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 hosted by Frank Gallop. [3] Authors whose works were presented included William Fryer Harvey. [4]

Cast

Actors featured in the series included Judith Evelyn, Richard Thomas, [1] Robert Duvall, Joanne Linville, [5] Laurie Main, [6] Lee Grant, Arthur Hill, Lois Nettleton, [2] Salome Jens, Ruth White, [7] Mildred Dunnock, R. G. Armstrong, [8] Janet Ward, Edmon Ryan, David J. Stewart, Collin Wilcox, [9] James Broderick, Vincent Gardenia, Virginia Leith, Herbert Voland, [10] John Abbott [11] Blanche Yurka, Clifford David, Ann Williams, Eric Berry, [12] William Redfield, Diana Van Der Vlis, [13] Walter Matthau, [14] and Kevin McCarthy. [15]

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"UnknownAudrey 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 Winston Irving Gaynor Neiman August 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 story, No 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 story 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. [5] Talent Associates — Paramount Limited produced the series, and Ford sponsored it. [16] It was replaced by Hazel . [17]

Critical response

A review of the premiere episode in The New York Times called the episode "an encouraging send-off for the new venture." [5] The review complimented the presentation and the "skill and sensitivity" of the actors. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Alfred Hitchcock Presents</i> American anthology television series

Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965, it was renamed The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Hitchcock himself directed only 18 episodes during its run.

<i>Armstrong Circle Theatre</i> American anthology drama television series

Armstrong Circle Theatre is an American anthology drama television series which ran from June 6, 1950, to June 25, 1957, on NBC, and from October 2, 1957, to August 28, 1963, on CBS. It alternated weekly with The U.S. Steel Hour. It finished in the Nielsen ratings at number 19 for the 1950–51 season and number 24 for 1951–52. The principal sponsor was Armstrong World Industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Long (actor)</span> American actor (1927–1974)

Richard McCord Long, also known as Dick Long, was an American actor best known for his leading roles in three ABC television series, The Big Valley, Nanny and the Professor, and Bourbon Street Beat. He was also a series regular on ABC's 77 Sunset Strip during the 1961–1962 season.

<i>The Bob Cummings Show</i> American television sitcom (1955–1959)

The Bob Cummings Show is an American sitcom starring Bob Cummings, which was broadcast from January 2, 1955, to September 15, 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mildred Dunnock</span> American actress (1901–1991)

Mildred Dorothy Dunnock was an American stage and screen actress. She was nominated twice for an Academy Award for her works in Death of a Salesman (1951) and Baby Doll (1956).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Arthur Jr.</span> American writer (1909–1969)

Robert Arthur Jr. was a writer and editor of crime fiction and speculative fiction known for his work with The Mysterious Traveler radio series and for writing The Three Investigators, a series of young adult novels.

Goodyear Television Playhouse is an American anthology series that was telecast live on NBC from 1951 to 1957 during the first Golden Age of Television.

<i>Ford Theatre</i> Television and radio series

Ford Theatre, spelled Ford Theater for the original radio version and known, in full, as The Ford Television Theatre for the TV version, is a radio and television anthology series broadcast in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s. At various times the television series appeared on all three major television networks, while the radio version was broadcast on two separate networks and on two separate coasts. Ford Theatre was named for its sponsor, the Ford Motor Company, which had an earlier success with its concert music series, The Ford Sunday Evening Hour (1934–42).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Tabor</span> American actress (1932–1968)

Joan Tabor was an American film and television actress during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herb Voland</span> American actor (1918–81)

Herbert Maurice Voland was an American actor, best known for his various roles on the sitcom Bewitched, as General Crandell Clayton on the sitcom M*A*S*H during seasons one and two, and the film Airplane! (1980).

Gunslinger is an American Western television series starring Tony Young that aired on the CBS television network from February 9, 1961, through September 14, 1961, on Thursdays from 9 to 10 p.m. EST. The theme song was sung by Frankie Laine. The program was also broadcast in London.

Diana Van der Vlis was a Canadian-American stage, screen and television actress best known for her characters Dr. Nell Beaulac (1975–76) on the ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope and Kate Hathaway Prescott on the soap opera Where the Heart Is. Two other roles on daytime dramas that she played were Sherry Rowan (1987–89) on Ryan's Hope and Susan Ames Carver on The Secret Storm, when she was a substitute for Judy Lewis in the role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joby Baker</span> Canadian actor and painter (born 1934)

Joseph N. "Joby" Baker is a Canadian actor and painter, long based in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Redfield (actor)</span> American actor (1927–1976)

William Henry Redfield was an American actor and author who appeared in many theatrical, film, radio, and television roles.

Baby Boom is an American television sitcom based on the 1987 film of the same name, created by Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, and starring Kate Jackson. The pilot premiered on NBC on September 10, 1988, and the series aired from November 2, 1988, to July 13, 1989.

The Web is an American dramatic anthology series that aired live on CBS for four seasons from July 11, 1950, to September 26, 1954. The program was produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and was narrated by Jonathan Blake. A series with the same title and a similar premise was also broadcast briefly by NBC during the summer of 1957.

Our American Heritage is a series of TV specials broadcast on NBC from 1959 to 1961.

<i>Playwrights 56</i>

Playwrights '56, a.k.a. The Playwright Hour, is a 60-minute live American dramatic anthology series produced by Fred Coe for Showtime Productions. Twenty episodes aired on NBC from October 4, 1955, to June 19, 1956. It shared a Thursday time slot with Armstrong Circle Theatre.

Tallahassee 7000 is a 1961 American syndicated TV series starring Walter Matthau as Special Agent Lex Rogers of the Florida Sheriffs Bureau. It consists of 26 episodes in 30-minute time slots.

The Wendigo is a novella by Algernon Blackwood, first published in The Lost Valley and Other Stories.

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 (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 406. ISBN   0-345-42923-0.
  3. ↑ TV Guide. "Great Ghost Tales Cast and Details". TV Guide. Retrieved 2013-02-11.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Live Mystery Series Is Welcome Fare" . The New York Times. July 7, 1961. p. 52. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "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).
  9. ↑ "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).
  10. ↑ "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).
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "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).
  13. ↑ "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).
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "This Week — Network Debuts". Ross Reports. September 25, 1961. p. 102. Retrieved August 7, 2024.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.