Ports of Call, 1930s

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From the series: Radio Programs, 1930s-1980s

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Physical description:

Six 16-inch Flexite phonodiscs

Scope and content:

Randy Riddle note: Ports of Call was a syndicated half-hour program released around 1934-1935. Each program looks at a specific country using dramatized sequences to give us a kind of travelogue and history of the country. The style is similar to the popular "March of Time" radio series that dramatized current events. The series was produced by Philip J. Meany Advertising in Los Angeles and mastered at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. The long musical interlude at the beginning would have been used by a station's announcer for a commercial for the local sponsor. The series is interesting today as examples of early radio drama and experimentation with an unusual program concept, in addition to the outdated views and stereotypes of "exotic" lands. The program was probably difficult to produce, with each having complicated dramatic sequences, sound effects, and music recordings that all had to be done in one continuous "take" to put on record. Note that most of the shows are spread out over two sides on different discs, with the parts of another episode on the other side. (Unnumbered) - Persia https://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/e/ports-of-call-persia/ Highlights include the development of early religious philosophy of Zarathustra (and, yes, an announcer intones, "Thus spake Zarathustra!"), Mohammed, the story of Scheherazade and the Thousand and One Nights, and British conflicts over oil exploration as Persia sought to become more Western, but independent from European influence. Pgm 13 - Japan https://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/e/ports-of-call-pgm-13/ The program looks at stories of Japan's feudal past, including the famous story of the 47 Ronin, and the country's growing connections with the west after Commodore Perry's visit in the 19th century. Pgm 14 - Haiti https://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/e/ports-of-call-pgm-14/ Program looks at Haiti's history of slavery, the conflict between superstition and voodoo cults and how the country moved towards independence. Pgm 32 - Sweden https://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/e/ports-of-call-pgm-32-sweden/ Pgm 33 - New Zealand https://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/e/ports-of-call-pgm-33-new-zealand/ Pgm 49 - Turkey https://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/e/ports-of-call-pgm-14/

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