Religious Dramas for Easter

Easter is the oldest and most important Christian festival, also known as the moveable feast because the date changes each year depending on the lunar calendar.

This year is so very different to any I've ever known, but as it's Holy Week, (and to try and stop Joy and I from tucking into all of the lockdown chocolate stash!) we've been spending a little time listening to some religious dramas on RUSC.

Not surprisingly, there are many - but today lets focus on the major series from the golden age of radio.

The first is one I mentioned a week or two ago, it's Ranger Bill! This was a juvenile adventure series, which stressed positive Christian values throughout.

Next up, is The Ave Maria Hour. This Catholic program was perhaps the first religious drama to hit the radio airwaves and undertook several mammoth projects. Just one of these projects was the Life of Christ, and at 43 episodes long the mini-series was probably the biggest too - but it was well received.

Eternal Light is the next on my list, which was produced by the Jewish Theological Seminary. After World War II, the dangers of anti-Semitism had opened the eyes of Americans, and so this series focused on the history of the Jewish people, dramatizing biblical events from the ancient Judaic past, interspersed with some more contemporary works from Jewish-authored books.

Carleton E. Morse was the creator of the next series, called The Upper Room. Created to promote strong families and marital togetherness, it somehow missed the mark and was in my opinion, a little too preachy. There are six episodes extant, so why not give one or two of them a listen. You can let me know what you think in the comments below?

Next up, we have The Greatest Story Ever Told. This religious drama was filled with compassion and significance, and helped listeners to see well-worn passages in a new light. The series tells the story of the life of Jesus, and was undoubtedly ambitious for its time, having a full orchestra and sixteen-voice chorus. The series was the first ever to characterize Christ, using a regular actor, Warren Parker, to play the role. He however, remained anonymous for the show's run, and there were never any cast credits.

Finally, we have The Family Theater, a program created to promote family unity. Each week saw a drama illustrating the importance of family life and prayer. However, the shows are not, as you might think, and it's almost impossible to tell them apart from other dramas of the time. I'm a big fan of Family Theater!

Happy listening my friends,

P.S. If you can think of a religious drama you believe should be included, just let me know in the comments below!