The Sealed Book
1945
The Sealed Book host was originally silent, then became the voice of Philip Clarke. The character played the same role as the Crypt Keeper in EC Comics.
The Sealed Book borrowed all sorts of successful ingredients from other shows. It had a cackling old man who sounded like a mix between the host from The Hermit's Cave and The Witch's Tale. It also had Robert Arthur and David Kogan as writers, who also wrote for The Mysterious Traveler. And the character actors represented a wide assortment of villainous archetypes. Yet there was something that made this series fall short of its competition. One obvious guess is the lack of originality. Not only was the basic formula of the show already used better elsewhere, most if not all the scripts were recycled stories from Mysterious Traveler, but with different casts. But the greater shortcoming was in the execution of the stories. The director (Jock MacGregor) and sound design (unknown artist) were often substandard. Scenes were rushed and the action wasn't allowed enough time to be carried out in a believable fashion. For example, when a character receives an experimental drug to make him immortal, his bullet ridden arm heals the instant the needle is inserted to deliver the serum. The same character escapes into a house without being seen by police, even though they were right on him in our minds eye. The acting was usually overblown as well, with thugs sounding like they were putting on Brooklyn accents and villains drooling over themselves with evil intent. Victims are strangled and die within seconds, and their falling bodies sound like three boxes of laundry being knocked over by a sound effects man. Of course, hammy performances can be entertaining in their own right, but compared with the competition, The Sealed Book didn't have much of a chance.
However, there were also good points about the show. The basic format was very similar to what would eventually be recreated as the EC Comics Crypt Keeper in Tales of the Crypt (although the publishers never specifically acknowledged this show's influence as they did with The Witch's Tale). And the gruesome plots were fun to. It might be a man who can't die unless he blows himself up, or perhaps a pair of amputated hands coming back to life to strangle another victim. Whatever it was, you can bet it kept the kids awake at night and their mouths jabbering about it all the following day to their friends.
Originally, the "Keeper" of the Sealed Book was silent, and the somber announcer would describe him turning the pages and reading whatever title he turned to. Finally the Keeper was voiced by Philip Clarke, who loved to hype how wonderful his next tale was going to be.
The Standard Intro:
Keeper: (echo) "Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh! The Sealed Book!"
Sfx: (Gong.)
Announcer: "Once again the keeper of the book is ready to open the ponderous volume in which is recorded all the secrets and mysteries of mankind through the ages. All the strange and mystifying stories of the past, present, and the future!"
Sfx: (Gong, followed by long music interlude to provide time for commercials.)
An Opening Narration:
Announcer: "Keeper of the book... What tale would you tell us this time? "
Keeper: "Uh... What tale shall I tell you? I have here tales of every kind. Tales of murder, of madness, of dark deeds and events strange beyond all belief. Heh-heh-heh. Let me see... Yes. Here's a tale for you. A tale of a man who stole by force the secret of immortality, life everlasting, and entered into a mad adventure. The title of the tale is..."
Sfx: (organ flourish)
Keeper: "'King Of The World!'"
(Gong)
Keeper: "Here's the tale as it is written in the sealed book. It is late at night and the wind howls over the desolate country side. In the darkness, a man runs frantically though the woods, trying to elude his pursuers..."
A Middle Break:
Keeper: "And now, to go on with the story of 'The King Of The World,' as it is written here in The Sealed Book. Duke Farson, having duly tried and sentenced for the murders he committed, is being strapped into the electric chair!"
An Ending Narration:
Keeper: "Heh-heh-heh. And that is the story of 'The King Of The World,' as it is written in The Sealed Book. Years have passed, but Duke Furgerson [sic] is still locked up in the padded cell. Day and night he begs to be executed, and yet at the same moment, he knows he can't die! That the serum in his blood has given him immortality and sentenced him to a life filled with torturous sounds from which there is no escape. There is no escape! It is so written here in The Sealed Book!"
Sfx: (Gong.)
The Standard Closing:
Keeper: "But the sound of the great gong tells me that I must close the great book once again."
Announcer: "One moment Keeper of the Book. What story will you tell us next time?"
Keeper: "Next time? Heh-heh-heh. What shall it be? A tale of madness? Of Terror? Of dark deeds in far lands? I have them here. All the stories that ever happened. And many that have yet to come to pass. But I'll find one for you in just a moment."
Sfx: (Long organ interlude for commercials.)
Announcer: "And now, Keeper of The Book. Have you found a story that you'll tell next time?"
Keeper: "Yes, I've found one. It's a story about a ruthless man who put money above all, and wouldn't stop at murder to achieve his ends. The title of the tale is 'Death Spins A Web!'"
Sfx: (Gong.)
Announcer: "Be sure to be with us next time when the great gong heralds another strange and exciting story from..."
Keeper: (Echo) "The Sealed Book!"
Hear An Actual Episode!
(Courtesy of The Monster Club)
To Have And To Hold - A woman visits her aunt and uncle who live in a creepy mansion and who no one have seen in forty years.
Stranger in the House - A young couple move into haunted Wickford Manor, whereupon the husband proceeds to fall in love with a resident female ghost.
More Actual Epsiodes!
(Courtesy of Botar Archives)
Accusing Corpse - 04/29/1945
Broadway here I come - 06/17/1945
Death at Storm House 4/22/1945
Death spins a Web - 04/01/1945
Ghost Makers - 06/10/1945
Man with the stolen Face - 07/15/1945
Out of the Past - 05/13/1945
Stranger in the House - 05/06/1945
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