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Stars for Defense

Created by Federal Civil Defense Administration as a public service program to be broadcast by participating radio stations throughout the country with music and practical advice for Americans fearful of an impending attack during the Cold War.

Stars for Defense

13 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 3 hours, 10 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
4 Audio CDs


Choose your CD format
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Play a sample episode :

"Gordon Macrae Luboff Choir"



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

In Case of Attack

"You know, a visit to Stars for Defense is quite an honor for a young performer. And, an invitation to return kind of makes a fellow feel he’s... well, he’s made it." –Johnny Nash

Gordon MacRaeStars of Defense was a series of recordings made between 1956 and 1967 for the United States Federal Civil Defense Administration as a public service program to be broadcast by participating radio stations throughout the country. The intent was to keep Americans prepared for threats from the Cold War. As an early episode states, "Real family preparedness is a big contribution to world peace, for if our defense is strong, no enemy would dare attack us."

It speaks to a time pre-internet and twenty-four hour news, when the possibility of attack from a foreign enemy was seen as so genuine that family preparedness was treated as a very real priority. Radio stations were provided an album to be broadcast on a designated date. Fifteen minutes in running time, the show provided practical advice to Americans, along with musical entertainment and interviews. M.C’d by Jay Jackson (Tic Tac Dough, The Honeymooners), each album also featured performances by Ray Bloch and his orchestra, in addition to the featured guest.

The radio station’s guest star would introduce the program, at which point Jay Jackson would take over hosting duties. Abe BurrowsGuests would perform in front of a studio audience and have the opportunity to advertise their current production. Interspersed between performances by The Three Suns, Abe Burrows, Dick Haymes, and others would be advice and information from the Federal Civil Defense Administration. These pieces would range from segments about fallout shelters and preparedness cards to warnings of enemy infiltration through Canada and methods the government was taking to keep inflation down.

Guests included such luminaries as Victor Borge, Andy Griffith, Don Cherry, Eartha Kitt and many more. Spanning more than 400 episodes, much of the wisdom touted on the show still holds water today. As Bing Crosby advised on the show in 1959, "…be ready for emergency action; make sure that your car is in tip top mechanical condition. Keep your gas tank at least half full at all times, and see that your tires are in good condition, too."

The collection is more than just a piece of radio history treasure. It’s a unique insight into American life during the Cold War.

See also "Atomic Radio" and :

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

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    I loved this series of music and would recommend it.

    Bruce

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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.



    13 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 3 hours, 10 min
    13 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 3 hours, 10 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 13 shows - total playtime 3 hours 10 minutes
    2. Stars For Defense 1 Gordon Macrae Luboff Choir.mp3
    3. Stars For Defense 2 Jo Stafford.mp3
    4. Stars For Defense 520316 001 Gordon Macrae.mp3
    5. Stars For Defense 520323 002 Jo Stafford.mp3
    6. Stars For Defense 520330 003 Dick Haymes.mp3
    7. Stars For Defense 520406 004 Dinah Shore.mp3
    8. Stars For Defense 570811 045 Judy Johnson.mp3
    9. Stars For Defense 570818 046 Alan Dale.mp3
    10. Stars For Defense 580112 067 Abe Burrows.mp3
    11. Stars For Defense 580119 068 Three Suns.mp3
    12. Stars For Defense 610606 From This Moment On.mp3
    13. Stars For Defense 611224 273 Xmas Show Merrill Staton.mp3
    14. Stars For Defense 611231 274 Nobody But Me.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    13 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 3 hours, 10 min
    13 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 3 hours, 10 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 13 shows - total playtime 3 hours 10 minutes
    2. Stars For Defense 1 Gordon Macrae Luboff Choir.mp3
    3. Stars For Defense 2 Jo Stafford.mp3
    4. Stars For Defense 520316 001 Gordon Macrae.mp3
    5. Stars For Defense 520323 002 Jo Stafford.mp3
    6. Stars For Defense 520330 003 Dick Haymes.mp3
    7. Stars For Defense 520406 004 Dinah Shore.mp3
    8. Stars For Defense 570811 045 Judy Johnson.mp3
    9. Stars For Defense 570818 046 Alan Dale.mp3
    10. Stars For Defense 580112 067 Abe Burrows.mp3
    11. Stars For Defense 580119 068 Three Suns.mp3
    12. Stars For Defense 610606 From This Moment On.mp3
    13. Stars For Defense 611224 273 Xmas Show Merrill Staton.mp3
    14. Stars For Defense 611231 274 Nobody But Me.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



    13 recordings on 4 Audio CDs. Total playtime 3 hours, 10 min
    13 recordings on 4 Audio CDs
    total playtime 3 hours, 10 min

    Stars for Defense Disc A001

    1. Stars For Defense 1 Gordon Macrae Luboff Choir
    2. Stars For Defense 2 Jo Stafford
    3. Stars For Defense 520316 001 Gordon Macrae
    4. Stars For Defense 520323 002 Jo Stafford

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Stars for Defense Disc A002

    1. Stars For Defense 520330 003 Dick Haymes
    2. Stars For Defense 520406 004 Dinah Shore
    3. Stars For Defense 570811 045 Judy Johnson
    4. Stars For Defense 570818 046 Alan Dale

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Stars for Defense Disc A003

    1. Stars For Defense 580112 067 Abe Burrows
    2. Stars For Defense 580119 068 Three Suns
    3. Stars For Defense 610606 From This Moment On
    4. Stars For Defense 611224 273 Xmas Show Merrill Staton

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Stars for Defense Disc A004

    1. Stars For Defense 611231 274 Nobody But Me

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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