Great Scenes from Great Plays was a short-lived yet impactful classic radio series that aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System from October 1948 to February 1949. Sponsored by the National Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the show aimed to encourage church attendance and featured dramatic adaptations of notable plays. Hosted by seasoned actor Walter H. Hampden, the series showcased a talented ensemble of actors, including Basil Rathbone, Beatrice Straight, Jane Cowl, Ann Seymore, Boris Karloff, and Joan Caulfield.
Over the course of its 22 episodes, the show adapted 20-minute scenes from a diverse range of plays like "Dark Victory," "Little Women," "A Tale of Two Cities," "What Every Woman Knows," "The Devil and Daniel Webster," "Young Mr. Lincoln," and "A Doll's House." With captivating performances by Jane Powell, Joan Caulfield, Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, and Eddie Albert, Great Scenes from Great Plays may not be as well-known today, but its high-caliber and thought-provoking stories certainly make it worth revisiting for fans of classic radio drama.