The Hobbit in the 1970s

Following the surge of the late 60s, the 1970s saw Tolkien’s work move into wider international listening audiences, the publication of an extraordinary recording made decades earlier by the Professor and the first foray onto television on the much-loved UK television show, Jackanory.

1970s Recordings

• 1970 Bilbo (Sveriges Radio P1) The first non-English production is broadcast on Swedish radio.
• 1972 Hobbitten (Danmarks Radio) Unabridged Danish spirited reading in the Funen dialect by Ove Sprogøe.
• 1974  The Nicol Williamson Reading (Demetriou Production) Nicol Williamson, a celebrated Shakespearean actor, provided a tour-de-force narration that many consider one the finest single-voice performances.
• 1978 USA Library of Congress Recording (The American Printing House for the Blind) produced their second reading for the Library of Congress by Bob Askey.
• 1975 The Caedmon Legacy Series (TC 1477 / TC 1478) The most significant archival release of the century brought the 1952 Malvern tapes to the public, allowing the world to finally hear the professor’s own voice for Gollum.
• 1977 The JRR Tolkien Soundbook The first collection of the JRR Tolkien recordings including his reading from The Hobbit.
• 1979 Mind’s Eye Dramatisation (National Public Radio) A landmark American production featuring a full cast and an original musical score.
• 1979  Jackanory (BBC Television) Celebrating the 3,000th programme, they assembled a cast of four celebrity readers.