The English ghost story tradition was represented in early programming on the BBC not so much
by anything like a regular series but by a number of special programs throughout the Twenties
and Thirties.
The earliest known radio broadcast of ghost stories was a pre-Christmas quarter-hour,
emanating from the BBC studios in Birmingham in 1923 and featuring Mr. John Hingeley as
storyteller. This was followed later in the evening by the enactment of scenes from Dickens’A
Christmas Carolby Percy Edgar, soon to be a key figure in the production of the first radio
fantasy series at the Birmingham station.
The Times, December 8, 1925] “At this season of the year, when winter is
come in earnest and his own fireside makes a strong claim even upon the least domesticated of
men, there is a tendency to revive, in favour of ghosts and goblins, the old practice of story-telling,
or at least of story-reading, which is otherwise so greatly fallen into decay… one of the best of
winter’s traditions… the reading aloud of ghost stories is too good an entertainment to perish of
modesty or self-consciousness. Its shared excitement, the feeling it gives of harmonious
adventure, of ‘common thrill,’ shuts out the world for an hour or two as nothing else shuts it out.”
In 1926“Ghost” Programmewas a one-shot which certainly had a strong kernel of an idea for a
regular series which has never really been followed up on—a horror-variety hour, if you will,
featuring musical numbers, storytelling and dramatic sketches, all in the vein of the spectral and
macabre.
E. F. Benson (reader—1928,The Confessions of Charles Linkworth), Arthur Bird (scriptwriter—
1927,Hate), Jan Bussell (producer—1936,The Ghost of Grassington), John Cheatle (producer—
1938,Madam, Will You Walk?), Diana Dale (scriptwriter—1936,The Ghost of Grassington),
Major C. Eagle-Bott (storyteller—1927,A Ghost Story), Dorothy Eaves (scriptwriter—1930,
Phantomimes), John Hingeley (storyteller—1923,Ghost Stories), Ernest Longstaffe (producer—
1938,The Pig and Whistle), Father John O’Connor (commentator—1937,It Might Happen to
You), D. E. Ormerod (producer—1932,The Spectral Dog), Ruth Wynn Owen (scriptwriter—1937,
It Might Happen to You), Charles Penrose (scriptwriter—1938,The Pig and Whistle), Walter
Pitchford (programme arranger—1935,Ghosts at the Priory), Owen Reed (producer—1935,
Ghosts at the Priory), Howard Rose (scriptwriter—1932, “Q”), Professor A. Hamilton Thompson
(speaker—1927,Medieval GhostStories), C. Whitaker-Wilson (scriptwriter—1938,Madam, Will
You Walk?).
CAST [“THE TELEGRAM,” 1926]: Adrian Byrne (Robert Stone), Reginald Dance (Long), Michael
Hogan (John Bedford), J. C. Lawrence (Sergeant Campbell), Henry Oscar (Sir William Brent),
Bryan Powley (Harold Gandy).
CAST [“GHOULIES AND GHOSTIES,” 1927]: G. Lynch Clarke, Marion Foreman, Daniel Roberts,
Vera Shipton, Susie Stevens.
CAST [“HATE,” 1927]: Stephen Campbell (Bill Carfax), Pauline Carr (Lady Carfax), John Evered
(Brandon Carfax), Derek Lessingham (Thompson, the butler), Molly Seymour (Joan Allingham),
Charles Stapylton (Sir Henry Carfax / Roger Carfax).
CAST [“THE GHOST OF GLASTONBURY TUNNEL,” NOTTINGHAM, 1928] Ronald Cheeseman
(Mr. Spencer), Margaret Gulford (Mrs. Taunton), Frank Leaver (The Rev. Frederick Driver),
Edward Murray (Colonel Charles Taunton), Nora Porter (Mrs. Lammele).
CAST [“THE GHOST OF GLASTONBURY TUNNEL,” PLYMOUTH, 1928] Stephen Campbell
(The Rev. Frederick Driver), Pauline Carr (Mrs. Lammele), Molly Seymour (Mrs. Taunton),
Charles Stapylton (Colonel Charles Taunton), Douglas Watt (Mr. Spencer).
CAST [“PHANTOMIME,” 1930]: Richard Barron, Mary Cardew, Glyn Eastman, Elsie Eaves,
Sidney Evans, Nan Porter, John Rorke.
CAST [“Q,” 1932]: Ralph Truman, Osmund Willson.
CAST [“THE SPECTRAL DOG,” 1932]: A. G. Mitcheson, F. A. Nichols, Ernest Retlaw, J. Edward
Roberts, G. B. Smith, James Stephenson, H. R. Williams.
CAST [1936, “The Ghost of Grassington”]: Ian Baldwin (John Burnop), F. A. Bean, F. J. O.
Coddington, Frank Crosland, James Harrison, E. Parsons (Dr. Petty), I. R. Phillips, C. B. Pulman
(Joe Weekes), Philip Robinson, H. C. Rycroft (Tom Lee), Roni Vine (Jane Lee), Mary Wilkinson.
CAST [“MADAM, WILL YOU WALK?” 1938]: Franklyn Bellamy, George Bellamy, A. Bromley-
Davenport, G. F. Campbell Browne, Laidman Browne, Gordon McLeod, Leslie Perrins, Spencer
Trevor, C. Whitaker-Wilson, Gladys Young.
CAST [1938,The Pig and Whistle]: Sidney Burchall (Jimmy Larkin), George Ellis (Jeremiah
Jones, the landlord), Miriam Ferris (Rosie Jones, the landlady), Charles Penrose (Jolly Old
Garge/P.C. Evergreen), John Rorke (‘Erb, Rosie’s Cockney cousin), Charles Wreford (Old
Granfer), Gladys Young (Widow Throstle).
December 22, 1923“Ghost Stories”
December 26, 1924
[
“…Christmas Ghost Story…”]
December 23, 1925“The Haunted Castle”
[
“…Mr. George Ockement…”]
December 25, 1925“The Diver”
December 11, 1926“A True Ghost Story”
December 22, 1926“The Vindictive Staircase”
[
“…a ghost story set to music by Edgar L. Bainton for Chorus
and Orchestra…words by Wilfrid Wilson Gibbons…”]
December 24, 1926“My Christmas Ghosts”
[
“…H. C. L. Johns…”]
December 24, 1926“My Adventure in Norfolk”
(Saturday—5:00-5:15 PM]
December 25, 1926“Haunted Houses”
[
“…read by the author, ‘Petronius’…”]
December 27, 1926“Laying a Ghost”
[
“…Mary Manston”…]
December 21, 1927“The Visitors’ Book”
December 22, 1927“The Ghost of Jerry Bundler”
[
“…a play by W. W. Jacobs and Charles Rock, played by the
Liverpool Radio Players…”]
December 22, 1927“Phantom Hoofs”
[
“…a play by David Hawkes, with Gladys Joiner, Ethel
Malpas, and Wortley Allen…”]
December 22, 1927“Out of the Shadows”
[
“…a psychic mystery play in one act, by David Hawkes, with
Gladys Pirie, G. M. Hancock, Catherine Hollingworth, and Max Anton…”]
December 27, 1927“The Creeping Horror on Christmas Eve”
[
“…Major C. Eagle-Bott…”]
December 3, 1928“The Ghost Ship”
[
“…by Richard Middleton, read by V. C. Clinton Baddeley…”]
December 18, 1928“Medieval Ghost Stories, from Leeds”
December 22, 1928“More Ghost Stories”
[
“…Miss Esylt Newbery…”]
December 22, 1928“Ghosts”
[
“…by Gerald Heard…”]
December 24, 1928“The Confessions of Charles Linkworth”
read by the author…”]
December 31, 1928“A Surprise Item”
December 24, 1929“Welsh Ghost Stories”
December 24, 1929“The Haunted Hour”
[
“…Mr. E. F. Benson, Mr. W. W. Jacobs, and Mr. Desmond
McCarthy will tell ghost stories…”]
December 24, 1929“In a Haunted Room”
[
“…L. Du Garde Peach…”]
December 26, 1929“17:45”
[
This story was reprinted inBest of A. J. Alan(1954) under the title “The
White Bungalow.”]
December 2, 1930“Phantomime”
[
“…a ghostly programme, by Dorothy Eaves...with music by
the West Regional Trio…”]
December 2, 1930“The Well”
December 24, 1930“And Afterwards”
[
“…a Creepy Interlude by Lady Cynthia Asquith, Mr. Felix
Aylmer, and Captain Robert A. L. Hartman…”]
THE CHILDRENS HOUR (MIDLAND REGIONAL PROGRAMME)
December 22, 1931“The Ghost of WiddecombeManor”
[
“…a story, by Mildred Forster…”]
January 5, 1932 “The Worm of Spindlestonheugh”
[
“…a play founded on a Northumberland Legend, by Sybil
Clarke…”]
December 23, 1932“The Man Who Married a Skeleton”
stories…”]
December 25, 1932“Thurnley Abbey”
Franklyn Dyall…”]
January 5, 1933“The House of Desolation”
[
“…a ghost story, written and told by Alan Griff…”]
December 28, 1933“Sweet Chariot”
[
“…A Devonshire ghost story, by Molly O’Fogerty
Chapman…”]
December 24, 1934“A Hair-raising Drama”
[
“…by Brinley Jones…”]
December 25, 1934“The Visitors’ Book”
[
“…Comedians; dance music; ghost stories; chorus songs;
charadesandmusicalgames;allkindsofhappy-go-lucky
entertainment… At some stage of the proceedings someone will tell a
ghost story…”]
December 28, 1934“The Cart of Death”
[
“…adapted and translated by Marianne Helweg from the
story of Selma Lagerlof, produced by M. H. Allen, with Roy Emerton,
Gladys Young, Marne Maitland, Janet Taylor, Gwendolen Evans, John
Cheatle, Mary O’Farrell, Wallace Evenett, Edward Craven, Ruth
Anderson, Winifred Evens…”]
December 24, 1935“The Visitors’ Book”
[
“…a creepy story, by A.J. Alan, told by the Author.”
Broadcast on Empire Transmission—5.]
December 22, 1937“Guineas for a Ghost”
[
“…a frivolous affair written by Maurice Horspool… The
ghost is tenant of an old mansion to which a descendant of the family has
returned. One of the scenes is laid in a county court, which is rather an
unusual place to be taken in a ghost story, and here the author springs
his final surprise. The producer will be Edward Wilkinson…”]
December 24, 1937“Out of the Ordinary”
[
“…Two stories that some people would say are about
ghosts…”]
December 23, 1938“Bob Evergreen’s Christmas Ghost Story”
[
“…Even the Pig and Whistle will go ghostly when P. C.
Evergreen tells a ghost story…”]
December 27, 1938“The Little Ghost”
[
“…a short story by James R. Gregson…”]
THREE STORIES BY ALGERNON BLACKWOOD (HOME SERVICE)
December 25, 1939“Transition” / ? / ?
December 24, 1940“King’s Evidence”
OTHER GHOST STORY BROADCASTS NOT OTHERWISE COVERED IN THIS BOOK:
Aug. 28, 1925“In the Library” (by W. W.
Jacobs and H. C. Sargeant)
May 26, 1926“The Telegram” / “The Judge’s
House”
Timesas “Wireless
Orchestra—Prelude, ‘The Spectre’s
Bride’ (Dvorak). ‘The Telegram,’ play
by Rupert Croft-Cooke. Orchestra—
‘A Haunted Place’ (Schumann); ‘Valse
Triste’ (Sibelius). ‘The Judge’s
House,’ a reading from ‘Dracula’s
Guest and Other Weird Stories,’ by
Bram Stoker. Orchestra—‘Danse
Macabre’ (Saint-Saens)”]
April 18, 1927“The Haunted Gallery”
short story…”]
Oct. 31, 1927“Ghoulies and Ghosties”
Nov. 15, 1927“Hate”
described as a modern tale of old-
fashioned ghosts. You must imagine
the ancestors of Sir Henry Carfax,
‘good haters all,’ and the old
Georgian tragedy re-enacted every
midnight…”]
Jan. 16, 1928“The Vindictive Staircase”
Edgar L. Bainton for Chorus and
Orchestra…”]
Feb. 14, 1928“Ghosts, Seen and Imagined”
Feb. 28, 1928“The Ghost of Glastonbury
Tunnel” (by Geoffrey Bevan)
first-class compartment of the
Newmarket Express…”]
of Terror on the High Seas” by Edwin
Lewis.]
March 13, 1928 “The Ghost of Glastonbury
Tunnel”
proved useful to disguise even more
sinister revelations, and none more
applicable to the theory than ‘The
Ghost of Glastonbury Tunnel.’ We
hope, then, that our play this evening
will be a timely warning to listeners
who experience a desire to travel on
the Lowmarket Express…”]
April 14, 1928“More Ghosts, and other
Uncanny Happenings”
Sep. 5, 1928“Uncanny Tales of Ancient
Ulster”
Aug. 17, 1929“Ancient and Modern Ghosts”
Aug. 5, 1930“Maister Mudie”
Story…”]
Jan. 25, 1932“
” (by Stephen Leacock)
supernatural…”]
July 5, 1932“The Spectral Dog”
Leslie W. A. Baily…”]
INQUIRY INTO THE UNKNOWN (NATIONAL PROGRAMME, LONDON)
March 2, 1934 “Ghosts and Haunted Houses”
Oct. 31, 1934“The Ghost of Gillhall”
dramatized for broadcasting by
Patrick Riddell; produced by Lance
Sieveking…”]
March 9, 1935 “Ghosts at the Priory”
experiences told around the fireside
and relayed from a Haunted House;
programme arranged by Walter
Pitchford; produced by Owen
Reed…”]
March 29, 1935 “The Diet” / “Just Off
Piccadilly” / “Geordie’s
Wooing”
Players; produced by Jan Bussell… s
Ghost Play, by James Parish…”]
NORTHERN FESTIVAL OF ONE-ACT PLAYS (NORTHERN)
April 11, 1936“Five at the George”
produced by Jan Bussell…”]
Nov. 19, 1936“The Ghost of Grassington”
1779 in the valley of the Wharfe. Here,
on a secluded road between
Grassington and Kilnsey, stands Grass
Wood, where, at times, a ghost is said
to walk—the ghost of an apothecary
who was foully done to death…”]
IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU (NORTHERN PROGRAMME)
Nov. 8, 1937“The Haunted House”
by Father John O’Connor…”]
Nov. 26, 1937“Angrove Hall, Great Ayton”
(by J. Fairfax-Blakeborough)
Feb. 11, 1938“The Disappearance of Ghosts”
He is to trace how ghosts, treated by
Greek and Elizabethan writers, and
even as late as the nineteenth century
as real phenomena, are now treated
with skepticism…”]
Aug. 17, 1938“Ghost in Little Haddam”
Feb. 10, 1939“Eerie Stories: Margaret
Jenkins”
June 2, 1939“Ghosts of Belfast”
Aug. 16, 1939“The Knocking on the Window
Pane”
told by Harry Buckle…”]
April 1, 1940“Five at the George”
by Edward Wilkinson…”]
May 7, 1940“Proof”
by Mr. Richard Hearne…”]
May 15, 1940“Proof”
produced by M. H. Allen…”]