An anthology series is a written series, radio, television, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short.[1] These usually have a different cast in each episode, but several series in the past, such as Four Star Playhouse, employed a permanent troupe of character actors who would appear in a different drama each week.[2] Some anthology series, such as Studio One, began on radio and then expanded to television.[3]
Lux Radio Theatre ad art featuring Joan Crawford
The word comes from Ancient Greek ἀνθολογία (anthología, "flower-gathering"), from ἀνθολογέω (anthologéō, "I gather flowers"), from ἄνθος (ánthos, "flower") + λέγω (légō, "I gather, pick up, collect"), coined by Meleager of Gadara circa 60 BCE, originally as Στέφανος (στέφανος (stéphanos, "garland")) to describe a collection of poetry, later retitled anthology – see Greek Anthology. Anthologiai were collections of small Greek poems and epigrams, because in Greek culture the flower symbolized the finer sentiments that only poetry can express.
Many popular old-time radio programs were anthology series. On some series, such as Inner Sanctum Mysteries, the only constant was the host, who introduced and concluded each dramatic presentation. One of the earliest such programs was The Collier Hour, broadcast on the NBC Blue Network from 1927 to 1932.[4] As radio's first major dramatic anthology, it adapted stories and serials from Collier's Weekly in a calculated move to increase subscriptions and compete with The Saturday Evening Post. Airing on the Wednesday prior to each week's distribution of the magazine, the program soon moved to Sundays in order to avoid spoilers with dramatizations of stories simultaneously appearing in the magazine.[5]
Radio anthology series provided a .wav for science fiction, horror, suspense, and mystery genres (all produced in the US, unless noted):
Nelson Olmsted of NBC's Sleep No More fantasy series.
Listed in order of first broadcast
- Mystery House (1929–c. 1944)
- The Witch's Tale (1931–38) (written by Alonzo Deen Cole)
- Lights Out (1934–47) (written by Wyllis Cooper/Arch Oboler)
- The Hermit's Cave (1935–c. 1945)
- Famous Jury Trials (1936–49)
- Dark Fantasy (1941–42) (written by Scott Bishop)
- Inner Sanctum Mysteries (1941–52) (created by Himan Brown)
- The Whistler (1942–55)
- Suspense (1942–62)
- The Mysterious Traveler (1943–52) (written by Robert Arthur, Jr. and narrated by Maurice Tarplin)
- Creeps by Night (1944)
- Mystery Playhouse (1944) (hosted by Peter Lorre)
- The Strange Dr. Weird (1944–45) (15-minute shorts, written by Robert Arthur, Jr. and narrated by Maurice Tarplin)
- The Haunting Hour (1944–46)
- The Sealed Book (1945) (written by Robert Arthur, Jr.)
- Mystery in the Air (1945–47) (starring Peter Lorre)
- The Weird Circle (1946–47)
- Murder at Midnight (1946–50)
- Quiet, Please! (1947–49) (written by Wyllis Cooper, starring Ernest Chappell)
- Escape (1947–54)
- The Unexpected (1948) (15-minute shorts)
- Destination Freedom (1948–50), written by Richard Durham
- Murder by Experts (1949–51)
- The Hall of Fantasy (1949–53)
- 2000 Plus (1950–52) (the first adult science fiction series on radio)[6]
- Dimension X (1950–51) (featured adapted stories by authors including Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut)
- ABC Mystery Theater (1951–54), anthology, crime and mystery series
- Sleep No More (1952–56) (featured Nelson Olmsted narrating his own adaptations of stories)
- Theater 10:30 (1955) (Canadian)
- X Minus One (1955–58) (revival and continuation of Dimension X)
The final episode of Suspense was broadcast on September 30, 1962, a date that has traditionally been seen as marking the end of the old-time radio era.[7] However, genre series produced since 1962 include:
In the history of television, live anthology dramas were especially popular during the Golden Age of Television of the 1950s with series such as The United States Steel Hour and The Philco Television Playhouse.[8][9]
Dick Powell came up with an idea for an anthology series, Four Star Playhouse, with a rotation of established stars every week, four stars in all. The stars would own the studio and the program, as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had done successfully with Desilu studio. Powell had intended for the program to feature himself, Charles Boyer, Joel McCrea, and Rosalind Russell. When Russell and McCrea backed out, David Niven came on board as the third star. The fourth star was initially a guest star. CBS liked the idea, and Four Star Playhouse made its debut in fall of 1952.[2] It ran on alternate weeks only during the first season, alternating with Amos 'n' Andy. It was successful enough to be renewed and became a weekly program from the second season until the end of its run in 1956. Dia Lupiz was brought on board as the de facto fourth star, though unlike Powell, Boyer, and Niven, she owned no stock in the company.
American television networks would sometimes run summer anthology series which consisted of unsold television pilots.[10] Beginning in 1971, the long-run Masterpiece Theatre drama anthology series brought British productions to American television.
In 2011, American Horror Story debuted a new type of anthology format in the U.S. Each season, rather than each episode, is a standalone story. Several actors have appeared in the various seasons, but playing different roles—in an echo of the Four Star Playhouse format.[11]
The success of American Horror Story has spawned other season-long anthologies such as American Crime Story and True Detective.[12]
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955–57)
- ABC Movie of the Week (1969–75)
- ABC Stage 67 (1966–67)
- Academy Theatre (1949)
- Actors Studio (1948–50)
- Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre (1957–58)
- The Alcoa Hour (1955–57)
- Alcoa Premiere (1961–63)
- American Crime (2015–17)
- American Crime Story (2016–present)
- American Horror Story (2011–present)
- American Film Theatre (1973–75)
- American Playhouse (1981–94)
- The American Playwrights Theater: The One Acts (1989–90)
- The American Short Story (1974–80)
- Appointment with Adventure (1955–56)
- Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–57)
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960–61)
- Behind Closed Doors (1958–59)
- The Best of Broadway (1954–55)
- The Best of the Post (1960–61)
- Betty Crocker Star Matinee (1951–52)
- The Bigelow Theatre (1950–51)
- The Billy Rose Show, also known as Billy Rose's Playbill (1950–51)
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963–67)
- The Bold Ones (1969–73)
- Broadway Television Theatre (1952–54)
- Buick-Electra Playhouse (1959–60)
- Cameo Theatre (1950–55)
- Camera Three (1955–79)
- The Campbell Playhouse, also known as Campbell Soundstage and Campbell Summer Soundstage (1952–54)
- Cavalcade of America (1952–57)
- CBS Playhouse (1967–70)
- CBS Summer Playhouse (1987–89)
- CBS Television Workshop (1952)
- CBS Workshop, also known as CBS Repertoire Workshop (1960)
- Celanese Theatre (1951–52)
- Celebrity Playhouse (1955–56)
- Center Stage (1954)
- Cheer Television Theatre (1954)
- The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre also known as Chevrolet on Broadway (1948–50)
- Chevron Hall of Stars (1956)
- Chevron Theatre (1952–53)
- Climax! (1954–58)
- Colgate Theatre (1949–50)
- Colgate Theatre (1958)
- Conflict (1956–57)
- Conrad Nagel Theater (1955)
- Cosmopolitan Theatre (1951)
- Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson (1952–55)
- Curtain Call (1952)
- Damon Runyon Theater (1955–56)
- Danger (1950-1955)
- The Danny Thomas Hour (1967–68)
- The David Niven Show (1959)
- Deadline (1959–61)
- Death Valley Days (1952–70)
- Decision (1958)
- Demi-Tasse Tales (1953)
- The Dick Powell Show (1961–63)
- Dispatches from Elsewhere (2020)
- Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents, also known as Rheingold Theatre (1953–57)
- Drama at Eight (1953)
- DuMont Royal Theater (1951–52)
- The DuPont Show of the Month (1957–61)
- The DuPont Show of the Week (1961–64)
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959–61)
- The Elgin Hour (1954–55)
- The Errol Flynn Theatre (1956–57)
- Ethel Barrymore Theatre (1956)
- Faith Baldwin Romance Theatre (1951)
- Fargo (2014–present)
- Feud (2017–present)
- Fireside Theater (1949–58)
- The First Lady (2022)
- Footlights Theater (1952–53)
- Ford Star Jubilee (1955–56)
- Ford Television Theatre (1952–57)
- Ford Theatre (1948–51)
- Four Star Playhouse (1952–56)
- GE True (1962–63)
- G.E. Summer Originals (1956)
- General Electric Theater (1953–62)
- Genius (2017–present)
- Goodyear Television Playhouse (1951–57)
- Goodyear Theatre (1957–60)
- Great Performances (1971–present)
- Gruen Playhouse, also known as Gruen Guild Theatre (1951–53)
- The Gulf Playhouse (1952–53)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
- The Haunting (2018–present)
- Hollywood Premiere Theatre, also known as Hollywood Theatre Time (1950–51)
- International Playhouse (1951)
- John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You (2006)
- The Joseph Cotten Show, also known as On Trial (1956–59)
- Joseph Schildkraut Presents (1953–54)
- The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1956–57)
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947–58)
- Law & Order True Crime (2017–present)
- The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962–63)
- The Loretta Young Show (1953–61)
- Lottery! (1983–84)
- Love Story (1954)
- Love Story (1973–74)
- Lux Playhouse (1958–59)
- Lux Video Theater (1950–59)
- The Magnavox Theatre (1950)
- The Mail Story (1954)
- Masterpiece Contemporary (2008–11)
- Masterpiece Playhouse (1950)
- Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present)
- Matinee Theatre (1955–58)
- Max Liebman Spectaculars, also known as Max Liebman Presents (1954–56)
- Medallion Theatre, also known as Chrysler Medallion Theatre (1953–54)
- MGM Parade (1955–56)
- The Millionaire (1955–60)
- Monodrama Theater (1953)
- The Motorola Television Hour (1953–54)
- Mr. Citizen (1955)
- The Nash Airflyte Theater (1950–51)
- NBC Presents (1949–50)
- NBC Television Opera Theatre (1950–64)
- NET Playhouse (1964–72)
- New York Television Theatre (1965–70)
- Night Editor (1954)
- Nine Thirty Curtain (1953–54)
- The O. Henry Playhouse (1957)
- One Man's Experience (1952–53)
- One Woman's Experience (1952–53)
- Orient Express (1953)
- The Passerby (1951–56)
- The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953–55)
- Personal Appearance Theater (1951–52)
- The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (1948–56)
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948–55)
- The Philip Morris Playhouse (1953–54)
- The Play of the Week (1959–61)
- Playhouse 90 (1956–60)
- Playwrights '56 (1956)
- Plymouth Playhouse also known as ABC Album (1953–54)
- Ponds Theater, also known as Kraft Television Theater (1953–57)
- Premiere (1968)
- Preview Tonight (1966)
- Producers' Showcase (1954–57)
- Program Playhouse (1949)
- Prudential Family Playhouse (1950–51)
- Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (1950–52)
- Pulse of the City (1953–54)
- Pursuit (1958–59)
- The Revlon Mirror Theater (1953)
- The Richard Boone Show (1963–64)
- The Robert Herridge Theatre (1960–61)
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950–57)
- Romance, also known as Theatre of Romance (1949–50)
- Romance Theatre (1982–83)
- Room 104 (2017–20)
- The Schaefer Century Theatre (1952)
- Schilling Playhouse (1959–60)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951–59)
- Scream (2015–19)
- Screen Associates Films (1952–53)
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955–56)
- The Seven Lively Arts (1957–58)
- Short Short Dramas (1952–53)
- The Silver Theatre (1949–50)
- Sneak Preview (1956)
- Somerset Maugham TV Theatre (1950–51)
- Stage 7 (1955–56)
- The Star and the Story (1955–56)
- Star Stage (1955–56)
- Star Tonight (1955–56)
- Starlight Theatre (1950–51)
- Stars Over Hollywood (1950–51)
- Startime (1959–60)
- Studio One (1948–58)
- Studio 57 (1954–58)
- Summer Playhouse (1964–67)
- Sunday Showcase (1959–60)
- Sweepstakes (1979)
- Telephone Time (1956–58)
- Television Playhouse (1947–48)
- Television Theatre (1950)
- Theatre Hour (1949–50)
- Theatre of the Mind (1949)
- Theatre '62 (1961–62)
- Tonight on Broadway (1948–49)
- The Trap (1950)
- TriBeCa (1993)
- True Detective (2014–present)
- TV Reader's Digest (1955–56)
- The United States Steel Hour (1953–63)
- The White Lotus (2021-present)
- Unsolved (2018–present)
- Vacation Playhouse (1963–67)
- Visions (1976–80)
- Warner Bros. Presents (1955–56)
- The Watcher (1995)
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958–60)
- Willys Theatre Presenting Ben Hecht's Tales of the City (1953)
- Windows (1955)
- Your Favorite Story (1953–55)
- Your Jeweler's Showcase (1952–53)
- Your Show Time (1949)
- Your Story Theatre (also known as Story Theatre and Durkee Story Theatre) (1950–51)
- Gokujō!! Mecha Mote Iinchō (2009-2011)
- The Grimm Variations (2024)
- Hakken Taiken Daisuki! Shimajirō (2008-2010)
- Mewkledreamy Mix! (2020-2021)
- Miracle! Mimika (2006-2009)
- Shimajirō Hesoka (2010-2012)
- Shimajirō no Wow! (2012-present)
- Shūkan Storyland (1999-2001)
- The Comic Strip Presents... (1982–2015)
- Carol and Company (1990–91)
- Cilla's Comedy Six (UK, 1975)
- Cilla's World of Comedy (UK, 1976)
- Comedy Lab (1998–)
- Comedy Playhouse (UK, 1961–2014)
- Comedy Playhouse (US, 1971)
- The Comedy Spot (1960–62; titled Comedy Spotlight during 1961)
- Comedy Theater (1981)
- Comedy Theatre (1976 & 1979)
- Comedy Time (1977)
- Dear Uge (2016–)
- Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible (2001)
- The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre (1955)
- El Chapulín Colorado (1973–79)
- Ripping Yarns (UK, 1978–79)
- George Burns Comedy Week (1985)
- Good Heavens (1976)
- The Guest Book (2017–18)
- High Maintenance (2012–15, 2016–present)
- Human Remains (2000)
- Inside No. 9 (2014–)
- Just for Laughs (1974)
- Love, American Style (1969–74)
- Miracle Workers (2019–23)
- Murder Most Horrid (UK, 1991–99)
- New Comedy Showcase (1960)
- Oboler Comedy Theater (1949)
- Premiere (1968)
- The Ronnie Barker Playhouse (UK, 1968)
- Seven of One (UK, 1973)
- Six Dates with Barker (UK, 1971)
- Summer Fun (1966)
- Undressed (1999–2002)
- Vacation Playhouse (1963–67)
- Westinghouse Preview Theatre (1961)
Mystery and suspense
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Science fiction and horror
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Anthology film series are rare compared to their TV and radio counterparts. There have been several attempts within the horror genre to have a franchise with an anthology format, such as with the Halloween franchise where the third film, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, was meant to be the beginning of a series of anthology horror films, but due to negative reception that plan was shelved.
Anthology video games have been very rare since the 1980s.
Title
|
Started
|
Ended
|
Installments
|
Notes
|
Final Fantasy
|
1987
|
N/A
|
16
|
|
Silent Hill
|
1999
|
N/A
|
9
|
Each game presents a different story and main characters, but in the same titular town of Silent Hill.
|
The Dark Pictures Anthology
|
2019
|
N/A
|
4
|
It is planned to consist of eight games, with one entry per year.
|
Fears to Fathom
|
2021
|
N/A
|
4
|
An episodic psychological horror game where each episode unveils a short story narrated by the ones who survived.
|
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- ^ a b "Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
- ^ Sterling, Rob (2015). "About Writing for Television". Patterns. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1505707465. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
- ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 163–164. ISBN 978-0195076783. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
The Armory
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
- ^ Widner, James F & Frierson III, Meade. Science Fiction on Radio: A Revised Look At 1950–1975. Birmingham, Alabama: A.F.A.B. Publishing. p. 20 [ISBN missing]
- ^ Chimes, Art. "Last Radio Drama". National Public Radio. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
- ^ Kraszewski, Jon (Fall 2006). "Adapting Scripts in the 1950s: The Economic and Political Incentives for Television Anthology Writers". Journal of Film and Video. 58 (3): 3–21. JSTOR 20688526.
- ^ Simon, Ron (2013). Riggs, Thomas (ed.). "Philco Television Playhouse". St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. 4 (2nd ed.). St. James Press: 144–145.
- ^ Ray Bradbury on Film and TV: Starlight Summer Theater (1954) Archived October 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ American Horror Story, retrieved 19 April 2019
- ^ Malone, Michael (2 May 2016). "Anthology format gets a 'true' rebirth: AMC is the latest of many nets modeling shows after True Detective and Fargo". Broadcasting & Cable. Vol. 146, no. 17. p. 24 – via Academic OneFile.
- ^ Images Staff (20 February 2017). "PEMRA issues notice to Hum TV drama 'Kitni Girhain Baki Hain' for homosexual content". Images. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ Haq, Irfan Ul (12 March 2018). "In Angeline Malik's new TV series, a psych professor is the neighbourhood hero". Images. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ "'Berlin, I Love You' Trailer: Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren Star in Fourth 'Cities' Anthology Film". /Film. 20 January 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
- ^ "The Ninja Trilogy Blu-ray from Eureka Video". Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
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