For the Previous 2 episodes, The Year 1939 – Politics and the year 1939 – Culture and Technology, I listened to almost 1000 hours of OTR in chronological order. I got to hear 1939 unfold through broadcasts from the day and learn what the podcasts should be about.

As I go, I create a best of collection of clips I might possibly use in the podcast that isn’t written yet.

This results in a rather large number of clips, 36 hours for the year 1939, history from those living it.

1939 was the year the country woke up to the horrific scale of the war we all saw coming.

The Soundscapes for 1939 series will tell the story of optimism to pessimism, of hope to resignation, compromise to confrontation through a tapestry of OTR clips.

Here is part 1, Curated clips broadcast chronologically January 1 to January 12, 1939. The early, hopeful days in 1939.

Highlights include

Goodbye 1938 hello 1939

How to have happiness in marriage?

A Great Playlet “Rose by Any Other Name” starring Melvyn Douglas

Other Feature Performers include:

Don Wilson

Mary Livingston

Jack Benny

The Phil Harris Orchestra

Andy Devine

Cecil B DeMille

Errol Flynn

Joan Blondell

Mae Robeson

Robert Young

Meredith Wilson

Orson Welles

Kenny Baker

Henry Morgan

Fanny Brice

And more!

Click Here to Listen to SoundScape 1939 part 1