In general, each program was between 10-15 minutes in length, broadcast twice a week, and included musical sing-alongs, fairy tales, and other adventuresome tales about forest rangers, zoos, trains, and lots more.
The series debuted on September 26th 1938 with a broadcast of Interesting Tales for Little Folks: Puss-In-Boots,and continued right through to its conclusion in 1979, when Betty Thomas Girling passed away. She had served since 1945 as the series director, as well as administrator, producer, performer, and script writer.
During a polio epidemic in 1946, some schools temporarily closed. Homeschooling was the solution, and radio shows, designed with the aid of teachers, substituted for the closed schools, which led to a trend of using the radio airwaves to educate school children.
There were several old time radio series who used this method, NBC University of the Air, Indiana School of the Air, and Minnesota School of the Air.
Minnesota School of the Air, along with these other series broadcast in the 1940s, were eventually recognized for their importance during the epidemic, which led to several awards.
Hopefully we won't need to use the shows in this series to home school again any time soon - but I'm sure it wouldn't do your children or grandchildren any harm to listen anyway! Hey you'll be sure to learn something new yourself too!
Happy listening my friends,