Great Ghost Tales
Great Ghost Tales | |
---|---|
Genre | Horror |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 12 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company | Talent Associates |
Original release | |
Network | NBC |
Release | July 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]
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. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "William Wilson" | Daniel Petrie | James Lee | July 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 Reisner | Joel Davenport | July 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" | Unknown | Audrey Maas | July 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" | Unknown | Elliott Baker | July 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 Winston | Robert Thom | August 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 Pryor | August 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 Genus | Audrey Maas | August 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 Taylor | August 31, 1961 (1961-08-31) | |
Danny Walton feels compelled to follow the sound of a young girl singing. | |||||
10 | "Room 13" | Lewis Freedman | Philip 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 Freedman | Gordon Russell | September 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" | Unknown | Unknown | September 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]
References
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ TV Guide. "Great Ghost Tales Cast and Details". TV Guide. Retrieved 2013-02-11.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d "Live Mystery Series Is Welcome Fare". The New York Times. July 7, 1961. p. 52. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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).
- ^ "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).
- ^ "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).
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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).
- ^ "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).
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "This Week — Network Debuts". Ross Reports. September 25, 1961. p. 102. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
External links
- Great Ghost Tales at IMDb
- Great Ghost Tales at TV Guide
- Great Ghost Tales at epguides.com
- Great Ghost Tales at CVTA with episode list
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