1949 Canadian radio DRACULA

[helrunar]

Vault-dwellers,

While looking through a large online radio archive earlier today (found by a friend of mine), I spotted this recording of a 1949 Trans-Canada radio (originating, of course, from the CBC) adaptation of DRACULA.  The play was the work of George Salverson, who also wrote at least briefly for Strange Paradise sometime in 1969-70, and I think may have other genre credits.  Link:

archive.org/details/DRACULABYBRAMSTOKER_201710

Headlining the cast were Lorne Greene and Alan King, then both quite young.  Lorne Greene went on to stardom in US television in the 1960s and 70s, while Alan King became a heavily employed TV comic.  Both show talents here I would never have suspected from my childhood memories of their TV work.

The only other notable name in the cast is Lloyd Bochner, who had a bit part.  

I was surprised to find this an effectively atmospheric and engaging production.  The tape is in decent shape overall though at a few moments here and there it becomes difficult to follow, evidently due to interference when the recording was made.

Hammer film fans will be interested to know that the idea that prayers should be uttered during the staking of a vampire, which was a notable feature of the screenplay for Dracula has risen from the grave (1968), occurs here, nearly 20 years before the Hammer script saw the light of day.

H.

[The Lurker In The Shadows]

Lorne Greene would have another brush with Count Dracula thirty years later in the two part Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula from the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries TV series.

[Michael Connolly]

Nov 15, 2017 13:10:25 GMT The Lurker In The Shadows said:

Lorne Greene would have another brush with Count Dracula thirty years later in the two part Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula from the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries TV series.

It was more like The Nancy Boys meet Dracula.

[helrunar]

LOL, Michael!

H.

[ripper]

Nov 15, 2017 4:33:48 GMT helrunar said:

Vault-dwellers,

While looking through a large online radio archive earlier today (found by a friend of mine), I spotted this recording of a 1949 Trans-Canada radio (originating, of course, from the CBC) adaptation of DRACULA.  The play was the work of George Salverson, who also wrote at least briefly for Strange Paradise sometime in 1969-70, and I think may have other genre credits.  Link:

archive.org/details/DRACULABYBRAMSTOKER_201710

Headlining the cast were Lorne Greene and Alan King, then both quite young.  Lorne Greene went on to stardom in US television in the 1960s and 70s, while Alan King became a heavily employed TV comic.  Both show talents here I would never have suspected from my childhood memories of their TV work.

The only other notable name in the cast is Lloyd Bochner, who had a bit part.  

I was surprised to find this an effectively atmospheric and engaging production.  The tape is in decent shape overall though at a few moments here and there it becomes difficult to follow, evidently due to interference when the recording was made.

Hammer film fans will be interested to know that the idea that prayers should be uttered during the staking of a vampire, which was a notable feature of the screenplay for Dracula has risen from the grave (1968), occurs here, nearly 20 years before the Hammer script saw the light of day.

H.

Thanks for highlighting it. I enjoy OTR and this one is new to me.

[helrunar]

I don't feel like starting a new thread for this--a friend sent me this link, and there is a huge archive of British radio shows (some quite recent) stashed here:

www.youtube.com/channel/UCy8Oj81waEq6mKu2fVUU2Vg/videos

I see adaptations of tales by Rosemary Timperley, Bram Stoker, R. Chetwynd-Hayes, M. R. James, and several other writers whose work is likely of interest to Vault denizens.

Best, H.