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Complete Broadcast 1939

Recording a full day's broadcast in 1939 was a technological and historical feat! The day the Nazis invaded Poland is seen as the beginning of the Second World War. The staff of WJSV recorded the entire days broadcast, so we can learn about the events as they unfold.

Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland)

19 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 19 hours, 8 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
19 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from September 21, 1939:

"8PM Broadcast"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Nazis Invade Poland
Complete Broadcast Day on Sept 21, 1939 (WJSV): Day Germany invaded Poland

WJSV Complete Broadcast Day On September 21, 1939, radio station WJSV in Washington, D.C. transcribed an entire day of broadcasting the same month Germany invaded Poland.

As the Great Depression finally began to draw to a close, Commercial Radio was beginning to be seen as less of a novelty and more as an important part of the American Cultural Landscape. This fact was noted by the staff of the National Archives, housed in the recently completed National Archives Building, located at 700 Pennsylvania Ave, the north end of the National Mall (finally completed in 1937 although staff had been working on the premises for two years; the architect intended to create a "temple of history").

Charged with the preservation and documentation of US Government and historical records, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) preserves and makes available for public viewing "The Charters of Freedom" which include original copies of the Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and an original copy of the Magna Carta. Among the duties of the Archivist of the United States are maintaining state ratifications of Constitutional Amendment and issuing a proclamation when an Amendment is fully ratified, maintaining copies of all Federal Statutes, delivering statutes passed by the Congress to the Office of the President to be signed into law, and Certifying the Votes of the Electoral College.

As part of the effort to preserve American History, NARA proposed recording and preserving a complete broadcast day. The Archives chose to collaborate with Washington CBS affiliate WSJV whose studios were located in the Earle Building at 1299 Pennsylvania Ave. The date chosen for preservation was Thursday, September 21, 1939, a fairly "typical" Thursday, although there were a few items of historical significance occurring that day.

These events included an Address to a Joint Session of Congress by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the then relatively new War in Europe (Hitler's 'blitzkrieg' began thundering across Poland at the beginning of the month). This speech includes FDR's "Cash and Carry" policy of supplying the Allied Powers while maintaining US Neutrality. Although the speech was the most historic event of the day, more contemporary listeners were probably interested in the season-closing American League ball game between the Washington Senators and the Cleveland Indians (the Senators had a 65-87 season, but the Indians won the day for an 87-67 record).

This would be the first time that a station's entire broadcast day had been recorded, in no small part because the audio recording technology was not very good. Today, nineteen hours of audio MP-3 files would hardly fill a few "gigs" of hard-drive space, but in 1939 magnetic audiotape was not even available. "Electric transcription" was used by some shows so that the performers could review their work, or replay the program in another time zone, but the process was relatively expensive and the results notoriously fragile.

Although gramophone technology had been available since before the turn of the century, rather than producing standard phonograph disks, most electrical transcriptions were made using "instantaneous transcription discs". Typical gramophone discs would have been pressed from a shellac "master disc". Instantaneous discs had the advantage of being able to be played with no further processing, however, the recordings would only survive a limited number of plays. The discs could hold about 15 minutes of recording, which generally matched the quarter-hour format of most radio programs of the period.

Along with the President's speech and the ball game, WJSV's lineup for Thursday, September 21, 1930, included several locally produced programs, including a few news and sports commentary programs, and several CBS daytime serial dramas (Soap Operas).

As recording technology improved, more full-day broadcast collections became possible. Be sure to check out our December 7, 1941, Full Day Broadcast Pearl Harbor, the NBC and CBS Full Day Broadcasts of the Normandy Invasion, and the 12-Hour Nagasaki Bombing Collections. It's like a window back in time to hear the recordings as they would have been heard.

The itinerary of the broadcast gives an intriguing look at to what a day of broadcast was like:

6:30
  Sundial with Arthur Godfrey (music)
8:30
  Certified Magic Carpet (quiz show)
8:45
  Bachelor's Children (soap)
9:00
  Pretty Kitty Kelly (soap)
9:15
  The Story of Myrt & Marge (soap)
9:30
  Hilltop House (soap)
9:45
  Stepmother (soap)
10:00
  Mary Lee Taylor (soap)
10:15
  Brenda Curtis (soap, featuring Agnes Moorehead)
10:30
  Big Sister (soap)
10:45
  Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories (soap that Bob & Ray loved to parody)
11:00
  Jean Abbey (news for women)
11:15
  When a Girl Marries (soap)
11:30
  The Romance of Helen Trent (soap)
11:45
  Our Gal Sunday (soap)
12:00
  The Goldbergs (comedy)
12:15
  Life Can Be Beautiful (soap)
12:30
  Road of Life (soap)
12:45
  This Day Is Ours (soap)
1:00
  Sunshine Report (news)
1:15
  The Life & Love of Dr. Susan (soap)
1:30
  Your Family and Mine (soap)
1:45
  News
2:00
  President Roosevelt's Address to Congress (speech)
2:40
  Premier Edouard Daladier
3:00
  Address Commentary (news)
3:15
  The Career of Alice Blair (soap)
3:30
  News (news)
3:42
  Rhythm & Romance
3:45
  Scattergood Baines
4:00
  Baseball: Cleveland Indians at Washington Senators (sports)
5:15
  The World Dances (music)
5:30
  News (news)
5:45
  Sports News (news)
6:00
  Amos and Andy (comedy)
6:15
  The Parker Family (comedy)
6:30
  Joe E. Brown (comedy)
7:00
  Ask-It Basket (quiz)
7:30
  Strange as it Seems (true stories)
8:00
  Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour (variety)
9:00
  The Columbia Workshop - "Now It's Summer" (drama)
9:30
  Americans at Work (true stories)
10:00
  News (news)
10:15
  Music (music)
10:30
  Albert Warner (news)
11:30
  Teddy Powell Band (music)
12:00
  Louis Prima Orchestra (music)
12:30
  Bob Chester Orchestra (music)

German Tanks in Poland

Also on this day, in Europe, Sept 21, 1939, Heydrich issued instructions to SS Einsatzgruppen stating the Jewish Poles are to be gathered into ghettos near railroads for the future "final goal." He also ordered a census and the establishment of Jewish administrative councils within the ghettos to implement Nazi policies and decrees.  Click here to read more about WJSV Broadcast Day from author, Eric Beheim.

See also:

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

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    COMMENTS

    I have been listening today to the Complete Radio Broadcast from 1939. Part of it is Certified Magic Carpet, and the host is named a Charles Daly. That wouldn't be John Charles Daly of What's My Line Fame?

    Kitty Verified Purchase

    One and the same. He got his start at NBC and then moved to WJSV and later became CBS’ White House correspondent.

    Joe Verified Purchase

    You hear him several times in the WJSV recording

    Eric Verified Purchase

    sounded like he wanted to separate his entertainment and local radio jobs from his journalistic assignments. It was his voice that cut in on a football broadcast to announce the bombing of Pearl Harbor. His pronounciation of Oahu can be forgiven. He was frequently introduced as John Charles Daly.

    Ken Verified Purchase

    He never really was a sportscaster but he was a re known newscaster, one of the major voices of WW II news.

    Michael Verified Purchase

    Daly gave the first CBS news about Pearl Harbor during the network's scheduled Sunday afternoon newscast. It was Mutual announcer Len Sterling who broke into the football game.

    Ken Verified Purchase

    Tune in folks to the absolute best source for the complete broadcast day on WJSV Washington from this day in 1939. In real-time, from 5.59am sign on till midnight sign off, you'll hear music shows, breakfast shows, soaps, comedies, news reports, a baseball game, cookery show, special session of Congress with FDR speech, documentary shows, quiz shows, a talent contest and lots more! Fascinating stuff in top notch quality. This version is broadcast quality and totally complete and at the correct speed. Even includes the ten minutes of static as they had to leave the air for technical reasons! Choose the time it is right now, start it from there, and let it run all day. It's a time machine:

    Larry Verified Purchase

    Like so many other programs that otrcat.com puts out, history comes alive. Hearing these broadcasts from yesteryear in their real time gives me a new perspective of the era and the people who lived it. I can’t wait for more from otrcat.com. Thank you!

    Kurt

    Actually the complete day of WJSV was on September 21, 1939, 18 days after WW2 started. The station recorded the entire boradcast day because of FDR's speech to Congress, in which he asks Congree to approve a bill to aid Great Britain.

    Jerry Verified Purchase

    From what I listened to so far, it sounds pretty good. One of the mp3s I have had a lot of blood in it that sound like a tape that slipped.

    Johann Verified Purchase

    Want to get a good idea what life was like in the United States more than 80 years ago? This gem gives you a real time capsule of a bygone era just before our entry hmm hmm hmm. You'll hear Arthur Godfrey spinning records and interviewing guests on his morning radio show, a variety of early soap operas, a speech by President Roosevelt, part of a baseball game between the Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians, Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour (the American Idol of its time) and late night live swing music. A priceless gem.

    Mark Verified Purchase

    Before our entry into World War II, I mean.

    Mark Verified Purchase

    You are so right to point out September 1, 1939 is the start of WWII. I have been looking for a very long time for any radio report on Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass when the Nazi attacked Jews all over Germany. With the exception of Father Coughlin broadcast I cannot find any reports anywhere.

    Charles Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    19 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 19 hours, 8 min
    19 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 19 hours, 8 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 19 shows - total playtime 19 hours 8 minutes
    2. WJSV 390921 p01 Broadcast Day 6am.mp3
    3. WJSV 390921 p02 Broadcast Day 7am.mp3
    4. WJSV 390921 p03 Broadcast Day 8am.mp3
    5. WJSV 390921 p04 Broadcast Day 9am.mp3
    6. WJSV 390921 p05 Broadcast Day 10am.mp3
    7. WJSV 390921 p06 Broadcast Day 11am.mp3
    8. WJSV 390921 p07 Broadcast Day 12noon.mp3
    9. WJSV 390921 p08 Broadcast Day 1pm.mp3
    10. WJSV 390921 p09 Broadcast Day 2pm.mp3
    11. WJSV 390921 p10 Broadcast Day 3pm.mp3
    12. WJSV 390921 p11 Broadcast Day 4pm.mp3
    13. WJSV 390921 p12 Broadcast Day 5pm.mp3
    14. WJSV 390921 p13 Broadcast Day 6pm.mp3
    15. WJSV 390921 p14 Broadcast Day 7pm.mp3
    16. WJSV 390921 p15 Broadcast Day 8pm.mp3
    17. WJSV 390921 p16 Broadcast Day 9pm.mp3
    18. WJSV 390921 p17 Broadcast Day 10pm.mp3
    19. WJSV 390921 p18 Broadcast Day 11pm.mp3
    20. WJSV 390921 p19 Broadcast Day 12midnite.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    19 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 19 hours, 8 min
    19 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 19 hours, 8 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 19 shows - total playtime 19 hours 8 minutes
    2. WJSV 390921 p01 Broadcast Day 6am.mp3
    3. WJSV 390921 p02 Broadcast Day 7am.mp3
    4. WJSV 390921 p03 Broadcast Day 8am.mp3
    5. WJSV 390921 p04 Broadcast Day 9am.mp3
    6. WJSV 390921 p05 Broadcast Day 10am.mp3
    7. WJSV 390921 p06 Broadcast Day 11am.mp3
    8. WJSV 390921 p07 Broadcast Day 12noon.mp3
    9. WJSV 390921 p08 Broadcast Day 1pm.mp3
    10. WJSV 390921 p09 Broadcast Day 2pm.mp3
    11. WJSV 390921 p10 Broadcast Day 3pm.mp3
    12. WJSV 390921 p11 Broadcast Day 4pm.mp3
    13. WJSV 390921 p12 Broadcast Day 5pm.mp3
    14. WJSV 390921 p13 Broadcast Day 6pm.mp3
    15. WJSV 390921 p14 Broadcast Day 7pm.mp3
    16. WJSV 390921 p15 Broadcast Day 8pm.mp3
    17. WJSV 390921 p16 Broadcast Day 9pm.mp3
    18. WJSV 390921 p17 Broadcast Day 10pm.mp3
    19. WJSV 390921 p18 Broadcast Day 11pm.mp3
    20. WJSV 390921 p19 Broadcast Day 12midnite.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    19 recordings on 19 Audio CDs. Total playtime 19 hours, 8 min
    19 recordings on 19 Audio CDs
    total playtime 19 hours, 8 min

    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A001

    1. WJSV 390921 p01 Broadcast Day 6am

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A002

    1. WJSV 390921 p02 Broadcast Day 7am

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A003

    1. WJSV 390921 p03 Broadcast Day 8am

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A004

    1. WJSV 390921 p04 Broadcast Day 9am

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A005

    1. WJSV 390921 p05 Broadcast Day 10am

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A006

    1. WJSV 390921 p06 Broadcast Day 11am

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A007

    1. WJSV 390921 p07 Broadcast Day 12noon

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A008

    1. WJSV 390921 p08 Broadcast Day 1pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A009

    1. WJSV 390921 p09 Broadcast Day 2pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A010

    1. WJSV 390921 p10 Broadcast Day 3pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A011

    1. WJSV 390921 p11 Broadcast Day 4pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A012

    1. WJSV 390921 p12 Broadcast Day 5pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A013

    1. WJSV 390921 p13 Broadcast Day 6pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A014

    1. WJSV 390921 p14 Broadcast Day 7pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A015

    1. WJSV 390921 p15 Broadcast Day 8pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A016

    1. WJSV 390921 p16 Broadcast Day 9pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A017

    1. WJSV 390921 p17 Broadcast Day 10pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A018

    1. WJSV 390921 p18 Broadcast Day 11pm

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    Complete Broadcast 1939 (Nazi Invasion of Poland) Disc A019

    1. WJSV 390921 p19 Broadcast Day 12midnite

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