Product ID: GSFGPDR
Control Number: 7873834
Great Scenes From Great Plays 21 Episodes
Great Scenes From Great Plays was a magnificent, highly elevated educational anthology series that brought the majestic world of classic theater and Broadway directly to the radio microphone. Produced under the prestigious banner of the National Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the program stood out on the airwaves by completely shunning commercial sponsors and standard, sensationalized radio melodramas. Instead, the series focused entirely on delivering the most powerful, emotionally resonant, and morally profound climaxes of the world's finest dramatic literature. From the tragic depths of Shakespearean classics to the thought-provoking social commentaries of modern playwrights, each broadcast was designed to inspire the human spirit and elevate public appreciation for high art.
Intellectual, deeply moving, and brilliantly executed, Great Scenes From Great Plays was widely celebrated across the broadcasting industry for its cultural importance, its uncompromising literary values, and its role in turning the radio into a prestigious national theater.
The Stars
Because the program functioned as a premium theatrical showcase, it attracted the absolute royalty of Broadway, Hollywood, and elite New York radio pools. Towering theatrical legends and cinema stars such as Walter Hampden, Celeste Holm, Jane Wyatt, Raymond Massey, Brian Aherne, and Basil Rathbone eagerly stepped up to the microphone. These massive talents delivered raw, commanding, and unforgettable performances, frequently tackling roles they had famously played on the live Broadway stage.
The series owed its incredibly warm, welcoming, and dignified tone to its legendary host and narrator, Walter Hampden, an acclaimed Shakespearean actor who opened each broadcast by introducing the play, establishing its profound moral or human theme, and setting the historical scene. The breathtaking, cinematic musical scores were composed and conducted by the prominent maestro Maurice Brown, who led a live studio orchestra to give each dramatic masterpiece a rich, high-fidelity symphonic backing.
Key Dates
The series made its grand national network premiere on October 1, 1948, broadcasting coast-to-coast as a highly praised public service program.
Operating as a beautifully tight and highly successful single season showcase, the program concluded its definitive primary weekly sequence on February 25, 1949.
Every episode utilized a crisp, fast moving 30minute format that famously rejected unnecessary fluff, focusing entirely on a brief cultural introduction followed by the most intense, unforgettable acts of the chosen play.
Other Information
A hallmark of the show was its extraordinary literary and philosophical range. The scripts masterfully adapted the absolute peaks of world drama, transporting listeners across genres and eras through memorable broadcasts of classic plays like Cyrano de Bergerac, The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Macbeth, The Corn Is Green, and A Doll's House. The series took massive pride in highlighting themes of faith, integrity, redemption, and human resilience, making it a favorite among educators and families alike.
The production was widely praised for its impeccable, live theater audio design. Sound engineers and directors worked in perfect harmony to capture the true atmosphere of a live stage play, utilizing pristine acoustic balance, layered room tones, and elegant musical bridges that effortlessly heightened the emotional stakes without distracting from the brilliance of the spoken text. Today, Great Scenes From Great Plays is deeply revered by old time radio collectors, theater archivists, and cultural historians as a magnificent monument to the power of audio theater, proving that the classic medium could bring the absolute best of Broadway straight into the comfort of the American living room.
This collection comes preloaded on a USB stick, allowing you to easily transfer all episodes to the device of your choice. Enjoy seamless playback a perfect blend of vintage charm and modern convenience.
Suggested Retail Price: $12.49
Mice Price: $9.69
Weight: 0.0500 pounds
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