NYPR Archives & Preservation
August 2, 2013 - Volume 12 Issue 29

Edition # 567

BROADCAST ON WNYC TODAY INâ€¦

1926: H.W. Wack discusses outdoor life. Note: Henry Wellington Wack (1867-1954) was the founding editor of Field and Stream magazine. He was also an attorney and served as counsel to the Frederick Cook during the Cook-Peary North Pole controversy.

1939: Stuart Davis, Russel Wright speak and the WNYC Concert Orchestra performs during the dedication of WNYC WPA. MURALS. See also: Marrow.

1943: Mayor Fiorello La Guardia informs listeners that the curfew he ordered may soon be lifted. La Guardia had called for the curfew when a riot broke out the previous night in Harlem after a white policeman shot and injured a black soldier who had reportedly intervened in the arrest of a woman.

1951: Walter Winchell joins WNYC's Tommy Cowan at a City Hall Tribute to Sugar Ray Robinson .

1965: Duke Ellington and Billy Taylor perform at a City Hall Reception for Ellington.

Opening of Queens Midtown Tunnel

New York Senator Robert F. Wagner speaking at the opening day ceremonies for the Queens Midtown Tunnel, November 15, 1940. The transportation project cost $58 million. Brooklyn resident Harry E. Sochovit paid the first 25-cent toll. (WNYC Archive Collections)

LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS

Native Sons

"Broadcast over WNYC for thirteen weeks in 1941, Native Sons was one of several series cast with African Americans that dramatized the lives of prominent blacks. Actors included Eric Burroughs, Canada Lee, P.J. Sidney, Jessie Zackerey, Jimmy Wright and Rose Poindexter. The Juanita Hall Choir provided music while Mitchell Grayson directed. Writing credits were ascribed to John Griffin and one other unidentified writer. Author Richard Wright gave some commentary after the final broadcast."

The May through July programs profiled: Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, the explorer Estevanico; Nat Turner; George Washington Carver; Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield; Crispus Attucks; Ira Aldridge; Robert Smalls; Benjamin Banneker; Toussaint-L' Ouverture; Denmark Vesey; Paul Robeson; Marian Anderson; and Roland Hayes.

Source: Ellett, Ryan, Encyclopedia of Black Radio in the United States 1921-1955, McFarlane & Co., North Carolina, 2012, pg. 116. Ellet cites: Baltimore Afro-American, May 3, 1941, p. 14 and August 9, 1941, p. 14.

WNYC First day of broadcast, July 8th, 1924.
Municipal Archives Collection.

American Mavericks From the Archives on Q2

What's Your WIQXR?

"WIQXR-How about a survey to establish the I.Q. of radio audiences? I leave it to others to work out the formulae that shall govern the research, but I offer the suggestion that a council of educators, psychologists and advertising wizards might, with profit to all, lay the groundwork for the undertaking. Naturally I expect WQXR to embrace my notion with enthusiasm because the results would make especially pleasant reading and listening for the WQXR family. The call letters of the station might then be changed to WIQXR."

Source: Lyricist and librettist Irving Caesar writing in the June, 1944 WQXR Program Guide.
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To our listeners in central and northern Westchester: WQXW is now broadcasting WQXR's signal from 90.3 FM. And, we're working on making it even stronger in the coming months, so stay tuned!

News & Notices:

90

WNYC's 90th year of broadcasting is upon us. (The actual anniversary is next July 8th). In this space we'll be linking to various WNYC champions and milestones. This week: Raymond Asserson Sr., The Man Who Built WNYC in 1924: Speaking Truth to Power.

The WNYC Facebook page has a station timeline (1922-present) with more than 596 milestones, photos, and links to audio. (Right hand column)

We're also working on the WQXR Facebook timeline. (1929 - present)

Check out the @mayorlaguardia Twitter feed straight from the WNYC broadcasts! His Honor now has 448 followers.

The WNYC Archives is on Twitter with 1,281 followers @wnycarchives.

Weâ€™ve got a Tumblr page too! Check it out at:

nyprarchives.tumblr.com

WNYC Archives in theâ€¦