Audio Antiques

Ralph Johnson Bunche was an American political scientist, diplomat, and leading participant in the decolonization process following World War 2, as well as the US civil rights movement. Bunche received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve the Arab–Israeli conflict in Palestine. He was the first African-American and first person of African descent to be awarded any Nobel Prize. Bunche was involved in the formation and administration of the United Nations. In 1963, Bunche was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President John Kennedy. The Detroit native, and former resident of Toledo, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles, has been called the most influential African-American of the first half of the 20th century. You will hear the Ralph Bunche story in a 1949 episode of Destination Freedom. Followed by a 1962 interview on United Nations radio and WNBC Radio in New York with celebrated actress Celeste Holm. 

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Game shows actually began during the golden age of radio, and they continue on radio and television today. Many of these shows are popular, and seldom cost much money to produce. The format is fairly simple. Contestants compete for a reward as directed by a host. On most game shows, participants have to answer questions, perform an act, or solve puzzles, to win either cash or prizes, which are provided by the program's sponsor. We have one of the first game shows on radio, the Ask It Basket from 1939. Followed by Raising a Husband from 1945, which was one of the very few game shows featuring a female host. Then, three of radio's most popular game shows, Twenty Questions from 1946, You Bet Your Life with Groucho Marx from 1949, and Queen for A Day in 1950.

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Did you ever wonder why a legal copyright disclaimer is always played during baseball games? It's probably because of Gordon Barton McLendon, a radio broadcaster known as the Old Scotchman. After serving in the military during World War Two, McLendon created the Liberty Broadcasting System, a nationwide radio network that broadcast Major League Baseball games from 1948 to 1953. Those broadcasts never originated from ballparks, they were re-created inside McLendon's studio. Wes Wise, the former mayor of Dallas Texas, worked for McLendon as a sports reporter, and says those re-creations were so vivid, audiences thought McLendon was actually at the scene, and the broadcasts were wildly popular. However, baseball bigwigs later caught on, shut down McLendon's broadcasts, and banned any more re-creations. Mclendon went on to become a multi-millionaire, perfecting the popular Top 40 music radio format in the 1950s and 1960s. He developed pirate radio broadcasting to Europe, and became involved in television, and movies. In 1964–65 he served as a communications adviser to the United States Peace Corps. In 1971 McLendon conducted a month-long all-expense-paid broadcasting course for nine minority-group members, including African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexican-Americans. We will hear Gordon McLendon recreate the New York Giants comeback win over the Brooklyn Dodgers, in the 1951 National League Championship. Then, the Old Scotchman tells his life's story to Dr. Cliff Ganus, president of Harding College in 1969.

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Willie Howard Mays Jr., also known as "the Say Hey Kid", is widely regarded as the greatest all-round baseball player in American history. The African-American center fielder spent 23 seasons in the major leagues. Mays started his outstanding career with the New York Giants in 1951, quickly becoming rookie of the year. In 1954, he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award, and helped the Giants win the world series before the team moved to San Francisco. One of May's early milestones was hitting four home runs in a game against the Braves in 1961. Mays went on to win another MVP Award in 1965. He became an All-Star 24 times, and won 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards. Mays was the first National League player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season, the first player in history to reach both 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases, and the first right-handed hitter to smack 600 home runs. Mays was also a hit on national television, appearing on the game, variety, and comedy shows.

Willie Mays ended his career after being traded from the San Francisco Giants to the Mets in 1972, celebrating his return to New York City. You will hear the game that marked his Big Apple homecoming, plus an interview with the Say Hey Kid on the network radio show Sports Byline USA in May of 2000.

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On this edition of Audio Antiques we again salute Cleveland, Ohio USA. The 54th largest city in the United States. However, during radio's golden age, Cleveland was one of the 10 largest cities in the U.S.and was a center of entertainment, the arts, manufacturing, and technology. But there was also also crime. So First up, we hear a newspaper story from the Cleveland News going coast to coast on NBC's Big Story in 1947. Then, the popular Bob Hope Show variety broadcasts from the comedian's old home town in 1946. Followed by live music on the show One Night Stand broadcasting from the Bronze Room of Hotel Cleveland in 1945. We will hear the game show Quiz Kids broadcasting from Cleveland's gigantic Public Auditorium in 1951. Next, legendary Cleveland Browns kicker Lou Groza appears on The Greatest Sports Thrill. Lastly, the wartime program Command Performance broadcasts live from the National Association of Broadcasters convention in 1945. Out salute to Cleveland starts right after this break.

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On this edition of Audio Antiques we are celebrating Cleveland, Ohio USA. During radio's golden age, Cleveland was one of the 10 largest cities in the United States. During it's heyday, Cleveland was a center of manufacturing

, innovation, business, arts & culture, and crime, as you will hear in some of the law & order shows of the day. We begin with President Franklin Roosevelt giving a campaign speech in Cleveland on November 2nd, 1940 just days before his victorious election against Wendell Willkie. Cleveland Indians President Bill Veeck appears on Author Meets The Critics just weeks before his team would win the 1948 World Series. Legendary Indians pitcher Bob Feller recalls his opening game of the 1940 season on his 1960's radio show. Then a 1948 Cleveland broadcast of the ever popular Jack Benny Show. Followed by 2 episodes of the crime drama Big Story, featuring newspaper coverage from the Cleveland Press in 1948, and the Cleveland News in 1949.

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Many experts believe André Watts was one of the greatest classical pianist of all time. Over the six decades of his career, this celebrated African-American musician performed as soloist with every major orchestra in the United States, and most of the world's finest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Watts recorded a variety of repertoire, concentrating on Romantic era composers such as Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt, but also including George Gershwin.

In 1973 at the age of 26, Yale University gave Watts his first honorary doctorate, and many more awards would follow.

At the age of sixteen, Watts made his nationwide debut on CBS-TV's, Young People's Concert series, and was introduced by legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein.

You will hear Andre Watts talk about his remarkable life, in an extensive interview with David Dubal at WNCN Radio in New York City in October of 1983.

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Portia May White was a operatic contralto, known for becoming the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame. Born in 1911, White's formative years were spent performing in her father's church choir in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She competed in local singing competitions as a teenager and later trained at the Halifax Conservatory of Music. One of her most popular recordings was of the African-American spiritual "Think of Me". She also had a hit with the song "4 & 20 Elders".

In 1944, Portia White made her international debut auditioning for the Metropolitan Opera. White became the first Canadian to sing at New York's Town Hall performance space. The New York Times reported her singing was "remarkable." White later completed tours throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

When vocal difficulties and cancer eventually contributed to her retirement in 1952, White settled in Toronto and trained other Canadian musicians such as Lorne Greene of Bonanza TV fame, and famous pop singer Robert Goulet. Portia White was interviewed by CBC Television in 1958.

One of White's final major public appearances was a special command performance for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1964. Portia White occasionally performed on American radio during the medium's golden age. We found one appearance on the show New World A'Comin in 1945, celebrating the Allied Victory in Europe during World War Two, and it's meaning to African-Americans.

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We are examining women's fight for democracy in the United States. In 1939, NBC and the federal government teamed up to produce a series of programs called Gallant American Women. These shows outlined their struggle for equality beginning with the nation's founding. We're going to hear two episodes. The first entitled These Freedoms, about women's fight for freedom of speech, worship, and expression, as well as their fight to end slavery. The second episode is called Women Are People, and detailed their work to win the right to vote.

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Sidney Poitier was a trailblazing actor, film director, and diplomat who achieved numerous significant accomplishments throughout his career. As the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, he made history with his powerful performances in films such as "Lilies of the Field" and the 1967 classic, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." Poitier's impact extended beyond the silver screen, as he used his influence to challenge racial stereotypes and advocate for civil rights. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to American culture, and his legacy continues to inspire future generations of actors and activists. We're going to hear Sidney Poitier being interviewed by Bill Parkhurst on the radio show Between the Lines in 1981.

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