America's Town Meeting of the Air — 44 Episode Collection
From 1935 to 1956, Americans gathered by the thousands every week to hear the great issues of the day debated live on America's Town Meeting of the Air. A bold forerunner of today's talk shows, this landmark public affairs program brought together poets, scientists, government officials, and newsmakers to argue about communism, social security, free press, and even what kind of music America wanted. With a town crier clanging a bell to open each show and an audience that freely booed and heckled the panelists, the program turned civic engagement into riveting radio. This collection of 44 episodes captures 35 hours and 54 minutes of live, unscripted democracy in action.
Collection Highlights
- The very first episode from May 30, 1935, asks "Which Way America? Communism, Fascism, Socialism or Democracy?" — a stunning time capsule of the debate that defined a generation.
- Hear the audience participate as panelists clash over war, civil rights, and labor, including the 1947 debate "Should the Communist Party Be Outlawed?" and a 1948 discussion on President Truman's civil rights program.
- Includes beloved series creator George V. Denny Jr. as moderator, along with notable guests like philosopher Reinhold Niebuhr and labor leader Lemuel Boulware, plus episodes on topics from compulsory health insurance to "What Does the Returning GI Expect at Home?"
- More than a dozen episodes preserved from the crucial World War II years, including whether the U.S. should enter the war, how democracies should deal with dictatorships, and what kind of peace the world must seek.
Track Listing
Show all 88 tracks (35 hours, 54 min)
- ATHMoA 350530 Fascism, Socialism, Communism, Democracy
- ATHMoA 350614 Will Demands Orgnzd Labor Promote Recvry
- ATHMoA 351205 New Deal Promoted Or Retarded Business Recvry
- ATHMoA 351212 Personal Liberty Modern State
- ATHMoA 351219 Should We Plan For Social Security
- ATHMoA 360319 Supreme Court Constitution
- ATHMoA 360402 Will Unionization Promote Industrial Recvry
- ATHMoA 360416 Will Machine Dominate Man
- ATHMoA 361105 Public Opinion Town Meeting Idea
- ATHMoA 361126 What Does Public Want In Music
- ATHMoA 380203 What Does Democracy Mean
- ATHMoA 381201 Is An Economic Plan For World Peace Available
- ATHMoA 381208 How Should Democracies Deal With Dictatorships
- ATHMoA 381215 What Is America's Greatest Need Today
- ATHMoA 381222 Should Our Neutrality Act Be Repeal Or Revised
- ATHMoA 381229 How Should Religion Deal With Totalitarism
- ATHMoA 390105 Should The Wagner Act Be Revised
- ATHMoA 390112 Do We Have A Free Press
- ATHMoA 390216 Reinhold Niebuhr Progress Tech Moral-Excerpt
- ATHMoA 390302 Are Schools Doing Their Job
- ATHMoA 391019 Real Issues In European War
- ATHMoA 391116 Should We Ignore Racial Differences
- ATHMoA 391123 What American Democracy Means
- ATHMoA 391207 Can Business Government Work Together Today
- ATHMoA 400118 Does America Need Compulsory Health Insurance
- ATHMoA 400125 Presidents National Defense Pgrm Be Adopted
- ATHMoA 400307 What Should America Do For Joads
- ATHMoA 400411 Diff Btwn Republican Democratic Parties
- ATHMoA 401212 We Preparing To Defend
- ATHMoA 401226 Youths Role In Defense Of Democracy
- ATHMoA 410508 Should Our Ships Convoy Materials To Britain
- ATHMoA 411113 What Kind Of Peace Must We Have Clip
- ATHMoA 460117 What Does Returning Gi Expect At Home Excerpt
- ATHMoA 461024 Communists Organized Labor-Excerpt
- ATHMoA 461031 US Open Its Doors To Displaced Persons
- ATHMoA 470403 Should Communist Party Be Outlawed-Partial
- ATHMoA 470410 Do We Really Elect Our Own President-14min
- ATHMoA 470923 Should We Accept New Fashions For Women
- ATHMoA 471007 Improve Race Religious Relationships
- ATHMoA 480323 Presidents Civil Rights Prgrm Be Adopted
- ATHMoA 480622 Preparing To Grow Old Successfully
- ATHMoA 490607 Lemuel Boulware On Profit Sharing Excerpt
- ATHMoA 491220 Will A $100 Pension Provide Real Security
- ATHMoA 520527 Troublemakers In Our Democracy-Incomp
- ATHMoA 350530 Fascism, Socialism, Communism, Democracy
- ATHMoA 350614 Will Demands Orgnzd Labor Promote Recvry
- ATHMoA 351205 New Deal Promoted Or Retarded Business Recvry
- ATHMoA 351212 Personal Liberty Modern State
- ATHMoA 351219 Should We Plan For Social Security
- ATHMoA 360319 Supreme Court Constitution
- ATHMoA 360402 Will Unionization Promote Industrial Recvry
- ATHMoA 360416 Will Machine Dominate Man
- ATHMoA 361105 Public Opinion Town Meeting Idea
- ATHMoA 361126 What Does Public Want In Music
- ATHMoA 380203 What Does Democracy Mean
- ATHMoA 381201 Is An Economic Plan For World Peace Available
- ATHMoA 381208 How Should Democracies Deal With Dictatorships
- ATHMoA 381215 What Is America's Greatest Need Today
- ATHMoA 381222 Should Our Neutrality Act Be Repeal Or Revised
- ATHMoA 381229 How Should Religion Deal With Totalitarism
- ATHMoA 390105 Should The Wagner Act Be Revised
- ATHMoA 390112 Do We Have A Free Press
- ATHMoA 390216 Reinhold Niebuhr Progress Tech Moral-Excerpt
- ATHMoA 390302 Are Schools Doing Their Job
- ATHMoA 391019 Real Issues In European War
- ATHMoA 391116 Should We Ignore Racial Differences
- ATHMoA 391123 What American Democracy Means
- ATHMoA 391207 Can Business Government Work Together Today
- ATHMoA 400118 Does America Need Compulsory Health Insurance
- ATHMoA 400125 Presidents National Defense Pgrm Be Adopted
- ATHMoA 400307 What Should America Do For Joads
- ATHMoA 400411 Diff Btwn Republican Democratic Parties
- ATHMoA 401212 We Preparing To Defend
- ATHMoA 401226 Youths Role In Defense Of Democracy
- ATHMoA 410508 Should Our Ships Convoy Materials To Britain
- ATHMoA 411113 What Kind Of Peace Must We Have Clip
- ATHMoA 460117 What Does Returning Gi Expect At Home Excerpt
- ATHMoA 461024 Communists Organized Labor-Excerpt
- ATHMoA 461031 US Open Its Doors To Displaced Persons
- ATHMoA 470403 Should Communist Party Be Outlawed-Partial
- ATHMoA 470410 Do We Really Elect Our Own President-14min
- ATHMoA 470923 Should We Accept New Fashions For Women
- ATHMoA 471007 Improve Race Religious Relationships
- ATHMoA 480323 Presidents Civil Rights Prgrm Be Adopted
- ATHMoA 480622 Preparing To Grow Old Successfully
- ATHMoA 490607 Lemuel Boulware On Profit Sharing Excerpt
- ATHMoA 491220 Will A $100 Pension Provide Real Security
- ATHMoA 520527 Troublemakers In Our Democracy-Incomp
