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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09.21.1939 | columbia workshop (005) now it's summer |
+ A wistful drama about a schoolteacher set in his ways and a young boy who'd rather be out in the p... | |
| 09.28.1939 | columbia workshop (006) the fall of the city |
+The script was broadcast earlier on The Columbia Workshop" on April 11, 1937. The cast includes fiv... | |
| 10.12.1939 | columbia workshop (008) wake up and die |
A psychological drama of married life. A wonderful production from the world of dreams and perhaps a... | |
| 11.02.1939 | columbia workshop (010) blennerhasset |
+The world premier of an opera (in English) dealing with the Aaron Burr conspiracy. A romantic melod... | |
| 11.16.1939 | columbia workshop (011) a letter from above |
+ A play by two part-time, non-professional writers (and quite good ones), Florence and Ben Vines. A... | |
| 11.23.1939 | columbia workshop (012) a circular tour |
A humorous story about a cockney who thinks he's dying and his not-too-helpful friends. | |
| 11.30.1939 | columbia workshop (013) the wonderful day |
+ A fantasy about a day in the life of a young boy when everything goes exactly as he could have wis... | |
| 12.07.1939 | columbia workshop (014) as you like it |
+ Columbia Workshop presents a condensed version of Shakespeare’ s As You Like It. The story conc... | |
| 12.14.1939 | columbia workshop (015) the story in dogtown common |
+ The first radio drama by Julian Liss. A tale of the sea and witchcraft told in blank verse. | |
| 12.21.1939 | columbia workshop (016) mr cohen takes a walk |
+ A wonderfully warm story about an old Jewish man who decides to take a walk in the country. | |
| 12.28.1939 | columbia workshop (017) higher than a kite |
+ A case history of a bouncing check. | |
| 01.18.1940 | columbia workshop (019) fanny kemble |
+How this famous Victorian actress started in the theatre. | |
| 01.25.1940 | columbia workshop (020) heavenly rest |
+ A brutal Depression story of homeless children. | |
| 02.01.1940 | columbia workshop (021) coals to newcastle |
+ A New England comedy about an old codger with a weird knack for business deals. | |
| 02.15.1940 | columbia workshop (022) double exposure |
+ A French horror story about a beautiful girl, perhaps buried alive. | |
| 02.22.1940 | columbia workshop (023) autobiography of an egotist |
+The life story of a "retired" man who thinks only of himself. | |
| 02.29.1940 | columbia workshop (024) the great microphone mystery |
+ "The Case Of The Mysterious Leap Year." A thoroughly nutty revue in which CBS personalities, joine... | |
| 03.07.1940 | columbia workshop (025) my client curley |
+ The GREAT story of a dancing caterpillar who achieves fame and fortune. The script was subsequentl... | |
| 03.14.1940 | columbia workshop (026) dialogue with music fraternity mating |
+ Los Angeles origination. Three productions by the CBS Junior Staff, people who work for CBS in "no... | |
| 03.21.1940 | columbia workshop (027) taming of the shrew |
+A musical version of Shakespeare's comedy that foretold of "Kiss Me Kate." | |
| 04.18.1940 | columbia workshop (028) three strikes, you're out |
An average Joe, with an average conscience, falls for a girl and knows it's the beginning of the end... | |
| 04.25.1940 | columbia workshop (029) america was promises |
+A cantata by Nicholas Nabukoff, based on a poem written by Archibald MacLeish. The cantata is intro... | |
| 05.05.1940 | columbia workshop (030) the honest captain |
+A well-written and amusing story about a God-fearing people and a man not afraid to think for himse... | |
| 05.12.1940 | columbia workshop (031) a day in manhattan |
+An original "verse panorama." A "poetic symphony" of New York. The program opening is slightly upcu... | |
| 05.19.1940 | columbia workshop (032) a program of mexican music |
+An interesting recital of Aztec and modern Mexican melodies. |
COLUMBIA RADIO WORKSHOP
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