rand's esoteric otr

The Weird Circle - Pgm 20

Now for some more creepiness for Halloween, an episode of the classic NBC syndicated series, "The Weird Circle".

Program 20 is "The Lifted Veil", based on a story by George Eliot, and concerns eerie premonitions of the future and attempts to bring the dead back to life.  The show was digitized from an original vinyl NBC Orthacoustic Syndicated Program Series vinyl transcription set, ND3-MM-4687-2B and ND3-MM-4688-2.

The Weird Circle - Pgm 19

If you're an old time radio collector, you're no doubt familiar with "The Weird Circle", a horror/mystery anthology series based on famous books that was syndicated by NBC in the 1940s.

Well, here's your chance to take a gander at one of the labels and listen to an episode dubbed right from an original transcription set for the show.  Program 19 in the series is based on Edgar Allen Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue".  The show was digitized from an original vinyl NBC Orthacoustic Syndicated Program Series vinyl transcription set, matrix numbers ND3-MM-4682-3 and ND3-MM-4683-1.

Mercer McLeod, The Man With the Story - Pgm 1

NBC, best known for quality live shows on their network, also offered a wide range of programs especially recorded for syndication to local stations.  In some other blog posts, we heard "Playhouse of Favorites", but you might have heard the more famous program "Five Minute Mysteries" (a show I'd like to collect in original transcriptions) or "Weird Circle".

This week, we take a listen to one of the more unusual programs in the NBC syndication library, "Mercer McLeod, the Man With the Story".  Each fifteen minute episode dramatized a story dealing with the mysterious or supernatural.  What makes it unique, and the little "gimmick" for the show, is that Mercer McLeod plays all the roles in the show.  (Except the female roles, which are handled by an actress credited only as "Rita".) McLeod was a busy character actor in radio and television.  He was a member of the Frank Benson Shakespeare Company and the the Ben Greet Players in England toured several countries with the Bernard Shaw Players.  "The Man With the Story" was, according to an online bio, his entry into American radio.  He was so versatile and impressive on the show, that he received many offers for radio and television work through the 1950s and 60s. Here's program 1 in the series, "The Mysterious Drawing", transferred from an original vinyl NBC Orthacoustic Syndicated Program Series transcription, matrix number ND5-MM-11444-3. If you have any other original discs in the series, let me know - I'd love to work on collecting a set.

Playhouse of Favorites - Pgm 50 - Enoch Arden

Here's another episode of "Your Playhouse of Favorites", a program syndicated by NBC consisting of dramas based on classic literature.

Program 50 in the series, dating from circa 1949-50, is "Enoch Arden", based on the poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson.  It's the story of a sailor who leaves his wife behind to earn money and make a better life for them as he travels the high seas; of course, life goes on while he's away.  Regrets, heartbreak and much emoting ensue. The program was transferred from an original set of vinyl NBC Radio Recordings transcriptions pressed by RCA, matrix numbers  ND6-MM-9219 and ND6-MM-9220-1.

Your Playhouse of Favorites - Pgm 49 - Robin Hood

"Your Playhouse of Favorites" was one of many series produced especially for syndication by NBC; you might recall others such as "Five Minute Mysteries". The series were offered to stations regardless of network affiliation.

Most of these series are well produced and feature the talent heard on the network's programs and "Your Playhouse of Favorites" is no exception. The program adapted classic popular works of literature into half-hour dramas and, although they don't feature "star" names, are excellent examples of the genre. "Robin Hood" is program 49 in the series and dates from about 1949-50. The matrix numbers for the sides are ND6-MM-9170 and ND6-MM-9171-1. You can hear a studio audience at the production - I wonder if these might school or church groups doing a tour of the NBC studios.

Vass Family - Pgm 58

Continuing from our last post, another five minute Alka Seltzer show featuring the Vass Family. In program 58, the group sings "Crinoline Days" and "Old King Cole".

Vass Family - Pgm 57

Today we have a fun little five minute musical program featuring the Vass Family on the air for Alka Seltzer. This show and one in the next entry are taken from an original vinyl NBC syndication disc pressed by RCA, matrix number MS 03444. (The other side of the disc contains two five minute Alka Seltzer shows by the Hoosier Hot Shots that I'll post later.)

The Vass Family appeared on the National Barn Dance and a few other NBC programs in the late 1930s. According to the announcer, the group hails from South Carolina. In this show, the group sings "Romance Runs in the Family" and "When the White Azealeas Start Blooming" and help out with the Alka Seltzer ads.