TALES OF TOMORROW stood out as a live half hour science fiction series on ABC from 1951 to 1953 done for adults rather than the usual targeted audience of children, and adapted stories from some of the premiere authors of the day. This 16th episode (out of 85) was broadcast Jan. 18, 1952, a severely truncated version of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," its sole casting coup being one time Monster Lon Chaney, donning a scarred and bald Vin Kehoe makeup that differs markedly from Jack Pierce's classic Universal design for 1942's "The Ghost of Frankenstein." It's a disastrous modern update set in a castle located in a lake, John Newland a nondescript Victor Frankenstein quickly getting down to monster making business, Chaney throwing off the sheet cover to stumble off the slab and confront his creator. This Creature may be mute but remains quite noisy with his sputtering growls, angry once he sees his reflection in a mirror, finally shot by Victor before plunging out a window into the off screen water, only to return for a final showdown crackling with electricity. The likelihood of Lon being inebriated during this live telecast would appear to be confirmed by the way he consistently handles prop furniture, at one point even mouthing "I'm saving the chair" as he gently sets it down, perhaps under the assumption that it was the final dress rehearsal; however, another reason could be that the furniture was not breakable but antique, in which case he was instead purposely careful and not 'under the influence.' If reportedly 'mortified' afterwards he was still able to continue uninterrupted in small screen roles in more than 100 broadcasts over the next 17 years, so it's likely he was entirely innocent of on set unprofessionalism (though never again called upon to play The Monster). John Newland would go on to host ALCOA PRESENTS ONE STEP BEYOND, as well as directing classic TV movies like 1973's "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark."