History through the eyes of people as they live it, reported by radio.
Voices from the past alive again because you’re listening now.
In today’s soundscape, you can hear the dark cloud of war gather.
Earlier in the year, as evidenced by When Radio Ruled Soundscapes 1939 parts 1, 2, and 3, Old Time Radio was trying to ignore the European turmoil. In this episode they’ve stopped trying.
The Columbia Workshop in particular forshadows the horrors to come. You’ll see.
Thank God for Jack Benny. This episode has its dark moments. They make a good laugh more important than ever.
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
The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live August 28 through September 13, 1938.
Starring:
Edward Arnold
Charlie McCarthy
Edgar Bergen
Robert Young
Meredith Wilson
Fanny Brice
Hanley Stafford
Alice Faye
Frank Morgan
Father Flanagan
Cast of Family Doctor
Orson Welles
Judy Garland
Cast of Family Doctor
Cast of Blair of the Mounties
Featured Songs Include
There’s Honey on the Moon Tonight – Dorothy Lamour
Alexander’s Ragtime Band – Alice Faye
In this episode:
Frank Morgan tells Stories of his great Military Glory!
Hitler is being a Big Jerk again!
Czechoslovakia prepares to defend against the German Army!
The Reviews are in! The Mercury Theater is a Great Success!
Orson Welles yells at his Crew to shut up!
And More!!
Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.
Soundscape 1938, part 23, from When Radio Ruled, offered without further commentary for your entertainment and education. But mostly for your entertainment.
Before TV 