Etymology
The word comes fromRadio
Many popular old-time radio programs were anthology series. On some series, such as '' Inner Sanctum Mysteries'', the only constant was the host, who introduced and concluded each dramatic presentation. One of the earliest such programs was '' The Collier Hour'', broadcast on the NBC Blue Network from 1927 to 1932. As radio's first major dramatic anthology, it adapted stories and serials from '' Collier's Weekly'' in a calculated move to increase subscriptions and compete with '' The Saturday Evening Post''. Airing on the Wednesday prior to each week's distribution of the magazine, the program soon moved to Sundays in order to avoid spoilers with dramatizations of stories simultaneously appearing in the magazine.Drama
* '' Academy Award Theater'' * '' Arch Oboler's Plays'' * '' The Campbell Playhouse'' * '' Cavalcade of America'' * '' CBS Radio Workshop'' * '' Earplay'' * '' Family Hour of Stars'' * '' Ford Theater (radio series)'' * '' Four Star Playhouse'' * '' Lux Radio Theater'' * '' Hollywood Star Time'' * '' The Mercury Theatre on the Air'' * '' Radio City Playhouse'' * '' The Screen Guild Theater'' * '' Stars over Hollywood''Genre series
Radio anthology series provided forTelevision
In the history of television, live anthology dramas were especially popular during the Golden Age of Television of the 1950s with series such as '' The United States Steel Hour'' and '' The Philco Television Playhouse.'' Dick Powell came up with an idea for an anthology series, '' Four Star Playhouse'', with a rotation of established stars every week, four stars in all. The stars would own the studio and the program, as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had done successfully with Desilu studio. Powell had intended for the program to feature himself, Charles Boyer, Joel McCrea, and Rosalind Russell. When Russell and McCrea backed out, David Niven came on board as the third star. The fourth star was initially a guest star. CBS liked the idea, and ''Four Star Playhouse'' made its debut in fall of 1952. It ran on alternate weeks only during the first season, alternating with '' Amos 'n' Andy''. It was successful enough to be renewed and became a weekly program from the second season until the end of its run in 1956. Ida Lupino was brought on board as the de facto fourth star, though unlike Powell, Boyer, and Niven, she owned no stock in the company. AmericanAmerican drama
* '' The 20th Century Fox Hour'' (1955–57) * '' ABC Movie of the Week'' (1969–75) * '' ABC Stage 67'' (1966–67) * '' Academy Theatre'' (1949) * '' Actors Studio'' (1948–50) * '' Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre'' (1957–58) * '' The Alcoa Hour'' (1955–57) * '' Alcoa Premiere'' (1961–63) * '' American Crime'' (2015–17) * '' American Crime Story'' (2016–present) * '' American Horror Story'' (2011–present) * '' American Film Theatre'' (1973–75) * '' American Playhouse'' (1981–94) * '' The American Playwrights Theater: The One Acts'' (1989–90) * '' The American Short Story'' (1974–80) * '' Appointment with Adventure'' (1955–56) * '' Armstrong Circle Theatre'' (1950–57) * '' The Barbara Stanwyck Show'' (1960–61) * '' Behind Closed Doors'' (1958–59) * '' The Best of Broadway'' (1954–55) * '' The Best of the Post'' (1960–61) * '' Betty Crocker Star Matinee'' (1951–52) * '' The Bigelow Theatre'' (1950–51) * '' The Billy Rose Show'', also known as Billy Rose's Playbill (1950–51) * '' Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' (1963–67) * '' The Bold Ones'' (1969–73) * '' Broadway Television Theatre'' (1952–54) * '' Buick-Electra Playhouse'' (1959–60) * '' Cameo Theatre'' (1950–55) * '' Camera Three'' (1955–79) * '' The Campbell Playhouse'', also known as ''Campbell Soundstage'' and ''Campbell Summer Soundstage'' (1952–54) * '' Cavalcade of America'' (1952–57) * '' CBS Playhouse'' (1967–70) * '' CBS Summer Playhouse'' (1987–89) * '' CBS Television Workshop'' (1952) * '' CBS Workshop'', also known as ''CBS Repertoire Workshop'' (1960) * '' Celanese Theatre'' (1951–52) * '' Celebrity Playhouse'' (1955–56) * '' Center Stage'' (1954) * '' Cheer Television Theatre'' (1954) * '' The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre'' also known as ''Chevrolet on Broadway'' (1948–50) * '' Chevron Hall of Stars'' (1956) * '' Chevron Theatre'' (1952–53) * '' Climax!'' (1954–58) * '' Colgate Theatre'' (1949–50) * '' Colgate Theatre'' (1958) * '' Conflict'' (1956–57) * '' Conrad Nagel Theater'' (1955) * '' Cosmopolitan Theatre'' (1951) * '' Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson'' (1952–55) * '' Curtain Call'' (1952) * '' Damon Runyon Theater'' (1955–56) * '' Danger'' (1950–1955) * '' The Danny Thomas Hour'' (1967–68) * '' The David Niven Show'' (1959) * '' ''Deadline'''' (1959–61) * '' Death Valley Days'' (1952–70) * '' Decision'' (1958) * ''Demi-Tasse Tales'' (1953) * '' The Dick Powell Show'' (1961–63) * '' Dispatches from Elsewhere'' (2020) * '' Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents'', also known as ''Rheingold Theatre'' (1953–57) * '' Drama at Eight'' (1953) * '' DuMont Royal Theater'' (1951–52) * '' The DuPont Show of the Month'' (1957–61) * '' The DuPont Show of the Week'' (1961–64) * '' The DuPont Show with June Allyson'' (1959–61) * '' The Elgin Hour'' (1954–55) * '' The Errol Flynn Theatre'' (1956–57) * ''Anime
* '' Gokujō!! Mecha Mote Iinchō'' (2009–2011) * '' The Grimm Variations'' (2024) * ''Hakken Taiken Daisuki! Shimajirō'' (2008–2010) * '' JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (TV series)'' (2012–2022) * ''Mewkledreamy Mix!'' (2020–2021) * ''Miracle! Mimika'' (2006–2009) * ''Shimajirō Hesoka'' (2010–2012) * ''Shimajirō no Wow!'' (2012-present) * ''Shūkan Storyland'' (1999–2001)British drama
* '' Armchair 30'' (1973) * '' Armchair Theatre'' (1956–74) * '' Armchair Mystery Theatre'' (1960, 1964, 1965) * '' Armchair Thriller'' (1978–81) * '' BBC Play of the Month'' (1965–83) * '' BBC Sunday-Night Theatre'' (1950–59) * '' BBC2 Playhouse'' (1973–83) * '' Beasts'' (1976) * '' Black Mirror'' (2011–) * '' A Choice of Coward'' (1964) * '' City '68'' (1967–68) * '' The Canterbury Tales'' (2003) * '' Creeped Out'' (2017–) * ''Canadian drama
* '' First Performance'' (1955–58) * '' General Motors Theatre'' (1953–61) * '' Encounter'' (1958) * '' Norman Corwin Presents'' (1972) * '' On Camera'' (1954–58) * '' Plan B'' (2023-present) * '' Playdate'' (1961–64) * '' Virage'' (2021-present)Indian drama
* '' Aahat'' (1995–15) * '' Bible Ki Kahaniya'' (1993–95) * '' Gumrah: End of Innocence'' (2012–16) * '' Hoshiyar… Sahi Waqt, Sahi Kadam'' (2016–17) * '' Ishq Kills'' (2014) * '' Kabhie Kabhie (2003 TV series)'' (2003) * '' Katha Sagar'' (1986) * '' Kaun Hai?'' (2018–) * '' Kirdaar'' (1993–94) * '' Koi Aane Ko Hai'' (2009) * '' Khidki'' (2016) * '' Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat'' (2002–04) * '' Laal Ishq (2018 TV series)'' (2018–) * '' MTV Big F'' (2015–17) * '' Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (TV series)'' (2014–) * '' Rishtey (TV series)'' (1997–2001) * ''Robi Thakurer Golpo'' (2015–16) * '' Saturday Suspense'' (2018–20) * '' Star Bestsellers'' (1999–2000) * '' Stories by Rabindranath Tagore'' (2015–) * '' Teri Meri Love Stories'' (2012) * Twist wala love * '' Yeh Hai Aashiqui'' (2013–16) * '' Yule Love Story'' (1993–95)Mexican drama
* '' Mujer, Casos de la Vida Real'' (1986–2007) * '' Lo que callamos las mujeres'' (2000–present) * '' La rosa de Guadalupe'' (2008–present) * '' Como dice el dicho'' (2011–25)Pakistani drama
* '' Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain'' (2011–14) * '' Sasural Ke Rang Anokhay'' (2012–13) * '' Shareek-e-Hayat'' (2014–15) * '' Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain! Phir Se'' (2016–17) * '' Ustani Jee'' (2018) * '' Kabhi Band Kabhi Baja'' (2018) * '' Choti Choti Batain'' (2019)Philippine drama
* '' Maalaala Mo Kaya'' (1991–2022) * '' Magpakailanman'' (2002–07, 2012–present) * '' Wansapanataym'' (1997–2005, 2010–19)Thai drama
* '' Girl from Nowhere'' (2018–present)Animated
* '' Adventures from the Book of Virtues'' (1996–2000) * '' Andersen Monogatari'' (1971) * '' Animal Stories'' (1998–2001) * '' Animated Tales of the World'' (2001–03) * '' Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales'' (2006) * '' The Bob Clampett Show'' (2000–2001) * '' Bugs 'n' Daffy'' (1995–98) * '' The Bugs Bunny Show'' (1960–2000) * '' The Busy World of Richard Scarry'' (1993–97) * '' A Bunch of Munsch'' (1991–92) * '' Cartoon Alley'' (2004–07) * '' The Cartoonstitute'' (2010) * '' The Cat&Birdy Warneroonie PinkyBrainy Big Cartoonie Show'' (1999–2000) * '' CB Bears'' (1977–78) * '' The Chuck Jones Show'' (2001–02) * '' Ciné si'' (1989) * '' The Comic Strip'' (1987) * '' Cream Lemon'' (1984–87) * '' DC Nation Shorts'' (2011–14) * '' Donald Duck Presents'' (1983–92) * '' Donald's Quack Attack'' (1992–2000) * '' Dragons et princesses'' (2010) * '' Fabulous Funnies'' (1978–79) * '' The Fairytaler'' (2002–03) * '' Famous Classic Tales'' (1970–84) * '' Festival of Family Classics'' (1972–73) * '' Fix & Foxi and Friends'' (2000–02) * '' Force Five'' (1980–89) * '' Freaky Stories'' (1997–2000) * '' Fred Flintstone and Friends'' (1978–79) * ''Funpak'' (2005) * ''General Electric Fantasy Hour'' (c. 1960s) * '' Good Morning, Mickey!'' (1983–92) * '' The Great Book of Nature'' (1999–2000) * '' Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics'' (1987–88) * '' Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids'' (2000–12) * '' The Hanna-Barbera New Cartoon Series'' (1962–63) * '' Hanna–Barbera's World of Super Adventure'' (1979–84) * '' Hans Fischerkoesens commercial films (1949–69) * '' Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child'' (1995–2000) * '' The Harveytoons Show'' (1950–62) * '' HBO Storybook Musicals'' (1987–93) * '' House of Mouse'' (2001–03) * '' Infinity Train'' (2019–21) * '' The Ink and Paint Club'' (1997–98) * '' KaBlam!'' (1996–2000) * '' Kideo TV'' (1986–87) * '' The Kwicky Koala Show'' (1981–82) * ''Late Night, Black and White'' (1996–2003) * '' Legends of Bikini Bottom'' (2011) * '' A Little Curious'' (1999–2000) * '' MAD'' (2010–13) * '' Manga Sekai Mukashi Banashi'' (1976–79) * '' The Marvel Super Heroes'' (1966) * '' The Merrie Melodies Show'' (1972) * '' Merrie Melodies Starring Bugs Bunny & Friends'' (1990–92) * ''Mickey Mouse and Friends'' (1994–95) * '' Mickey Mouse Works'' (1999–2000) * '' Mickey's Mouse Tracks'' (1992–95) * '' Mighty Mouse Playhouse'' (1955–67) * '' Mononoke'' (2007) * '' The Mouse Factory'' (1972–73) * '' The Moxy Show'' (1993–95) * '' My Little Pony'' (1986–87) * '' The New Woody Woodpecker Show'' (1999–2002) * '' O Canada'' (1997–2002) * '' Oh Yeah! Cartoons'' (1998–2001) * '' Peanuts'' (2016) * '' The Pink Panther Show'' (1969–80) * '' The Popeye Show'' (2001–03) * '' The Porky Pig Show'' (1964–67) * '' Princes et princesses'' (1989) * '' Random! Cartoons'' (2008–09) * '' Raw Toonage'' (1992–93) * '' Right Now Kapow'' (2016–17) * '' The Road Runner Show'' (1966–72) * '' Rumic Theater'' (2003–04) * '' Saturday Supercade'' (1983–84) * '' Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories'' (1992–93) * '' Short Circutz'' (1994–96) * ''Shorts in a Bunch'' (2007–08) * '' Shorty McShorts' Shorts'' (2006–07) * '' Super Sunday'' (1985–86) * Sunday Pants (2005) * '' Super Why!'' (2007–16) * '' Tales From the Cryptkeeper'' (1993–2000) * '' The Tex Avery Show'' (1996–2002) * '' Timeless Tales from Hallmark'' (1990–91) * '' ToonHeads'' (1992–2003) * '' Toon In with Me'' (2021–present) * '' Totally Tooned In'' (1999–2000) * '' Two More Eggs'' (2015–17) * '' The Wacky World of Tex Avery'' (1997) * '' What a Cartoon!'' (1995–97) * '' The Woody Woodpecker Show'' (1958–59) * '' The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends'' (1992–95) * '' Zootopia+'' (2022–present)Adult animation
* '' The Boys Presents: Diabolical'' (2022) * '' Cake'' (2019–2021) * '' Cartoon Sushi'' (1997–98) * '' Greatest Party Story Ever'' (2016) * '' Jokebook'' (1982) * '' Like, Share, Die'' (2015) * '' Liquid Television'' (1991–94) * '' Love, Death & Robots'' (2019–present) * '' Off the Air'' (2011–present) * '' Party Legends'' (2016–17) * '' Robot Chicken'' (2005–present) * '' The Shivering Truth'' (2018-2020) * '' Spicy City'' (1997) * ''Sunday Pants'' (2005–06)Children and family
* '' ABC Afterschool Special'' (1972–97) * '' ABC Weekend Special'' (1977–97) * '' CBS Afternoon Playhouse'' (1978–83) * '' CBS Children's Film Festival'' (1967–78) * '' CBS Children's Mystery Theatre'' (1980–82) * '' CBS Schoolbreak Special'' (1984–96) * '' CBS Storybreak'' (1985–87) * '' Disneyland'' (1954–58) * '' Dramarama'' (1983–89) * '' Faerie Tale Theatre'' (1982–87) * '' The Fox Cubhouse'' (1994–96) (contains '' Johnson and Friends'', '' Jim Henson's Animal Show'', ''Rimba's Island'', '' Magic Adventures of Mumfie'' and '' Budgie the Little Helicopter'') * ''It's Itsy Bitsy Time'' (1999) (contains ''Budgie the Little Helicopter'', '' 64 Zoo Lane'', '' The Animal Shelf'', ''Tom and Vicky'' and '' Charley and Mimmo'') * '' Jackanory'' (UK, 1972–85) * '' Kaboodle'' (1987–90) * '' Lift Off'' (1992–95) * '' NBC Children's Theatre'' (1963–73) * '' Noddy'' (1998–2000) * '' Off to See the Wizard'' (1967–68) * '' Once Upon a Classic'' (1976–80) * '' Power Rangers'' (1993–2023) (after consistent retools/renames starting season 4 the show finally embraced a "seasonal" anthology format of rotating the story and cast completely starting season 7, this would then become "biannual" starting season 18 until season 28 with the final three seasons being a "triennial") * '' Shining Time Station'' (1989–93) * '' Shirley Temple's Storybook'' (1958–61) * '' Special Treat'', also known as ''NBC Special Treat'' (1975–86) * '' Tall Tales and Legends'' (1985–87) * '' Walt Disney Presents'' (1958–61) * '' Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' (1961–69) * '' The Wonderful World of Disney'' (1969–2009) * '' WonderWorks'' (1984) * '' The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss'' (1996–98)Comedies
* '' The Comic Strip Presents...'' (1982–2015) * '' Carol and Company'' (1990–91) * ''Cilla's Comedy Six'' (UK, 1975) * ''Cilla's World of Comedy'' (UK, 1976) * '' Comedy Lab'' (1998–) * '' Comedy Playhouse'' (UK, 1961–2014) * '' Comedy Playhouse'' (US, 1971) * '' The Comedy Spot'' (1960–62; titled ''Comedy Spotlight'' during 1961) * '' Comedy Theater'' (1981) * '' Comedy Theatre'' (1976 & 1979) * '' Comedy Time'' (1977) * '' Dear Uge'' (2016–) * '' Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible'' (2001) * '' The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre'' (1955) * '' El Chapulín Colorado'' (1973–79) * '' Ripping Yarns'' (UK, 1978–79) * '' George Burns Comedy Week'' (1985) * '' Good Heavens'' (1976) * '' The Guest Book'' (2017–18) * '' High Maintenance'' (2012–15, 2016–present) * '' Human Remains'' (2000) * '' Inside No. 9'' (2014–) * '' Just for Laughs'' (1974) * '' Love, American Style'' (1969–74) * ''Miracle Workers'' (2019–23) * '' Murder Most Horrid'' (UK, 1991–99) * '' New Comedy Showcase'' (1960) * '' Oboler Comedy Theater'' (1949) * '' Premiere'' (1968) * '' The Ronnie Barker Playhouse'' (UK, 1968) * '' Seven of One'' (UK, 1973) * '' Six Dates with Barker'' (UK, 1971) * '' Summer Fun'' (1966) * '' Undressed'' (1999–2002) * '' Vacation Playhouse'' (1963–67) * '' Westinghouse Preview Theatre'' (1961)Crime dramas
* '' Adventure Theater'' (1956) * '' American Crime'' (2015–17) * '' American Crime Story'' (2016–) * '' Agatha Christie's Marple'' (UK, 2005–14) * '' Agatha Christie's Poirot'' (UK, 1989–2014) * '' The Big Story'' (1949–58) * '' The Black Robe'', also known as ''Police Night Court'' (1949–50) * '' Crime Patrol'' (2003–) * '' Fargo'' (2014–) * '' FBI: The Untold Stories'' (1991–93) * '' Gang Busters'' (1952, 1954–55) * '' Lawbreakers'' (1963–64) * '' The Man Behind the Badge'' (1953–55) * '' Official Detective'' (1957–58) * '' Police Call'' (1955) * '' Police Story'' (1952) * '' Police Story'' (1973–78) * '' Tatort'' (1970–) * '' The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'' (UK, 1971–73) * '' They Stand Accused'' (1949–52, 1954) * '' True Detective'' (2014–) * '' Underbelly'' (2008–) * '' The Walter Winchell File'' (1957–58) * '' The Whistler'' (1954–55) * '' The Sinner'' (2017–21)Educational
* '' Inside/Out'' (1972–73) * '' ''Omnibus'''' (US, 1952–61)Historical
* '' Captain Newfoundland from the Tip of Atlantis''/''Captain Atlantis Late Night'' (Canada, 1972–present) * '' ''The Great Adventure'''' (1963–64) * '' Our American Heritage'' (1959–61) * '' Profiles in Courage'' (1964–65) * '' Saga of Western Man'' (1963–69) * '' You are There'' (1953–57)Medical
* '' The Doctor'', also known as ''The Visitor'' (1952–53) * '' Medic'' (1954–56) * '' Medical Story'' (1975–76)Military
* '' Flight'' (1958–59) * ''Men of Annapolis'' (1957–58) * '' Navy Log'' (1955–58) * ''The Silent Service'' (1957–59) * '' ''The West Point Story'' ''aka ''West Point'' (1956–57)Mystery and suspense
* ''Religious
Science fiction and horror
Westerns
Film
Anthology film series are rare compared to their TV and radio counterparts. There have been several attempts within the horror genre to have a franchise with an anthology format, such as with the ''Halloween'' franchise where the third film, '' Halloween III: Season of the Witch'', was meant to be the beginning of a series of anthology horror films, but due to negative reception that plan was shelved.Drama series
Genre
Video games
Anthology video games have been very rare since the 1980s. Compilation or package video games (e.g. '' Castlevania Anniversary Collection'') are not included.See also
* Anthology * Anthology film * Limited-run seriesReferences
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