Series synopsis
Folio is a Canadian drama television series that premiered on CBC Television on September 25, 1955. It stars Katharine Blake, Margaret Braidwood, Charles Jarrott and Elizabeth Cole.
Folio, a precursor to CBC's renowned fine-arts series Festival, aired for four years starting in 1956. The series showcased original dramas, music compositions, and ballets, many originating from diverse regions across Canada. Notable episodes featured Barry Morse in a new staging of MacBeth, along with performances by Canadian talents like Robert Goulet and Sharon Acker. One of the highlights included a musical adaptation of the beloved Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables. Airing without spo ...
Premise
Folio, a precursor to CBC's renowned fine-arts series Festival, aired for four years starting in 1956. The series showcased original dramas, music compositions, and ballets, many originating from diverse regions across Canada. Notable episodes featured Barry Morse in a new staging of MacBeth, along with performances by Canadian talents like Robert Goulet and Sharon Acker. One of the highlights included a musical adaptation of the beloved Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables. Airing without sponsorship, Folio thrived until its conclusion in the fall of 1960.
Producers: Robert Allen, Harvey Hart, David Greene, Mario Prizek and Ronald Weyman.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Katharine Blake as Lady Macbeth
- Margaret Braidwood as First Witch
- Charles Jarrott as Ross
- Elizabeth Cole as Lady Macbeth's attendant
- Dickson Kerwin as Siward
- Hayward Morse as Macduff's son
- Ron Hartmann as Caithness
- Robert Shirriff
Supporting cast
- Phyllis Coglan
- Paul Kligman
- George Spelvin
- Eric House
- Jack Creley
- John Drainie as Banquo
- Sandy Webster
- William Needles
- Frank Peddie
- Robert Goulet
- Jean Ramsay as Frankie
- Carol Starkman as Tanya
Guest cast
- Katharine Blake as Lady Macbeth
- Margaret Braidwood as First Witch
- Charles Jarrott as Ross
- Elizabeth Cole as Lady Macbeth's attendant
- Dickson Kerwin as Siward
- Hayward Morse as Macduff's son
- Ron Hartmann as Caithness
- Robert Shirriff
- Phyllis Coglan
- Paul Kligman
- George Spelvin
- Eric House
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 94 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 30 | September 25, 1955 | May 20, 1956 |
| Season 2 | 20 | October 31, 1956 | May 1, 1957 |
| Season 3 | 25 | October 31, 1957 | May 29, 1958 |
| Season 4 | 19 | November 11, 1958 | May 26, 1959 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Macbeth To usurp the throne of Scotland, Macbeth and his wife murder King Duncan. |
September 25, 1955 |
| 2 | The Black Bonspiel of Wullie McCrimmon | October 9, 1955 |
| 3 | Take to the Woods | October 16, 1955 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
S2.E1 ∙ HMS Pinafore A sailor falls for the daughter of his captain, while being unaware of the love a young country girl holds for him. |
October 31, 1956 |
| 2 | S2.E2 ∙ The Case of Posterity Versus Joseph Howe | November 7, 1956 |
| 3 |
S2.E3 ∙ The Devil's Instrument Story about a farm boy torn between the discipline imposed by the code of belief and obedience of his people and his desire to express himself as a free human being. Written by W.O. Mitchell Directed by David Greene Cast: Douglas Rain ..... Jacob Schunk Jack Creley ........ Peter the Goose Boss Margot Christie Larry D. Mann Ron Hartmann Janet Reid Leonard Ontkean Henry Comor Murray Westgate Daryl Masters Frank Perry Bill Walker David Toguri |
November 14, 1956 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
S3.E1 ∙ Patience Producer Norman Campbell Libretto W.S. Gilbert Musical director Godfrey Ridout Cast: Shirley Martin .......... Patience Irene Byatt ............... Lady Jane Arthur Sclater .......... The Colonel Rex LeLacheur ........ The Major Peter Dimuantes ...... The Duke Isabelita Alonso ........ Lady Angela Murray Matheson ..... Reginald Bunthorne William Cole ............. Archibald Grosvenor Elaine Meek ............. Ella Yvonne O'Sullivan ... Saphir Norman Welsh ......... Solicitor Bella Sholom Barbara Strathdee Synopsis: Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience." Archibald Grosvenor, an "Idyllic" poet - Bill Cole; Reginald Bunthorne, a "Fleshly" poet - Murray Matheson. |
October 31, 1957 |
| 2 |
S3.E2 ∙ Honey and Hoppers The tale follows farm-hand Jake, The Kid, Ma, old Matthew-behind-the-Rock, Albert Williams, and other townsfolk on the prairie. For 17 years, Mitchell's vivid imagination has made this fictional town as significant to many as their actual hometowns. Comedy by W.O. Mitchell Directed by Robert Allen Cast: John Drainie ........... Jake Johnny Washbrook .... The Kid Douglas Rain ......... Matthew-behind-the-rock Jack Creley .......... Albert Williams Aileen Seaton ......... Ma Frank Peddie .......... Mayor MacTaggart Paul Kligman Norman Welsh William Needles |
November 7, 1957 |
| 3 |
S3.E3 ∙ Games And Rites A program of modern dance. Games, danced by the Donald McKayle company, and Rites, by the Pearl Lang company, are being combined in one program by producer Harvey Hart to form a symbolic picture of turbulent adolescence in contemporary society. |
November 14, 1957 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
S4.E1 ∙ Sammy / The Dock Brief The first play, "Sammy" by Ken Hughes, features Eric House as a bookie trying to gather funds for protection against a gang. The second play, "The Dock Brief" by John Mortimer, marks its fourth season with two one-act performances. Play by Ken Hughes (Sammy) and John Mortimer (The Dock Brief) Directed by Paul Almond Host Clyde Gilmour Cast: Eric House .......... Sammy Douglas Rain .......(The Dock Brief) Alfred Gallagher ... (The Dock Brief) |
November 11, 1958 |
| 2 |
S4.E2 ∙ The Hostage Teleplay by M. Charles Cohen Directed by Harvey Hart Cast: Theodore Bikel ...... Barbaso Len Birman ............. Keeno George Carron ....... Mika Jonathan Erland ...... Fry Norman Ettlinger ..... Aide Alfred Gallagher ....... Judge Eric Heath ................ Doctor Dino Collura ............. Boy Bill Brydon D'Arcy Guthrie Jon Granik John Grima Bernard Hayes Donald Ewer |
November 25, 1958 |
| 3 |
S4.E3 ∙ Eugene Onegin Based on the novel by Alexander Pushkin Narrator Peter Ustinov Cast: Morley Meredith ......... Eugene Onegin Ilona Kombrink ........... Tatiana John Alexander .......... Lenski Joan Maxwell .............. Olga Harry Mossfield ........... Saratski Irene Byatt Joanne Ivey |
December 2, 1958 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBC Television |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 25, 1955 |
| Last aired | May 26, 1959 |
| Status | continue |