America’s Town Meeting – March 23, 1939 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection – As the world was inching closer to all-out war, the debate raged over how much should the U.S. get involved? Much of the question lay over how much influence was being wielded by outside interests on public
Switching over to Holiday mode today and starting off with a Christmas program from Fred Allen, first aired on December 23, 1936. Fred Allen was one of the biggest names in radio comedy in the 1930s and 1940s, whose influence has inspired generations of comedians after his death. Here’s a
– FDR Lights The National Christmas Tree – Dec. 24, 1935 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection – FDR lights the National Christmas Tree, on Christmas Eve 1935. A national ritual since 1923, it was President Roosevelt’s third Christmas celebration in the White House. The country was slowly digging out from
– Foreign Policy Association – December 17, 1939 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection – In what was considered a strange move and unholy alliance, Germany and Russia signed a non-aggression Pact in 1939, shortly after Germany’s invasion of Poland. The Nazis teaming up with the Communists – an idea that
Mark Twain 100th Birthday Dinner – November 19, 1935 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection – In case you forgot, November 19th was Mark Twain’s birthday. In 1935, it was a very big deal as that year was the centenary of his birth. So on November 19th, 1935 the Mark Twain
– FDR – Taxes and Budget – Nov. 29, 1935 – This day in 1935, President Roosevelt delivered an address to a huge gathering near his “Warm Springs White House“, where he spent the Thanksgiving holiday. The address was straightforward and simple – it was about the state of the
Changing the schedule around for Holiday mode today. Starting off with vintage radio comedy from Fred Allen – his Town Hall Tonight from NBC Radio for November 2, 1938. Hard to imagine Radio being a primary source of entertainment, but in its early days it was one of the wonders
– President Franklin Roosevelt – Laying the Cornerstone for the Jefferson Memorial – Nov. 15,1939 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection – November 15, 1939 – On this day, President Roosevelt took part in the ceremonies laying the cornerstone for the Jefferson Memorial. A project which had been in planning stages
– Arthur Mann Reporting from London – November 5, 1939 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection – During that period of time, between September of 1939 and May of 1940, known as The Phony War. Preparations were being made in anticipation of another long series of trench battles – just as
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