Once Upon a Time (Fabbri Publishing)

Fabbri's Once Upon a Time series was based on the popular Story Teller series. It also had a slogan which was "The world of Traditional Fairy Tales & Fables." Like its predecessor, it was a collection of storybooks that came with cassette tapes. Story Teller regulars like Carole Boyd and Nigel Lambert lent their vocal talents to this collection. Actor John Shrapnel introduced each one and told one of the stories himself.

The intro of each cassette always started with this:

"Long Ago and Far Away in Enchanted Lands across the seas lived Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Good Fairies and Wicked Witches, Ferocious Giants and Gentle Dwarfs. Their Adventures and Stories have been told for Hundreds of Years. Open the pages and listen to the words and you too can join the magical world of Once Upon a Time."

The main title theme was "Christmas Box" by Paddy Kingsland

Issues

Each issue of Once Upon a Time was devoted to one story only with mostly Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. The canary yellow cassettes came without a small plastic protective case but a total of five large red plastic cases were given away free with Issues 1, 12, 24, 36 and 48. Each were made to hold twelve of every issue and cassette. Some also came with a giant poster showing 24 Issues as a checklist to those who were collecting each one. 60 issues were produced:

IssueStoryNarratorOriginal Author of the StorySynopsisMusic Used for the Story
1Snow White and the Seven DwarfsCass AllenThe Brothers GrimmCan the seven dwarfs save the beautiful Snow White from her evil stepmother?Thames Rhapsody (Johnny Pearson)
The Lonely Hours (b) (Richard Harvey)
When Darkness Falls (Richard Harvey)
Ghouls and Ghosts (Paddy Kingsland)
Camelia Dance (Johnny Pearson)
2Jack and the BeanstalkNigel PegramJoseph JacobsA boy named Jack has many adventures at the top of a beanstalk.Down in the Mouth (Paddy Kingsland)
Half O'Shanty (Ronald Aspery)
Big Bad Giant (Paddy Kingsland)
Permonitions (Richard Harvey)
Blind Panic (Richard Harvey)
3The Wizard of OzCarole BoydL. Frank BaumDorothy's adventures along the yellow brick road.Homecoming (a) (Paddy Kingsland)
The Water Garden (Richard Harvey)
Fields and Hedgerows (Johnny Pearson)
The Enchanted Wood (a) (Paddy Kingsland)
The Eternal Loser (Paddy Kingsland)
The Dragoons (Graham de Wilde)
4ThumbelinaDenise BryerHans Christian AndersenWill poor Thumbelina ever get the husband she wants after so many bad suitors?Lullaby (Tony Kinsey)
Night Predator (Tony Kinsey)
A Winter's Story (Tony Kinsey)
Water Meadows (Tony Kinsey)
The Vale of Tranquillity (Richard Harvey)
Evergreen (Tony Kinsey)
5Puss in BootsNigel LambertCharles PerraultHow a clever cat made his master's fortune.Mock Baroque (Joe Griffiths)
The Haunted Castle (Paddy Kingsland)
The Plot Thickens (Dick Walter)
The Chase Continues (Dick Walter)
6The Lion's GlassesDavid TateCharles VildracFind out why all the animals in the jungle are searching for a pair of glasses.A Hippo Called Hubert (Joe Griffiths)
The Eternal Loser (Paddy Kingsland)
Night Predator (Tony Kinsey)
Walk This Way (Ronald Aspery)
7The Snow QueenCarole BoydHans Christian AndersenGerda's quest to find her lost friend Kay.Winter's Flight (Richard Harvey)
The Water Garden (Richard Harvey)
Dreams in Slow Motion (Richard Harvey)
Icescape (a) (Graham de Wilde)
8Ali Baba and the Forty ThievesSteven PaceyAntoine GallandBy chance, Ali Baba discovers an amazing secret, but the notorious forty thieves are determined to keep their secret safe.Two Turkish Folk Songs (2. Slow) (Georges Behar)
Desert Caravan (a) (Graham de Wilde)
Baghdad Nights (Ali Isfahan)
9The Emperor's New ClothesDavid TateHans Christian AndersenHow two swindlers made an emperor and all his courtiers look very foolish.Ruffles and Lace (Sam Fonteyn)
Happy Hippo (Harold Smart)
Crown Ceremonial (Richard Harvey)
10Little Red Riding HoodCass AllenThe Brothers GrimmA girl visiting her sick grandmother who soon becomes the target of a greedy, wicked wolf.Without a Care (Paddy Kingsland)
Ballet for Woodwind (Georges Behar)
The Cunning Wolf (Paddy Kingsland)
The Beast Within (Paddy Kingsland)
Games Played in the Dark (Richard Harvey)
11Old SultanNigel LambertThe Brothers GrimmThe story of a kind and gentle sheepdog.The Cultured Cakewalk (Dick Walter)
Slow Progress (Simon Benson)
Dark Doings (Simon Benson)
Creeping About (Dick Walter)
12Gulliver in LilliputTim BentinckJonathan SwiftGulliver's adventures in Lilliput.The Golden Isles (c) (Richard Harvey)
Summer Wine (Richard Harvey)
13The Sleeping BeautyAnna BentinckCharles PerraultA princess is put under a spell to sleep for a hundred years. Can the spell be broken?Childhood Memories (Skaila Kanga)
Gavotte (Skaila Kanga)
The Spider and the Fly (Richard Harvey)
Real and Unreal (Richard Harvey)
A Backward Glance (Richard Harvey)
Dreaming Dreams (Skaila Kanga)
In Times Gone By (Richard Harvey)
14The Goose with the Golden EggsGay SoperGiambattista BasileThe two sisters Grace and Hope had the good fortune to possess a goose which laid a golden egg every day; but their greedy neighbors Envy and her niece Green With Envy also want this wealth...Country Pictures (Dick Walter)
Good Day (a) (Dick Walter)
A Jolly Jaunt (a) (Dick Walter)
Footsteps (a) (Dick Walter)
Out of Step (Dick Walter)
Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin (Fiachra Trench)
15The Most Incredible ThingNigel LambertHans Christian AndersenHow a clever young inventor's clock helped him win the hand of a princess of Slavonia.The Courtiers' Gigge (Gareth Walters)
Toyland (Paddy Kingsland)
The Plot Thickens (Dick Walter)
16The Wolf and the Seven KidsCarole BoydThe Brothers GrimmHow a mother goat outwitted a wicked wolf and saved her little kids.Animal Capers (Tony Kinsey)
On the Sly (Dick Walter)
Witches' Brew (Tony Kinsey)
Heartstrings (Dick Walter)
Comic Tension (c) (Dick Walter)
17The Little MatchgirlLindsay DuncanHans Christian AndersenThe sad story of how a poor lonely little girl tried to cope with the harsh world on Christmas Eve.Baroque Pastorale (Robert Cornford)
Nature's Realm (Robert Cornford)
The Courtier (Robert Cornford)
Silent Night (a) (Simon Benson)
Wonderland (Richard Harvey)
Distant Hills (Richard Harvey)
18The Three BearsCass AllenRobert SoutheyHow Goldilocks' curiosity got the better of her.Once Upon a Time (Tony Kinsey)
Pippin (Tony Kinsey)
Brahms' Lullaby (Brian Gulland/Richard Harvey)
Lumbering Giant (Paddy Kingsland)
Games Played in the Dark (Richard Harvey)
19The Emperor's NightingaleDermot CrowleyHans Christian AndersenWhat happened when a real nightingale and a clockwork nightingale met at the court of an Emperor?
20Little KimNigel PegramHelen BannermanThe story of a young boy and four vain tigers that turned into a heap of melted butter.Setting Out (Naresh Sohal)
Birds of Prey (Naresh Sohal)
The Perils of Pauline (Joe Griffiths)
21The Enchanted PrincessCarole BoydLudwig BechsteinTwo sons Henry and John both set out for the sake of their father Marcus to rescue a princess named Esmerelda from a wicked spell, but who will triumph?Heritage (Robert Cornford)
Run! (Richard Harvey)
Robbers (Richard Harvey)
Inward Eyes (Richard Harvey)
Adrenalin (Richard Harvey)
Dreams in Slow Motion (Richard Harvey)
Phantasy (Richard Harvey)
22The Selfish GiantJohn ShrapnelOscar WildeHow a selfish giant suddenly became generous and made the lives of many children very happy.Land of Marvels (Tony Kinsey)
Melody for a Flute (Norman Candler)
23The Wild SwansCass AllenHans Christian AndersenHow a young princess Elise saved her brothers from a wicked spell.Destiny (a) (Richard Harvey)
Secrets of the Past (Richard Harvey)
Chronicles in Time (Richard Harvey)
Dreams in Slow Motion (Richard Harvey)
24Johnny-CakeNigel LambertJoseph JacobsHow a cake thought he was the fastest in the world in getting away from people and animals, but not fast at thinking.Peacherine Rag (Jonathan C. Starkey)
St. Louis Rag (Jonathan C. Starkey)
25The Brave Tin SoldierMick FordHans Christian AndersenThe sad story of a one-legged tin soldier who falls in love with a beautiful ballerina.The Little Ballerina (a) (Dick Walter)
Morning Darling! (Ronald Aspery)
Growing Together (a) (Dick Walter)
26CinderellaAnna BentinckCharles PerraultHow a beautiful girl goes to the ball and discovers the prince of her dreams.Dreamland (a) (Paddy Kingsland)
Grey Morning (Richard Harvey)
Dreaming (Dick Walter)
Dreams in Slow Motion (Richard Harvey)
Dreamland Waltz (Paddy Kingsland)
27Great Grandmother's NightshirtSteven PaceyGuido GozzanoHow a nightshirt becomes very useful to a boy named Patrick.Cockney Carousel (Gareth Walters)
The Pursuers (Laurie Johnson)
Hampton Court (Laurie Johnson)
Royal Pavan (Laurie Johnson)
28The Twelve Dancing PrincessesCarole BoydThe Brothers GrimmA mystery is trying to be solved of where the Princesses go every night and why their shoes are always worn through.Minuet from L'Arlésienne, Suite No. 2 (Fiachra Trench)
Pause for Thought (Dick Walter)
Newborn (a) (Johnny Pearson)
Pastoral Colours (Keith Mansfield)
The Imperial Ballroom (Graham de Wilde)
29The Master ThiefNigel LambertThe Brothers GrimmTo prove his abilities as a master thief, a gentleman is set three difficult tasks.The Highwayman (Richard Myhill)
Heartstrings (Dick Walter)
Is There Anybody There? (Richard Myhill)
Lamplight Spies (Richard Myhill)
30AladdinJason IsaacsAntoine GallandA street urchin finds a lamp with incredible special powers.Arabian Nights (Paddy Kingsland)
Snake Charmer (Paddy Kingsland)
31The Silver ShillingDavid TateHans Christian AndersenWhat happens when a silver shilling goes on his travels in the big wide world?Imperial Hotel (John Leach)
Valse Sentimentale (John Leach)
Victoriana (John Leach)
Victorian Prelude (William Davies)
Sinister Link (John Leach)
Industrial Revolution (John Leach)
32The Little MermaidCarole BoydHans Christian AndersenHow a beautiful mermaid's love for a handsome prince makes her swap her fishtail for a pair of legs.Alice's Theme (Tony Kinsey)
Trumpet Hornpipe (a) (Brian Gulland/Richard Harvey)
In Summer's Past (a) (Robert Howes/Barbara Courtney-King/Bill McGillivray/Steve Davies)
A-Sitting on a Gate (a) (Tony Kinsey)
Harp Theme for Alice (a) (Tony Kinsey)
33The Goatherd and the King's DaughterNigel LambertLudwig BechsteinA picky king who dislikes commoners, makes a goatherd complete many tasks before he is allowed to marry his daughter.The King's Codpiece (Paddy Kingsland)
34The Ugly DucklingDenise BryerHans Christian AndersenA poor duckling is made fun of for his looks, but will he eventually become handsome?Make Believe (Dick Walter)
Pause for Thought (Dick Walter)
Perky Tumpets (Pete Ross Winslow)
The Cunning Wolf (Paddy Kingsland)
Fertile Land (Georges Behar)
Fond Memories (Richard Myhill)
35Brer Rabbit and the Tar-BabyKerry ShaleJoel Chandler HarrisBrer Fox tries to outwit Brer Rabbit, but things don't work out quite the way he planned.Swinging Jugs (Stefan Grossman)
Carolina Clog Dance (Stefan Grossman)
36The Happy PrinceTim BentinckOscar WildeWhat happens when the Happy Prince tries to help the poor people of his city?The Physick Garden (Graham de Wilde)
The Beauty of Time (a) (Graham de Wilde)
The Vale of Tranquillity (Richard Harvey)
37The NutcrackerCass AllenE. T. A. HoffmannWhen Marie receives a very unusual Christmas present, many exciting things happen.Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
March (Pyotr Ilyich)
Waltz of the Flowers (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
Taking Chances (Richard Harvey)
Coffee Arabian Dance (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
Dance of the Reed Flutes (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
38Hansel and GretelCarole BoydThe Brothers GrimmWhat happens when two children find a candy house in the woods?Twilight (Dick Walter)
Follow the Leader (Brian Bennett)
The Enchanted Forest (Richard Myhill)
The Woman at the Window (Dick Walter)
Stepping Stones (Brian Bennett)
Ghouls and Ghosts (Paddy Kingsland)
Homestead (Georges Behar)
39The Brave Little TailorSteven PaceyThe Brothers GrimmWhen a tailor kills seven with one blow, he finds he is the talk of the kingdom.Jaunty People (Dick Walter)
Spooky (Steve Gray)
40King Rough-BeardEve KarpfThe Brothers GrimmA vain and rude princess marries a beggar, but she soon finds out he's not quite as humble as she thinks.On Mid-Summer's Day (Paddy Kingsland)
On Mid-Summer's Night (Paddy Kingsland)
41The Three Lucky CharmsNigel LambertGuido GozzanoA Father leaves each of his three sons a lucky charm, Simon inherits a table cloth that always has food and drink appear on it, John inherits a cloak that gives him invisibility and transportation and Peter inherits a purse that is never empty, but the greedy Princess Lorraine wants these items for herself.Shamrock Jig (Gareth Walters)
Harmonica Link (1) (Gareth Walters)
42The Serpent WomanCarole BoydCarlo GozziWhen Princess Laila turns into a fire-breathing serpent, only a kiss can save her.Quest (a) (Robert Howes/Barbara Courtney-King/Bill McGillivray/Steve Davies)
43The Flying TrunkSteven PaceyHans Christian AndersenA merchant's son is given a trunk that seems to have a mind of its own.
44The Town MusiciansDenise BryerThe Brothers GrimmWhen a donkey is no longer useful to his master, he heads for the city to become a musician.All Together Now (Pete Ross Winslow)
On With the Race (Dennis Farnon)
Lighting the Fuse (b) (Dick Walter)
45Tom ThumbNigel PegramThe Brothers GrimmThe adventures of small boy who is only as big as the size of a thumb.The Town Mouse (Tony Kinsey)
The Mouse in the Windmill (Tony Kinsey)
A Jolly Jingle (Dick Walter)
Chase Me (Tony Kinsey)
Spooky (Steve Gray)
Sleepy Head (Steve Gray)
Finder's Creepers (Paddy Kingsland)
46Rose White and Rose RedEva HaddonThe Brothers GrimmHow the kindness of two sisters is rewarded by a huge brown bear.Land of Make Believe (Tony Kinsey)
Country Lullaby (Clive Hicks)
Snuffling Around (Alec Gould)
Night Predator (Tony Kinsey)
The Beast Within (Paddy Kingsland)
47The Prince and the PauperJason IsaacsMark TwainA prince called Edward and a pauper called Tom are so intrigued by each other's lifestyles that they decide to swap roles for a while.What's in the Gazebo? (John Devereaux)
48The Three Little PigsGay SoperJoseph JacobsWhen three little pigs each build a house in the forest, the big bad wolf pays them all a visit.Mr Fixit (Paddy Kingsland)
49The Twelve BrothersCass AllenThe Brothers GrimmWhen twelve brothers are turned into ravens, only their sister can break the spell.Far Away Lands (Paddy Kingsland)
Grey Morning (Richard Harvey)
The Sad Princess (Paddy Kingsland)
50Dick WhittingtonMike GradyJoseph JacobsDick, a boy from a poor family, sets out for London to make his fortune, accompanied by his cat.Catch as Comet Can (a) (Dick Walter)
One Man's View (Dick Walter)
51PinocchioSteven PaceyCarlo CollodiWhen a wooden puppet comes to life, he embarks on a series of exciting adventures.The Puppeteers (Paddy Kingsland)
The Merry March (a) (Paddy Kingsland)
Lumbering Giant (Paddy Kingsland)
Menace from the Deep (Robert Cornford)
Lullaby (b) (Tony Kinsey)
Unease (Dick Walter)
52Jorinda and JoringleAnna BentinckThe Brothers GrimmWhen a wicked witch turns Jorinda into a nightingale, her sweetheart is determined to break the spell.Mount Olympus (Paddy Kingsland)
Autumn Days (Paddy Kingsland)
I Remember (Richard Harvey)
Dreamland Waltz (Paddy Kingsland)
53Little Lord FauntleroyKerry ShaleFrances Hodgson BurnettA young boy named Cedric discovers that he is heir to a fortune, but this turns out to be the start of his problems.Days of Hope (Richard Harvey)
54Iron JackNigel LambertThe Brothers GrimmWhen a wild man of the forest is caught, the King keeps him in a special cage, but he doesn't stay there very long...The Merry Hunters (Paddy Kingsland)
Village Folk (a) (Keith Mansfield)
55The Big-Nosed DwarfLiz WhittingWilhelm HauffA witch turns a little boy named Jacob into a big-nosed dwarf, but can the spell be broken?Country Store (a) (Paddy Kingsland)
On Mid-Summer's Day (Paddy Kingsland)
My Lady's Pleasure (Richard Myhill)
Magical Effect (a) (Paddy Kingsland)
56The Enchanted HorseJason IsaacsAntoine GallandAn enchanted horse plays an important part in bringing a prince and princess together.East of Java (a) (Eric Spear)
Take to the Air (Tony Hymas)
57The Elephant's ChildCarole BoydRudyard KiplingRudyard Kipling's highly fantasized original tale from Just So Stories of how the elephant got his trunk.Waddle (Graham Preskett)
58The Little Parsley GirlEva HaddonGiambattista BasileWhen a witch locks a beautiful girl called "The Little Parsley Girl" up in a tower, a prince named Leopold comes to her rescue.Springtime Dance (b) (Richard Myhill)
Lute Air (Richard Myhill)
59Jack the DullardNigel LambertHans Christian AndersenWhen an awkward young man sets off to woo a princess, the results are quite surprising.The English Manor (Graham Preskett)
60HeidiEve KarpfJohanna SpyriA young girl has amazing adventures in the Swiss mountains.Folk Song (Dick Walter)

In other languages

  • French "Il était une fois"
  • German "Die Märchen dieser Welt"
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