Anthology series

An anthology series is a written series, radio, television, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short.[1] These usually have a different cast in each episode, but several series in the past, such as Four Star Playhouse, employed a permanent troupe of character actors who would appear in a different drama each week.[2] Some anthology series, such as Studio One, began on radio and then expanded to television.[3]

Lux Radio Theatre ad art featuring Joan Crawford

Etymology

The word comes from Ancient Greek ἀνθολογία (anthología, "flower-gathering"), from ἀνθολογέω (anthologéō, "I gather flowers"), from ἄνθος (ánthos, "flower") + λέγω (légō, "I gather, pick up, collect"), coined by Meleager of Gadara circa 60 BCE, originally as Στέφανος (στέφανος (stéphanos, "garland")) to describe a collection of poetry, later retitled anthology – see Greek Anthology. Anthologiai were collections of small Greek poems and epigrams, because in Greek culture the flower symbolized the finer sentiments that only poetry can express.

Radio

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.[4] 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.[4]

Drama

Genre series

Radio anthology series provided a format for science fiction, horror, suspense, and mystery genres (all produced in the US, unless noted):

Nelson Olmsted of NBC's Sleep No More fantasy series.
  • Mystery House (1929–c. 1944)
  • The Witch's Tale (1931–38) (written by Alonzo Deen Cole)
  • Lights Out (1934–47) (written by Wyllis Cooper/Arch Oboler)
  • The Hermit's Cave (1935–c. 1945)
  • Famous Jury Trials (1936–49)
  • Dark Fantasy (1941–42) (written by Scott Bishop)
  • Inner Sanctum Mysteries (1941–52) (created by Himan Brown)
  • The Whistler (1942–55)
  • Suspense (1942–62)
  • The Mysterious Traveler (1943–52) (written by Robert Arthur, Jr. and narrated by Maurice Tarplin)
  • Creeps by Night (1944)
  • Mystery Playhouse (1944) (hosted by Peter Lorre)
  • The Strange Dr. Weird (1944–45) (15-minute shorts, written by Robert Arthur, Jr. and narrated by Maurice Tarplin)
  • The Haunting Hour (1944–46)
  • The Sealed Book (1945) (written by Robert Arthur, Jr.)
  • Mystery in the Air (1945–47) (starring Peter Lorre)
  • The Weird Circle (1946–47)
  • Murder at Midnight (1946–50)
  • Quiet, Please! (1947–49) (written by Wyllis Cooper, starring Ernest Chappell)
  • Escape (1947–54)
  • The Unexpected (1948) (15-minute shorts)
  • Destination Freedom (1948–50), written by Richard Durham
  • Murder by Experts (1949–51)
  • The Hall of Fantasy (1949–53)
  • 2000 Plus (1950–52) (the first adult science fiction series on radio)[5]
  • Dimension X (1950–51) (featured adapted stories by authors including Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut)
  • ABC Mystery Theater (1951–54), anthology, crime and mystery series
  • Sleep No More (1952–56) (featured Nelson Olmsted narrating his own adaptations of stories)
  • Theater 10:30 (1955) (Canadian)
  • X Minus One (1955–58) (revival and continuation of Dimension X)

The final episode of Suspense was broadcast on September 30, 1962, a date that has traditionally been seen as marking the end of the old-time radio era.[6] However, genre series produced since 1962 include:

  • The Black Mass (1963–67)
  • The Creaking Door (1964–65) (South African)
  • Beyond Midnight (1968–69) (South African)
  • The Zero Hour (1973–74) (hosted by Rod Serling)
  • Mystery Theater (1974–82) (created by Himan Brown of Inner Sanctum Mysteries)
  • Nightfall (1980–83) (Canadian)
  • The Cabinet of Dr. Fritz (1984–85) (broadcast in "3D-Sound" stereo)
  • 2000X (2000) (literary adaptations)
  • The Twilight Zone (2002–03)

Television

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.[7][8]

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.[2] 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.

American television networks would sometimes run summer anthology series which consisted of unsold television pilots.[9] Beginning in 1971, the long-run Masterpiece Theatre drama anthology series brought British productions to American television.

In 2011, American Horror Story debuted a new type of anthology format in the U.S. Each season, rather than each episode, is a standalone story. Several actors have appeared in the various seasons, but playing different roles—in an echo of the Four Star Playhouse format.[10]

The success of American Horror Story has spawned other season-long anthologies such as American Crime Story and True Detective.[11]

American 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)
  • Ethel Barrymore Theatre (1956)
  • Faith Baldwin Romance Theatre (1951)
  • Fargo (2014–present)
  • Feud (2017–present)
  • Fireside Theater (1949–58)
  • The First Lady (2022)
  • Footlights Theater (1952–53)
  • Ford Star Jubilee (1955–56)
  • Ford Television Theatre (1952–57)
  • Ford Theatre (1948–51)
  • Four Star Playhouse (1952–56)
  • GE True (1962–63)
  • General Electric Theater (1953–62)
  • General Electric Summer Originals (1956)
  • Genius (2017–present)
  • Goodyear Television Playhouse (1951–57)
  • Goodyear Theatre (1957–60)
  • Great Performances (1971–present)
  • Gruen Playhouse, also known as Gruen Guild Theatre (1951–53)
  • The Gulf Playhouse (1952–53)
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
  • The Haunting (2018–present)
  • Hollywood Premiere Theatre, also known as Hollywood Theatre Time (1950–51)
  • International Playhouse (1951)
  • John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You (2006)
  • The Joseph Cotten Show, also known as On Trial (1956–59)
  • Joseph Schildkraut Presents (1953–54)
  • The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1956–57)
  • Kraft Television Theatre (1947–58)
  • Law & Order True Crime (2017–present)
  • The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962–63)
  • The Loretta Young Show (1953–61)
  • Lottery! (1983–84)
  • Love Story (1954)
  • Love Story (1973–74)
  • Lux Playhouse (1958–59)
  • Lux Video Theater (1950–59)
  • The Magnavox Theatre (1950)
  • The Mail Story (1954)
  • Masterpiece Contemporary (2008–11)
  • Masterpiece Playhouse (1950)
  • Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present)
  • Matinee Theatre (1955–58)
  • Max Liebman Spectaculars, also known as Max Liebman Presents (1954–56)
  • Medallion Theatre, also known as Chrysler Medallion Theatre (1953–54)
  • MGM Parade (1955–56)
  • The Millionaire (1955–60)
  • Monodrama Theater (1953)
  • The Motorola Television Hour (1953–54)
  • Mr. Citizen (1955)
  • The Nash Airflyte Theater (1950–51)
  • NBC Presents (1949–50)
  • NBC Television Opera Theatre (1950–64)
  • NET Playhouse (1964–72)
  • New York Television Theatre (1965–70)
  • Night Editor (1954)
  • Nine Thirty Curtain (1953–54)
  • The O. Henry Playhouse (1957)
  • One Man's Experience (1952–53)
  • One Woman's Experience (1952–53)
  • Orient Express (1953)
  • The Passerby (1951–56)
  • The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953–55)
  • Personal Appearance Theater (1951–52)
  • The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (1948–56)
  • The Philco Television Playhouse (1948–55)
  • The Philip Morris Playhouse (1953–54)
  • The Play of the Week (1959–61)
  • Playhouse 90 (1956–60)
  • Playwrights '56 (1956)
  • Plymouth Playhouse also known as ABC Album (1953–54)
  • Ponds Theater, also known as Kraft Television Theater (1953–57)
  • Producers' Showcase (1954–57)
  • Program Playhouse (1949)
  • Prudential Family Playhouse (1950–51)
  • Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (1950–52)
  • Pulse of the City (1953–54)
  • Pursuit (1958–59)
  • The Revlon Mirror Theater (1953)
  • The Richard Boone Show (1963–64)
  • The Robert Herridge Theatre (1960–61)
  • Robert Montgomery Presents (1950–57)
  • Romance, also known as Theatre of Romance (1949–50)
  • Romance Theatre (1982–83)
  • Room 104 (2017–20)
  • The Schaefer Century Theatre (1952)
  • Schilling Playhouse (1959–60)
  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951–59)
  • Scream (2015–19)
  • Screen Associates Films (1952–53)
  • Screen Director's Playhouse (1955–56)
  • The Seven Lively Arts (1957–58)
  • Short Short Dramas (1952–53)
  • The Silver Theatre (1949–50)
  • Somerset Maugham TV Theatre (1950–51)
  • Stage 7 (1955–56)
  • The Star and the Story (1955–56)
  • Star Stage (1955–56)
  • Star Tonight (1955–56)
  • Starlight Theatre (1950–51)
  • Stars Over Hollywood (1950–51)
  • Startime (1959–60)
  • Studio One (1948–58)
  • Studio 57 (1954–58)
  • Summer Playhouse (1964–67)
  • Sunday Showcase (1959–60)
  • Sweepstakes (1979)
  • Telephone Time (1956–58)
  • Television Playhouse (1947–48)
  • Television Theatre (1950)
  • Theatre Hour (1949–50)
  • Theatre of the Mind (1949)
  • Theatre '62 (1961–62)
  • Tonight on Broadway (1948–49)
  • The Trap (1950)
  • TriBeCa (1993)
  • True Detective (2014–present)
  • TV Reader's Digest (1955–56)
  • The United States Steel Hour (1953–63)
  • The White Lotus (2021-present)
  • Unsolved (2018–present)
  • Vacation Playhouse (1963–67)
  • Visions (1976–80)
  • Warner Bros. Presents (1955–56)
  • The Watcher (1995)
  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958–60)
  • Willys Theatre Presenting Ben Hecht's Tales of the City (1953)
  • Windows (1955)
  • Your Favorite Story (1953–55)
  • Your Jeweler's Showcase (1952–53)
  • Your Show Time (1949)
  • Your Story Theatre (also known as Story Theatre and Durkee Story Theatre) (1950–51)

Anime
  • Gokujō!! Mecha Mote Iinchō (2009-2011)
  • The Grimm Variations (2024)
  • Hakken Taiken Daisuki! Shimajirō (2008-2010)
  • Mewkledreamy Mix! (2020-2021)
  • Miracle! Mimika (2006-2009)
  • Shimajirō Hesoka (2010-2012)
  • Shimajirō no Wow! (2012-present)
  • Shūkan Storyland (1999-2001)

British drama
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)
  • 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–)
  • Drama (1977)
  • Escape (1957)
  • Gaslight Theatre (1965)
  • Hammer House of Horror (1980)
  • Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense (1984)
  • H.M. Tennent Globe Theatre (1956)
  • Hour of Mystery (1957)
  • Inside No 9 (2014–)
  • ITV Play of the Week (1955–74)
  • ITV Playhouse (1967–82)
  • ITV Sunday Night Theatre (1969–74)
  • ITV Sunday Night Drama (1959–80)
  • Festival (1963–64)
  • Late Night Theatre (1972–74)
  • Love Story (1963–74)
  • London Playhouse (1955–56)
  • Moving On (2009–)
  • Mystery and Imagination (1966)
  • National Theatre Live (2009–)
  • Orson Welles' Great Mysteries ( 1973–74)
  • Performance (1991–98)
  • Play for Today (1970–84)
  • Play for Tomorrow (1982)
  • Playhouse Presents (2012–14)
  • Saturday Playhouse (1958–60)
  • Second City Firsts (1973–78)
  • Screen One (1989–93)
  • Screen Two (1985–94)
  • Skins (2007–13)
  • Stage 2 (1971–72)
  • Tales of the Unexpected (1979–88)
  • Theatre Night (1985–90)
  • Theatre Parade (1936–37)
  • Theatre 70 (1960–61)
  • Theatre 625 (1964–68)
  • Theatre Royal (1955–56)
  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965–73)
  • Thursday Theatre (1964–65)
  • The Afternoon Play (2003–07)
  • The Wednesday Play (1964–70)
  • Wales Playhouse (1990–96)
  • Weekend Playhouse (1984)

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

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[12] (2016–17)
  • Ustani Jee[13] (2018)
  • Kabhi Band Kabhi Baja (2018)
  • Choti Choti Batain (2019)

Philippine drama

Thai drama
  • Girl from Nowhere (2018–present)

Animated

Adult animation

Children and family

Comedies

Crime dramas

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
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–65)
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985–89)
  • Behind Closed Doors (1958 TV series) (1958–59)
  • The Best in Mystery (1954)
  • The Boris Karloff Mystery Playhouse (1949)
  • Byline, also known as Adventures in Mystery and News Gal (1951)
  • The Chevy Mystery Show (1960)
  • The Clock (1949–52)
  • Danger (1950–55)
  • Dark of Night (1952–54)
  • Darkroom (1981–82)
  • Dow Hour of Great Mysteries (1960)
  • The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (US TV version of British theatrical second features, 1960–65)
  • Escape (1950)
  • Escape (1973)
  • Espionage (1963–64)
  • Eye Witness (1953)
  • Fallen Angels (1993–95)
  • George Sanders Mystery Theater (1957)
  • Gun (1997)
  • Hands of Mystery, also known as Hands of Destiny, Hands of Murder (1949–52)
  • The Hitchhiker (1983–87)
  • I Spy (1955–57)
  • Inner Sanctum (1954)
  • Invitation Playhouse: Mind Over Murder (1952)
  • Kraft Mystery Theatre (Summer 1961, 1962, 1963)
  • Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963–65)
  • Mr. Arsenic (1952)
  • Murder in Mind (2001–03)
  • Murder Most Horrid (UK, 1991–99)
  • Mystery! (1980–)
  • Panic! (1957–58)
  • Philip Morris Playhouse (1953–54)
  • Rebound, also known as Counterpoint (1952–53)
  • Scene of the Crime (1991–92)
  • Stage 13 (1950)
  • Sure as Fate (1950–51)
  • Suspense (1949–54)
  • Suspicion (1957–58)
  • Target (1958)
  • Twisted Tales (1996–97)
  • Two Twisted (2006) (Sequel to Twisted Tales)
  • The Vise (1955 TV series) (1955–57)
  • Volume One (1949)
  • The Web (1950–54)
  • The Web, syndication title Undercurrent (1957)
  • Your Play Time (1953–55)

Religious
Title Started Ended Seasons Episodes Notes
The Catholic Hour 1956 1967 – – –
Crossroads also known as Way of Life 1955 1957 2 78 –
Family Theater 1949 1958 – 540 –
Insight 1960 1984 23 250 –
Lamp Unto My Feet 1948 1969 – – –
Look Up and Live 1967 1971 – – –
This is the Life also known as The Fisher Family 1952 1988 – –

Science fiction and horror
Title Started Ended Seasons Episodes Notes
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond 1959 1961 3 96 –
Amazing Stories (original series) 1985 1987 2 45 –
Amazing Stories (reboot) 2020 2020 1 5 –
American Horror Story 2011 Present 11 114 –
American Horror Stories 2021 Present 1 7 –
Are You Afraid of the Dark? 1990 2000 7 91 –
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction 1997 2002 4 45 –
Black Mirror 2011 Present 6 27 UK series
Castle Rock 2018 2019 2 20 –
Channel Zero 2016 2018 4 24 –
Chiller 1995 1995 1 5 –
Darknet 2013 2014 1 6 –
Dark Realm 2001 2001 1 13 –
Deadtime Stories 2012 2013 1 11 –
Dimension 404 2017 2017 1 6 –
Electric Dreams (2017 TV series) 2017 2018 1 10 –
Exposure 2000 2002 2 42 –
Fantasy Island 1977 1984 7 152 Includes 2 Movies
Fear and Fancy 1953 1953 1 15 –
Fear Itself 2008 2008 1 13 –
The Fearing Mind 2000 2000 1 12 –
Freddy's Nightmares – A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series 1988 1990 2 44 –
Ghost Stories 1997 1998 1 44 –
Ghost Story 1972 1973 1 22 23 total includes 1 Pilot
Goosebumps 1995 1998 4 74 –
Great Ghost Tales 1961 1961 1 12 –
A Haunting 2005 Present 10 105 Stopped in 2007 and returned in 2012
The Haunting 2018 2020 2 19 -
Historias para no dormir 1966 1982 3 29 –
The Hunger 1997 2000 2 44 UK/Canadian Series
Infinity Train 2019 Present 4 40 –
Inside No 9 2014 Present 8 49 –
Into the Dark 2018 2021 2 24 –
Journey to the Unknown 1968 1969 1 17 –
Lee Martin's The Midnight Hour 2008 2015 –
Lights Out 1946 1952 –
Lore 2017 2018 2 12 –
Love, Death & Robots 2019 Present 3 35 –
Masters of Horror 2005 2007 2 26 –
Masters of Science Fiction 2007 2007 1 6 –
Métal Hurlant Chronicles 2012 2014 2 12 –
Monsters 1988 1991 3 72 –
Mystery and Imagination 1966 1970 5 24 UK series
Night Gallery 1970 1973 3 43 –
Night Visions 2001 2001 1 13 –
The Nightmare Room 2001 2002 1 13 –
Nightmare Cafe 1992 1992 1 6 –
Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King 2006 2006 1 8 –
Out of the Unknown 1965 1971 4 49 UK series
Out of This World 1962 1962 1 13 UK series
Out There 1951 1952 1 12 –
The Outer Limits 1963 1965 2 49 –
The Outer Limits 1995 2002 7 154 –
Perversions of Science 1997 1997 1 10 –
Play for Tomorrow 1981 1981 1 6 UK series
Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected 1977 1977 1 8 Not to be confused with the UK series (below)
The Ray Bradbury Theater 1985 1992 6 65 –
R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour 2010 2014 4 76 –
Room 104 2017 Present 2 24 –
Science Fiction Theatre 1955 1957 2 78 –
Scream 2015 2019 3 30 –
Slasher 2016 Present 3 24 –
Strange Stories 1956 1956 – – –
Tales from the Darkside 1984 1988 4 89 Plus 1 Pilot
Tales from the Crypt 1989 1996 7 93 –
Tales of Mystery 1961 1963 3 29 –
Tales of Mystery and Imagination 1995 1995 1 13 –
Tales of the Unexpected 1979 1988 9 112 UK series unconnected with the Quinn Martin series (above)
Tales of Tomorrow 1951 1953 2 85 –
The Terror 2018 2019 2 20 –
Thriller 1960 1962 2 67 –
Trapped 1950 1951 – – –
The Twilight Zone (original series) 1959 1964 5 156 –
The Twilight Zone (first reboot) 1985 1989 3 65 –
The Twilight Zone (second reboot) 2002 2003 1 43 –
The Twilight Zone (third reboot) 2019 2020 2 20 –
The Unexpected 1952 1952 – – –
Urban Gothic 2000 2001 2 22 –
The Veil 1958 1958 1 11 –
Way Out 1961 1961 1 14 –
Welcome to Paradox 1998 1998 1 13
What If...? 2021 Present 2 18
Star Wars: Visions 2021 Present 1 18

Westerns
Title Started Ended Seasons Episodes Notes
Frontier Theatre 1950 1950 – – No episodes are known to have survived.
Death Valley Days 1952 1970 18 452 –
Frontier 1955 1956 1 31 –
Zane Grey Theater 1956 1961 5 149 –
Cheyenne 1957 1962 7 107 –
Dead Man's Gun 1997 1999 2 44 –

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
Title Started Ended Instalments Notes
Cities of Love 2006 N/A 5 [14]

Genre
Title Started Ended Instalments Notes
Carry On... 1958 1992 31 Comedy series which used the same roster of comedic actors and comedians
Shinobi no Mono 1962 1970 9 Composed of five unrelated stories/characters. Story 1 (films #1–3), story 2 (films #4–5, 7), story 3 (film #6), story 4 (film #8), story 5 (film #9).
The Bloodthirsty Trilogy 1970 1974 3
The Ninja Trilogy 1981 1984 3 Composed of Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja, and Ninja III: The Domination.[15]
Shake, Rattle & Roll 1984 2023 16
Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 1987 1988 10 The series of syndicated animated television films produced by Hanna-Barbera, as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera programming block.
Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy 2004 2013 3
Cloverfield 2008 N/A 3

Video games

Anthology video games have been very rare since the 1980s.

Title Started Ended Installments Notes
Final Fantasy 1987 N/A 16
Silent Hill 1999 N/A 9 Each game presents a different story and main characters, but in the same titular town of Silent Hill.
The Dark Pictures Anthology 2019 N/A 4 It is planned to consist of eight games, with one entry per year.
Fears to Fathom 2021 N/A 4 An episodic psychological horror game where each episode unveils a short story narrated by the ones who survived.

See also

References
  1. "Anthology series changing television". UWIRE Text: 1. 23 October 2015 – via General OneFile.
  2. "Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  3. Sterling, Rob (2015). "About Writing for Television". Patterns. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1505707465. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  4. Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 163–164. ISBN 978-0195076783. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  5. Widner, James F & Frierson III, Meade. Science Fiction on Radio: A Revised Look At 1950–1975. Birmingham, Alabama: A.F.A.B. Publishing. p. 20
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