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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07.21.1946 | columbia workshop (025) the pied pied piper of hamelin |
+ The tenth anniversary program. A "modern" version of the classic fairy tale. | |
| 07.28.1946 | columbia workshop (026) legend in brocade |
+ The program is based on the letters of Lord Chesterfield. A penetrating look at the man who had gr... | |
| 08.04.1946 | columbia workshop (027) happy thoughts for a hot afternoon |
+ Two essays: one on "comfort," the other on "laughter." Interesting listening. | |
| 08.11.1946 | columbia workshop (028) wilber the psychoneurotic auto |
+ The cast plays barnyard creatures who can talk. However, talking animals have nothing on a talking... | |
| 08.18.1946 | columbia workshop (029) modern exhibit |
+Woody Herman and his Orchestra play jazz for listening. Igor Stravinsky leads the Woody Herman Orch... | |
| 08.25.1946 | columbia workshop (030) path and the door psychological experiment |
+ Hollywood origination. A wild fantasy, meaning nothing but what your imagination dictates. "A psyc... | |
| 09.15.1946 | columbia workshop (031) the last delegate |
+ At the ultimate peace conference; a voice is heard. | |
| 09.21.1946 | columbia workshop (032) midnight town is full of boys |
+A drama of juvenile delinquency and a boy named Joey. Well done. | |
| 09.28.1946 | columbia workshop (033) the day that baseball died |
+Interesting story of that fantastic pitch "Knucklerduster II" and the way it ended the game of base... | |
| 10.05.1946 | columbia workshop (034) studies in jealousy |
+Three well-written short stories with Jealousy at the central theme. | |
| 10.12.1946 | columbia workshop (035) brewsie and willie |
+"Brucie and Willie", characters created by Gertrude Stein. Random and rambling thoughts by the occu... | |
| 10.19.1946 | columbia workshop (036) moby dick part 1 |
+ See cat. #993 for part 2 | |
| 10.26.1946 | columbia workshop (037) moby dick part 2 |
+The second half of Melville's classic of the sea. The program is complete in itself. | |
| 11.02.1946 | columbia workshop (038) lee fountain comes of age |
+An excellent story about a young boy who refuses to grow up, until he is 60! | |
| 11.09.1946 | columbia workshop (039) farewell to altamont | ||
| 11.16.1946 | columbia workshop (040) the man who could bring pictures to life sounds of peace |
An amusing story about a guy who could do just that. "Sounds Of Peace". | |
| 11.23.1946 | columbia workshop (041) the tin whistle |
+A young boy in grammar school creates some serious mischief with his whistle. | |
| 11.30.1946 | columbia workshop (042) it shouldn't happen to a man |
+ A fine story about man's best friend who wants to live like a man, but for unselfish canine reason... | |
| 12.07.1946 | columbia workshop (043) the parade |
+A deeply allegorical anti-war story about a parade down the streets of New York that cannot be seen... | |
| 12.14.1946 | columbia workshop (044) alice and the echo |
+An extremely well-written story of a German echo who befriends a little girl. Galloping anti-Nazism... | |
| 12.21.1946 | columbia workshop (045) the day they gave babies away |
+A Christmas story about six orphans many years ago in New England. The script was subsequently used... | |
| 12.28.1946 | columbia workshop (046) rain, rain go away |
+ Hollywood origination. A fantasy for radio about Heatherby Weatherby (with a mind of her own) who ... | |
| 01.04.1947 | columbia workshop (047) tongues of fire |
+ A program written by an Australian author who was discovered by Norman Corwin. A terrible mishmash... | |
| 01.11.1947 | columbia workshop (048) surreal marriage |
+ If surrealism means nonsense, this qualifies. The writing is filled with great significance, if on... | |
| 01.18.1947 | columbia workshop (049) my life with ernest ruell |
COLUMBIA RADIO WORKSHOP
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