Great Ghost Tales

Last updated

Great Ghost Tales
Genre Horror
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production company Talent Associates
Original release
Network NBC
ReleaseJuly 6 (1961-07-06) –
September 21, 1961 (1961-09-21)

Great Ghost Tales is an American horror television series that aired live from July 6 until September 21, 1961. [1] The program was the summer replacement for The Ford Show . [2]

Contents

Premise

An anthology of scary stories. Authors whose works were presented included William Fryer Harvey. [3]

Cast

Actors featured in the series included Judith Evelyn, M. R. Jams, Richard Thomas, [1] Robert Duvall, Joanne Linville, [4] Laurie Main, [5] Lee Grant, Arthur Hill, Lois Nettleton, [2] Salome Jens, Ruth White, [6] Mildred Dunnock, R. G. Armstrong, [7] Janet Ward, Edmon Ryan, David J. Stewart, Collin Wilcox, [8] James Broderick, Vincent Gardenia, Virginia Leith, Herbert Voland, [9] John Abbott [10] Blanche Yurka, Clifford David, Ann Williams, Eric Berry, [11] William Redfield, Diana Van Der Vlis, [12] Walter Matthau, [13] and Kevin McCarthy. [14]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"William Wilson" Daniel Petrie James LeeJuly 6, 1961 (1961-07-06)
The lookalike of a drifter keeps following him everywhere. (Based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe.)
2"Lucy"Allen ReisnerJoel DavenportJuly 13, 1961 (1961-07-13)
Lucy gets her wish when she wishes that the director of her play would die.
3"The Monkey's Paw"Karl GenusAudrey MaasJuly 20, 1961 (1961-07-20)
The holder of a monkey's paw gets three wishes. (Based on the short story by W. W. Jacobs.)
4"Bye Bye Baby"UnknownElliott BakerJuly 27, 1961 (1961-07-27)
A hypnotist promises Ralph that he will be a young man again if he follows his instructions.
5"August Heat"Ron WinstonRobert ThomAugust 3, 1961 (1961-08-03)
An artist keeps sketching a face he sees in his imagination. (Based on the short story by William Fryer Harvey.)
6"Summer Rental" William A. Graham Nicholas PryorAugust 10, 1961 (1961-08-10)
A villainous couple, who have recently committed a murder rent out a cottage in Devon, however strange happenings begin to occur.
7"Mr. Arcularis"Karl GenusAudrey MaasAugust 17, 1961 (1961-08-17)
Mr. Arcularis has nightmares about a coffin on a cruise ship. (Based on the short story by Conrad Aiken; Aiken had also adapted the story in dramatic form, though whether the teleplay is based on his play is not certain.)
8"Sredni Vashtar"Ronald WinstonIrving Gaynor NeimanAugust 24, 1961 (1961-08-24)
A young boy uses his strange pet to get revenge on his overprotective guardians. (Based on the short story by "Saki", the pseudonym of H. H. Munro.)
9"A Phantom of Delight" Seymour Robbie Douglas TaylorAugust 31, 1961 (1961-08-31)
Danny Walton feels compelled to follow the sound of a young girl singing.
10"Room 13"Lewis FreedmanPhilip H. Reisman Jr.September 7, 1961 (1961-09-07)
A theological researcher rents a room where a 12th-century bishop made a pact with the devil. (Based on the short story "Number 13" by M. R. James.)
11"The Wendigo"Lewis FreedmanGordon RussellSeptember 14, 1961 (1961-09-14)
Canadian hunters track a legendary monster. (Based on the novella by Algernon Blackwood.)
12"Who's the Fairest One of All"UnknownUnknownSeptember 21, 1961 (1961-09-21)
A young schoolteacher looks into an antique mirror, but the reflection it throws back is a different version of herself.

Production

The series was broadcast in color, [1] with each episode produced live in New York. It was on Thursday nights from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. [2] Directors included Daniel Petrie. Writers included James Lee. [4] Talent Associates — Paramount Limited produced the series, and Ford sponsored it. [15] It was replaced by Hazel . [16]

Critical response

A review of the premiere episode in The New York Times called the episode "an encouraging send-off for the new venture." [4] The review complimented the presentation and the "skill and sensitivity" of the actors. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 341. ISBN   0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. 1 2 3 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2008). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (9 ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 558. ISBN   978-0345497734 . Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  3. ↑ Penzler, Otto (December 4, 2012). The Big Book of Ghost Stories: The Most Complete Collection of Uncanny, Spooky, Creepy Tales Ever Published. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 16. ISBN   978-0-345-80600-0 . Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Live Mystery Series Is Welcome Fare" . The New York Times. July 7, 1961. p. 52. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  5. ↑ Art. (July 12, 1961). "Television Review: Great Ghost Tales". Variety. p. 40. ProQuest   1032426964. Laurie Main, in briefly as a wronged English gentleman, was excellent.
  6. ↑ "Great Ghost Tales Scene". Wilmington Evening Journal. September 21, 1961. p. 13. ProQuest   2613288309. Salome Jens (left), Arthur Hill and Ruth White in a scene from 'Who's the Fairest One of All?' on Great Ghost Tales, over NBC-TV tonight.
  7. ↑ "Television Programs". New York Daily News. July 20, 1961. p. 58. ProQuest   2281218951. Great Ghost Tales: Mildred Dunnock, R.G. Armstrong in 'The Monkey's Paw.' Couple believe animal relic can grant them three wishes (Color).
  8. ↑ "Television: Thursday, July 27, 1961". New York Times. July 27, 1961. p. 58. ProQuest   115271764. 'Bye Bye Baby' by Elliot Baker. A middle-aged man tries to recapture his youth through hypnosis. With Janet Ward, Edmon Bryan, David J. Stewart, Collin Wilcox (Color).
  9. ↑ "Television: Thursday, August 3, 1961". New York Times. August 3, 1961. p. 49. ProQuest   115262479. A man sees his name on a tombstone in a monument shop in 'August Heat,' by W. W. Harvey. With James Broderick, Vincent Gardenia, Virginia Leith, Herbert Voland (Color).
  10. ↑ "Of Special Interest". New York Herald Tribune. August 17, 1961. p. 15. ProQuest   1325845034. 'Mr. Arcularis,' with John Abbott as a ship's passenger recuperating from a serious operation, but obsessed with a coffin he has seen being loaded aboard.
  11. ↑ "Television: Thursday, August 31, 1961". New York Times. August 31, 1961. p. 55. ProQuest   115274976. 'Phantom of Delight,' with Blanche Yurka, Clifford David, Anne Williams and Eric Berry (Color)—(4).
  12. ↑ "Television: Thursday, September 7, 1961". New York Times. September 7, 1961. p. 71. ProQuest   115269377. An archaeologist makes an eerie discovery in 'Room 13' at a small Austrian inn. With William Redfield, Diana Van Der Vlis (Color)—(4).
  13. ↑ Danzig, Fred (September 14, 1961). "TV Review". The Austin Statesman. p. 21. ProQuest   1527792945. 'Great Ghost Tales' on NBC-TV started out with a shaky monologue about the 'Wendigo,' a moss-eating, fiery-hoofed Canadian Northwest version of the Abominable Snowman. The story had trouble closing in on a focal point. After the midway mark, it managed to grab at us with a chilling and poignant mood as Walter Matthau staggered out of the indigo and behaved like a redoubtable Wendigo.
  14. ↑ "Specially Worth Watching". New York Herald Tribune. July 9, 1961. p. G2. ProQuest   1325311166. THURSDAY 9:30 (4) GREAT GHOST STORIES: COLOR • 'Lucy' with Lee Grant and Kevin McCarthy. A Salem witch's great-great granddaughter feels she possesses some of her ancestor's powers.
  15. ↑ Adams, Val (June 12, 1961). "N. B. C. Lists Part of Golf Tourney: To Televise Last Four Holes of National Open Saturday" . The New York Times. p. 59. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  16. ↑ "This Week — Network Debuts". Ross Reports. September 25, 1961. p. 102. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
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