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The American Story Radio Program
Dee-Scription: Home >> D D Too Home >> Radio Logs >> The American Story

NBC University of the Air's The American Story was produced by NBC-Red key station WMAQ in Chicago
NBC University of the Air's The American Story was produced by NBC-Red key station WMAQ in Chicago

Background

The value of NBC's various educational programming initiatives of the 1930s and 1940s can't be underestimated. For their time, they were some of the most noble experiments in combining entertainment with education over Radio. The NBC University of The Air and NBC Inter-American University of The Air initiatives, in particular, were conceived and executed with the most noble and altruistic of intentions. And in all fairness to the Columbia Broadcasting System, both giant networks realized the importance of their highly influential positions in mass communication throughout the Golden Age of Radio.

CBS and NBC often went head-to-head with their purely commercial productions as well as with their programming in the public interest. In rare cases, during even the most noble of motivations, both networks experienced missteps due to their constant competition with each other. A case in point was the two competing Shakespeare revivals of 1937. Both networks determined to mount competing revivials of the works of the great bard, but in doing so, neither of them produced a production worthy of the material. Both Shakespeare Cycle (CBS) and Streamlined Shakespeare (NBC) suffered from being rushed into production without a great deal of forethought as to the effect on the ultimate productions. And though mounted with the finest talent--and the greatest of intentions, both productions had an Achilles' heel of one kind or another as a result--and both failed miserably at the hands of the public and critics alike.

From the mid-1930s forward, CBS had its various incarnations of what they referred to as 'experimental Radio'--cutting edge applications of the emerging technologies, broadcast techniques and more innovative writing of the era with which to 'experiment' over the powerful medium of broadcast Radio.

NBC for its part, established its NBC University of The Air as an informal initiative within the company as early as the mid-1920s, recognizing its remarkable opportunity--and obligation--to both entertain and educate with its growing power and reach as a communication medium. With the advent of America's involvement in World War II, NBC executives, in 1942, determined to formalize their NBC University of The Air into two chartered initiatives: NBC University of The Air and NBC Inter-American University of The Air. The former addressing domestic educational initiatives and the latter addressing the growing importance of the United Nations and international diplomacy.

 Between 1942 and 1948, NBC University of the Air launched numerous initiatives in the domestic public interest, among which were:

  • 1944 Pursuit of Learning
  • 1944-48 The Worlds Great Novels
  • 1944-45 We Came This Way
  • 1945 The Story of Music
  • 1944-46 The Land of The Free
  • 1946 Featuring Our Families
  • 1946 Tales of The Foreign Service
  • 1947 American Novels

NBC concurrently aired numerous United Nations-oriented productions under the NBC University banner, as NBC Inter-American University of The Air initiatives, in the public interest as well as embracing the larger world community:

  • July 6, 1942 The Lands of The Free
  • October 10, 1942 Music of The New World
  • 1943 For This We Fight
  • 1943 Music of The New World
  • 1944 The Department of State Speaks
  • 1945 Our Foreign Policy
  • 1946 Your United Nations
  • 1946 Home Around The World
  • 1946 Concert of Nations

As a natural extension of NBC University of The Air, NBC also embarked on several NBC Presents and NBC Theater Presents network-sustained and sponsored initiatives upon reevaluating the success and acceptance of it's University of The Air intiatives of the 1940s. 1948 marked the year that NBC determined that the public was seeking accurate and informative programming, to be sure, but that much of the public audience of the post-War years was somewhat put off by the word 'University' in the titles of such programming. From that point forward, NBC's more prestigious, signature productions bore the "NBC Presents" title in one form or another.

NBC University of The Air Presents: The American Story

As one of the formalized NBC University of The Air initiatives, The American Story was almost certainly its most ambitious and authoritative of the era.

Series Derivatives:

 The World's Great Novels; American Novels
Genre: Anthology of Golden Age Radio Historical Documentaries
Network(s): NBC-Red [WMAQ, Chicago]
Audition Date(s) and Title(s): None
Premiere Date(s) and Title(s): 44-02-05 01 The Discovery
Run Dates(s)/ Time(s): 44-02-05 to 45-09-07; NBC-Red [WEAF, New York]; Thirty-two, 30-minute programs
Syndication: NBC Orthacoustic
Sponsors: Sustaining
Director(s):
Principal Actors:
Recurring Character(s):
Protagonist(s): None
Author(s): None
Writer(s)
Music Direction:
Musical Theme(s): Unknown
Announcer(s): Archibald MacLeish [Narrator]
Estimated Scripts or
Broadcasts:		 32
Episodes in Circulation: 20
Total Episodes in Collection: 1
Provenances:
RadioGOLDINdex, Hickerson Guide.

Notes on Provenances:

The most helpful provenances were the log of the radioGOLDINdex and newspaper listings.

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The American Story Radio Program Log
Date Episode Title Avail. Notes
44-02-05
1
 The Discovery
Y
 [Premiere]

44-02-05 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "The Discovery," Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF, 7-7:30 (Premiere).
44-02-12
2
 The Discoverers
N
 44-02-12 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "The Discoverers," Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF, 7u-7:30.
44-02-19
3
 The Naming Of America
N
 44-02-19 New York Times - The American Story: Play, "The Naming Of America," With Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF 7-7:30.
44-02-26
4
 The Discovered
N
 44-02-26 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "The Discovered," With Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-03-04
5
 The Accounts In the New Land
N
 44-03-04 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "The Accounts in the New Land," Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-03-11
6
 The Wars Against the Indians
N
 44-03-11 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "The Wars Against the Indians," Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-03-18
7
 The Accounts From the New-Found Lands
N
 44-03-18 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "The Accounts From the New-Found Lands"; Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-03-25
8
 The Settlement
N
 44-03-25 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "The Settlement," Arnold Moss, Narrator--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-04-01
9
 The Colonial Experience
N
 44-04-01 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "The Colonial Experience," Arnold Moss, Narrator--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-04-08
10
 The Wars Of Freedom
N
 44-04-08 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "The Wars of Freedom," With Arnold Moss, Narrator--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-04-15
11
 Apostles Of Faith
N
 44-04-15 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "Apostles of Faith" Arnold Moss, Narrator--WEAF--7-7:30.
44-04-22
12
 The Moving Frontier
N
 44-04-22 New York Times
The American Story: "The Moving Frontier," Arnold Moss, Narrator--WEAF--7-7:30.
44-04-29
13
 Struggle Of the Negro To Gain Recognition
N
 44-04-29 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "Struggle of the Negro to Gain Recognition"; Arnold Moss, Narrator--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-05-06
--
 Pre-Empted
N
 44-05-06 New York Times
7:00-WEAF--Stand By: Interviews With NBC Correspondents on Fighting Fronts.
44-05-13
14
 The Shape Of Freedom
N
 44-05-13 New York Times
7:00-WEAF--The American Story: The Shape of Freedom.
44-05-20
15
 The Shape Of Loyalty
N
 44-05-20 New York Times
American Story: "The Shape of Loyalty"--WEAF, 7--7:30.
44-05-27
16
 Arms and the Man
N
 44-05-27 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "Arms and the Man"--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-06-03
17
 Battle For the Bill Of Rights
N
 44-06-03 New York Times
American Story: "Battle For the Bill of Rights"--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-06-10
18
 Transplanting the Industrial Revolution
N
 44-06-10 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "Transplanting the Industrial Revolution"--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-06-17
19
 Doubling the American Heritage
N
 44-06-17 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "Doubling the American Heritage"--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-06-24
--
 Pre-Empted
N
 44-06-24 New York Times
7:00-WEAF--Republican Convention Preview: Talks, Interviews.
44-07-01
20
 Westward Waters and Westward Farers
N
 44-07-01 New York Times
The American Story: Play, " Westward Waters and Westward Farers"--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-07-08
21
 Yankee Clippers and Foreign Horizons
N
 44-07-08 New York Times
The American Story: Play, "Yankee Clippers and Foreign Horizons"--WEAF, 7-7:30.
44-07-15
22
 Bastille Day
N
 44-07-15 New York Times
7:00-WEAF--The American Story: Bastille Day.
45-07-06
1
 The Admiral
N
 45-07-06 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story: "The Admiral, " Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF.
45-07-13
2
 The Names For the Rivers
N
 45-07-13 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story: "The Names for the Rivers," With Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF.
45-07-20
3
 The American Name
N
 45-07-20 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story: "The American Name," With Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF.
45-07-27
4
 The Discovered
N
 45-07-27 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story: "The Discovered," With Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF.
45-08-03
5
 The American Gods
N
 45-08-03 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story: "The American Gods," With Arnold Moss, Narrator--WEAF.
45-08-10
6
 The Many Dead
N
 45-08-10 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story: "The Many Dead," With Arnold, Narrator--WEAF.
45-08-17
7
 Ripe Strawberries and Gooseberries and Sweet Single Roses
N
 45-08-17 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story: "Ripe Strawberries and Gooseberries and Sweet Single Roses," Arnold Moss, Narrator--WEAF.
45-08-24
8
 Between the Silence and the Surf
N
 45-08-24 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story: "Between the Silence and the Surf": Arnold Moss, Narrator--WEAF.
45-08-31
9
 Nat Bacon's Bones
N
 45-08-31 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story: "Nat Bacon's Bones," Archibald MacLeish, Commentator--WEAF.
45-09-07
10
 Socorro, When Your Sons Forget
N
 45-09-07 New York Times
11:30-12--The American Story--"Socorro, When Your Sons Forget," Archibald MacLeish, Narrator--WEAF.

The American Story Radio Program Biographies
Archbald MacLeish
(Narrator)
Poet, Author, Historian, Librarian of Congress, Activist
(1892-1982)

Birthplace: Glencoe, Illinois, U.S.A.

Radiography:
1937 Columbia Workshop
1937 Shakespeare Cycle
1939 President Franklin Roosevelt
1940 I'm An American
1941 The Free Comopany
0941 Dinner For Edward R. Murrow
1942 This Is War
1942 Archibald MacLeish's Address To Radio Stations
1942 United China Relief
1945 Building the Peace
1945 American School Of the Air
1945 Freedom Forum
1946 Beyond Victory
1946 Operation Crossroads
1947 Hollywood Fights Back
1948 The Son Of Man
1950 Art Education and the Creative Process
1954 Anthology
1957 CBS Radio Workshop
1965 Some Friends Of Stevenson
1969 Man At the Moon
1974 NASA Audio News Features
1975 Earplay

Archibald MacLeish circa 1935
Archibald MacLeish circa 1935
 From the April 21, 1982 edition of The New Mexican:
 
MacLeish:  Poet, statesman,
3-time Pulitzer winner is dead
 
     BOSTON (AP) -- Archibald MacLeish, a poet, statesman, librarian of Congress, winner of three Pulitzer Prizes and composer of verses hailing Americans and the "stars and expectations" that guide them, is dead at 89.
     MacLeish helped plan the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; he worked as a soldier, lawyer, editor, professor at Harvard, dramatist and farmer.  He condemned McCarthyism, urged writers to rally against facism, and explored theological questions in "J.B.," a play that won the Pulitzer Prize.
     "There are all sorts of things I want to do that I haven't been able to," he said in his last published interview, which appeared six months ago.
     MacLeish, who lived in Conway, Mass., and retired in 1970 as Boylston professor of literature at Harvard University, died Tuesday night in Massachusetts General Hospital, which he entered March 20 for treatment of an undisclosed illness.  The cause of his death was not announced.
     "Down to about two years ago, I was working my head in the usual way," MacLeish told the Greenfield (Mass.) Recorder in an interview published last November.  "But I had a little heart business.  I've been a lot slower."
     In 1939 he published "America Was Promises," a strong and explicit social statement.  He wrote:
     "Tom Paine Knew.
     "Tom Paine knew the People.
     "The promises were spoken to the People. 
     "History was voyages toward the People.
     "Americas were landfalls of the People.
     "Stars and expectations were the signals of the People."
     MacLeish exhibited his usual sharp opinions in the Recorder interview.  He said President Reagan was "going to begin to think God talks to him," and aimed a dart at rock 'n' roll.  "I'd like very much never to have to hear it again," he said.
     MacLeish won a wide audience and his first Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for  "Conquistador," a poem based on his trek by pack mule along the trail of the soldiers who conquered Mexico.
     His second Pulitzer came in 1953 for "Collected Poems 1917-1952."  "J.B.," which won the Pulitzer drama award in 1959, was a play in verse based on the Book of Job.
     He spent much of his life on his 200-acre Uphill Farm in Conway, a small town in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts where he lived with Ada, his wife of 65 years.
     Born in Glencoe, Ill., on May 7, 1892, MacLeish graduated from Yale University, where he won a Phi Beta Kappa key, and received a law degree in 1919 at the head of his class at Harvard Law School.  His schooling was interrupted by World War I, and he served in the field artillery, first as a private, then as a captain.
     MacLeish was a writer and later an editor with Fortune magazine for nine years during the Depression.  During World War II, he directed the Office of Facts and Figures and was assistant director of its successor organization, the Office of War Information.
     MacLeish served as head of the Library of Congress for five years beginning in 1939, then became assistant secretary of state for cultural affairs.
     Among his many awards were the Antoinette Perry Award in drama in 1959, the Bollingen prize in poetry and the National Book Award for poetry in 1953.
     In addition to his wife, MacLeish is survived by a son, William H. of Woods Hole, Mass.; a daughter, Mary H. Grimm of Kensington, Md.; a sister, Ishbel Campbell of Geneva, N.Y.; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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