The Columbia Workshop was an high-art radio show that aired from 1936 to 1957. The show’s creator was Irving Reis, who once worked as a radio director, as well as a sound engineer. Columbia Workshop was sort of like Reis’ experiment, since he wanted to focus on using different sound effects to bring his show to life, as opposed to other radio shows which he believes have overused popular celebrities. Hundreds of different sound effects were used for the show.
The show’s first director was William Robson, and his first show was Alice in Wonderland. Unlike Reis, Robson focused more on the brilliant acting of the characters and less on the sound effects. Then, in 1941, Norman Corwin took over and made the show more social (and political), as he focused more on delivering the day's newsworthy happenings.Most of the episodes presented, nevertheless, were derived from the work of classical authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, William Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, and more. Although quite serious in theme, Columbia Workshop was well-received by the listeners, and the fact that it lasted for over two decades is an excellent proof to that.
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Please enjoy these 332 old time radio episodes:
| Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.18.1942 | columbia workshop (009) at the sign of the lark |
+ A touching story about a little old bookshop owner and a young couple who assist him. | |
| 01.25.1942 | columbia workshop (010) man without a shadow |
+A European story of the supernatural. Peter Schlemeil deals with the devil and gains untold riches,... | |
| 02.01.1942 | columbia workshop (011) jenny, the bus nobody loved |
+A comedy about an old bus with a magic button on the dashboard. | |
| 02.08.1942 | columbia workshop (012) portrait of jennie | ||
| 02.15.1942 | columbia workshop (013) opus for a lute and a liar | ||
| 03.01.1942 | columbia workshop (015) when the bough breaks |
+ An eerie tale of the prize ring and insanity. Plus the first minute of a net newscast. | |
| 04.12.1942 | columbia workshop (021) he should have stood in elba |
+ A big time gangster returns from jail to find things have changed. Produced in co-operation nwith ... | |
| 04.19.1942 | columbia workshop (022) play ball |
+ The human story of a local baseball game in a small town. | |
| 05.24.1942 | columbia workshop (026) midnight blue |
+ A story of the blues, and the guys who play them, or used to. | |
| 05.31.1942 | columbia workshop (027) the city wears a slouch hat |
+ A very avant garde broadcast. John Cage's music is difficult to appreciate, a fact that would rema... | |
| 06.07.1942 | columbia workshop (028) the little one |
+ A strange story about a beautiful girl who marries a midget and the strange life they lead togethe... | |
| 06.12.1942 | columbia workshop (029) ritchie the great |
+ A funny guided tour through the mind of a 10-year-old. The first 5 minutes are in poor condition, ... | |
| 06.26.1942 | columbia workshop broadcast from the year 1812 |
+An allegorical story of Napoleon's disastrous march into Russia. Done as a "March of Time" broadcas... | |
| 07.03.1942 | columbia workshop (032) tag number 1 184 463 |
+ A good story about a small town American boy in Europe during the war to end wars. | |
| 07.20.1942 | columbia workshop (034) someone else |
+A great story, with great acting. A man buys a beautiful porcelain statuette with a tragic and some... | |
| 08.10.1942 | columbia workshop (037) the music of mountains |
+ "A Choric Verse Play." A lyrical, dated, but quite effective tour around, over and through the mou... | |
| 08.31.1942 | columbia workshop (040) all out for comedy columbia sketchbook |
+"All Out For Comedy." The third of 4 programs. A funny, slapstick collection of blackouts. | |
| 09.28.1942 | columbia workshop (044) florrie and the country green |
+ A quiet simple story, turning to ghosts and the supernatural at the very fine ending. | |
| 10.12.1942 | columbia workshop (045) rebirth of barrow's inlet |
+ A beautiful portrait of the people in a small town and what they're really like. | |
| 10.19.1942 | columbia workshop (046) remodeled brownstone |
+A couple buys a Manhattan brownstone and soon start to hear a baby's cry. Excellent story of the su... | |
| 11.08.1942 | columbia workshop (047) proclaim the morning |
+An original voice drama, score composed and directed by Roy Bargy. A strong, lyrical, anti-fascist ... | |
| 03.07.1944 | columbia workshop (001) movie primer | ||
| 03.14.1944 | columbia workshop (002) the long name none could spell | ||
| 03.21.1944 | columbia workshop (003) lonesome train | ||
| 03.28.1944 | columbia workshop (004) savage encounter |
COLUMBIA RADIO WORKSHOP
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