30 minute drama/history show
Cavalcade of America was one of the longest running high quality drama shows on radio. It first aired in 1935, was broadcast on radio until 1953, then the show switched to television and lasted until 1957.
The show dramatized significant people or events in American history and literature. It also featured a full orchestra punctuating the action, occasionally playing an extended piece of music, and some shows were dedicated to American music in which the orchestra really got a chance to shine.
Cavalcade was a high quality show using star power like Raymond Massey, Charles Laughton, Lionel Barrymore, Dick Powell, Clark Gable made his first radio appearance on Cavalcade, and Orson Welles gained valuable experience on the show before creating the Mercury Theater. In addition to the hottest stars of the day, and talented up and comers, the show had a good group of staff writers, but also worked with popular authors of the day. Carl Sandburg, Stephen Vincent Benet, and Robert Sherwood all worked for Cavalcade. Sandburg was the narrator for the show adapting his book Native Land. The show paid top rate, and the best radio directors demanded perfection from the actors. In addition to top stars, directors, and production crew, the show also hired “historical advisors” led by Dr. Frank Monaghan of Yale to verify the stories as historically accurate. Having hyped the accuracy of the show, the audience raised themselves to the task of finding errors. Lucky for the producers, the internet hadn't been invented yet. But overall the show did a good job of presenting an accurate picture of history. (And at least they tried, at opposed to...oh, say, Xena Warrior Princess.)
At first the show featured people and events from America's past (John Winthrop and Yankee Independence) but around 1939 the show changed a bit and allowed for more recent events and people, or modern stories that reflected American ideals (Babe Ruth and stories of war time valor).
The origin of the show is a little less than the ideals it tried to promote. Cavalcade of America was sponsored by the Dupont Company. Dupont was having, what in the biz is called a “public relations situation”. The company was being investigated for war profiteering after World War I. In response, the company created a quality show, highlighting positive American ideals. To help its Dupont's reputation, the show did not enact any violence on the show. And it only had a commercial intro at the beginning of the show, and a longer commercial at the end. The slogan: "Maker of better things for better living through chemistry" first appeared on this show.
Text from Wikipedia
Purchase as a download, purchase as CD(s), or listen for free
All of our Old Time Radio Programs are in MP3 format. You can play them on your computer, you can transfer them to MP3 players (like the IPod), but, by and large, you cannot play them on stereos, walkmen, or car radios.
The sound quality of Old Time Radio Programs can vary greatly. Some episodes are excellent, others you have to turn up the volume a little and ignore the static. All of the episodes can be listened to and enjoyed. You can listen to our free samples to get a feel for how the programs sound.
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Episode List Set 1
Cavalcade-of-America_351016 (002) The Conquered .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351023 (003) The Spirit of .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351030 (004) The Will to Re.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351106 (005) Faith in Educa.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351113 (006) Woman's Emanci.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351120 (007) Willingness to.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351127 (008) Community Self.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351204 (009) Heroism in Med.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351211 (010) The Will to Ex.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351218 (011) Defiance of Na.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_351225 (012) The Humanitari.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360101 (013) The Declaratio.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360108 (014) Woman in Publi.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360115 (015) Building and A.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360122 (016) Speed of Words.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360129 (017) Enterprise.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360205 (018) Loyalty to Fam.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360212 (019) Abraham Lincol.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360219 (020) The Bridge of .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360226 (021) Heroes of the .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360304 (022) Songs That Ins.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360311 (023) Preservation.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360318 (024) They Also Serv.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360325 (025) Conservation.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360401 (026) Fame in Litera.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360408 (027) Opportunity.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360415 (028) Railroad Build.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360422 (029) Safty First.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360429 (030) Self Reliance.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360506 (031) The Artistic I.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360513 (032) Tillers of the.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360520 (033) Hardness.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360527 (034) Resourcefulnes.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360603 (035) Songs of Rome.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360617 (036) Heroes of Texa.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360624 (037) Steamboat Buil.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360701 (038) American Journ.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360708 (039) Victor Herbert.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360715 (040) Band Music in .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360722 (041) Band Music in .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360729 (042) Band Music in .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360805 (043) Band Music in .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360826 (046) Dance Music in.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360902 (047) American Music.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360916 (049) The Orchestra .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360923 (050) Music of the M.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_360930 (051) Showmanship.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361007 (052) Helping Hand.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361014 (053) Sentinels of t.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361021 (054) John Winthrop.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361028 (055) Edward MacDowe.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361111 (056) Transcontinent.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361125 (058) Songs of Senti.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361202 (059) The Seeing Eye.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361209 (060) The Story of C.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361223 (062) A Tribute to E.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_361230 (063) Yankee Indepen.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370106 (064) Winning Presti.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370113 (065) Father of Plas.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370120 (066) Songs of the S.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370127 (067) Pioneer Woman .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370203 (068) Minute Men of .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370210 (069) The Man Who Co.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370217 (070) Ounce of Preve.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370224 (071) Winning Recogn.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370303 (072) National Parks.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370310 (073) Stephen Girard.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370317 (074) James Fenimore.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370324 (075) The House of G.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370331 (076) The McGuffy Re.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370407 (077) Admiral Perry .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370414 (078) Songs of the G.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370421 (079) The Golden Tou.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370428 (080) George Washing.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370512 (082) The Story of D.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370519 (083) Thomas A Ediso.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370526 (084) Songs of the A.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370602 (085) Stories of Ame.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370609 (086) The Eighth Won.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370616 (087) Stars of Desti.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370623 (088) The Pine Tree .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370630 (089) Luther Burbank.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370707 (090) Music of Irvin.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370714 (091) Music of Georg.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370721 (092) Richard Rogers.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370728 (093) Vincent Louman.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370804 (094) Rudolph Friml.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370811 (095) Jerome Kern.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370825 (097) Arthur Schwart.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370901 (098) Victor Herbert.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370908 (099) Nacio Herb Bro.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370915 (100) Cole Porter.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370922 (101) Donald Voorhee.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_370929 (102) Edwin Booth.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_371006 (103) Mary Lyon, Pio.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_371013 (104) William Penn a.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_371020 (105) John Jacob Ast.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_371027 (106) Clara Louise K.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_371103 (107) Elmer Ambrose .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_371110 (108) John Bartram's.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380209 (121) Oliver Wendell.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380216 (122) The Louisiana .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380223 (123) Noah Webster.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380302 (124) Anne Sullivan .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380309 (125) The Last of th.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380316 (126) Captain Robert.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380323 (127) John James Aud.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380330 (128) Charlotte Cush.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380406 (129) The Search for.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380413 (130) Thomas Jeffers.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380420 (131) The 4H Club Mo.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380427 (132) Maria Mitchli.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380504 (133) Songs of the M.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380511 (134) Fra Junipero S.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380518 (135) Benjamin Frank.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380525 (136) Child Welfare .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380601 (137) Samuel Slater.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_380608 (138) King Coal.mp3
Episode List Set 02
Cavalcade-of-America_401211 (204) John Brown.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_401218 (205) The Undefended.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_401225 (206) The Green Past.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410312 (217) Black Rust.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410319 (218) I Sing A New W.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410326 (219) Down to the Se.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410428 (224) Heart and the .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410616 (231) Annie Oakley.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410623 (232) Joel Chandler .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410901 (242) Leif Erikson.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410908 (243) Geronimo.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410922 (245) Native Land Pt.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_410929 (246) Native Land Pt.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_411117 (253) They Died with.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_411208 (256) Men in White.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_411215 (257) The Great Man .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_420112 (261) The Gentleman .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_420119 (262) An American is.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_420223 (267) Arrowsmith.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_420622 (284) The Battle of .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_420803 (290) This is Our Ex.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_420831 (294) The Prophet wi.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_420914 (296) Honorable Jose.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_420921 (297) Eagle to Brita.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_421005 (299) I Was Married .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_421026 (302) In the Best Tr.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_421109 (304) Torpedo Lane.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_421123 (306) Feast From the.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_421214 (309) The Man who Wo.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_421221 (310) A Child Is Bor.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_421228 (311) The Eagle's Ne.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430104 (312) Between Them B.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430118 (314) Soldier of the.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430315 (322) A Case For The.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430322 (323) Lifetide.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430329 (324) The Cook on a .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430405 (325) Submarine Aste.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430405 (326) The Lengthenin.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430419 (327) Listen to the .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430426 (328) Soldiers in Hi.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430510 (330) Fat Girl.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430517 (331) Nurses Under S.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430524 (332) Pharmacist's M.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430531 (333) Mr Lincoln's W.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430621 (336) Unsinkable Mar.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430628 (337) Sky Nursemaid.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430705 (338) Listen to the .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430802 (342) Nine Men Again.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430809 (343) Shortcut to To.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430816 (344) The Major and .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430906 (347) Double Play.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430913 (348) Iron Camels.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_430920 (349) The Vengeance .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_431004 (351) Continue Uploa.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_431011 (352) Bob Hope Repor.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_431101 (355) Burma Surgeon.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_431101 (XXX) Diary on a Pig.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_431115 (357) Twelve Desprat.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_431206 (360) Navy Doctor.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_431227 (363) UBoat Prisoner.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_440110 (365) Here is Your W.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_440124 (367) The Doctor Sho.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_440327 (376) So Sorry, no M.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_440403 377 Ambulance Driver.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_440417 379 A Mask for Jeffe.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_440717 392 Boomerang.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450108 417 Name, Rank, Seri.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450205 421 Road to Berlin.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450226 424 Flight Nurse.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450326 428 Grandpa and the .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450430 (433) The Phillipine.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450514 435 Weather is a Wea.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450521 436 How to Build Par.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450611 439 The Law West of .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450827 442 Assignment for t.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450910 444 Sawdust Undergro.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_450917 445 Nellie Was a Lad.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_451008 448 Spy on the Kiloc.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_451029 451 My Son John.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_451112 453 A Sailor who Had.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_451210 457 Big Boy Blue.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_451224 459 Names on the Lan.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_460114 462 Venture in a Sil.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_460121 463 The Camels are C.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_460311 470 The Doctor with .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_460318 471 Alaskan Bush Pil.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_460513 479 Storm.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_460520 (480) The Petticoat .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_460603 482 I Guess It's Her.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_460923 490 The Old Fall Riv.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_461230 504 The Rain Fakers.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_470203 (509) The Magnificen.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_470210 (510) Voice Of The W.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_470317 (515) The Man Wit001.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_470317 (515) The Man With G.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_470505 522 School for Men.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_470512 523 Page One.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_471124 (543) Us Pilgrims.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_480119 551 SheriffTeddy.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_480209 (554) Mr Lincoln Goe.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_490613 (616) Footlights on .mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_500321 (648) I, Mary Peabod.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_500613 (660) The Redemption.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_501205 (677) The Grand Desi.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_501212 (678) Ulysses In Lov.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_510206 (686) Greeley of the.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_520930 756 Gig of the Sagin.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_521007 757 One Way Out.mp3
Cavalcade-of-America_530224 (776) Life on the Mi.mp3
