NRR Project: 'America's Town Meeting of the Air' (May 8, 1941)

 

NRR Project: ‘America’s Town Meeting of the Air: Should Our Ships Convoy Materials to England?’

Recorded May 8, 1941

60 min.

I cannot find access to this particular broadcast; refer toCary O’Dell’s excellent essay on the program here.

America’s Town Meeting of the Air launched on May 30, 1935 and stayed on the air until July 1, 1956. The format was simple: two experts on opposite sides of a given issue were given time to state their views, debate each other, and take questions from the audience. Creator and moderator George V. Denny, Jr. was the executive director of the League for Political Education; he was dedicated to tackling controversial topics and to giving each side in a debate equal respect.

What was first perceived as a boring public-service program rapidly became popular, inspiring thousands of letters from listeners each week. The engagement was surprisingly strong. Members of the studio audience cheered and booed at the remarks of the participants. Beginning in 1936, listeners could join in via telephone to pose their questions.

Such was the impact of the show that listeners could write in for transcripts of the broadcasts, many of which were used as educational aids in U.S. schools.

“Hold fast to the liberty you are enjoying tonight,” intoned the show’s announcer, “for once again the system of American radio unites you in a great nationwide town meeting.” The idea of free and open debate is a cherished right in our country; America’s Town Meeting upheld that right vigorously for decades.

The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry in chronological order. Next time: Game 4 of the 1941 World Series.