Archival Dispatch: 20 Broadcasts Dated Across Veterans Administration Masters, Mary Sothern, and Jimmie Allen
Date:
Author: radio index
Reading: 4 min
Tags: Here's to Veterans, The Life of Mary Sothern, Jimmie Allen, Al Jolson, Duke Ellington, Original Filenames
Batch 8 Forensic Discoveries
Batch 8 resolves 20 historical broadcasts across three distinct American radio traditions: the Veterans Administration transcription master discs of Here's to Veterans (featuring Al Jolson, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Percy Faith, and the Sons of the Pioneers), Don Becker's pioneering 1936–1937 CBS daytime serial The Life of Mary Sothern, and the 1946 syndicated aviation adventures of Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen.
1. Here's to Veterans — Master Transcription Discs Dated
The Veterans Administration produced hundreds of special half-hour broadcasts in cooperation with the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), recruiting top musical stars:
| Original Circulating Filename | Canonical Title | Verified Airdate | Featured Artists & Orchestra |
|---|---|---|---|
Heres_To_Veterans_Guest_Jolson.mp3 |
"The Golden Age of Network Radio: Guest Al Jolson" | 1950-10-15 | Al Jolson with Oscar Levant and Lou Bring's Orchestra. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Johnny_Mercer.mp3 |
"Musical Scrapbook: Guest Johnny Mercer" | 1954-05-23 | Johnny Mercer reviews 25 years of American songwriting. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Les_Baxter.mp3 |
"Musical Scrapbook: Guest Les Baxter" | 1954-06-06 | Les Baxter and his chorus performing orchestral exotica. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Contented_Hour.mp3 |
"The Contented Hour: Percy Faith and Buddy Clark" | 1948-11-21 | Percy Faith conducting with baritone Buddy Clark. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Duke_Ellington.mp3 |
"Salute to Duke Ellington" | 1952-09-28 | Duke Ellington and his famous orchestra in a dedicated salute. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Theres_No_Tomorrow.mp3 |
"There's No Tomorrow: Guest Tony Martin" | 1950-04-09 | Tony Martin performs his 1950 chart-topping hit. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Four_Piano_Ensemble.mp3 |
"The Four Piano Ensemble" | 1953-08-16 | Audrey Cooper introduces the 4-Piano concert transcription. |
Heres_To_Veterans_How_Great_Thou_Art.mp3 |
"Tim Spencer and the Sons of the Pioneers: How Great Thou Art" | 1955-03-20 | Western gospel hymn session recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Timber_Trail.mp3 |
"Tim Spencer and the Sons of the Pioneers: Timber Trail" | 1955-04-17 | Classic western trail songs transcribed for VA distribution. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Whole_Lotta_Shakin.mp3 |
"20 Years of Rock and Roll: Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" | 1974-06-30 | 1970s VA retrospective charting two decades of rock and roll. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Overture_To_Tommy.mp3 |
"Sounds of the 70s Orchestra: Overture to Tommy" | 1972-10-15 | Orchestral rock suite from The Who's Tommy. |
Heres_To_Veterans_Sonny_Terry.mp3 |
"Guest Sonny Terry: Before I Reach the Town" | 1958-02-09 | Legendary blues harmonica master Sonny Terry. |
2. The Life of Mary Sothern — 1936–1937 CBS Daytime Canon
| Original Circulating Filename | Canonical Title | Verified Airdate | Daytime Serial Arc |
|---|---|---|---|
Mary_Sothern_Episode_70.mp3 |
"Episode 70: Max Escapes the Burning Cell Block" | 1936-09-11 | Mary reunites with Max Hennel after the dramatic prison hospital fire. |
Mary_Sothern_Episode_133.mp3 |
"Episode 133: The Gambling Syndicate Trial" | 1936-12-09 | Max Sanders enters testimony in the municipal gambling trial. |
Mary_Sothern_Episode_172.mp3 |
"Episode 172: Peter Clinton Takes the Defense Case" | 1937-02-02 | Famed Chicago criminal defense lawyer Peter Clinton arrives. |
Mary_Sothern_Episode_173.mp3 |
"Episode 173: Daddy Finds the Property Deed" | 1937-02-03 | Daddy locates the missing deed to unlock the mineral springs development. |
3. Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen — 1946 Aviation Serials
| Original Circulating Filename | Canonical Title | Verified Airdate | Aviation Plotline |
|---|---|---|---|
Jimmie_Allen_Mason_Spotted.mp3 |
"Mason Spotted: The Stolen Army Jet Plans" | 1946-03-04 | Speed Robertson and Jimmie track the stolen jet fighter schematics. |
Jimmie_Allen_Flight.mp3 |
"Cross-Country Flight to Texas" | 1946-03-05 | Jimmie, Speed Robertson, and Flash Lewis fly to Texas. |
Jimmie_Allen_Discussing_Delays.mp3 |
"Renegade Pilot Showdown" | 1946-03-06 | Renegade pilot confrontation following aerial sabotage. |
Jimmie_Allen_Motos_Gang_Captured.mp3 |
"Major Moto's Gang Captured" | 1946-03-07 | Government investigator Russell arrests Major Moto's ring. |