December 24, 1945: Tides, Skulls, and Stage Murders with Boris Karloff

In this December 24, 1945, episode of Information Please, quizmaster Clifton Fadiman leads a spirited panel featuring regulars John Kieran and Franklin P. Adams, joined by distinguished editor and critic John Mason Brown and special guest Boris Karloff, the legendary actor known for his horror roles. The episode flows with wit and curiosity through a variety of challenging topics—from the scientific explanation of spring and neap tides to a literary count of corpses in Shakespearean tragedies. Karloff's macabre charm is on full display as he dives into questions about fictional murders, skulls in literature, and poetic executions. The panel also navigates through history, exploring Channel crossings by Julius Caesar, William the Conqueror, and the D-Day landings, and delves into psychiatry in literature, works of Gilbert and Sullivan, and mythological love stories. With humor, intellect, and just the right touch of the morbid, this holiday broadcast is a delightful blend of education and entertainment. Tune in for skulls, Shakespeare, and the sly commentary of Boris Karloff on Information Please!