DANSE MACABRE
[RADIO-SCRIPT]
Vallee introduces the sketch as “a frankly melodramatic thriller by Arch Oboler, whose
remarkable imaginings on the Lights Out program—which happens to be my favorite program—
have chilled millions of spines on Wednesday evenings at 12:30 during the past two years.”
The composer Saint-Saens mourns at midnight over the grave of his son Louis. Death appears to
him as a mysterious fiddler who tries to convince him to end his grief by taking his own life. He
hesitates at the very brink of suicide, and the fiddler summons the restless dead—“my white
ones!”—out of their graves to dance wildly until dawn. Death tells Saint-Saens that he has still
triumphed because the composer will not be able to forget the music that he has heard.
PERSONNEL: Arch Oboler (scriptwriter).
EXTANT RECORDINGS: “Danse Macabre” (The Royal Gelatin Hour, May 5, 1938).
[CHRONOLOGY]
LIGHTS OUT (WMAQ, CHICAGO—NBC-RED)
[Wednesday—11:30 PM-12:00 MIDNIGHT]
August 26, 1936 “Danse Macabre”
[“…Arch Oboler gives his idea of the weird events which led the
Frenchman Saint-Saens to write the eerie music for his famous
composition…The weird strains of Saint-Saens’ ‘Danse Macabre’ played
by a phantom violinist. This will be the first time music has been used in
the series…”]
SCRIPT: Arch Oboler.
THE ROYAL GELATIN HOUR (WEAF, NEW YORK—NBC-RED)
[Thursday—
May 5, 1938 “Danse Macabre”
[“…Boris Karloff will be heard in a new one act play by Arch Oboler… The
play is entitled ‘Danse Macabre’ and is based on the music of that name
by Saint-Saens…”]
SCRIPT: Arch Oboler.
CAST: Horace Braham (Charles Camille Saint-Saens), Boris Karloff (Death), et al.
EXTANT RECORDING
ARCH OBOLER’S PLAYS (KHJ, LOS ANGELES—NBC-RED)
[???day—8:00-8:30 PM]
December 2, 1939 “State Executioner” / “Danse Macabre”
SCRIPT: Arch Oboler.
CAST: Ray Collins, Hans Conried.
DANSE MACABRE
[RADIO-SCRIPT]
THE COLUMBIA WORKSHOP (WABC, NEW YORK—CBS)
[Saturday—
January ??, 1937 “Danse Macabre”
DANSE MACABRE
[RADIO-SCRIPT]
THE TRUE STORY THEATER OF THE AIR (MBS)
[Wednesday—
December 9, 1942 “Danse Macabre”
[DUBUQUE TELEGRAPH-HERALD: “…A psychological study in horror will
be the starring vehicle for Henry Hull… A tragic triangle involving a
famous dancer, her pianist, and her insanely jealous husband comes to
an unhappy climax when death strikes during a festive masquerade ball.
Ann Seymour, well-known radio actress, fills the role of the dancer…”]