Spelling sold his first script to "Jane Wyman Presents" in 1954. He guest-starred that same year as a dogcatcher in the premiere episode of the CBS situation comedy, "Willy", starring June Havoc as a young lawyer in New Hampshire, who later relocates to New York City to represent a vaudeville troupe. Two years later, Spelling gained experience as a producer and additional credits as a script writer working on the Four Star television series "Zane Grey Theater", which aired between 1956 and 1961. Of the 149 episodes in that series, he wrote 20 of the teleplays and produced many others.