Greatest Story Ever Told, The

The Greatest Story Ever Told is an American old-time radio religious drama that was broadcast on ABC from January 26, 1947, until December 30, 1956. Beginning July 25, 1948, the program was also broadcast via shortwave radio to 58 other countries by the World Wide Broadcasting Foundation.

The series used dramatized sketches to depict events in the life of Jesus Christ, with the words spoken by Jesus coming directly from the Bible. As in the book of the same name by Fulton Oursler, the radio program aimed to present the story of Jesus in a reverent and artistic manner. The premiere episode was “Parable of the Good Samaritan.”

The program was sponsored by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, but it lacked traditional commercials, having the sponsorship announced only at the end of each episode. When the broadcast run ended, the affiliation between the program and Goodyear was described as “one of longest institutional broadcast advertising campaigns.”

The Stars

Actors on The Greatest Story Ever Told performed in anonymity, with no cast credits given. However, it is known that Warren Parker portrayed Jesus in the program’s only continuing role. Norman Rose served as the announcer, and the music was composed by William Stoess, who initially conducted the 35-piece orchestra. Jacques Belasco and Willard Young later took over as conductors, with Young also directing the 16-member chorus.

Key Dates

• The Greatest Story Ever Told debuted on January 26, 1947.
• It aired until December 30, 1956.
• The program began broadcasting via shortwave radio to 58 other countries on July 25, 1948.

Other Information

The Greatest Story Ever Told received widespread critical acclaim and recognition. In 1947, the City College of New York honored the program as the best radio show created and broadcast that year, noting its “superior good taste and effective listener appeal.” In 1949, the show won a special George Foster Peabody Citation, which praised its “high degree of religious integrity” and lack of “denominational bias or prejudice.” That same year, the Freedoms Foundation named The Greatest Story Ever Told the Best Radio Program.

The New York Times critic Jack Gould wrote in 1947 that the program was “a rare and successful fusion of religion, art and commerce” and “one of the most significant ethereal achievements in recent years.” In 1952, CBS obtained the rights to broadcast a televised version of The Greatest Story Ever Told, but it never came to fruition.

Overall, The Greatest Story Ever Told was a highly acclaimed and influential old-time radio drama that brought the life of Jesus Christ to listeners in a reverent and artistic manner for nearly a decade.