Episodes
Thursday Dec 10, 2009
Your Home Front Reporter - Pgm 113 - October 13, 1943
Thursday Dec 10, 2009
Thursday Dec 10, 2009
In this post we come to the end of my collection of episodes of "Your Home Front Reporter", a program of music and War news broadcast on CBS and sponsored by the Owens Illinois Glass Company. I think I may have the only surviving discs of the series; these came from a group I won at auction and were still in the original mailers used to send them to the Owens company.
Program 113 in the series was originally broadcast October 13, 1943. David Broekman and His Orchestra opens the show with "The Dancing Doll". Tenor Phil Regan sings "I've Had That Feeling Before". Our reporter Don Pryor fills us in on the latest War news. Italy has declared war against her former ally, Germany, and Allied troops make more progress in Italy and Germany. The government is turning control of mines back to their owners after a long labor dispute. A new fishing kit is available from the Red Cross that's small enough to fit in a soldier's pocket. Fish producers are working with the government to increase meat supplies with unusual types of fish that used to be thrown away. The domestic gasoline shortage is expected to get worse over the next year, with new ration books being distributed soon. The show was transferred from vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB37319 and BB37320, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the Owens Illinois Glass Company.
Friday Dec 04, 2009
Your Home Front Reporter - October 8, 1943
Friday Dec 04, 2009
Friday Dec 04, 2009
Here's our next to last entry in my collection of discs from the unusual and previously unheard Wartime series, "Your Home Front Reporter", a mix of news and music sponsored by the Owens Illinois Glass Company.
From October 8, 1943, here's program 110 in the series. Tenor Phil Regan opens the show with the song "Just a Little Bit of Heaven". Mrs. Jimmy Doolittle stops by to discuss how families can help keep down prices and prevent inflation. Don Pryor gives an update on the War news. Starting tonight, the West Coast can start turning on most lights again as dim-out restrictions are relaxed; there may be a government release of eggs, milk and butter to ease shortages; it looks like salmon have been adjusting to the dams on the Columbia River and the Spring Salmon Run was above average; an update on how the WACS are helping the War effort. Eileen Farrell, making a radio appearance early in her career, sings "The Night Was Made for Love". The show ends with an announcement calling for volunteers for the School Lunch Program. The program was transferred from vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB37255 and BB37256, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the Owens Illinois Glass Company.
Thursday Nov 26, 2009
Your Home Front Reporter - October 5, 1943
Thursday Nov 26, 2009
Thursday Nov 26, 2009
Now back to "Your Home Front Reporter", a mix of War news and music sponsored by the Owens Illinois Glass Company. This week we hear program 107 in the series originally broadcast on CBS on October 5, 1943.
Met Opera star Eleanor Steber opens the show with "Songs My Mother Taught Me". Commentator Don Pryor brings us the latest War news. The Allies are approaching Rome and making progress in Italy. The Japanese retreating from the Solomon Islands. Pryor also tells us about a helpful film called "What to Do in a Gas Attack" that the Clorox company is making available for community groups, reminding us that our friendly, helpful household products, like baking soda and bleach, are standing by in case a gas attack happens. (You can view the film at the Internet Archives Prelinger Collection.) From Chicago, representatives from the National Safety Council and the Owens Illinois Glass Company are heard as an award is given to the company for their safety record. Others on the program include vocalists Walter Cassel and Phil Regan, David Broekman and His Orchestra, and announcer Hugh Conover. The show was transferred from vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB37208 and BB37209, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the Owens Illinois Glass Company. I have two more shows in this intriguing Wartime series coming up in the blog. Updated 11/27 - spelling corrections
Wednesday Nov 18, 2009
Your Home Front Reporter - October 4, 1943
Wednesday Nov 18, 2009
Wednesday Nov 18, 2009
This month I'm on something of a World War II kick - in this post, we're revisiting a series I started running last year and I'll be running the last four episodes in my collection over the next few weeks.
"Your Home Front Reporter" was broadcast in the afternoons on CBS starting in May 1943 and sponsored by the Owens Illinois Glass Company. The program is a mix of light operetta music by Frank Parker and Met opera star Eleanor Steber and commentary and news on the War aimed at housewives. Program 106 in the series was originally broadcast October 4, 1943, and includes news of advances by the Allies in Europe and the Pacific. There's also commentary about how the Fall harvest celebrations and Thanksgiving are a little different during Wartime. The program was transferred from vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB37198 and BB37199, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the Owens Illinois Glass Company.Friday Oct 10, 2008
Your Home Front Reporter - Pgm 103 - September 29, 1943
Friday Oct 10, 2008
Friday Oct 10, 2008
We continue our look at "Your Home Front Reporter", a series that has been unheard since it originally aired during World War II. Sponsored by the Owens-Illinois Glass Company, the show was broadcast Monday through Friday afternoons and CBS and featured commentary and music aimed at housewives.
In the September 29, 1943 edition of the show, program 103 in the series, Don Regan looks at stories in the news about love during wartime, including a woman in Idaho arranging a marriage by proxy with her beau in England, and other lighter news items. He also does a commentary on travel during wartime and how useful a good suitcase can be. Eleanor Steber sings Gershwin's "Summertime" and "Alice Blue Gown"; Walter Castle performs "Through the Years". Phil Regan sings "Take Me in Your Arms". Steber and Castle sing "Make Believe" from "Showboat". The music is by the David Brookman Orchestra and Hugh Conover is the announcer. The MP3 was transferred from a vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB37145 and BB37146, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the Owens Illinois Glass Company.Saturday Sep 27, 2008
Your Home Front Reporter - Pgm 96 - Sept 20, 1943
Saturday Sep 27, 2008
Saturday Sep 27, 2008
Another episode of “Your Home Front Reporter”, a series of discs I recently obtained of a program not heard since World War II. A mix of music and hints and information about the War aimed primarily at women, the series was originally broadcast weekdays on CBS and sponsored by the Owens Illinois Glass Company. In program 96 of the series, originally broadcast September 20, 1943, Fletcher Wiley's commentary is on why service flags are a symbol of democracy. Wiley also talks about making the most of clothes during wartime. Phil Hanna and Diana Gayle sing "Tip Toe Through the Tulips" and "The West, A Nest, and You"; Phil Regan sings "Boy of Mine". Wilbur Hatch conducts the orchestra.
Transferred from an original vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB37016 and BB37017, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the Owens Illinois Glass Company.Thursday Sep 18, 2008
Your Home Front Reporter - Pgm 26 - June 14, 1943
Thursday Sep 18, 2008
Thursday Sep 18, 2008
Another entry in the series, "Your Home Front Reporter", originally broadcast weekdays on CBS and sponsored by the Owens Illinois Glass Company, featuring commentator Fletcher Wiley. This is a series of discs I recently obtained of a series not heard since World War II. In program 26 of the series, broadcast June 14, 1943, Fletcher Wiley talks about a new "welding" sewing machine you can buy after the War if you buy and save up your War Bonds and offers a commentary on keeping a positive attitude and "getting along" with what's available in wartime. Frank Parker sings "Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes"; Parker and Eleanor Stebel perform "If You Were the Only Girl in the World" and Stebel sings Gershwin's "Summertime". The show features the David Brookman Orchestra and announcer Hugh Conover.
The program was transferred from a vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB35796 and BB35797, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the Owens Illinois Glass Company.Friday Sep 12, 2008
Your Home Front Reporter - Pgm 24 - June 10, 1943
Friday Sep 12, 2008
Friday Sep 12, 2008
"Your Home Front Reporter" returns this week with the 24th program in the series, broadcast June 10, 1943 on the CBS network. Fletcher Wiley reminds everyone to apply for their new ration books and gives a talk about gossip. Frank Parker performs "Mother of Mine"; Eleanor Steber sings "Bartlett's Dream"; Steber and Parker sing the duet "'Neath the Harvest Moon". The show features the David Brookman Orchestra and announcer Hugh Conover.
Transferred from vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB35745 and BB35746, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the Owens Illinois Glass Company, the sponsor of the program.Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Your Home Front Reporter - May 12, 1943, Pgm 3
Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Another episode of the previously uncirculated series "Your Home Front Reporter", broadcast afternoons on CBS and sponsored by the Owens Illinois Glass Company.
In the episode of May 12, 1943, the third program in the series, Fletcher Wiley comments on taking care of your car for the war effort, women going on blind dates, and other topics. Frank Parker sings "One Alone"; Eleanor Steber performs "In the Glow". The David Brookman Orchestra plays the "Missouri Waltz". Transferred from vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB35351 and BB35352, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the sponsor.Wednesday Aug 27, 2008
Your Home Front Reporter - Pgm 2 - May 11, 1943
Wednesday Aug 27, 2008
Wednesday Aug 27, 2008
Note: This program contains some World War II-era racial stereotyping slang that may be offensive to some listeners. Continuing our look at "Your Home Front Reporter", a previously undocumented Wartime series, we hear program 2, broadcast May 11, 1943 on the CBS network. Commentator Fletcher Wiley discusses why we shouldn't get too excited about good news from the battle fronts since the end of the war may be some time away. He also mentions that new shipments of alarm clocks are coming on the market. Eleanor Steber sings "Just a Song at Twilight"; Frank Parker performs "The Night is Young, And You're So Wonderful"; Steber and Parker sing the duet "Why Do I Love You?". The show features announcer Hugh Conover and the David Brookman Orchestra.
The mp3 was transferred direct from a vinyl transcription, matrix numbers BB35330 and BB35331, pressed by World Broadcasting System, Inc. for the Owens Illinois Glass Company, the sponsor of the program.