Archival Dispatch: 32 Master Broadcasts Dated Across Ripley's Believe It or Not, The Life of Mary Sothern, Ave Maria Hour, and WWII V-Discs
Date:
Author: radio index
Reading: 6 min
Tags: Ripley's Believe It or Not, Robert Ripley, The Life of Mary Sothern, Ave Maria Hour, V-Discs, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Original Filenames
Batch 41 Forensic Discoveries
Batch 41 resolves 32 historical radio broadcasts and wartime military transcription discs: 8 syndicated network broadcasts from Robert L. Ripley's Ripley's Believe It or Not (1939–1947), 8 sequential dramatic broadcasts from the classic Mutual daytime serial The Life of Mary Sothern (1936–1937), 8 historical sacred biographical dramas from Graymoor's Ave Maria Hour (1949–1954), and 8 WWII War Department 12-inch 78 RPM V-Discs (featuring Major Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Vaughn Monroe).
1. Ripley's Believe It or Not — 1939–1947 Curiosities & Wonders
Broadcast over CBS and NBC Blue featuring Robert L. Ripley:
| Original Circulating Filename | Canonical Title | Verified Airdate | Incredible Historical Wonder |
|---|---|---|---|
Ripleys_Unusual_Nose_RC.mp3 |
"Ripley's Believe It or Not: The Woman with an Unusual Nose (Royal Crown Show)" | 1939-04-14 | Live stage presentation with B.A. Rolfe's orchestra. |
Ripleys_Turned_Down_Gold_Mine.mp3 |
"Ripley's Believe It or Not: Turned Down a Gold Mine & King John of France" | 1947-06-03 | Historic battlefield chivalry between the Black Prince and King John. |
Ripleys_Prince_Lapoukhin.mp3 |
"Ripley's Believe It or Not: Prince Lapoukhin of Russia's Humanism" | 1947-06-10 | Russian nobleman honored for abolishing punitive corporal punishment. |
Ripleys_Unusual_Pony.mp3 |
"Ripley's Believe It or Not: The Unusual Island Pony" | 1947-06-17 | The seafaring pony of the North Sea islands. |
Ripleys_Richest_Heiress_Cigar.mp3 |
"Ripley's Believe It or Not: World's Richest Heiress & 50-Year Cigar" | 1947-06-24 | The groom who saved half his wedding cigar for his golden anniversary. |
Ripleys_Argument_Led_War.mp3 |
"Ripley's Believe It or Not: Argument Led to War & Domingo Irala" | 1947-07-01 | The explorer of Paraguay and the sudden domestic alliance. |
Ripleys_Richter_Eternal_Silence.mp3 |
"Ripley's Believe It or Not: Alexander Richter's Eternal Silence" | 1947-07-08 | The man who spent decades tending what proved to be his own mistaken tomb. |
Ripleys_Mysterious_Iron_Chest.mp3 |
"Ripley's Believe It or Not: The Mysterious Iron Chest" | 1947-07-15 | An unopened colonial chest left untouched for three generations. |
2. The Life of Mary Sothern — 1936–1937 Mutual Daytime Serial
Produced by WLW Cincinnati and broadcast nationwide over the Mutual Broadcasting System:
| Original Circulating Filename | Canonical Title | Verified Airdate | Serial Chapter |
|---|---|---|---|
Mary_Sothern_Ep13.mp3 |
"The Life of Mary Sothern: Episode 13 - John's Lasting Impression" | 1936-11-18 | Dr. John Benson ponders his growing attachment to Mary. |
Mary_Sothern_Ep24.mp3 |
"The Life of Mary Sothern: Episode 24 - An Eventful Week for Mary" | 1936-12-03 | Mary faces difficult financial decisions after moving into her new home. |
Mary_Sothern_Ep40.mp3 |
"The Life of Mary Sothern: Episode 40 - Dr. Benson's Poison Discovery" | 1936-12-25 | Christmas Day revelation that Mary's illness was caused by poison. |
Mary_Sothern_Ep119.mp3 |
"The Life of Mary Sothern: Episode 119 - Morning at the Farm" | 1937-04-15 | Springtime recovery at the countryside farm estate. |
Mary_Sothern_Ep180.mp3 |
"The Life of Mary Sothern: Episode 180 - Concealing a Simple Fact" | 1937-07-09 | Summer secrets threaten Mary's standing in Stratford. |
Mary_Sothern_Ep205.mp3 |
"The Life of Mary Sothern: Episode 205 - Max Goes to Prison" | 1937-08-13 | The dramatic courtroom verdict sentencing Max to prison. |
Mary_Sothern_Ep221.mp3 |
"The Life of Mary Sothern: Episode 221 - Mary and Max Plan Ahead" | 1937-09-06 | Autumn reconciliation and new business plans for Mary. |
Mary_Sothern_Ep268.mp3 |
"The Life of Mary Sothern: Episode 268 - The Hotel Bar Confrontation" | 1937-11-10 | Seth intervenes at the hotel bar to prevent a major land sale disaster. |
3. Ave Maria Hour — 1949–1954 Graymoor Master Radio Dramas
Produced by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement at Graymoor, Garrison, New York:
| Original Circulating Filename | Canonical Title | Verified Airdate | Historical Sacred Drama |
|---|---|---|---|
Ave_Maria_Second_Beatitude.mp3 |
"Ave Maria Hour: The Second Beatitude - Blessed Are the Meek (Part 2)" | 1949-02-27 | Dramatic sermon exploration of Christian humility. |
Ave_Maria_St_John_Fisher.mp3 |
"Ave Maria Hour: St. John Fisher (Martyred Bishop and Cardinal)" | 1950-06-22 | Bishop of Rochester who defied King Henry VIII. |
Ave_Maria_Big_Strong_Man_Roch.mp3 |
"Ave Maria Hour: The Big Strong Man and St. Roch" | 1950-08-13 | The plague healer and patron of the falsely accused. |
Ave_Maria_St_Germaine_Cousin.mp3 |
"Ave Maria Hour: St. Germaine Cousin - Canon of Virgins" | 1951-06-17 | 16th-century shepherdess of Pibrac whose faith inspired a village. |
Ave_Maria_Mother_Lurana.mp3 |
"Ave Maria Hour: Mother Lurana of Graymoor" | 1952-04-20 | Dramatic founding of the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement. |
Ave_Maria_St_Agatha.mp3 |
"Ave Maria Hour: St. Agatha of Sicily" | 1953-02-08 | Early Christian courage in 3rd-century Catania under Decius. |
Ave_Maria_Handmaid_Lord.mp3 |
"Ave Maria Hour: Handmaid of the Lord" | 1953-05-10 | Devotional Marian radio drama for Mother's Day. |
Ave_Maria_St_Justin_Jacobis.mp3 |
"Ave Maria Hour: St. Justin de Jacobis (Apostle of Abyssinia)" | 1954-07-25 | Italian Vincentian missionary bishop in 19th-century Ethiopia. |
4. V-Disc Collection — 1943–1945 WWII Military Transcription Masters
Pressed for overseas Armed Forces personnel by the War Department:
| Original Circulating Filename | Canonical Title | Verified Airdate / Session | Armed Forces Swing Legend |
|---|---|---|---|
VDisc_094A_Vaughn_Monroe.mp3 |
"V-Disc 094A: Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra ('For the First Time')" | 1943-12-15 | Vaughn Monroe personal vocal introduction and ballad for the troops. |
VDisc_136B_Fort_Slocum_Band.mp3 |
"V-Disc 136B: Fort Slocum Band ('We Are Marching Lord')" | 1944-02-20 | Military band spiritual march recorded in New Rochelle, NY. |
VDisc_201B_Glenn_Miller_AAF.mp3 |
"V-Disc 201B: Major Glenn Miller & the AAF Band ('Sleepy Town Train')" | 1944-05-18 | Major Glenn Miller's 50-piece Army Air Forces Training Command Band. |
VDisc_242A_Harry_James.mp3 |
"V-Disc 242A: Harry James and His Orchestra ('Eli Eli')" | 1944-07-04 | Harry James' legendary virtuoso trumpet solo arrangement. |
VDisc_310B_Szath_Myri.mp3 |
"V-Disc 310B: Szath-Myri and His Orchestra ('Go Down Moses')" | 1944-10-12 | Symphonic swing jazz arrangement of the classic spiritual. |
VDisc_420A_Benny_Goodman_Trio.mp3 |
"V-Disc 420A: Benny Goodman Trio ('Poor Butterfly')" | 1945-04-10 | Benny Goodman clarinet with Teddy Wilson piano and Specs Powell drums. |
VDisc_482B_Goodman_All_Stars.mp3 |
"V-Disc 482B: Goodman-Tough-Wilson-Hampton-Dorsey ('Opus 1/2')" | 1945-07-20 | All-Star wartime jam session with Lionel Hampton and Tommy Dorsey. |
VDisc_526B_Mitchell_Ayres.mp3 |
"V-Disc 526B: Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra ('Home')" | 1945-09-15 | Postwar reunion ballad pressed for returning servicemen. |