1944 FDR pre election celebrity radio broadcast hosted by Humphrey Bogart

[mucifer]

Last edited Sun Jan 15, 2012, 02:08 AM - Edit history (1)

I found a really fascinating radio program on archive.org .

It's got lots of interesting people in it including Groucho Marx, Judy Garland, Irving Berlin, Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Cagney, Dorothy Parker, Claudette Colbert, Edward G. Robinson, Charles Boyer, George Raft and Jane Wyman. Earl Robinson wrote the music.

They all are telling people why you should vote FDR tomorrow and why Dewey sucks.
It was played at the time on all the radio networks.

Anyway, here's a link to the program:

http://ia700407.us.archive.org/5/items/Singles_And_Doubles_Singles_O-S/44-11-06epxxxxSpecialElectionShow-RooseveltforPresident.mp3

It's amazing how many of the issues are our issues today.

Plus it's just fun to hear James Cagney, Groucho Marx and Danny Kaye singing a silly song making fun of republicans.

FDR does a nice speech at the end.

[teknomanzer]

1. Close your eyes and its a time machine. :)

The struggle continues... (sigh)

[ashling]

2. This is a great find

Thanks for posting this. I am listening right now. A Tennessee farmer talking about the TVA.

A secretary talking about honest government. Cagney singing with Keenan Wynn and Groucho Marx. In that Good old Hoover Time. ... the tear gas, bombs, and bullets for the vets .... The old Red Scare Ain't What it used to be ... Jane Wyman . . . Milton Berle, Frank Sinatra .... a veteran talking about Anacostia Flatts and the veterans bonus march .... Governor Dewey rigging the election laws of New York State ....

[Voltaire]

3. That broadcast was a tonic

Thank you very much for sharing it

[earcandle]

4. This is so interesting, and so familiar. Straight talk... all opinions... common sense.. and Judy!

[StArkhipov]

5. the end justifies the meanies

My father (Jim Longhi) was one of the "servicemen" invited to "testify" toward the end of the celebrity line-up. He was
obviously proud of his contribution and of being introduced by Bogey, but mostly he was in awe of the organization skills and political savvy and street-smarts of the Roosevelt team and their choice of producer.

According to Jim, the Roosevelt broadcast was to be followed by the Republican pre-election broadcast (for Dewey). The brilliant producer left 5 minutes of the allotted 60" for the organ music at the end that would induce sleep in a funeral director. Apparently it worked.... millions of radios turned off during those five minutes.

Thanks for the posting of this historical broadcast.

Jaime