African-American Civil rights dramatic anthology (1948-1950)
The triumph of African-American civil rights can be attributed to many heroes and heroines of the past. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Satchel Paige, Roscoe Dungee, Dr. Ralph Bunche, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B. DuBois, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Lena Horne were all major proponents of this movement, but some never think about Richard Durham. Durham's creation put a foothold on Civil rights and paved the way for equality.
Richard Durham's Destination Freedom premiered on June 27, 1948 on Chicago radio WMAQ. Durham's vision was to reeducate the masses on the image of African American society, since it was tainted with stereotypes that threatened to tear its beautiful culture apart. The danger was so imminent, that many White Supremacy groups protested, such as the White Knights of Columbus. Week after week, Durham would generate all-out attacks on southern bias, the Ku Klux Klan, on the attitudes of rednecks and the mentality of the mob. For two straight years, Durham wrote script after script for Destination Freedom and asked for nothing in return. In 1950, Durham's financial needs exceeded his push for equality, so he opted to accept an offer by Don Ameche to write a vehicle for him. After Durham left, the station quickly changed the shows premise to a white show, in order to rival Paul Revere Speaks, which was a popular show at the time. For about 50 years, the show was long forgotten until some transcripts were found, and the voices of freedom, played by Fred Pinkard, Oscar Brown Jr., Wezlyn Tilden, and Janice Kingslow, were heard once more.
For additional radio shows covering African-American civil rights, see also: Roi Ottley's A New Worlds A-Coming and Freedom's People. See also Jubilee which was created to entertain the black soldiers in WWII.
For more interesting reading, see also: article on the history of Minstrel Shows and Old Time Radio.
For more American historical drama, see also: American Adventure, An American in England, American Trail, Cavalcade of America, Democracy in America, The Free Company, Frontier Fighters, Inheritance, Norman Corwin Collection, Mr President, Science Magazine of the Air, You Are There, and The American History Collection.
| Air Date |
Title |
Synopsis |
| 1948-06-27 |
001 Knock Kneed Man, The Crispus Attuckus |
WMAQ, Chicago. "The Knock-Kneed Man". Sustaining. The story of the life of Crispus Attucks, the first man to strike a blow for freedom in the American colonies. He was also the first man to be killed at the Boston Massacre. This is possibly the first show of the series. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. Arthur McCoo, Arthur Peterson, Bobby Christian (music), Charles Mountain (announcer), Donald Gallagher, Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Greg Pascal (singer), Homer Hecht (producer), Hugh Downs (announcer), Janice Kingslow, Jess Pugh, Marvin Pisner, Maurice Copeland, Richard Durham (writer). |
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| 1948-07-04 |
002 Railway To Freedom Harriet Tubman |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Railway To Freedom". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. The story of the early life of Harriet Tubman. Arthur McCoo, Bobby Christian (music), Charles Mountain (announcer), Cliff Norton, Curley Ellison, Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, George Kluge, Greg Pascal (singer), Homer Hecht (producer), Hope Summers, Hugh Downs (announcer), Maurice Copeland, Melva Williams, Richard Durham (writer), Richard Shores (composer), Weslan Tilden. |
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| 1948-07-18 |
004 The Denmark Vesey Story |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Story Of Denmark Vesey". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. The story Denmark Vesey, who fought for the end of slavery twenty years before the Civil War. See cat. #19132 ("The CBS Radio Workshop") for the same script, produced nine years later as "Sweet Cherries In Charleston." Arthur McCoo, Bobby Christian (music), Charles Mountain (announcer), Cliff Norton, Curt Kupfer, Elwyn Owen (organist), Franklin Ferguson (announcer), Fred Pinkard, Greg Pascal (singer), Howard Hall, Jack Lester, Louise Pruitt, Oscar Brown Jr., Ray Grant. |
|
| 1948-07-25 |
005 The Making Of A Man |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Making Of A Man". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. Part one of the story of Frederick Douglass, a slave who fought for the freedom of his race. Arthur McCoo, Bobby Christian (music), Dick Noble (announcer), Donald Gallagher, Elwyn Owen (organist), Ernie Andrews, Fred Pinkard, George Kluge, Greg Pascal (singer), Jess Pugh, Ken Griffin, Oscar Brown Jr., Russ Reed, Sherman Marks. |
|
| 1948-08-01 |
006 The Key To Freedom |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Key To Freedom". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. Part two (conclusion) of the story of Frederick Douglass, the famous editor and abolitionist. Arthur McCoo, Bobby Christian (music), Boris Aplon, Charles Chan (announcer), Cliff Norton, Donald Gallagher, Elwyn Owen (organist), Ernie Andrews, Fred Pinkard, Greg Pascal (singer), Jess Pugh, Maurice Copeland, Oscar Brown Jr., Weslan Tilden. |
|
| 1948-08-08 |
007 The Heart Of George Cotton |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Heart Of George Cotton". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. The story of Dr. Ulysses Dailey and Daniel Hale Williams and their pioneering efforts in heart surgery. This play won a Peabody Award. Arthur Peterson, Bobby Christian (music), Charles Chan (announcer), Curt Kupfer, Donald Gallagher, Dorothy Van Zant, Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Greg Pascal (singer), Janice Kingslow, Larry Alexander, Oscar Brown Jr., Tony Parish (narrator), William Nicks. |
|
| 1948-08-22 |
009 Arctic Biography |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Arctic Autograph". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. The story of Matthew Henson, the first man to reach the North Pole. Arthur Peterson, Bobby Christian (music), Charles Mountain (announcer), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Greg Pascal (singer), Horace Games, Hugh Downs (announcer), Janice Kingslow, Jonathan Hole, Louise Pruitt, Maurice Copeland, Oscar Brown Jr., Stuart Sklam (?). |
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| 1948-08-29 |
010 The Story Of 1875 |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Story Of 1875". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. The story of Charles Caldwell, the senator who had been a slave. Norman Felton (producer), Joseph Gallicchio (conductor), Jim Ameche, Ray Derby (writer), George Stone (announcer), Muriel Bremner, Donald Gallagher, Cliff Soubier, Emil Soderstrom (composer). |
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| 1948-09-05 |
011 Poet Of Pine Hill James Weldon Johnson |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Poet Of Pine Mill". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. The story of James Weldon Johnson, a rural teacher from the big city, determined to have a law passed outlawing the lynching of Negroes. He was a poet, educator, and editor. Bobby Christian (music), Donald Gallagher, Duke Watson, Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Greg Pascal (singer), Homer Hecht (producer), Hugh Downs (announcer), Les Spears, Louis Vernon, Louise Pruitt, Maude McElroy, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Ted Liss, Tony Parish (narrator). |
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| 1948-09-26 |
014 Shakespeare Of Harlem Langston Hughes |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Shakespeare Of Harlem". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. The story of Langston Hughes, famous Negro poet, illustrated with several of his works. Bobby Christian (music), Charles Mountain (announcer), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Homer Hecht (producer), Hugh Downs (announcer), Janice Kingslow, Les Spears, Louise Pruitt, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Sherman Marks. |
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| 1948-10-10 |
016 Little David Joe Louis |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Little David". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. The story of Joe Louis, the heavyweight boxing champion. Well done. Bobby Christian (music), Charles Mountain (announcer), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Harry Elders, Homer Hecht (producer), Hugh Downs (announcer), Jack Moss, Janice Kingslow, Les Spears, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Studs Terkel. |
|
| 1948-10-17 |
017 Boy Who Was Traded For Horse George Carver |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Boy Who Was Traded For A Horse". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Defender. The story of George Washington Carver, the great scientist of agriculture. Arthur Peterson, Bobby Christian (music), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, George Kluge, Gladys Williams, Homer Hecht (producer), Hope Summers, Hugh Downs (announcer), Ken Griffin, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Emil Soderstrom (composer). |
|
| 1948-11-07 |
019 Echoes Of Harlem Duke Ellington |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Echoes Of Harlem". Sustaining. The story of Duke Ellington and how he put his band together. Bobby Christian (music), Charles Mountain (announcer), Cliff Norton, Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Gladys Williams, Henry Cook (announcer), Homer Hecht (producer), Larry Auerbach (assistant Director), Les Spears, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Tony Parish (narrator). |
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| 1948-11-21 |
021 The Rhyme Of The Ancient Dodger |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Rhyme Of The Ancient Dodger: The Story Of Jackie Robinson". Sustaining. Excellent writing, great radio, the story is partially told in verse! Jack Lester, Hugh Downs (announcer), Everett Clark, Tony Parish, Janice Kingslow, Emil Soderstrom (composer, arranger), Ernie Andrews, Elwyn Owen (music), Richard Durham (writer), Homer Hecht (director), Oscar Brown Jr., Studs Terkel, Bobby Christian (music). |
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| 1949-02-20 |
034 Peace Mediator Dr Ralph Bunche |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Peace Mediator". Sustaining. The story of Dr. Ralph Bunche, son of a slave, now the United Nations mediator between the Arabs and the Israelis. Arthur McCoo, Bobby Christian (music), Charles Chan (announcer), Elwyn Owen (organist), Everett Clark, Fred Pinkard, Homer Hecht (producer), Jack Lester, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Ted Liss, Tony Parish (narrator). |
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| 1949-03-20 |
038 Black Boy |
+ NBC net, WMAQ, Chicago origination. "Black Boy". Sustaining. The story of Richard Wright, author of the "literary bombshell,""Native Son." Homer Hecht (director), Emil Soderstrom (composer), Elwyn Owen (organist), Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (adaptor), Richard Wright (author), Jose Bettencort (tympani), Janice Kingslow, Tony Parish, Fred Pinkard, Jess Pugh, Studs Terkel, Charles Chan (announcer). |
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| 1949-05-15 |
045 Ballad Of Satchell Paige, The |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Ballad Of Satchell Paige". Sustaining. The story of the "greatest pitcher of all time." Well done, good radio with excellent singing translations, despite the somewhat over-enthusiastic ranking of Mr. Paige's abilities. Charles Chan (announcer), Dean Olmquist, Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Harris Gaines, Harvey Hayes, Homer Hecht (director), Jose Bettencort (music), Lou Kessler (music), Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Ted Liss, Tony Parish (narrator), Emil Soderstrom (composer). |
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| 1949-06-05 |
048 AnatomyOfAnOrdinance |
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| 1949-07-17 |
053 TalesOfStackalee |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Tales Of Stack 'O Lee: Black Folklore Hero". Sustaining. The story of a truly fabulous character, based on material from the Ona L. Spencer collection. Good radio! Charles Chan (announcer), Dean Olmquist, Dick Loghran (director), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, George Kluge, Homer Hecht (producer), Jess Pugh, Jose Bettencort, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Sid McCoy, Weslan Tilden. |
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| 1949-07-31 |
055 TrumpetTalks |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Trumpet Talks". Sustaining. The early life of Louis Armstrong is dramatized. Well-written, good radio. Charles Chan (announcer), Dean Olmquist, Dick Loghran (director), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Homer Hecht (producer), Janice Kingslow, Jose Bettencort, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Sid McCoy, Tony Parish (narrator). |
|
| 1949-08-07 |
056 TheLongRoad |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Long Road". Sustaining. The story of Mary Church Terrell, a fighter for equal rights for women, Negroes, Jews, and human rights for all. Alma Platts (?), Charles Chan (announcer), Dean Olmquist, Dick Loghran (director), Dorothy Tate, Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Homer Hecht (producer), Janice Kingslow, Jose Bettencort, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Weslan Tilden. |
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| 1949-08-28 |
059 Segregation Incorporated |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Segregation Inc.". Sustaining. A documented report of facts revealed by "The Committee Against Segregation In The Nation's Capitol." A shocking expose of race inequality in Washington D. C. Bob McKee (narrator), Charles Chan (announcer), Dean Olmquist, Dick Loghran (director), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, George Kluge, Homer Hecht (producer), Janice Kingslow, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Roy Graham (music), Tony Parish (narrator). |
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| 1949-09-04 |
060 The Saga Of Senator Blanche K Bruce |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Saga Of Blanche K. Bruce". Sustaining. The story of a Mississippi printer during Reconstruction who fought for freedom for all, using the power of the printed word. Bruce became the first ex-slave to be elected to the United States Senate. Charles Mountain (announcer), Dean Olmquist, Dick Loghran (director), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Homer Hecht (producer), Jess Pugh, Jose Bettencort, Ken Griffin, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Tony Parish (narrator). |
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| 1949-10-09 |
066 Father To Son |
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| 1949-11-16 |
069 Man Who Owned Chicago |
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| 1950-01-05 |
075 BirthOfTheUrbanLeague |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Birth Of A League". Sustaining. Produced in co-operation with The Chicago Urban League. The migration of Negroes to the Northern cities and the story of the start of the Urban League. The president of the Urban League is interviewed. Charles Mountain (announcer), Dean Olmquist, Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Homer Hecht (producer), Jack Lester, Jess Pugh, Jose Bettencort, Maurice Copeland, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Russ Reed |
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| 1950-03-12 |
083 PremonitionOfThePanther |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Premonition Of The Panther". Sustaining. The story of welterweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson. Well done! Charles Mountain (announcer), Dean Olmquist, Dick Loghran (director), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, Homer Hecht (producer), Jess Pugh, Jose Bettencort, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Russ Reed, Weslan Tilden |
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| 1950-03-26 |
085 TheLiberatorsPt1 |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Liberators: William Lloyd Garrison". Sustaining. The story of a Boston printer who became an ardent abolitionist and published "The Liberator." Dean Olmquist, Dick Loghran (director), Elwyn Owen (organist), Fred Pinkard, George Kluge, Homer Hecht (producer), Janice Kingslow, Jose Bettencort, Maurice Copeland, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Wiley Hancock. |
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| 1950-06-11 |
094 Shy Boy, The Thomas Fats Waller |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "The Shy Boy". Sustaining. The story of Thomas "Fats" Waller, told from the viewpoint of James P. Johnson, his teacher and mentor. Bob White, Charles Chan (announcer), Fred Pinkard, Janice Kingslow, Jose Bettencort, Larry Auerbach (assistant Director), Mary Sinclair (music), Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Weslan Tilden. |
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| 1950-07-02 |
097 Kansas City Phone Call Nat King Cole |
+ WMAQ, Chicago. "Kansas City Phone Call". Sustaining. The story of Nat "King" Cole. A surprisingly poor script, told through the device of a white teen-aged girl talking about the singer on the phone to her girlfriend "Marge." Charles Chan (announcer), Dean Olmquist, George Kluge, John Cowan (director), Jose Bettencort (music), Mary Sinclair (music), Norma Ransome (narrator), Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Durham (writer), Russ Weed, Weslan Tilden. |
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| 1950-08-13 |
103 Last Letter Home |
+ WMAQ/WMAQ-FM, Chicago. "Last Letter Home". Sustaining. The story of Wilbur Evans and the men of the 332nd Fighter Group (an all-Negro unit) during World War II. Richard Durham (writer), John Cowan (producer), Oscar Brown Jr., Donald Gallagher, Stanley Gordon, Janice Kingslow, Fred Pinkard, Russ Reed, Emil Soderstrom (composer), Mary Sinclair (music), Jose Bettencort (music), George Wilson (engineer), Cliff Mueller (sound effects). |
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| 1950-10-15 |
000 First Paul Revere Epilog |
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