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NBC ’s 1972 anthology showGhost Storywas rebooted asCircle of Fearmid - season . Even with a title and format change , the series was unable to find an interview and was canceled after one season .
When NBC began appear for another scary anthology show similar to their early days - skewingNight Gallery , filmmaker William Castle pitchedGhost Story . concerned in tapping into a more youthful demographic on Friday nighttime , NBC greenlit the series , which would focus on hour - long supernatural plotlines . LikeNight GalleryandThe Twilight Zone , the show was bookended by an omniscient host , played by Sebastian Cabot . The formerFamily Affairco - champion played the proprietor of an refined hotel called Mansfield House . Cabot would introduce the main characters , sometimes guest at the hotel , who were usually involved in a paranormal event . A mixture of famous television and film genius cultivate on the show , which had high-pitched production values and a sophisticated cinematic feeling .
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UnlikeRod Serling’sNight Gallery , which usually had multiple stories within an episode , Ghost Storytold one narration an installment . Another aspect that severalise Castle ’s show was the tone of the subject matter . WhileNight Gallerywould often cut into comedic and puerile plotlines , Ghost Storystuck to thrilling , supernatural themes mean to scare away the audience . Similar toThe Outer Limitsfrom a decade previous , the episodes felt more like feature article cinema – possessing a declamatory ambit and more challenging narration than the distinctive television receiver motion-picture show at the time . A children ’s write up platter album based on the show was released by Peter Pan Records to generate sake in the unveiling . However , the show skin in its timeslot againstThe CBS Friday Night MoviesandRoom 22on ABC .
William Castle’s Ghost Story TV Series Was Rebooted as Circle Of Fear
During the wintertime TV hiatus , NBC executive request that the show be retool a bit to try out to extend the consultation . The title was changed to the more ambiguousCircle of Fear – and the Cabot graphic symbol , along with the hotel localization , were dropped completely . 13 episodes air in the original format , while an extra 9 were aired in the retool reading . Though critics were kind to both version of the show , it was unable to compete with the other networks – as well as theatrical films and event that kept teens out on Friday Night . Hopes that the dedicated pre - teen interview forABC’sThe Brady Bunch / Partridge Familyblock an hour sooner would switch over also did not materialize .
Ironically , the same season thatGhost Storypremiered , a retooled translation of the connection’sNight Galleryhad debuted . NightGallerywas cut from an time of day to a half time of day – and nidus turn to just one story per episode . The changes did not help reverse things around for either show , with both being cancelled by the end of the 72/73 time of year . Though largely overshadowed by the more famousNightGallery , Ghost Story(akaCircle of Fear ) has recently found a new fanbase thanks to a videodisc release and streaming options .
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