rand's esoteric otr: Recent Episodes
Randy A. Riddle
A weblog and podcast featuring vintage broadcasts directly transferred from original transcriptions.
Finally, here’s a fascinating rare little find - an early to mid-30s demonstration disc for stations, advertising inexpensive syndicated series they could obtain on Columbia Royal Blue transcriptions.
An unidentified announcer is heard introducing each selection and reminding the listener of the high quality of the programs and the transcriptions. On side one of the disc, we hear excerpts from “Pick & Pat Minstrels” and “Reminiscences of Victor Herbert”. On side two are excerpts from “Viennese Nights” and “Omar, the Wizard of Persia”.
Our mp3 was transferred from an original 12” Royal Blue laminated Columbia pressing, matrix numbers 230610 and 230611, running at 33 1/3 rpm and playing inside-out. This appears to be a previously lost little piece of radio memorabilia. Unfortunately, the brochure that accompanied the disc is long gone.
Anyone know if the particular episodes of the series heard in the demo survive in their complete form?
Next on the blog this week, a rare example of an early attempt at “on the spot” news.
The “20th Century International Radio Newsreel” was a syndicated program. Only one example is listed in Goldin’s database, an audition with a sales messages for radio stations.
The program of February 24, 1939 has reporter Michael Blair interviewing arriving passengers and celebrities from the Panama-Pacific Lines SS Washington at San Pedro harbor.
Our program was transferred from a single-sided 16” Presto lacquer transcription. It appears to be a previously lost show.
Now on the blog, one of my favorite police procedurals from the 1950s, “The FBI in Peace and War”.
The episode of October 15, 1952 is titled “The Solid Citizen”. The story concerns a “solid citizen”, who is fraudster facing murder charges. The show is sponsored by Chesterfield cigarettes, Dentyn and Beeman’s Pepsin.
The show was transferred direct from an original 16” lacquer cut by Fulton Recording Company in New York.
This particular episode of the program is floating around among collectors and is taken, I think, from this same disc, but I was able to get a better transfer.
First on the blog this week, the last in my short run of episodes from “This is War”, a Norman Corwin production that helped explain various aspects of the War effort just a few weeks after Pearl Harbor. The series was carried on all four of the radio networks.
Program 5 in the series was heard March 14, 1942. “The United Nations” looks at our allies fighting the Axis powers. The narrator this week is Thomas Mitchell.
Our show was transferred from an original 16” vinyl Orthacoustic NBC-RCA transcription, matrix number MS 086876 and MS 086877. Note that that date is correct on the label, the program number is incorrect.
Following up on our previous post, here’s program 12 in the “Coleman Cox” series. The announcer is probably Hal Dean and the first bit of philosophy is “If you need it, really want, have the money, and can spare it, go and buy it. It is not that which you deny yourself, but what you buy yourself.”
The show was dubbed to digital from a ten inch MacGregor & Sollie Recording Laboratories laminated disc pressed by Columbia, matrix number MS-1312. The disc runs at 33 1/3 rpm and plays inside-out.
In this post and the next, two shows in an odd little series of syndicated five minute programs by “Coleman Cox”.
My research hasn’t turned up much about Cox, except that he was an author from California that published in the 1920s. At JJ’s radio logs site, he pops up in the 1934-35 New York Times and Los Angeles radio listings. On WJZ, he was listed as a “Philosopher”.
And that appears to be what Coleman Cox is doing here in program 11. After the show introduction, describing Cox as “the kindly philosopher who smiles as he talks”, Cox offers little bits of wisdom, such as “You’re well dressed when no-one can remember anything you’re wearing”. Each little bit is separated by a bell. Oddly, the theme song is “Jingle Bells”. The announcer sounds like Hal Dean, heard on the Curtis Springer transcriptions I posted on the blog awhile back.
Our mp3 was directly digitized from a ten inch MacGregor & Sollie Recording Laboratories laminated 33 1/3 rpm disc pressed by Columbia, matrix number MS-1311. The disc plays from inside-out.
In the next post - the other side of the disc.
Now, the third program in our brief run of “This is War”, a program written by Norman Corwin and carried on all four networks as an early contribution to the War effort a few months after Pearl Harbor.
Program 3 in the series was heard February 28, 1942 and is titled “Your Navy”, dealing with the Navy and Merchant Marine. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Frederick March are featured in the program. The music was composed by Kurt Weill.
Our show was transferred from an original 16” vinyl Orthacoustic transcription pressed by RCA-NBC, matrix numbers MS 08691 and MS 08692.
In this post, “The Lanny Ross Show”, originally broadcast May 23, 1949 on Mutual and heard here in a version broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Service as program 90 in the series. The first song on the program is “It’s a Grand Night Night For Singing”. Young vocalist Bobby White sings “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic”.
Our show was transferred from an original 16” vinyl Armed Forces Radio transcription. The date is from the disc matrix.
Our thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to our collection.
Kicking off our posts this week, some highbrow pop concert music.
Walter Huston hosts this series produced for Armed Forces Radio and drawing on various sources for the recorded music. The first selection in program 144 is Rubenstein’s “Romance”, performed by an uncredited vocalist and orchestra. William Primrose performs “Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair”.
The show was transferred from an original 16” vinyl Armed Forces Radio Service transcription.
Our thanks go out to blog listener William Harris for his donation to our collection.
We continue with a short run of a few episodes from Norman Corwin’s series, “This Is War”, carried on all four networks just a few weeks after the US entered World War II.
Episode 2, broadcast February 21, 1942 is “The White House at War”. Actor Paul Lukas paints a vivid word portrait of the changes happening to Washington as we shift to a war footing - the program looks not only at the President’s role in the War, but at the immense responsibility for human life that go into the decisions being made in Washington.
The program was transferred from an original 16” vinyl Orthacoustic transcription pressed by RCA-NBC, matrix numbers MS 086735 and MS 086736.
I believe this is a non-circulating episode of the series.
Here’s the last episode I have of the unusual CBS documentary series, “The People Act”. Using then-new portable tape recording technology, the series looks at efforts for cultural understanding in small communities around the US.
Program 20 in the series, originally heard May 18, 1952, is titled “Displaced Persons Are Welcomed As New Americans”. Robert Trout narrates as the people of Owatonna, Minnesota welcome European refugees to their local community.
The program was digitized from an original 12” microgroove lp issued by the People Act Center in State College, Pennsylvania. It was pressed by Columbia and XTY-17203 is the matrix number.
Another quarter hour of upbeat harmony is on the way on the blog with the “Navel Air Reserve Show”, hosted by Don Ameche, with he Honeydreamers with the George Barnes Octette. Program 24 features Sam and Aunt from “The Breakfast Club”. The first song is “Sunday”.
Our show was transferred from an original Naval Air Reserve Command 16” vinyl transcription, matrix number U-4024.
Thanks again to blog listener William Harris for the disc!
Here’s another installment in the popular series featuring light music by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians. Originally heard on the Blue network on April 26, 1945, this is the Armed Forces Radio Service version, where it was distributed as program 414 in the series. The first song is “Tico Tico”.
Our musical half-hour was dubbed direct to digital from an original vinyl Armed Forces Radio Service transcription disc.
Many thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
Here’s an obscure Armed Forces Radio Service program, “Great Music”, giving GIs fifteen minutes of short classical works. Program 143 in the series is hosted by Walter Huston. The first selection is the overture to “Ruslan and Lyudmila” by Glinka. Also heard is a two-piano duet by Amparo and José Iturbi.
The show was digitized direct from an original 16” Armed Forces Radio Service transcription.
Again, my thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection.
In this post, the first in a short run from the unique Norman Corwin series, “This Is War”. Produced shortly after the US entry into World War II, the series was carried on all four networks and looked at various facets of the fight ahead.
This series isn’t quite as well known as Corwin’s other efforts, such as “We Hold These Truths”. It’s just as lyrical, using words, music, and sound in a masterful way to paint pictures in the listener’s imagination. However, it’s rather harsh compared to his other work - it’s propaganda for the War effort that really tries to hammer home the point that this is a fight for the survival of democracy.
Program 1 in the series is narrated by actor Robert Montgomery and focuses on why we’re fighting and atrocities committed by the Axis powers. It includes an opening message from President Roosevelt read by Archibald Macleash. The show as carried on all four of the networks on February 14, 1942. This is a transfer of the NBC feed of the program.
Our show was transferred from an original 16” vinyl Orthacoustic transcription pressed by RCA-NBC, matrix numbers MS 086711 and MS 086712.
Next week - program 2 in the series.
Following up on our previous post, here’s the second half of program four in the Western adventure series, “Reno Rides the Range” featuring Western movie actress Reno Browne. In this episode, Reno is tracking down a killer that is captured by Indians.
The program was transferred from an original 16” red vinyl transcription.
Let me know if you have or run into other discs in this lost series.
Now a real obscurity on the blog.
Usually, I don’t post partial broadcasts on the blog, but I can’t find any copies of this show in circulation and it is historically significant.
“Reno Rides the Range” was a syndicated series from 1949 starring Reno Browne, an equestrian and actress who appeared in several Western b-movies at Monogram. As far as I can tell, this is the only Western adventure radio show that featured a female character in the lead role. (Wikipedia notes that Reno Browne and Dale Evans are the only Western actresses to have comic books based on their characters.)
In this post we hear the second half of program three in the series. The plot concerns Reno helping track down a group of outlaws.
I've seen information around the web that there were 13 episodes in the full series. It would appear that Reno syndicated the show herself to local stations where she appeared at rodeos and other events. She passed away in 1991 - the discs might be floating around out there with her family or collectors of Western movie memorabilia. Anyone ever see one?
The program was transferred from an original 16” red vinyl transcription.
In the next post, the other side of the disc.
Next up, a program featuring popular vocalist and “Jack Benny” alumnus Kenny Baker.
Originally heard September 23, 1945 on CBS, we hear the Armed Forces Radio Network version where it replaced program 104 of “The Hour of Charm”.
The guest on the show is harmonica virtuoso Lou Adler. The first song is a medley of “Remember the Night” and “Cheek to Cheek”. Kenny is backed by Robert Armbruster and His Orchestra and Chorus. The announcer is Wendell Niles.
The program was digitized from an original 16” vinyl Armed Forces Radio transcription. The date is from the disc matrix. I believe this is a previously uncirculated episode of the series.
My thanks go out to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
Here’s a rather obscure network musical show “American Rhapsody”. This is the episode of April 7, 1945 as it was heard on the Armed Forces Radio Network replacing Fred Waring program 412.
The show, hosted by Frederick Shields, the program features vocalist Gene Baker, the Dix Davis Glee Club, and Wilbur Hatch and His Orchestra (not playing the “I Love Lucy” theme). The first song on the show is “Song of the Vagabonds”. Other songs include “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” and “The Hills of Home”.
Our show was transferred from an original 16” vinyl Armed Forces Radio transcription. The date is from the disc matrix. (Goldin’s database has a listing for this episode dated April 8, but I double-checked the date on the disc.)
Many thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
Note: This show contains some racial stereotyping themes that may be offensive to some listeners.
Update: Blog listeners Randy Watts and georgezarr identified the venue for this show as Camp Callan, which was located near San Diego, California.
Finally this week, a bit of a mystery.
Here’s “It’s Time to Smile”, sponsored by Ipana and Sal Hepatica and featuring Eddie Cantor with guest Ida Lupino. (Sorry for the skip in Lupino’s introduction.). The program was originally heard on NBC on September 30, 1942.
The show starts out with Cantor and announcer Harry Von Well discussing women in defense work and the Army. Cantor talks about his family working in defense plants and Cantor says he’s hired a maid to help out, leading to a brief appearance by Hattie McDaniel, introduced as an Oscar winner for “Gone With the Wind”, doing some unfortunate jokes about her boyfriend.
The show was carried live from a military camp and the disc seems to have originated with the military organization associated with the show. The mystery is which camp they’re actually at. In the announcer’s opening, it sounds like he’s saying “Camp Kullin, California”, but I can’t find any record of such an outpost.
Anyone else have some thoughts on this one?
Our show was transferred from an original 16” lacquer created for the military. Since it’s a two-sided disc, I’m guessing this is a dub.
This particular episode of the series appears to be previously lost.
I was crestfallen when I got this transcription disc in the mail. The seller had packed it as if it were modern lp record and, of course, the package got bent in shipping and broke in two. She was kind of enough to refund my money, but I was disappointed that this little piece of 1939-40 World’s Fair History is toast now.
I used the broken disc as an opportunity to work on my skills with these types of damaged records. So, I pieced it back together and transferred it with a stylus I was ready to retire, riding the tracking force as I played it. I managed to get a pretty decent sounding transfer, piecing together sections on the computer. It’s pretty listenable with only one skip.
So, here’s “Invitation to the Fair”, a special 15 minute syndicated promotion program designed to get some more foot traffic to the Fair for the 1940 season. We hear an audio tour of highlights of the Fair and a message from the Chairman of the Board, Harney Gibson, along with music from the World’s Fair Glee Club, made up of staff from the event.
I think this already exists out there, but here’s my copy. It was transferred from an original 16” one-sided transcription pressed by RCA, matrix number MS 047385.
Golden lists one other 1939-40 World’s Fair promotion program for “The American Jubilee”. He lists it as program 4. Has anyone seen any other syndicated discs like this? I would love to find any that are still around.
We come to the end of our short run of Raymond Scott’s regular fifteen minute program heard on CBS with more arrangements that sound suspiciously like they were modeled after the Glenn Miller band.
Dorothy Collins is the featured vocalist and the first number is “Just Close Your Eyes”. The program was originally heard on October 3, 1944 and the version we’ll hear was distributed to the Armed Forces Radio Network as program 147 in the series.
The program was digitized from an original 16” vinyl Armed Forces Radio transcription. The date is from the disc matrix.
Again we express our thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
We’re counting down the last few weeks of this season of blog postings - we have only four weeks left in our posts for this round of posts. Next week, a true rarity - an obscure Western kids adventure show with a female star and the start of an absolutely pristine short run of some World War II propaganda programs written by Norman Corwin.
Kicking off the blog this week, some light music from Andre Kostelanez’s popular Sunday afternoon program on CBS.
In this post, we hear the broadcast of August 20, 1944, as it was heard on the Armed Forces Radio Network as program 75 in the series. Eleanor Steber and David Ross are heard on the broadcast. This week’s show has songs selected by listeners. The numbers include “Dancing in the Dark” and “Smilin’ Through”.
Our show was transferred from an original 16” vinyl Armed Forces Radio transcription. The date is from the disc matrix.
Many thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
Finally this week on the blog, a popular but less remembered musical variety show. “Major Bowes’s Shower of Stars” was heard on CBS in a series that featured a more traditional format, unlike his famous “Amateur Hour” and its talent competition.
In this post, the broadcast of March 8, 1945, as it was rebroadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Service as a replacement for episode 88 of “The Family Hour”. I think this may be a lost episode of the series.
Major Bowes isn’t heard in this particular episode - he was ill for a few months and unable to appear. The first song is "Baía" from the Walt Disney film “The Three Cabelleros” performed by Morton Gould and His Orchestra. We also hear this week's featured performer, previous “Amateur Hour” winner Tommy Dix, perform the song he made famous, “Buckle Down Winsocki”, along with “Through the Years” and “The Lord’s Prayer”. (You can find out more about Dix’s life and work at a website devoted to his work.)
The show was transferred from an original 16” Armed Forces Radio Service vinyl transcription. The date is from the disc matrix.
And deepest thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
Now the last program I have in the Canadian musical series, “Light Up and Listen”, sponsored by Sweet Caporal cigarettes.
Program 328 in the series features selections by the Jesters. The first song is “Sierra Sue”. Organist John Gart speeds through an upbeat number called “Swamp Fire”.
Our program was transferred from an original RCA Orthacoustic vinyl transcription, matrix number MS 01234.
Following up on a post from last week, here’s another attempt by vocalist Alec Morison at an audition program.
Alec keeps it simple in this audition, accompanying himself on guitar. The first song is “Guadalajara”.
I’ve done quite a bit of Googling and still can’t come up with anything on our featured performer. Perhaps he was one of many nightclub acts that tried to break into radio and was just never able to get there. The show was put together by Advertising Business Associates - I found them in the 1949 edition of the “Broadcasting Yearbook” with an address of 6912 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
Our show was transferred from an original one-sided lacquer from Universal Recorders in Hollywood.
Now some more swinging big band sounds from “Your Navy Show” featuring Ray Anthony and His Orchestra with announcer Don Wilson.
Ray Anthony starts off the show with “Dancing on the Ceiling”. The program also features vocals from Tommy Mercer and Marcy Miller.
The show was digitized direct from an original 16” vinyl Navy Reserve transcription.
You can’t get much more obscure than this. It’s a fifteen minute audition program for a series called “Your Manhattan Nocturne” featuring vocalist Alec Morrison and harpist Robert Maxwell. Morrison starts off the show with “Maybe You’ll Be There”. Maxwell does a jazzy rendition of “Sweet Sue” after the fake commercial break. The theme is “Autumn in New York”.
I can’t really find anything on Alec Morrison, but Robert Maxwell was much better known as a composer of “Ebb Tide”, “Shangri-La”, and the tune “Solfeggio”, famously used by Ernie Kovacs.
Our show was transferred from an original one-sided Presto 16” lacquer produced by William R. Morison, 7121 Hillside Avenue, Hollywood.
Here’s a syndicated public service show that I think is new to the blog. “Your Navy Show” featuring Ray Anthony and His Orchestra with announcer Don Wilson on a break from the “Jack Benny Show”.
There’s some nice hi-fi sound on the show as Ray Anthony kicks off the proceedings with “I Get a Kick Out of You”. The program also features vocals from Tommy Mercer and the Skyliners.
The show was digitized direct from an original 16” vinyl Navy Reserve transcription.
Now, let’s take a listen to a seldom heard vocalist, “Smilin’ Jack Smith, originally heard June 27, 1949 on the CBS radio network. In this post we have “The Jack Smith Show” as it was distributed to Armed Forces Radio Service stations as program 384 in the series.
The show starts out with Jack singing “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing”. Also heard on the program are Martha Tilton and Frank De Vol and His Orchestra.
The program was digitized direct from an original 16” vinyl Armed Forces Radio Service transcription; the date is from the disc matrix.
And deepest thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
Perry Como sings for us again on “The Chesterfield Supper Club”, originally heard on NBC on March 8, 1945. This is the Armed Forces Radio Service version of the program where it was number 46 in the series. Perry starts off the show with “I’m So Lucky to Be Me”.
The show was transferred direct from an original 16” vinyl Armed Forces Radio Service transcription.
Again, our thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
Here’s another episode of the odd syndicated drama series, “Imperial Intrigue”, following up from our last post.
This unnumbered of the episode begins with Charles IX on this deathbed.
The program was transferred from an original Hollywood Recorders 16” single-sided shellac transcription, matrix number 1102.
Next up on the blog, a real rarity I haven’t been able to find out much about. It’s “Imperial Intrigue”, a drama program dated June 28, 1939.
The plot concerns French King Charles IX and the royal intrigue involving his mother Catherine in August 1572. The program was written by Lloyd L. Harris. Goldin’s database has three entries for the director, Don Brody, for work on a KFWB program in 1939 and a couple of other shows in 1946 and 1953.
I found some listings for this program on Los Angeles area radio stations in 1939-1940, but I’m not sure if it was heard outside of California. I also found an obit for Vern A. Milton who did the sound effects for the program; the article mentions the show as originating on KGB (now KLSD) in San Diego.
Our show was transferred from an original Hollywood Recorders 16” single-sided shellac transcription, matrix number 1001. The disc is dated June 28, 1939 and noted “Audition Record” on the label. The transcription was pressed by Allied.
Let me know if you have some more info on this oddity.
We go north of the border again for another episode of the popular “Light Up and Listen Club” program heard for several years on Canadian radio stations and sponsored by Sweet Caporal cigarettes.
Program 327 in the series features the novelty group, the Vass Family and the first song is “Louisiana Hayride”. They also do their own version of the “Little Red Riding Hood” story in song.
These kids are downright goofy, aren’t they?
Our program was transferred from an original RCA Orthacoustic vinyl transcription, matrix number MS 01307.
And how a half-hour of light romantic music hosted by Jim Ameche with Ray Bloch and His Orchestra and Chorus and vocalist Larry Douglas.
Program 45 in the series as it was heard on the Armed Forces Radio Service kicks off with the romantic ballad “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (?!?).
Our show was dubbed directly from an original vinyl 16” Armed Forces Radio Service transcription. There’s an indication in the matrix that the disc is “dubbed”, so this is probably a show assembled from parts of various other episodes.
And deepest thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
Here’s another fifteen minutes of big band music by Raymond Scott.
Our show was originally heard September 8, 1944 on CBS and distributed as program 146 in the series for the Armed Forces Radio Network. The first song is “Amore”. I think this is a previously uncirculated episode.
The program was transferred direct to digital from an original vinyl Armed Forces Radio Service transcription; the date is from the disc matrix.
Again, our thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
And now, another episode of “Waltz time”, the popular program of light music created by Frank and Anne Hummert.
The first song is “This Heart of Mine”. Abe Lyman and His Orchestra, vocalist Frank Munn, the Amsterdam Chorus. The announcer is Andre Baruch.
The show was originally heard on NBC on April 20, 1945 and was distributed as program 81 in the series for the Armed Forces Radio Service.
Our mp3 was transferred from an original Armed Forces Radio vinyl transcription. The date is from the matrix. It appears to be a previously uncirculated episode.
Many thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!
Following up on our previous post, here's a complete network broadcast of "Grady Cole and the Johnson Family Singers" heard April 23, 1951.
The first song on the show is “Give the World a Song”. The program is sponsored by Quaker Corn Meal and Quaker Grits. The CBS network “pip” is heard at the beginning and a CBS ID from a network announcer at the end.
Grady Cole was a legend in North Carolina broadcasting. As a young newspaper reporter, he started doing a program on WBT in Charlotte in 1930. The following year, he accepted a job at the station and was on the air for 30 years, retiring in 1961. Cole was on the air in the mornings for a couple of hours for WBT, and did the farm report and other programming throughout the day. In the 1980s, a popular public venue was named after him.
By the way, you can hear Grady Cole's hilarious 1950s "manure spreader" blooper at the BT Memories site.
The Johnson Family Singers were a popular and gospel singing group from Randolph County, North Carolina. (The Southern Folklife Center at UNC has several of their recordings, scripts, and other materials.). They were on WBT with regular shows starting in the early 1940s. This program was broadcast just a few months before their contract with Quaker Oats ended, along with their regular series on WBT. You can read a tribute to Grady Cole by one of the Johnson Family Singers in a book about the group.
Our program was transferred direct to digital from an original line check 16” lacquer from WDNC in Durham, NC.
It's too bad more of these don't survive - they're fascinating examples of local and regional Southern radio during the classic Old Time Radio era.
In this holiday post, a (very) short glimpse into holiday programming as heard on local and regional radio.
This is an excerpt from a 15 minute transcribed program originating at WBT in Charlotte, NC on December 25, 1950 and carried on a regional segment of the CBS Radio Network.
The excerpt starts of with a brief introduction from announcer Grady Cole before the Johnson Family sings “Silent Night”. We have more remarks from Grady before the Johnson Family does the theme song of the show as Grady puts in a pitch for the sponsor, Quaker Corn Meal.
Grady Cole was a legend in North Carolina broadcasting. As a young newspaper reporter, he started doing a program on WBT in Charlotte in 1930. The following year, he accepted a job at the station and was on the air for 30 years, retiring in 1961. Cole was on the air in the mornings for a couple of hours for WBT, and did the farm report and other programming throughout the day. In the 1980s, a popular public venue was named after him.
By the way, you can hear Grady Cole's hilarious 1950s "manure spreader" blooper at the BT Memories site.
The Johnson Family Singers were a popular and gospel singing group from Randolph County, North Carolina. (The Southern Folklife Center at UNC has several of their recordings, scripts, and other materials.). They were on WBT with regular shows starting in the early 1940s. This program was broadcast just a few months before their contract with Quaker Oats ended, along with their regular series on WBT. You can read a tribute to Grady Cole by one of the Johnson Family Singers in a book about the group.
Our little bit of local Christmas radio was transferred from an original one-sided 12” lacquer. The other two parts of the broadcast don’t survive.
In this post, a historic broadcast that’s widely available, but we hear it dubbed from a line check done by a local station.
From April 19, 1951, this is a full recording of General Douglas MacArthur’s farewell speech (aka the “Old Soldiers Never Die” speech) before a joint session of Congress. Truman relieved MacArthur of command a few days earlier and the speech was the centerpiece of much publicity when the General returned to the United States from Asia. You can read about the full controversy, including the debate about civilian control of the military, at Wikipedia.
This recording includes only the introduction of MacArthur and the address with no commentary before or after. It was recorded on by station WDNC in Durham, NC, presumably so it could be rebroadcast later in the day or so they could play excerpts of it in their news programming. This is likely from the CBS feed of the speech, since WDNC was a CBS radio affiliate.
The show was transferred from a three-sided 16” lacquer set from WDNC, Durham, NC. The fourth side of the set contains the April 23, 1951 broadcast of Grady Cole and the Johnson Family Singers, heard in another post on the blog.
I’m not sure if this is any better or worse than other versions of the same broadcast that are floating around.