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Romance of Oil

An entertaining and educational introduction to an industry and science that shapes every aspect of our modern society.

Romance of Oil

11 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 2 hours, 1420 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
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3 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from February 07, 2052:

"Locusts"



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

We hear daily how oil drives the industrial economy and international politics. However, too many people, the only direct contact they have with the Petroleum Industry is the "ten feet of hose" they use to fill their cars with gasoline or perhaps the engine lubricant that needs to be changed as part of the regular automotive maintenance cycle.

Ruth SheldonTo Joe and Mary Daily Driver, that seems like all they need to know about the petroleum industry, ignoring how that magical black substance is brought out of the ground and to their local service station, let alone the myriad of other beneficial uses of petroleum. However, the petroleum industry has a rich and fascinating history which is presented in the syndicated educational radio series, Romance of Oil.

The series was written by Ruth Sheldon Knowles, who grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the daughter and granddaughter of oilmen and who would go on to marry a wildcat driller. Educated at Smith College in Massachusetts, she began her career at the Society Desk of the Tulsa Tribune and worked her way into more serious journalism. The government of Mexico hired her to write travel reports and in 1941 went to work for the Department of the Interior, working for Secretary Ickes as a staff petroleum specialist before moving to the Petroleum Administration of War. Ms. Knowles wrote several books about the petroleum industry. While working as a war correspondent she was "adopted" by Army Green Berets a was recognized as an honorary member of the Special Forces.

Romance of Oil: The Story of an Industry is an eight-part series of quarter-hour syndicated programs that explore several facets of the Oil Industry. The dramas are introduced with a short scene at a local service station where the attendant recommends that drivers learn more about what happens beyond his "ten feet of hose".

Texas Oil Field 1952

The first program, "The Story of an Industry", looks at refinery operations. Next is "Drilling", following a team of drillers on a Montana mountainside who find, like nine-out-of-ten wells, a dry hole. Third is "New Method to Drill" explores how geologists learned to use sensitive gravity detectors to find salt domes that hid oil beneath the ground.  "Locusts" is the fourth program in the series and tells of using petroleum-based insecticides to prevent famine in the Middle East. The War-Time need for a pipeline connecting the Texas oilfields with the Eastern seaboard is demonstrated in "Pipeline". Episode six, "Gasoline and Automobiles" shows how a waste-product at the turn of the century combined with a mechanical novelty to reshape American culture. "Using Water to Increase Yield" looks at the technique of water injection to retrieve more oil from the wells, and finally, "Mechanization of Farming" profiles the way the modern tractor allows American Farmers to produce more food with less labor.

When Romance of Oil was recorded in 1952, coal was still the primary energy source for American Industry, but petroleum was on pace to surpass it. Offshore drilling was still in its infancy and the rise of OPEC and the discovery of the North Sea oil reserves were still in the future, not to mention the "fracking" revolution which would reassert the dominance of American Oil in the 21st century. However, far from being outdated, Romance of Oil is an excellent primer of an industry that continues to shape our world.

See also the oil sponsored show: Our Nation's Heritage.

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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    Fascinating series!

    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.



    11 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 2 hours, 1420 min
    11 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 2 hours, 1420 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 11 shows – total playtime 2 hours, 23 minutes
    2. Romance of Oil 1952 01 The Story of an Industry.mp3
    3. Romance of Oil 1952 02 Drilling.mp3
    4. Romance of Oil 1952 03 New Method to Drill.mp3
    5. Romance of Oil 1952 04 Locusts.mp3
    6. Romance of Oil 1952 05 Oil Pipeline.mp3
    7. Romance of Oil 1952 06 Gasoline and Automobiles.mp3
    8. Romance of Oil 1952 07 Using Water to Increase Yield.mp3
    9. Romance of Oil 1952 08 Mechanization of Farming.mp3
    10. Romance Of Oil 1952 09 Synthetic Rubber.mp3
    11. Romance of Oil 1952 10 Oils Role In Transportation.mp3
    12. Romance Of Oil 1952 13 American Oil Exploration.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    11 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 2 hours, 1420 min
    11 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    66 MB – total playtime 2 hours, 23 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 11 shows – 66 MB – total playtime 2 hours, 23 minutes
    2. Romance of Oil 1952 01 The Story of an Industry.mp3
    3. Romance of Oil 1952 02 Drilling.mp3
    4. Romance of Oil 1952 03 New Method to Drill.mp3
    5. Romance of Oil 1952 04 Locusts.mp3
    6. Romance of Oil 1952 05 Oil Pipeline.mp3
    7. Romance of Oil 1952 06 Gasoline and Automobiles.mp3
    8. Romance of Oil 1952 07 Using Water to Increase Yield.mp3
    9. Romance of Oil 1952 08 Mechanization of Farming.mp3
    10. Romance Of Oil 1952 09 Synthetic Rubber.mp3
    11. Romance of Oil 1952 10 Oils Role In Transportation.mp3
    12. Romance Of Oil 1952 13 American Oil Exploration.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



    11 recordings on 3 Audio CDs. Total playtime 2 hours, 23 min
    11 recordings on 3 Audio CDs
    total playtime 2 hours, 23 min

    Romance of Oil Disc A001

    1. Romance of Oil 1952 01 The Story of an Industry
    2. Romance of Oil 1952 02 Drilling
    3. Romance of Oil 1952 03 New Method to Drill
    4. Romance of Oil 1952 04 Locusts
    5. Romance of Oil 1952 05 Oil Pipeline

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Romance of Oil Disc A002

    1. Romance of Oil 1952 06 Gasoline and Automobiles
    2. Romance of Oil 1952 07 Using Water to Increase Yield
    3. Romance of Oil 1952 08 Mechanization of Farming
    4. Romance Of Oil 1952 09 Synthetic Rubber
    5. Romance of Oil 1952 10 Oils Role In Transportation

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Romance of Oil Disc A003

    1. Romance Of Oil 1952 13 American Oil Exploration

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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