THE COLUMBIA WORKSHOP Presents:
T W E N T Y S I X B Y C O R W I N
----------- ----- --- -----------
1941
First Show: 05-04-41 Last Show: 11-09-41
Number Shows: 26 Audition Show: none
Series Description:
Norman Corwin is one of those landmark individuals in the history of
old-time radio. The shows he brought to radio are among the finest
that radio produced. Two classic examples of these are "We Hold These
Truths", a commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Bill of
Rights, and "On a Note of Triumph", commemorating the Allied victory
in Europe.
CBS, for whom Mr. Corwin worked his magic, was quick to realize his
abilities, and offered him the opportunity to use talents for the
prestigious Columbia Workshop. This was to become "TWENTY-SIX BY
CORWIN", presented as part of the Workshop. Although the title
suggests 26 shows, there were actually 27 broadcasts, containing 2
repeats. This series-within-a-series is considered by many to be
one of the true gems of dramatic radio.
Four of these shows were selected for inclusion in a 1996 National
Public Radio broadcast entitled THIRTEEN BY CORWIN. They are "Radio
Primer", "The Odyssey of Runyon Jones", "Decent of the Gods" and
"Mary and the Fairy".
Mr. Corwin published some of the scripts for the series in "13 by
Corwin" (1942) and "More by Corwin" (1944). There may have been
additional books containing scripts from this series. Although both
are out of print, they are available in the used book market.
Mr. Corwin would go on to produce other series for CBS, notably
"Columbia Presents Corwin" and "An American In England".
Log Comments:
Most references used indicate the show of October 19 was a repeat of
number 13 but was not numbered as one of the 26 shows. A couple
numbered that as show number 23A. This seems odd, especially since
the show of October 26 is numbered #24 even though it is a repeat of
show #24. This log assumes no number for the show of October 19.
Comments about the show, listed below the title, came from Dick
Judge.
Chronological Log:
Date Day Num Title Avail
------------ --- --- --------------------------------------- -----
May 04, 1941 Sun 1 "Radio Primer" yes
ABC's of Radio
May 11, 1941 Sun 2 "Log Of The R-77" yes
May 18, 1941 Sun 3 "The People Yes" yes
Opera based on a Carl Sandburg
novel.
May 25, 1941 Sun 4 "Lip Service" yes
Authority on folk music obtains
release of prisoner with greatest
virtuosity of untutored natural
talent.
Jun 01, 1941 Sun 5 "Appointment" yes
Jun 08, 1941 Sun 6 "The Odyssey Of Runyon Jones" yes
Jun 15, 1941 Sun 7 "Soliloquy To Balance The Budget" yes
Jun 22, 1941 Sun 8 "Daybreak" yes
Jun 29, 1941 Sun 9 "Old Salt" yes
Jul 06, 1941 Sun 10 "Between Americans" yes
Informal program about our country
and where we're headed; what
America means to various people.
Jul 13, 1941 Sun 11 "Anne Was An Ordinary Girl" yes
Jul 20, 1941 Sun 12 "Double Concerto" yes
Jul 27, 1941 Sun ... no show ...
Aug 03, 1941 Sun 13 "Descent Of The Gods" yes
Spectacular fantasy of some
familiar gods in some unfamiliar
places.
Aug 10, 1941 Sun 14 "Old Testament Trilogy, Part 1: Samson" yes
Aug 17, 1941 Sun 15 "Old Testament Trilogy, Part 2: Esther" yes
Aug 24, 1941 Sun 16 "Old Testament Trilogy, Part 3: Job"
Aug 31, 1941 Sun 17 "Mary And The Fairy" yes
Sep 07, 1941 Sun 18 "The Anatomy Of Sound" yes
Sep 14, 1941 Sun 19 "Fragment From A Lost Cause" yes
Demosthenes.
Sep 21, 1941 Sun 20 "Human Angle" yes
Sep 28, 1941 Sun 21 "Good Heavens" yes
Oct 05, 1941 Sun 22 "Wolfiana"
Oct 12, 1941 Sun 23 "Murder In Studio One"
Oct 19, 1941 Sun -- "Descent Of The Gods" (repeat of #13) yes
Oct 26, 1941 Sun 24 "The Odyssey Of Runyan Jones" (repeat yes
of #6)
Nov 02, 1941 Sun 25 "Man With A Platform" yes
New slant on life
Nov 09, 1941 Sun 26 "Psalm For A Dark Year" yes
Ode of Thanksgiving
Alphabetical Listing:
Title Date Num
------------------------------------- -------- ---
Anatomy Of Sound, The 41-09-07 18
Anne Was An Ordinary Girl 41-07-13 11
Appointment 41-06-01 5
Between Americans 41-07-06 10
Daybreak 41-06-22 8
Descent Of The Gods 41-08-03 13
Descent Of The Gods 41-10-19 --
Double Concerto 41-07-20 12
Fragment From A Lost Cause 41-09-14 19
Good Heavens 41-09-28 21
Human Angle 41-09-21 20
Lip Service 41-05-25 4
Log Of The R-77 41-05-11 2
Man With A Platform 41-11-02 25
Mary And The Fairy 41-08-31 17
Murder In Studio One 41-10-12 23
Odyssey Of Runyan Jones, The 41-10-26 24
Odyssey Of Runyon Jones, The 41-06-08 6
Old Salt 41-06-29 9
Old Testament Trilogy, Part 1: Samson 41-08-10 14
Old Testament Trilogy, Part 2: Esther 41-08-17 15
Old Testament Trilogy, Part 3: Job 41-08-24 16
People Yes, The 41-05-18 3
Psalm For A Dark Year 41-11-09 26
Radio Primer 41-05-04 1
Soliloquy To Balance The Budget 41-06-15 7
Wolfiana 41-10-05 22
References:
* "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All
Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514
* "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
* Edward J. Carr, 216 Shaner St., Boyertown, PA 19512
* Radio Showcase, Steve Kelez, PO Box 4357, Santa Rosa, CA 95402
* Radio Historical Association of Colorado, PO Box 1908, Englewood,
CO 80150
* Memories Of Radio, Dick Judge, PO Box 67800, Rochester NY 14617
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: May 20, 2004
This log is informational only and does not imply that I have these
shows for trade or sale. The shows are still 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).