Remembering 1956
Step back into a year of striking contrasts, where the rumble of rock 'n' roll met the shadow of global tension. By the mid-1950s, Americans enjoyed a rising standard of living, even as the House UnAmerican Activities Committee searched the entertainment industry for Communist sympathizers and news from overseas hinted at a more dangerous world. This 46-recording collection captures the authentic voices and sounds of 1956, offering over 23 hours of broadcasts that bring the era to life through news, drama, variety, and music.
Collection Highlights
- Hear the birth of rock 'n' roll firsthand with episodes of Camel Rock Roll Dance Party from April 1956, featuring Alan Freed’s groundbreaking CBS Radio program that introduced a new generation to the sounds of Sun Records and beyond.
- Experience defining moments in drama and suspense, including riveting installments of Suspense (“Flame,” “Sleeping Draught,” “Digger”) and the sci-fi classic X Minus One (“The Defenders” and “Project Trojan”), alongside the premiere of the prestigious CBS Radio Workshop with its adaptation of Brave New World.
- Relive the year’s headline-making events through rare news broadcasts, including Dwight D. Eisenhower’s acceptance speech, Orson Welles’ appearance on Tomorrow, and coverage of the Suez Crisis from CBC and BBC reporters, as well as the final episode of Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch and the end of Guiding Light’s 19-year radio run.
Track Listing
Show all 92 tracks (23 hours, 33 min)
- American Adventure 560112 Johnwilliamsrunawayjustice
- Bell Telephone Hour 561119 Renata Tibaldi
- Bergen McCarthy 560108 Effie Klinker Festival
- Bergen McCarthy 560129 Las Vegas
- Biography In Sound 560515 49 Recolections At 30
- Breakfast Club 56xxxx Dick Has Strep Throat
- Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560421
- Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560428
- CBSRW 560127 01 Brave New World 1o2
- CBSRW 560203 02 Brave New World 2o2
- Cisco Kid 560710 418 Killer Quits
- Conelrad Drill 560720
- Dragnet 560522 e353 Big False Move
- FMM 560104 1325 The Electric Bill
- FMM 560105 1326 Ruined Fur Coat
- GG 560000 Doye Odells Dude Ranch Afrts 498
- GG 560000 Judge Returns From Europe Afrts 544
- Grand Ole Opry 560317
- Grand Ole Opry 560324
- Guest Star 560812 0490 Cimarron
- Guns 560610 ep218 Daddyo
- Guns 561202 ep243 Speak To Me Fair
- Jack Benny 561200 Jack Benny Christmas Special
- Melody Ranch 560513 Last Show
- News 560126 CBC Foreign Correspondents Recall Best Stories
- News 560129 CBC Ernest Alvia Smokey Smith VC
- News 560309 CBS Radio Workshop Report on ESP
- News 560710 NBC All Star Game
- News 560823 Dwight D Eisenhower Acceptance Speech
- News 561017 ABC FCDA Tomorrow Orson Welles
- News 561115 WCCO Nighttime News Cedric Adams
- News 561210 CBC Matthew Halton Remembered By Colleagues
- News 56xxxx BBC UN Radio Charter Saucer Olivier Corwin
- News 56xxxx UN Radio A Friendly Warning Alistair Cooke
- Our Miss Brooks 560506 340 New Girl in Town
- Our Miss Brooks 560603 344 The Dinner Party
- PAF 560124 Mental Telepathy
- Susp 560529 652 Flame
- Susp 560619 655 Sleeping Draught
- Susp 561009 668 Digger
- Tomorrow 561017 Orson Welles
- X 1 560522 052 The Defenders
- X 1 560619 056 Project Trojan
- YTJD 561111 513 Big Scoop
- YTJD 561125 515 Royal Street
- YTJD 561216 517 Rasmusson
- American Adventure 560112 Johnwilliamsrunawayjustice
- Bell Telephone Hour 561119 Renata Tibaldi
- Bergen McCarthy 560108 Effie Klinker Festival
- Bergen McCarthy 560129 Las Vegas
- Biography In Sound 560515 49 Recolections At 30
- Breakfast Club 56xxxx Dick Has Strep Throat
- Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560421
- Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560428
- CBSRW 560127 01 Brave New World 1o2
- CBSRW 560203 02 Brave New World 2o2
- Cisco Kid 560710 418 Killer Quits
- Conelrad Drill 560720
- Dragnet 560522 e353 Big False Move
- FMM 560104 1325 The Electric Bill
- FMM 560105 1326 Ruined Fur Coat
- GG 560000 Doye Odells Dude Ranch Afrts 498
- GG 560000 Judge Returns From Europe Afrts 544
- Grand Ole Opry 560317
- Grand Ole Opry 560324
- Guest Star 560812 0490 Cimarron
- Guns 560610 ep218 Daddyo
- Guns 561202 ep243 Speak To Me Fair
- Jack Benny 561200 Jack Benny Christmas Special
- Melody Ranch 560513 Last Show
- News 560126 CBC Foreign Correspondents Recall Best Stories
- News 560129 CBC Ernest Alvia Smokey Smith VC
- News 560309 CBS Radio Workshop Report on ESP
- News 560710 NBC All Star Game
- News 560823 Dwight D Eisenhower Acceptance Speech
- News 561017 ABC FCDA Tomorrow Orson Welles
- News 561115 WCCO Nighttime News Cedric Adams
- News 561210 CBC Matthew Halton Remembered By Colleagues
- News 56xxxx BBC UN Radio Charter Saucer Olivier Corwin
- News 56xxxx UN Radio A Friendly Warning Alistair Cooke
- Our Miss Brooks 560506 340 New Girl in Town
- Our Miss Brooks 560603 344 The Dinner Party
- PAF 560124 Mental Telepathy
- Susp 560529 652 Flame
- Susp 560619 655 Sleeping Draught
- Susp 561009 668 Digger
- Tomorrow 561017 Orson Welles
- X 1 560522 052 The Defenders
- X 1 560619 056 Project Trojan
- YTJD 561111 513 Big Scoop
- YTJD 561125 515 Royal Street
- YTJD 561216 517 Rasmusson
