Audio Antiques

Ken explores Medical Hypnosis, Cardio Diets, and Perfect Parenting. 

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Radio's classic era was definitely tainted by Jim Crow laws, racial discrimination and bias. That's why this podcast is dedicated to unearthing the rare instances when African-Americans were allowed to share their talents with the world. Black performers were seldom hosts, or guest stars on the commercial networks. African-American shows were very scarce, but there were a few. One was the Harlem Hospitality Club, and was aired by the Mutual Broadcasting System, and the Armed Forces Radio Service. The half-hour program highlighted rhythm and blues music before a live audience. It featured host Willie Bryant and guests such as Amanda Randolph, an African-American actress, singer and musician. Randolph would later become the first black performer on a regularly scheduled network television show, The Laytons on the DuMont TV Network. You're going to hear two episodes of the Harlem Hospitality Club, both from 1947. And as a special bonus, you'll hear Tales From Harlem, a 1938 show produced by New York radio Station WMCA.

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We have two episodes from the Silver Theater, a dramatic anthology series broadcast on CBS Radio and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1937 to 1947. Each week, Silver Theater featured a different movie star in a different drama or comedy. From the year 1938 we're going to hear Broken Prelude parts one and two. They star Bette Davis, who's acting career spanned 50 years on Broadway, in motion pictures and on television. She won two Academy Awards along with ten nominations. Davis was famous for playing manipulators and killers during an era when women preferred sympathetic characters. 

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Ken Robinson interviews African-Americans involved in the tech industry, and their concerns about a developing digital divide during the early days of the computer boom.

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Hattie McDaniel was an American actress, singer, and comedian. She was born in 1893 in Wichita, Kansas...and was the youngest of 13 children. Her father Henry had fought in the Civil War. Her mother was a gospel singer, both had been slaves. After graduating from high school McDaniel started working as a songwriter and performer. In the 1920s she began performing on the radio, and embarked on a recording career. In 1927 McDaniel had a hit with One Sorrowing Heart. In 1932 McDaniel made her first movie appearance as a maid, and unfortunately was labeled with that stereotype the rest of her life. Facing discrimination and limited opportunities. However, McDaniel remained a trailblazer and an inspiration to many. In 1939, Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to win an Academy Award, for Best Supporting Actress in the classic film Gone With the Wind. She appeared in 300 films during her career, including Johnny Come Lately, with James Cagney in 1943. McDaniel stopped acting in movies after 1949, but switched to television, and continued to perform on radio, becoming the first black actor to star in her own radio program, the comedy series Beulah in 1947 on CBS Radio. When the sitcom transitioned to ABC-TV in 1950, Ethel Waters had the starring role, but quit after the first year. McDaniel replaced Waters but became to ill to perform after filming just 6 episodes. You're going to hear Hattie McDaniel on the Eddie Cantor radio show with Humphrey Bogart in 1941. The on the all-black Blueberry Hill Program, a pilot recorded by CBS Radio in 1943. And performing as Beulah on the Bing Crosby radio program in 1949.

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We're going to learn about Adam Clayton Powell Jr. He was the first African-American to be elected to Congress from New York, as well as the first from any state in the Northeastern U.S. Powell represented the Harlem neighborhood of New York City in the House of Representatives from 1945 until 1971. He served as a national spokesman on civil rights and social issues. Powell also urged the U.S. to support emerging nations in Africa and Asia. You will hear the story of his life in a 1949 episode of Destination Freedom, plus Adam Clayton Powell in his own words from a 1961 edition of Meet the Press on NBC Radio.

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Elvis Ghost, Cheating Spouses, Pregnancy & Exercise.

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Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor, and musician, who was Born in Brooklyn New York in 1916 under difficult circumstances. His only sibling died at age 14, his father abandoned the family, and Gleason dropped out of school to earn money. Then his mother died leaving him broke and homeless. Gleason spent the next decade trying to break into show business as a night club comedian. He eventually began appearing on Broadway and network radio shows. In 1949, Gleason became the star of the Life of Riley, and early TV sitcom. It only lasted a year before Gleason got his big break. In 1950 he was named host of the Cavalcade of Stars on the DuMont TV Network. The show became hit, with Gleason then lured to CBS where he created the character of Ralph Kramden on the classic sitcom "The Honeymooners." Gleason would remain a major TV and movie star for the rest of his life. He also had a music career with several record setting albums. Gleason never forgot the hard times of his youth, and was praised for helping struggling African-American entertainers make it into the business, including legendary comedian Timmie Rogers. The two became life long friends. You will hear Jackie Gleason's early radio appearances on the Double Feature radio show in 1944, and Hollywood Open House in 1948, but also showcasing his music career on Here's to Veterans in 1955.

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History comes alive with coverage of D-Day from CBS Radio, which marked the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany during World War Two. The Normandy landing was the largest seaborne invasion of all time, with nearly 5,000 landing and assault craft, 289 escort vessels, and 277 minesweepers participating. Nearly 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel on D-Day with 875,000 men eventually disembarking on the northern French coast. German casualties were estimated at 4,000 to 9,000 men. Allied casualties were documented to at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead. The war against Germany would last another 11 months.

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Ken Robinson in a classic interview with Northeast Ohio urban radio station executive Harry Boomer.

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