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Manhattan Melodies

Manhattan Melodies is a recruiting program for the United States Air Force hosted by Airman Tom Wright

Manhattan Melodies

17 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 4 hours, 15 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
5 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from October 20, 1957:

"Poor Little Rich Girl"



... or click here to save the Mp3 file to your computer
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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Airforce Jets 1958
Music has been an important part of American military recruiting efforts ever since the United States Marine Band was established by act of Congress in 1798. During the radio era, all of the services sponsored both regular and syndicated music broadcasts. The syndicated shows of the post WWII era were recorded using popular artists, with either the artist or announcer making a plug to tell young people about the opportunities they have to serve their country.

Manhattan Melodies is a recruiting program for the United States Air Force recorded in 1957. The 15 minute program follows a pretty standard formula. The listener hears a yellow taxi picking up a fare who asks to be taken to one of the recording studios in New York City. As the cab pulls away from the curb the theme music swells and the announcer, Airman Tom Wright, welcomes us to the show and tells us who the featured artist will be and the first number. After the first song (probably a commercial recording, not a performance specifically for the show) Airman Wright greets the artist they about the performer's career.

After the second song, usually around the 8 minute mark, Airman Wright makes his pitch for new Air Force recruits. 1957 was an interesting time for the service people in Ultramarine Blue and Air Force Yellow. The service itself was only ten years old at the time, having been born as part of the Army Signal Corp at the dawn of aviation, becoming the Army Air Corp between the World Wars and the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII.

By the late fifties, the young service was on the front lines of the Cold War as well as standing on the brink of the Space Age. It was the period when the Strategic Air Command was dominated by its huge bombers. The massive B-36 with its combination of piston and jet engines and 230 foot wingspan was being replaced by the venerable B-52 Stratofortress.

Airman Tom Wright's pitches emphasized the need for America's best and brightest to operate and maintain this cutting edge equipment, not to mention taking care of the airmen. Manhattan Melodies had several calls for women to join the Air Force Nursing Corp and the WAF (Women in the Air Force).
B-36

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



    17 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 4 hours, 15 min
    17 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 4 hours, 15 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 17 shows - total playtime 4 hours 15 minutes
    2. Manhattan Melodies 085 Poor Little Rich Girl Chris Connor.mp3
    3. Manhattan Melodies 198 Picnic Steve Allen.mp3
    4. Manhattan Melodies 58 211 Achetson Topeka Santa Fe.mp3
    5. Manhattan Melodies 58 213 Brassmans Holiday Billy May.mp3
    6. Manhattan Melodies 58 214 Love Eyes Rosemary Clooney.mp3
    7. Manhattan Melodies 58 222 Getting To Know You Della Reese.mp3
    8. Manhattan Melodies 58 226 Percy Faith.mp3
    9. Manhattan Melodies 58 284 Pat Boone.mp3
    10. Manhattan Melodies 60 260 St Louis Blues Pat Boone.mp3
    11. Manhattan Melodies Its Grand Night For Singing Nelson Riddle.mp3
    12. Manhattan Melodies King Porter Stomp Benny Goodman Orchestra.mp3
    13. Manhattan Melodies Kiss Me First Neal Hefti Orchestra.mp3
    14. Manhattan Melodies Minuet On Rocks Skitch Henderson Orch.mp3
    15. Manhattan Melodies My Happiness Connie Francis.mp3
    16. Manhattan Melodies Old Man And Sea Leroy Holmes Orchestra.mp3
    17. Manhattan Melodies Otto Cazan.mp3
    18. Manhattan Melodies Randy Weston Trio.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    17 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 4 hours, 15 min
    17 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 4 hours, 15 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 17 shows - total playtime 4 hours 15 minutes
    2. Manhattan Melodies 085 Poor Little Rich Girl Chris Connor.mp3
    3. Manhattan Melodies 198 Picnic Steve Allen.mp3
    4. Manhattan Melodies 58 211 Achetson Topeka Santa Fe.mp3
    5. Manhattan Melodies 58 213 Brassmans Holiday Billy May.mp3
    6. Manhattan Melodies 58 214 Love Eyes Rosemary Clooney.mp3
    7. Manhattan Melodies 58 222 Getting To Know You Della Reese.mp3
    8. Manhattan Melodies 58 226 Percy Faith.mp3
    9. Manhattan Melodies 58 284 Pat Boone.mp3
    10. Manhattan Melodies 60 260 St Louis Blues Pat Boone.mp3
    11. Manhattan Melodies Its Grand Night For Singing Nelson Riddle.mp3
    12. Manhattan Melodies King Porter Stomp Benny Goodman Orchestra.mp3
    13. Manhattan Melodies Kiss Me First Neal Hefti Orchestra.mp3
    14. Manhattan Melodies Minuet On Rocks Skitch Henderson Orch.mp3
    15. Manhattan Melodies My Happiness Connie Francis.mp3
    16. Manhattan Melodies Old Man And Sea Leroy Holmes Orchestra.mp3
    17. Manhattan Melodies Otto Cazan.mp3
    18. Manhattan Melodies Randy Weston Trio.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



    17 recordings on 5 Audio CDs. Total playtime 4 hours, 15 min
    17 recordings on 5 Audio CDs
    total playtime 4 hours, 15 min

    Manhattan Melodies Disc A001

    1. Manhattan Melodies 085 Poor Little Rich Girl Chris Connor
    2. Manhattan Melodies 198 Picnic Steve Allen
    3. Manhattan Melodies 58 211 Achetson Topeka Santa Fe
    4. Manhattan Melodies 58 213 Brassmans Holiday Billy May

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Manhattan Melodies Disc A002

    1. Manhattan Melodies 58 214 Love Eyes Rosemary Clooney
    2. Manhattan Melodies 58 222 Getting To Know You Della Reese
    3. Manhattan Melodies 58 226 Percy Faith
    4. Manhattan Melodies 58 284 Pat Boone

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Manhattan Melodies Disc A003

    1. Manhattan Melodies 60 260 St Louis Blues Pat Boone
    2. Manhattan Melodies Its Grand Night For Singing Nelson Riddle
    3. Manhattan Melodies King Porter Stomp Benny Goodman Orchestra
    4. Manhattan Melodies Kiss Me First Neal Hefti Orchestra

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Manhattan Melodies Disc A004

    1. Manhattan Melodies Minuet On Rocks Skitch Henderson Orch
    2. Manhattan Melodies My Happiness Connie Francis
    3. Manhattan Melodies Old Man And Sea Leroy Holmes Orchestra
    4. Manhattan Melodies Otto Cazan

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Manhattan Melodies Disc A005

    1. Manhattan Melodies Randy Weston Trio

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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