BBC MYSTERY PLAYHOUSE
[RADIO-SERIES]
American re-broadcasts of shows that had originally appeared on the BBC series Appointment
with Fear and Mystery Playhouse. The first story was “The Diary of William Carpenter,” starring
James Mason and Flora Robson.
[The Billboard, July 19, 1947] “A series of mystery shows starring top English names, produced
by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), was lined up this week by WINS as replacement for
its Trans-Atlantic Quiz series. Titled BBC Mystery Playhouse, the new series kicks off next
Saturday (19), 8:30-9 p.m., with James Mason and Flora Robson starring in The Diary of William
Carpenter.
“Presentations to follow in the series, which will last until October, include Sir Cedric Hardwicke
playing Sherlock Holmes in The Adventure of the Speckled Band, H. G. Wells’ The Late Mr.
Elvesham, and three adaptations by mystery writer John Dickson Carr.”
[The New York Times, August 3, 1947] “It is a series which demonstrates that in radio, as well as
in the films, the English know their way about in the world of chills and thrills every bit as well as
we do, if not a great deal better.”
ORIGINATION: WINS, New York City, New York (electrical transcriptions).
DURATION: July 19-October 11, 1947.
PERSONNEL: John Dickson Carr (scriptwriter), Martyn C. Webster (producer).
CASTS: Sir Cedric Hardwicke, James Mason, Flora Robson, et al.
[CHRONOLOGY]
BBC MYSTERY PLAYHOUSE (WINS, NEW YORK)
[Saturday—8:30-9:00 PM]
July 19, 1947 “The Diary of William Carpenter”
July 26, 1947 “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”
August 2, 1947 “The Late Mr. Elvesham”
August 9, 1947 “He Wasn’t Superstitious”
August 16, 1947 “The Case of the Five Canaries”
August 23, 1947 “Confession”
August 30, 1947
September 6, 1947 “The Late Mr. Elvesham”
September 13, 1947 “Vampire Tower”
September 20, 1947 “The Case”
September 27, 1947 “The Clock Strikes Eight”
October 4, 1947 “The Clock Strikes Eight”
October 11, 1947