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CBC Television Network

Purple Playhouse

Network: CBC Television Network

Broadcast Run: 1969 to 1970

Broadcast Medium: Television

Aired Sunday nights from February 25 to May 6, 1973.

This hour long program replaced the Whiteoaks of Jalna, a primetime soap that was cancelled after half a season. This program offered imported dramas from Europe and the United States, with a gothic theme to them. The show’s title referred to Victorian era melodrama.

The eight shows were produced by George Jonas and Paddy Sampson. The stories were adapted for television by such writers as Mavor Moore, Rod Coneybeare, Herb Roland, Allan King and William Lytle. The titles included Dracula, (directed by Jack Nixon-Browne) and Sweeney Todd in a pre-musical version.

Other titles were The Corsican Brothers, Box and Cox, The Bells, The Lyon’s Mail, and Used Up, based on the comedy by Dion Boucicault. Featured cast members were Barry Morse, Tony Van Bridge, Gillie Fenwick, Chris Wiggins, Eric House, Norman Welsh, Blair Brown, Paul Harding, Betty Leighton, Joseph Shaw, and Kay Hawtrey. Louis Applebaum composed the musical score for the series.

Written by John Corcelli – September, 2005