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1961 The Hobbit (David Davis)
Date: 1961.01.04
Language: English
Reaader: David Davis
Organisation: BBC The Home Service
Programme: Children’s Hour
Duration: 13 x 20 minute episodes
Unabridged: No
Country: UK
Licenced: Yes
Children’s Hour was a recreational series for younger listeners as distinct from it’s educational series like For the Schools. In 1961 they produced a 13 episode serial abridged by Barbara Henderson and read by David Davis.
In 1974 the Story Time programme had a 10 part reading of The Hobbit by David Davis, it seems highly likely that this was an abridged version of this production. Looking at the episode titles, it would appear that episodes 3 and 4 were skipped over.
Sadly there are no known recordings of this series as the BBC did not usually retain recordings at this time and no off-air recordings are known to exist.
1961 Children’s Hour
| 1961.01.04 | 1 | An Unexpected Party |
| 1961.01.11 | 2 | The Trolls |
| 1961.01.18 | 3 | The Last Homely House |
| 1961.01.25 | 4 | A Thunderstorm |
| 1961.02.01 | 5 | Riddles in the Dark |
| 1961.02.08 | 6 | The Wargs |
| 1961.02.15 | 7 | The House of Beorn |
| 1961.02.22 | 8 | The Fire in the Woods |
| 1961.03.01 | 9 | Escape by Water |
| 1961.03.08 | 10 | A Welcome in Lake-Town |
| 1961.03.15 | 11 | The Dragon’s Lair |
| 1961.03.22 | 12 | Smaug’s Vengeance |
| 1961.03.29 | 13 | Battle of the Five Armies |
1974 Story Time:
| 1974.09.02 | 1 | An Unexpected Party |
| 1974.09.03 | 2 | Roast Mutton |
| 1974.09.04 | 3 | Riddles in the Dark |
| 1974.09.05 | 4 | Out of the Frying Pan |
| 1974.09.06 | 5 | Queer Lodgings |
| 1974.09.09 | 6 | Flies and Spiders |
| 1974.09.10 | 7 | Barrels Out of Bond |
| 1974.09.11 | 8 | Smaug! |
| 1974.09.12 | 9 | Fire and Water |
| 1974.09.13 | 10 | The Last Stage |