Best Plays

About Best Plays

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 Hellman’s The Little Foxes. The series also featured Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Maxwell Anderson’s Winterset, and Sidney Kingsley’s Detective Story, among others. Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio Listen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/Entertainment Radio | Broadcasting Classic Radio Shows | Patreon Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio

Publisher

Entertainment Radio

Category

fiction · fiction

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jun 2024

Latest episode

6 Apr 2025

Latest episodes

46 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Apr 2025

   Kiss the Boys Goodbye

   Host John Chapman explores Clare Boothe Luce's "Kiss the Boys Goodbye," a witty satire on Hollywood and fascism, revealing its comedic chaos and social commentary.

2. 

   6 Apr 2025

   Ethan Frome

   Host John Chapman interviews actors Geraldine Page, Evelyn Varden, and Carl Weber about the dramatic adaptation of Edith Wharton's "Ethan Frome," exploring tragic New England farm life and complex relationships.

3. 

   6 Apr 2025

   The Petrified Forest

   Host [Host Name] interviews [Guest Name] about the enduring themes and dramatic tension within Robert Sherwood's classic play "The Petrified Forest."

Who has been a guest on Best Plays

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Geraldine Page
• Evelyn Varden
• Carl Weber
• [Guest Name]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

274,124

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

95

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

0

Contact Best Plays

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.