My Earliest Radio Drama Memories

Carbonel · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 6 Location: UK

I was growing up in the 1950's and my earliest memories of Radio drama productions are of the many splendid plays and serials broadcast on BBC "Children's Hour" (scandalously axed in 1964). Particularly prominent was the adaptation of Rosemary Sutcliff's novel, "The Eagle of the Ninth" (published in 1954). The serial was introduced and narrated by David Davis, who also, if I remember correctly, dramatized the book for radio. It was transmitted first in 1956 or 1957 and I enjoyed it tremendously.

The first adult play that I remember listening to, as a fifteen year old teenager in 1962, was an adaptation of Richard Oke's 1929 novel, "Frolic Wind," on The BBC Third Programme (now radio 3). It impressed me greatly at the time.

Since 1981 I have been recording selected drama productions off-air and have an extensive collection on audio cassette and VHS tape.

After learning earlier on this year that so many plays and serials had been discarded and lost by the BBC, I have been attempting to catalogue my archive and transfer material to digital format. Unfortunately it's going to be a very long task!
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Il n'y a pas de morts.

Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949)

L'Oiseau Bleu (1909) V. ii

Director_General · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject:

Dear Carbonel

Thank you for joining the forum. I assume it was also you who sent me your recordings list. I will use it to update the broadcast list.

Like you I remember when radio drama was just as important to the BBC as television broadcasts. I have just got a copy of this years Christmas Radio Times and find it so disapointing that the Radio 4 schedules appear much the same as any other time of the year. Whay happend to the 90 minute plays every night between 24th Dec - 1st Jan ? Not to mention the serials and other one off specials.

Regards
DG

PaulEHudson · Joined: 10 Nov 2010 Posts: 17 Location: Leeds UK

I do recall that the THIRD programme had some of the better plays on it. They always seemed a bit more interesting. I cannot recall details alas.

Yes the Eagle of the ninth was a great piece and kept its interest throughout the series. Paul Temple too was always excellent. I am not sure that people listen to or watch many weekly episode stories these days.

Carbonel (etcher?) you must be a little older than me but with a better memory.

I am collecting the SNT plays and others but have nothing of my own - too dreamy to record things back then.

Paul

Bengt Mettyl · Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 7:21 pm Post subject: Eagle of the Ninth

I remember this too. An acclimatised ex-legionnaire was heard humming the melody (we know as the tune to 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home') that was recognised in the story as being a legionary tune. On the strength of remembering and enjoying the radio play I bought a copy of the book.
Another play with the same Roman flavour was an adaptation of R.C.Sherriff's 'The Long Sunset', set at the time of the withdrawal of the Roman legions from Britain.

Director_General · Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:05 pm Post subject:

There is a play have in my collection (can’t recall the name) of a writer who has been sent in to complete a now deceased authors biography of a Roman emperor – if you know what I mean !!

Anyway as he is writing, he seems to become possessed by the emperor and irrational paranoia ensues. I think it would have been a SNT.