Best Plays was a prestigious radio anthology series that aired on NBC Radio from June 9, 1952, to August 30, 1953, showcasing adaptations of some of the most celebrated theatrical works of the 20th century. Hosted and directed by John Chapman, the drama critic for the New York Daily News, the program aimed to bring the finest Broadway and off-Broadway plays to a national radio audience during a time when radio drama was beginning to wane in the face of television’s rise. The series ran for 52 episodes, each an hour long, and was broadcast on Monday nights at 9:00 PM Eastern Time.The show’s mission was to present “the best plays of the modern American theater,” and it delivered by adapting works from renowned playwrights like Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Eugene O’Neill, and Lillian Hellman. Episodes included classics such as Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (starring Helen Hayes), Miller’s Death of a Salesman (with Thomas Mitchell as Willy Loman), O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones, and H
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Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
22%
Guest openness
Selective
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Signup to Generate a PitchBest Plays was a prestigious radio anthology series that aired on NBC Radio from June 9, 1952, to August 30, 1953, showcasing adaptations of some of the most celebrated theatrical works of the 20th century.
Recent episodes include "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" (6 April 2025, 59 minutes), "Ethan Frome" (6 April 2025, 60 minutes), and "The Petrified Forest" (6 April 2025, 59 minutes).
Best Plays publishes roughly daily, with episodes averaging 59 minutes across 46 episodes.
Booking probability for Best Plays is 22%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Best Plays requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Best Plays's contact route on record: verified email.
Best Plays is a fiction podcast with 46 episodes published.
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Episode #50
<p>In this episode of Best Plays, host John Chapman introduces the witty comedy "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" by Clare Boothe Luce, featuring Helen Clare. The play, originally a satire on Hollywood's search for a new actress...
Episode #51
<p>In this episode of Best Plays, we delve into the dramatic adaptation of Edith Wharton's novel, "Ethan Frome," brought to life by the talented Geraldine Page, Evelyn Varden, and Carl Weber. The play, adapted by Owen...
Episode #52
<p>In this episode of Best Plays, we delve into the classic drama "The Petrified Forest" by Robert Sherwood, featuring a stellar performance by Cyril Ritchard. Set in the desolate Black Mesa filling station and barbecue...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
Best Plays
<p>Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was an NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John...
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