P L A Y S F O R A M E R I C A N S
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1942
First Show: Feb 01, 1942 Last Show: Jul 05, 1942
Number Shows: 22 Audition Show: none
Series Description:
PLAYS FOR AMERICANS was Arch Oboler's "hate series" during World War
II. He said, "Anger is what people want, and they want hate, the
hate of a determined people who are to kill." The public responded
positively, befitting the times. Like Orson Welles, Arch Oboler had
the attitude that only my way is the right way but that didn't stop
the stars from flocking to act in his shows for the standard scale of
$21.00 per show. Mr. Oboler was the producer, director and writer for
the entire series.
All shows aired Sundays over the NBC network. The series initially
aired at 4:30 PM EST, switching to 5:30 PM on April 5, 1942. The
series was sustained.
In the same year, Mr. Oboler published "Plays for Americans: Thirteen
New Non-royalty Radio Plays". Mr. Oboler offered them royalty free
as his war effort. The book was published by Farrar & Rinehart (New
York) and included a forward by Major Harold W. Kent and a preface
by C. L. Menser.
Unfortunately, only three shows appear to have survived.
Log Comments:
A special thanks here goes to Ed Carr, who sent me a listing of
titles, dates and other information that provided a starting point
for the log.
Comments for "Adolf and Mrs. Runyon" in the GOLDINdex (see references
below) said, "Announced as the twentieth and final program in the
series by Arch Oboler (there were apparently two more programs in the
series, not twenty six)" agrees with Ed Carr's list for a run of 22
shows. Comments for "Johnny Quinn, U.S.N." in the GOLDINdex says this
is "The first program of 'Twenty Six By Oboler.'". Jerry Haendiges'
log lists 21 shows, not including #21 of this log. It's not clear if
there were actually 20, 21 or 22 shows. This log assumes 22 shows.
Titles of those shows that are known to exist are followed by an
asterisk.
Chronological Log:
Date Num Title In The Cast
------------ --- -------------------------- ---------------------
Feb 01, 1942 1 "Johnny Quinn, U.S.N." * Olivia deHaveland,
Alfred Ryder
Feb 08, 1942 2 "Paul Revereski" T. Cook
Feb 15, 1942 3 "Memo to Berchtgesgaden" Raymond Massey
Feb 22, 1942 4 "Ghost Story" Elliott Lewis
Mar 01, 1942 5 "The Chinese Way" Alla Nazimova
Mar 08, 1942 6 "The Way to Go Home" Thomas Mitchell
Mar 15, 1942 7 "A Letter at Midnight" * James Stewart,
Mercedes McCambridge,
Byron Kane,
Gloria Blondell,
Lou Merrill,
Byron Palmer
Mar 22, 1942 8 "Have You Seen Him?" Edna Best
Mar 29, 1942 9 "Hate" Conrad Veidt
Apr 05, 1942 10 "Miracle in 3-B" Rosemarie DeCamp
Apr 12, 1942 11 "Soliloquy With Death" Bette Davis
Apr 19, 1942 12 "Blood Story" Jean Hersholt,
Dick Powell
Apr 26, 1942 13 "S.S. Ugly Duck, Elliott Lewis,
The Welburns, Mercedes MacCambridge
A Confidential Report"
(3 stories)
May 03, 1942 14 "The Last In the World" Burgess Meredith
May 10, 1942 15 "Execution" Elisabeth Bergner
May 17, 1942 16 "Bomber to Tokyo" Robert Taylor,
Ralph Bellamy
May 24, 1942 17 "Chicago, Germany" Joan Blondell
May 31, 1942 18 "Gangster in the House" Mercedes MacCambridge
Jun 07, 1942 19 "Back Where You Came From" Claude Rains
Jun 14, 1942 pre-empted
Jun 21, 1942 20 "Adolf and Mrs. Runyon" * Bette Davis,
Hans Conreid
Jun 28, 1942 21 "Lt. Patience" Gloria Blondell,
(not in Jerry's log) Ilka Chase
Jul 05, 1942 22 "Johnny Quinn, U.S.N." Martha Scott
(repeat of Feb 1, 1942)
References:
* "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All
Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514
* GOLDINdex database, J. David Goldin, Box 542, Newtown, CT 06470
(http://www.radiogoldindex.com)
* OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites:
* Edward J. Carr, 216 Shaner Street, Boyertown, PA 19512
(http://www.old-time.com/carr.html)
* Jerry Haendiges Productions, Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr.,
Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com)
Other Logs or Books:
* PLAYS FOR AMERICANS log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808 Sunset
Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com)
Last Update: May 20, 2004
This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my
references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows may still
be protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from
authorized dealers.
The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis.
Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M.
Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).