Episodes
Friday Feb 19, 2010
American Family Robinson - Pgm 62
Friday Feb 19, 2010
Friday Feb 19, 2010
We continue with our weekly look at "American Family Robinson", a serial syndicated by the National Association of Manufacturers as a propaganda effort against FDR's New Deal policies in the mid-1930s.
In program 62, Betty and Dick are leaving to meet Mr. Markham to see if he'll give their father a loan to save the paper when Windy Bill shows up and tags along with them. Will Mr. Markham help save the newspaper? The show was transferred from an original acetate World Broadcasting Inc transcription, matrix number 9356-3. We've got seven shows left in my collection from this series we'll be hearing in the next few weeks; then we'll start a run of an updated "Family Robinson" serial that NAM produced just before our entry into World War II that critiques policies towards business as the country prepared for the conflict.
Sunday Feb 14, 2010
American Family Robinson - Pgm 61
Sunday Feb 14, 2010
Sunday Feb 14, 2010
Let's get back to Centerville and catch up on "The American Family Robinson", syndicated in the early 1930s as a propaganda effort against FDR's New Deal policies by the National Association of Manufacturers.
Program 61 finds Mr. Robinson returning home from the office, thinking about the last column he'll write for the paper while the family tries to have a meeting about their plan to save the paper without Luke finding out about it. The show was transferred from an original World Broadcasting System, Inc acetate transcription, matrix number 9356-3.
Friday Feb 05, 2010
American Family Robinson - Pgm 60
Friday Feb 05, 2010
Friday Feb 05, 2010
We return once again to Centerville and "American Family Robinson", syndicated in the mid-1930s by the National Industrial Council (actually the National Association of Manufacturers) to promote conservative government economic polices.
For those of you that are new to the show, it's a particularly interesting little piece of history - the series was heard on over 300 stations and was the subject of a Congressional inquiry since stations weren't revealing what entity actually paid for the program. When NAM first scripted the show, they tried to buy time to get it on both CBS and NBC and the networks turned them down, deeming the material too political and propagandistic. Program 60 finds the Robinson clan fighting to save the family newspaper. Bob Robinson, practicing his sales pitch as he goes out to sell subscriptions, intends to prove to Betty that "scientific methods" can be used for selling. The show comes to us from an original World Broadcasting Inc. acetate transcription, matrix number 9355-3
Sunday Jan 31, 2010
American Family Robinson - Pgm 59
Sunday Jan 31, 2010
Sunday Jan 31, 2010
We continue our weekly look at "American Family Robinson", a quarter-hour dramatic serial syndicated in the mid-1930s by the National Industrial Council (aka the National Association of Manufacturers) as a propaganda piece against FDR's liberal, anti-business New Deal policies.
As our story continues in program 59, the Robinson kids gather with Mrs. Robinson to strategize a big subscription and advertising drive to bring in enough money to save the newspaper. The show was transferred from a acetate World Broadcasting Inc transcription, matrix number 9248-2.Friday Jan 22, 2010
American Family Robinson - Pgm 58
Friday Jan 22, 2010
Friday Jan 22, 2010
The National Association of Manufacturers, operating under the moniker of the "National Industrial Council", continue their battle against liberal economic policies in this week's episode of the rare continuing serial "American Family Robinson", syndicated by the organization in the mid-1930s.
As we drop in on Centerville, program 58 finds the Robinson family talking over ideas on how to save the newspaper. Mrs. Robinson and her daughter mention getting a loan from the bank for the paper, which they easily turn into a long-winded discussion about consumer lending and the national debt. The show was transferred from an original acetate World Broadcasters Inc transcription, matrix number 9248-2.Thursday Jan 14, 2010
American Family Robinson - Pgm 57
Thursday Jan 14, 2010
Thursday Jan 14, 2010
Things are turning serious in Centerville as we drop in this week on Luke Robinson and his family in the mid-1930s serial, "American Family Robinson", syndicated by the National Industrial Council (aka the National Association of Manufacturers). The show was conceived as a propaganda effort to combat Roosevelt's liberal New Deal policies and was sponsored by local business on about 300 stations.
In program 57, the stockholders have said that if the newspaper doesn't cover a $6,000 deficit, it will have to close by the end of the week. Editor Luke gathers everyone in the newsroom to give them the bad news, but his son and son-in-law seem ready to rise to the occasion to help save the paper. Our show was transferred from an original World Broadcasters acetate transcription, matrix number SS 9155-1.
Sunday Jan 10, 2010
American Family Robinson - Pgm 56
Sunday Jan 10, 2010
Sunday Jan 10, 2010
"American Family Robinson", a serial syndicated by the National Industrial Council in the mid-1930s to combat Roosevelt's New Deal policies, is back this week.
In program 56, there's serious trouble ahead for Luke Robinson's newspaper. His son, Bob, waits outside a meeting of the stockholders where the future of the paper hangs in the balance. The show was transferred from an original World Broadcasters Inc. acetate transcription, matrix number SS 9154-1
Friday Jan 01, 2010
American Family Robinson - Pgm 54
Friday Jan 01, 2010
Friday Jan 01, 2010
Now our weekly installment of "American Family Robinson", a serial drama syndicated in the mid 1930s by the National Industrial Council (aka the National Association of Manufacturers) as a propaganda effort to promote conservative policies towards American business.
Program 54 marks the beginning of a new, more serious storyline in the show. Mr. Robinson drops in on Miss Timmons and she tries to get him to print a statement in the paper distancing herself from Bill and Gus, who made a pest of themselves at the opening of her shop. Robinson uses his powers of persuasion to convince Miss Timmons to marry Windy Bill. In other news, there serious trouble with the finances of the newspaper. The show was transferred from an original acetate World Broadcasters Inc acetate transcription, matrix number 9089-4V. The next show in the series, program 55, was posted a few months ago in the blog. Program 56 goes up next week.
Thursday Dec 24, 2009
American Family Robinson - Pgm 53
Thursday Dec 24, 2009
Thursday Dec 24, 2009
And now, this week's episode of "American Family Robinson", a serial heard on over 300 stations in the mid-1930s. The program was created and paid for by the National Association of Manufacturer's operating under the moniker of the "National Industrial Council" in a bid to combat FDR's New Deal economic policies.
Program 53 finds Mr. Robinson dropping in on the grand opening of Miss Timmons's shop. The show was transferred from an original acetate World Broadcasters Inc acetate transcription, matrix number SS 9015-44. updated 1/1/10 - corrected program number in text of postSunday Dec 20, 2009
American Family Robinson - Pgm 52
Sunday Dec 20, 2009
Sunday Dec 20, 2009
We continue our run through several episodes of the rare mid-1930s serial, "American Family Robinson", syndicated to over 300 stations by the National Association of Manufacturer's under the pseudonym "The National Industrial Council". As I mentioned in previous posts, the show was a propaganda effort to combat Roosevelt's anti-business New Deal policies and, at one point, resulted in Congressional inquiries because of the efforts of the NAM to obscure the origins of the show when it ran on local stations.
In program 52, Luke has to deal with the fall-out from Windy Bill's altercation with the factory employees we heard last week. A highlight is an exchange about workers versus business owners that seems to make Windy Bill come off as a little Communist, ready to collectivize Centerville. The focus of the show then shifts to Windy Bill's romance with Miss Timmons as she opens up her own little store in town. The show was transferred from an original acetate World Broadcasters Inc acetate transcription, matrix number SS 8955-1.