Veterans Day 11th November 2011

Veterans Day 2011

Between the American Revolution and the current conflict in Iraq, more than 26 million men and women have served America in wartime. Nearly 900,000 of those who served never returned home. Veterans Day is a day to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice whilst serving their nation.

To commemorate those brave soldiers we would like to draw your attention to a series on RUSC, which was broadcast by CBS during World War II. An American In England was a documentary drama written and directed by the late great writer Norman Corwin. Corwin had been commissioned by CBS to visit England and report back on the character of the people and feeling in war torn Britain.  This was not propaganda from the Ministry of Information but real life stories from real people affected by the issues both great and small of the troubled time, stories which touched the hearts and minds of Americans and their allies. 

It’s been said that Norman Corwin enjoyed more popularity than President Roosevelt during his tenure on radio, and Corwin did much to promote the war efforts during World War II.

On A Note of Triumph was a special broadcast written, directed and produced by Norman Corwin for the Columbia Broadcasting System. On A Note Of Triumph was first broadcast the night Nazi Germany surrendered, 8th May 1945 and was listened to by millions of Americans. It is considered to be Corwin’s masterpiece and has been called the single greatest radio broadcast of the century.

On the 14th August 1945 America celebrated VJ day and Norman Corwin was called upon to write a tribute to the great men who had fought in the battle against tyranny.

It was President Roosevelt’s suggestion to Archibald MacLeish that radio help promote the 150th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. Corwin was immediately chosen for the job. It was to be a 60-minute broadcast on the four national networks – at the same time.

Corwin made it happen – over 60 million persons tuned in to listen to We Hold These Truths on December 15, 1941. With a cast of such stellar stars as James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Orson Welles and Edward G. Robinson, the show was a major success.

I hope that you will find all of these stories inspiring and entertaining but most of all let them give you food for thought in remembering our great and brave defenders of Liberty.   

To commemorate Veterans Day Joy and I have put together a list of shows and will also add several appropriate shows over the next few days including This Is War directed and sometimes written by Norman Corwin.

1. An American In England - The Yanks Are Here
2. Arch Oboler Plays - Strange Morning
3. Cavalcade of America - Soldiers of the Tide
4. Columbia Presents Corwin - Fourteen August
5. Columbia Workshop - Private Throgg
6. Command Performance
7. Day of Victory - On A Note of Triumph
8. Downbeat - Jimmy Dorsey
9. The Empire Builders - Armistice Day 11th November 1930
10. Family Theater - Unsung Hero
11. Glenn Miller
12. Great Gildersleeve - Memorial Day Parade
13. Kate Smith - God Bless America Salute To Army Widow (live on RUSC 11/13)
14. Lum & Abner - Memorial Day Speech
15. Mail Call
16. One World Flight
17. President Roosevelt's Address To Congress - 21st September 1939
18. Screen Guild Theater - The Spitfire  (live on RUSC 11/13)
19. Treasury Star Parade - Reflections of a Father as his Son Leaves For The Army
20. Treasury Star Parade - Edward Kalenyi Darkness In Europe
21. We Hold These Truths
22. World War II Songs

Happy listening my friend,

Ned & Joy