Archival Dispatch: 15 Master Broadcasts Dated Across Treasury Star Parade and Gene Autry's Melody Ranch
Date:
Author: radio index
Reading: 3 min
Tags: Treasury Star Parade, Orson Welles, Vincent Price, Dinah Shore, Gene Autry, Melody Ranch, War Bonds, Original Filenames
Batch 24 Forensic Discoveries
Batch 24 resolves 15 historic network and war-effort broadcasts: 9 flagship 1942 wartime episodes of the US Treasury Department's Treasury Star Parade (starring Orson Welles in Violet Atkins' The Chetniks, Dinah Shore, Bob Burns, and hosted by Vincent Price, Fredric March, and Henry Hull), alongside 6 classic CBS broadcasts of Gene Autry's Melody Ranch (including the landmark 1940 premiere series and The Origin of Champion).
1. Treasury Star Parade — US Treasury 1942 Master Discs Dated
Produced to promote War Savings Bonds during WWII, recorded with the greatest names of stage, screen, and radio:
| Original Circulating Filename | Canonical Title | Verified Airdate | All-Star Cast & War Drama |
|---|---|---|---|
Treasury_Star_Parade_Chetniks.mp3 |
"Treasury Star Parade: The Chetniks (Starring Orson Welles, Hosted by Vincent Price)" | 1942-08-14 | Orson Welles narrates Violet Atkins' heroic drama of Yugoslavian anti-fascist guerrilla resistance. |
Treasury_Star_Parade_Dinah_Shore.mp3 |
"Treasury Star Parade: Guest Dinah Shore (Hosted by Vincent Price)" | 1942-09-18 | Dinah Shore performs wartime ballads and patriotic appeals with the Treasury Orchestra. |
Treasury_Star_Parade_Bob_Burns.mp3 |
"Treasury Star Parade: Guests Bob Burns & Lanny Ross (Hosted by Vincent Price)" | 1942-10-23 | Comedian Bob Burns ('The Arkansas Traveler') and tenor Lanny Ross join Vincent Price. |
Treasury_Star_Parade_Hitler_Youth.mp3 |
"Treasury Star Parade: The Hitler Youth (Hosted by Henry Hull)" | 1942-05-15 | Dramatic warning on fascist indoctrination, starring Henry Hull and an all-star cast. |
Treasury_Star_Parade_So_Long_Son.mp3 |
"Treasury Star Parade: So Long Son (Hosted by Henry Hull)" | 1942-06-19 | Radio dramatization of the Chicago Daily News editorial on American fathers seeing sons off to war. |
Treasury_Star_Parade_Victor_Herbert.mp3 |
"Treasury Star Parade: The Music of Victor Herbert (Starring Conrad Thibault & Lucille Manners)" | 1942-12-11 | Operetta concert for War Bond drives conducted by David Broekman. |
Treasury_Star_Parade_Frank_Parker.mp3 |
"Treasury Star Parade: Guest Frank Parker (Hosted by Fredric March)" | 1942-04-10 | Academy Award winner Fredric March hosts tenor Frank Parker in a patriotic musical revue. |
Treasury_Star_Parade_Easter_Story.mp3 |
"Treasury Star Parade: An Easter Story (The Bishop of Munster, Hosted by Henry Hull)" | 1942-04-03 | H.S. Kraft's drama on religious resistance against tyranny in wartime Europe. |
Treasury_Star_Parade_Wanted_A_Ballad.mp3 |
"Treasury Star Parade: Wanted A Ballad (Hosted by Henry Hull)" | 1942-05-29 | Al Goodman Orchestra and chorus in a musical tribute to American factory workers. |
2. Gene Autry's Melody Ranch — CBS Master Broadcasts (1940–1947)
Sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint Gum, broadcasting from KNX Columbia Square in Hollywood:
| Original Circulating Filename | Canonical Title | Verified Airdate | Western Story Arc |
|---|---|---|---|
Melody_Ranch_1940_01_01.mp3 |
"Gene Autry's Melody Ranch: The American Cowboy" | 1940-01-07 | Gene Autry, Pat Buttram, and the Pinafores in a western range adventure. |
Melody_Ranch_Origin_Of_Champion.mp3 |
"Gene Autry's Melody Ranch: The Origin of Champion" | 1941-03-02 | The famous radio story of how Gene met his 'wonder horse' Champion. |
Melody_Ranch_Carol_Kidnapped.mp3 |
"Gene Autry's Melody Ranch: Carol Is Kidnapped" | 1941-06-22 | Gene and Pat track kidnappers across the high desert foothills. |
Melody_Ranch_Chet_Simmons.mp3 |
"Gene Autry's Melody Ranch: Gene Accused of Murdering Chet Simmons" | 1946-09-08 | Gene is falsely accused by a corrupt town boss and clears his name. |
Melody_Ranch_Pat_Loses_Champion.mp3 |
"Gene Autry's Melody Ranch: Pat Loses Champion" | 1946-11-17 | Comedic mix-up ensues when Pat Buttram misplaces Gene's prized stallion. |
Melody_Ranch_Aunt_Martha.mp3 |
"Gene Autry's Melody Ranch: Aunt Martha's Visit ('When You're Smiling')" | 1947-04-13 | Aunt Martha arrives at Melody Ranch with unexpected strict household rules. |