25 Master Broadcasts Dated Across Here's to Veterans, This I Believe, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and The Life of Mary Sothern
This update resolves 25 historical master recordings across four American radio institutions: 7 Veterans Administration master concert transcriptions of Here's to Veterans (featuring Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Ray Anthony, and Merle Haggard)…
Forensic Discoveries
This update resolves 25 historical master recordings across four American radio institutions: 7 Veterans Administration master concert transcriptions of Here's to Veterans (featuring Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Ray Anthony, and Merle Haggard), 8 philosophical personal statements from Edward R. Murrow's landmark This I Believe (featuring Margaret Sanger, actor Dick Powell, Lincoln scholar Benjamin P. Thomas, and philosopher Dr. Hu Shih), 6 syndicated editions of Robert L. Ripley's Believe It or Not (Fall 1947), and 4 episodes of Mutual's daytime serial The Life of Mary Sothern (May 1937).
1. Here's to Veterans — 1948–1972 VA Master Discs
Recorded in cooperation with the American Federation of Musicians for US veterans:
| Title | Verified Airdate | Featured Artist / Ensemble |
|---|---|---|
| "Here's to Veterans: Stan Kenton and His Orchestra" | 1948-06-15 | Stan Kenton's progressive jazz orchestra performs classic big band charts. |
| "Here's to Veterans: Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd" | 1948-07-20 | Woody Herman leads his Second Herd in high-energy jazz standards. |
| "Here's to Veterans: Ray Anthony and His Orchestra" | 1952-09-02 | Trumpeter Ray Anthony brings crisp swing to nationwide listeners. |
| "Here's to Veterans: Merle Haggard Live in New Orleans" | 1972-11-14 | Country legend Merle Haggard performs Everybody's Had the Blues. |
| "Here's to Veterans: Jimmie Skinner ('That Old Diesel Iron Horse')" | 1960-04-12 | Bluegrass and country guitarist Jimmie Skinner's railroad anthem. |
| "Here's to Veterans: Carmen Dragon and the Hollywood Bowl Symphony" | 1955-08-09 | Carmen Dragon conducts lush orchestral arrangements for veterans. |
| "Here's to Veterans: Jan Garber and His Orchestra" | 1950-03-21 | 'The Idol of the Airlanes' Jan Garber plays sweet ballroom melodies. |
2. This I Believe — 1952–1954 Edward R. Murrow Master Philosophies
Personal philosophies hosted by Edward R. Murrow:
| Title | Verified Airdate | Speaker & Personal Creed |
|---|---|---|
| "This I Believe: Margaret Sanger" | 1953-03-09 | Crusading pioneer on social reform and human dignity. |
| "This I Believe: Dick Powell" | 1953-05-18 | Screen and radio star reflects on country roots and Hollywood integrity. |
| "This I Believe: Benjamin P. Thomas (Lincoln Scholar)" | 1953-08-10 | Lessons in humility and moral conviction drawn from Abraham Lincoln. |
| "This I Believe: Louis Seltzer (Editor, Cleveland Press)" | 1953-11-02 | The responsibilities of an independent free press in community life. |
| "This I Believe: Virginia Prewett (Latin American Correspondent)" | 1954-01-25 | Firsthand observations of democracy and resilience across the Americas. |
| "This I Believe: Elizabeth Deutsch (National Student Essay Winner)" | 1954-04-19 | First-prize youth essay on faith in youth and humanity. |
| "This I Believe: George V. Denny Jr. (Founder, America's Town Meeting)" | 1952-11-17 | The essential role of open civil debate in a democratic society. |
| "This I Believe: Dr. Hu Shih (Philosopher & Ambassador)" | 1953-02-16 | Chinese philosopher and diplomat on individual freedom and scholarship. |
3. Ripley's Believe It or Not — Fall 1947 Curiosities
| Title | Verified Airdate | Incredible Historical Fact |
|---|---|---|
| "Ripley's Believe It or Not: The O'Rourke Curse of County Sligo" | 1947-10-06 | The ancient Celtic taboo guarding the river crossing in Ireland. |
| "Ripley's Believe It or Not: The 1931 World War II Prophecy" | 1947-10-13 | English author predicted the exact September 3, 1939 outbreak date. |
| "Ripley's Believe It or Not: The 38-Letter German Word for Martini" | 1947-10-20 | Linguistic curiosities and culinary folklore. |
| "Ripley's Believe It or Not: Sultan Murad IV's 1300-Foot Spear Throw" | 1947-10-27 | Feats of strength in 17th-century Ottoman military history. |
| "Ripley's Believe It or Not: The 32-Mile Florida Man vs. Horse Race" | 1947-11-03 | Human endurance outpacing a thoroughbred over marathon distance. |
| "Ripley's Believe It or Not: The Week-Long French Oven Donuts" | 1947-11-10 | Regional baking traditions of southern France. |
4. The Life of Mary Sothern — May 1937 Daytime Drama
| Title | Verified Airdate | Serial Plot Development |
|---|---|---|
| "The Life of Mary Sothern: Dr. John Benchley Backs Mary's Company Stock" | 1937-05-17 | Financial struggle to maintain control of the bottling plant. |
| "The Life of Mary Sothern: Maxi's Engine Powers the Bottling Works" | 1937-05-18 | Creative engineering keeps the local plant operating. |
| "The Life of Mary Sothern: Mary Confronts Jerome at the Mill" | 1937-05-19 | Dramatic confrontation over family business decisions. |
| "The Life of Mary Sothern: The Investigation at the County Bank" | 1937-05-20 | Discovery of discrepancies in the municipal accounts. |