Americans All, Immigrants All: An Artistic Triumph in Broadcasting
In 1938, an unprecedented collaboration between the Department of Interior, the Office of Education, CBS, WNYC, the Service Bureau for Inter-Cultural Education, and the Works Progress Administration brought forth one of the most artistically compelling productions in Old Time Radio history. Broadcast over CBS on Sunday afternoons from November 1938 through May 1939, and rebroadcast over WNYC in June 1939, this 24-episode series celebrated America's cultural diversity with a lofty tone that was—as Radio Guide Weekly noted—"not one whit less entertaining because of their solid educational content." Washington was "deluged" with congratulatory correspondence, and the series remains a remarkable example of government and network cooperation serving the public interest.
Collection Highlights
- A sweeping cultural tapestry: Episodes explore the contributions of English, Hispanic, Scotch-Irish, French, German, Scandinavian, Slavic, Italian, Jewish, Near Eastern, and other ethnic groups to the American story, including dedicated programs on "The Negro in America" and "Orientals in the United States."
- Notable historical context: The program's treatment of race reflects its pre-WWII era—acknowledging slavery and the Chinese Exclusion Acts, yet framed through the lens of the time. The February 1939 episode on "Orientals" stands in stark contrast to the Japanese internment that would follow just two years later.
- Artistic excellence at its core: Part of a legacy that includes Corwin's We Hold These Truths and On a Note of Triumph, this series represents broadcasters' genuine artistic desire to create something good for society, blending entertainment with education in a way that still resonates.
- A hopeful message across 11 hours and 50 minutes: From "Our English Heritage" to the "Grand Finale," the collection weaves together immigration stories, contributions in industry, science, arts, and social progress, offering a thoughtful window into America's melting pot ideal.
Track Listing
Show all 48 tracks (11 hours, 50 min)
- Aaia 381120 Our English Heritage
- Aaia 381127 Our Hispanic Heritage
- Aaia 381204 Scotchscotchirish And Welsh
- Aaia 381211 Winning Of Freedom
- Aaia 381218 Negro In America
- Aaia 381225 French Speaking Peoples
- Aaia 390108 Irish In United States
- Aaia 390115 Germans In United States
- Aaia 390122 Scandinavians In United States
- Aaia 390129 Closing Frontiers
- Aaia 390205 Jews In United States
- Aaia 390212 Slavs In United States Part One
- Aaia 390219 Slavs In United States Part Two
- Aaia 390226 Orientals In United States
- Aaia 390305 Italians In United States
- Aaia 390312 Near Eastern Peoples
- Aaia 390319 Immigrants From Smaller Countries
- Aaia 390326 Contributions In Industry
- Aaia 390402 Contributions In Science
- Aaia 390409 Contributions In Arts And Crafts
- Aaia 390416 Social Progress
- Aaia 390423 A New England Town
- Aaia 390430 An Industrial City
- Aaia 390507 Grand Finale
- Aaia 381120 Our English Heritage
- Aaia 381127 Our Hispanic Heritage
- Aaia 381204 Scotchscotchirish And Welsh
- Aaia 381211 Winning Of Freedom
- Aaia 381218 Negro In America
- Aaia 381225 French Speaking Peoples
- Aaia 390108 Irish In United States
- Aaia 390115 Germans In United States
- Aaia 390122 Scandinavians In United States
- Aaia 390129 Closing Frontiers
- Aaia 390205 Jews In United States
- Aaia 390212 Slavs In United States Part One
- Aaia 390219 Slavs In United States Part Two
- Aaia 390226 Orientals In United States
- Aaia 390305 Italians In United States
- Aaia 390312 Near Eastern Peoples
- Aaia 390319 Immigrants From Smaller Countries
- Aaia 390326 Contributions In Industry
- Aaia 390402 Contributions In Science
- Aaia 390409 Contributions In Arts And Crafts
- Aaia 390416 Social Progress
- Aaia 390423 A New England Town
- Aaia 390430 An Industrial City
- Aaia 390507 Grand Finale
