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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04.19.1947 | columbia workshop once upon a tune when the world was new |
+ The 15th program of, "Once Upon A Tune." A thoroughly charming fantasy about man and the animals o... | |
| 03.15.1947 | columbia workshop once upon a tune tortilla jones |
+ A musical fantasy about the roughest, toughest, hombre in the West, and his battle with "The Spide... | |
| 03.08.1947 | columbia workshop once upon a tune ferdinand the bullfrog |
+A very clever story about the animal folk out west who are threatened by a government dam, and thei... | |
| 02.15.1947 | columbia workshop once upon a tune henry, the spook |
+A cute story about a ghost who goes to Spook School and makes good. | |
| 02.08.1947 | columbia workshop once upon a tune one of our bongs is missing |
+A radio cartoon about one of the bongs in a time tone, with a mind of his own! | |
| 02.01.1947 | columbia workshop once upon a tune sentimental locomotive |
+An excellent, cleverly-written musical cartoon about an American boy-locomotive very much in love w... | |
| 01.25.1947 | columbia workshop (050) natural history of nonsense |
+Sheer nonsense and plenty of it. | |
| 01.18.1947 | columbia workshop (049) my life with ernest ruell | ||
| 01.11.1947 | columbia workshop (048) surreal marriage |
+ If surrealism means nonsense, this qualifies. The writing is filled with great significance, if on... | |
| 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... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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... | |
| 12.14.1946 | columbia workshop (044) alice and the echo |
+An extremely well-written story of a German echo who befriends a little girl. Galloping anti-Nazism... | |
| 12.07.1946 | columbia workshop (043) the parade |
+A deeply allegorical anti-war story about a parade down the streets of New York that cannot be seen... | |
| 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... | |
| 11.23.1946 | columbia workshop (041) the tin whistle |
+A young boy in grammar school creates some serious mischief with his whistle. | |
| 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". | |
| 11.09.1946 | columbia workshop (039) farewell to altamont | ||
| 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! | |
| 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. | |
| 10.19.1946 | columbia workshop (036) moby dick part 1 |
+ See cat. #993 for part 2 | |
| 10.12.1946 | columbia workshop (035) brewsie and willie |
+"Brucie and Willie", characters created by Gertrude Stein. Random and rambling thoughts by the occu... | |
| 10.05.1946 | columbia workshop (034) studies in jealousy |
+Three well-written short stories with Jealousy at the central theme. | |
| 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... | |
| 09.21.1946 | columbia workshop (032) midnight town is full of boys |
+A drama of juvenile delinquency and a boy named Joey. Well done. |
COLUMBIA RADIO WORKSHOP
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