:56Z")
How much do I love the Dope! I am just floored. Seriously, you guys are great! You know, I was in kindergarten when I watched this, or maybe first grade. I am almost 47 now. Wow! First Murderer, Murderer and now this. Honestly, I am just thrilled. Now I’ll go read the Wikipedia article and watch the video. ETA - yeah, creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-play-that-was-on-pbs-in-the-very-early-70s/536484/5 "2010-04-19T16:50:53Z")
And furthermore, I was right about it being on on a weekend afternoon.