C O L U M B I A P R E S E N T S C O R W I N --------------- --------------- ----------- 1944 and 1945 First Show: Mar 07, 1944 Last Show: Aug 21, 1945 Number Shows: 30 Audition Show: none Series Description: Norman Corwin, considered by many to be the Bard of the Golden Age of Radio, was recognized as for his great talents early on by CBS. In 1941, CBS devoted an entire block of the prestigious COLUMBIA WORKSHOP series for his works, known by the title TWENTY SIX BY CORWIN. COLUMBIA PRESENTS CORWIN was another occasion when CBS offered the listening audience a chance to hear Mr. Corwin's work. Although it is seen by some as part or revival of the COLUMBIA WORKSHOP series, the last show from the Worhshop was in 1942. The 1944 COLUMBIA PRESENTS CORWIN series ran for 22 shows. The following year, CBS again aired COLUMBIA PRESENTS CORWIN, this time as an 8-show summer series. The first series consisted of original works with some scripts borrowed from TWENTY SIX BY CORWIN. For the second series, 5 original scripts were used and 3 scripts were borrowed from previous airings. One of the classic originals from Series 2 is "The Undecided Molecule", a story, completely done in rhyme, of a molecule which refuses to obey the laws of chemistry and physics. The all-star cast includes Groucho Marx, Robert Benchley, Vincent Price, Sylvia Sidney, Norman Lloyd, and Keenan Wynn. Six of the shows from both series were selected for inclusion in a 1996 National Public Radio broadcast entitled THIRTEEN BY CORWIN, including the above mentioned "The Undecided Molecule". Norman Corwin's works are the best of what was the Golden Age of Radio, and these two series are some of the best examples of why. Log Comments: According to Jay Hickerson's Guide (see "References" below), all shows except "A Walk With Nick" from Series 2 are available. You will have trouble finding them all in one place, but you'll find it's worth the search. Below the titles, I've included notes on previous series and if the show was included in the 1996 13 BY CORWIN series. It's available commercially from LodesTone (http://www.lodestone-media.com). I've also included some notes for some shows below the title from Dick Judge. Chronological Log: COLUMBIA PRESENTS CORWIN, Series 1, 1944 Date Day Num Title ------------ --- --- --------------------------------------------- Mar 07, 1944 Tue 1 "Movie Primer" Mar 14, 1944 Tue 2 "The Long Name None Could Spell" Used in 13 BY CORWIN Mar 21, 1944 Tue 3 "Lonesome Train" Mar 28, 1944 Tue 4 "Savage Encounter" Apr 04, 1944 Tue 5 "The Odyssey Of Runyan Jones" From 26 BY CORWIN, #6, 06-08-41. Used in 13 BY CORWIN. Apr 11, 1944 Tue 6 "You Can Dream, Inc" Apr 18, 1944 Tue 7 "untitled" Used in 13 BY CORWIN. Apr 25, 1944 Tue 8 "Dory About A Medal" May 02, 1944 Tue 9 "The Cliche Expert" May 09, 1944 Tue 10 "Cromer" From AN AMERICAN IN ENGLAND, #7, Dec 1, 1942. Story of a small town in a big war. May 16, 1944 Tue 11 "New York - A Tapestry For Radio" Used in 13 BY CORWIN. May 23, 1944 Tue 12 "Tel Aviv" May 30, 1944 Tue 13 untitled Jun 06, 1944 Tue 14 "American Trilogy 1 - Carl Sandberg" 1st in a trilogy based on works of great American writers. Jun 13, 1944 Tue 15 "American Trilogy 2 - Wolfiana" 2nd in great American writers trilogy. Jun 20, 1944 Tue 16 "American Trilogy 3 - Walt Whitman" 3rd in great American writers trilogy. Jun 27, 1944 Tue ... no show .... Jul 04, 1944 Tue 17 "Home For The Fourth" Jul 11, 1944 Tue ... no show .... Jul 18, 1944 Tue 18 "The Moat Farm Murder" Jul 25, 1944 Tue 19 "El Capitan And The Corporal" Used in 13 BY CORWIN. Aug 01, 1944 Tue 20 "A Pitch To Reluctant Buyers" Aug 08, 1944 Tue 21 "A Very Fine Type Girl" Aug 15, 1944 Tue 22 "There Will Be Time Later" COLUMBIA PRESENTS CORWIN, Series 2, 1945 Date Day Num Title ------------ --- --- --------------------------------------------- Jul 03, 1945 Tue 1 "Unity Fair" Jul 10, 1945 Tue 2 "Daybreak" From 26 BY CORWIN, #2, 06-22-41. Jul 17, 1945 Tue 3 "The Undecided Molecule" Used in 13 BY CORWIN. Jul 24, 1945 Tue 4 "New York, A Tapestry For Radio" From Series 1, #11, 05-16-44. Jul 31, 1945 Tue 5 "A Walk With Nick" (possibly lost) Aug 07, 1945 Tue 6 "Savage Encounter" From Series 1, #4, 03-28-44. Aug 14, 1945 Tue 7 "Fourteen August" Japanese surrender, featured Orson Welles Aug 21, 1945 Tue 8 "L'affair Gumpert" References: * "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, 27436 Desert Rose Ct., Leesburg, FL 34748 * "On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio" by John Dunning, ISBNB 0-19-507678-8, Oxford University Press, 1998. * OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites: * Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 * LodesTone, 611 Empire Mill Road, Bloomington, IN 47401 * Memories Of Radio, Dick Judge, PO Box 67800, Rochester NY 14617 * Radio Historical Association of Colorado, PO Box 1908, Englewood, CO 80150 * Radio Showcase, Steve Kelez, PO Box 4357, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 Other Logs or Books: * COLUMBIA WORKSHOP log, Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 (available from the Internet at The Vintage Radio Place, http://www.otrsite.com) Last Update: Jul 25, 2007 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).