ABC News (Orson Welles Commentary) – Vintage Radio Collection
Orson Welles was a force of nature—an artist whose genius seemed larger than life, yet whose exploits were all too real. In the mid-1940s, Welles brought his formidable voice and unflinching moral clarity to ABC News with Orson Welles Commentaries, a series of fifteen-minute broadcasts that tackled the most pressing issues of the day. This collection captures eight episodes from the summer of 1946, beginning just after initial sponsor Lear Radio Laboratories ended their support. Though the budget shrank dramatically, Welles refused to abandon this platform, and his commentaries from this period remain among the most powerful and important in broadcast history.
Collection Highlights
- Landmark commentary on the Isaac Woodard case – On July 28, 1946, Welles read and commented on an affidavit from Army veteran Isaac Woodard, a Black soldier brutally blinded by a South Carolina police officer hours after his discharge. Welles’ impassioned reporting sparked national outrage, brought the case to President Truman’s attention, and helped fuel the push for federal civil rights legislation. This collection includes five broadcasts devoted to the Woodard case.
- Welles’ fight for the common citizen – In the opening episodes, Welles rails against the planned shutdown of the Office of Price Administration, warning that removing wartime price controls would benefit big business at the expense of unprotected consumers. His June 23 and June 30 commentaries capture his fierce advocacy for everyday Americans.
- A poignant protest against nuclear weaponry – Welles expressed his disgust that the atomic bomb tested at Bikini Atoll was nicknamed “Gilda” and bore a picture of his then-wife, Rita Hayworth, showing his deep unease with the weapon’s human cost.
- A historic voice at a crossroads moment – These eight broadcasts, dating from June 23 to August 25, 1946, represent the final chapter of Welles’ own radio series. They offer listeners a rare chance to hear a legendary artist speak with unvarnished honesty about race, justice, and postwar America.
Track Listing
Show all 16 tracks (1 hours, 54 min)
- Abc News 460623 Abc News
- Abc News 460630 Abc News
- Abc News 460721 Don Hollenback Subs
- Abc News 460728 Abc News
- Abc News 460804 Abc News
- Abc News 460811 Abc News
- Abc News 460818 Abc News
- Abc News 460825 Abc News
- Abc News 460623 Abc News
- Abc News 460630 Abc News
- Abc News 460721 Don Hollenback Subs
- Abc News 460728 Abc News
- Abc News 460804 Abc News
- Abc News 460811 Abc News
- Abc News 460818 Abc News
- Abc News 460825 Abc News
