Broadcast History: 10 June 1948 to 1 February 1953 and 8 February 1953 to 27 March 1955
In 1948, a new series called the Hallmark Playhouse was launched by Hallmark Cards, replacing the popular series, The Radio Reader's Digest, which had documented the true stories published in the Reader's Digest magazine.
This was a totally different genre of radio show, offering stories adapted from literary best sellers, and was presented by none other than the respected author, James Hilton.
James Hilton had written his first book when he was just 18, and from then, he became one of the world's best selling authors, screen writers and through his work on the Hallmark Playhouse between 1948 and 1953, one of radio's most popular hosts.
Introduced as tales of thrills, drama, suspense and laughs this is certainly what the shows are and I have yet to be disappointed by a single one of these dramas.
