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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08.21.1945 | columbia workshop (008) l'affair gumpert | ||
| 02.02.1946 | columbia workshop (001) homecoming |
+The start of "a new series of broadcasts." World War II is over, and a farm boy returns home; but n... | |
| 02.09.1946 | columbia workshop (002) anniversary |
+ They've been married just one year, but a couple plan to divorce. For what reason? Paul and Mary ... | |
| 02.16.1946 | columbia workshop (003) just a plain blue suit |
+ A well-written portrait of the home-front soldier. There's a possibility that this is a rehearsal ... | |
| 02.23.1946 | columbia workshop (004) hard luck story |
+ "Emil the Seal," con artiste extraordinaire, tells the sad story of his life.Shorty Williams finds... | |
| 03.02.1946 | columbia workshop (005) slim |
+ A good story about a new hobo riding his first freight train, and a strange companion along for th... | |
| 03.09.1946 | columbia workshop (006) thanks for the memories |
+A soldier's memories of England and France during the war. A "Thank You" note that brings tears to ... | |
| 03.16.1946 | columbia workshop (007) four quartets of ts eliot |
+Terribly dull radio. | |
| 03.23.1946 | columbia workshop (008) act of faith |
+ A stirring drama of anti-Semitism. | |
| 03.30.1946 | columbia workshop (009) a very honorable guy |
+ The classic Runyon tale of the guy with the big feet who sells his body to "science." | |
| 04.06.1946 | columbia workshop (010) the last speech |
+A cantata based on the last speech written by but never delivered by Franklin Roosevelt. The progra... | |
| 04.13.1946 | columbia workshop (011) joe peabody's dream |
+ A strange story of a man who dozes off after dinner and has a strange dream about the OPA, the cou... | |
| 04.21.1946 | columbia workshop (012) the playroom |
+A thought provoking story of a brother and sister both 50 years old, but both living in a "playroom... | |
| 04.28.1946 | columbia workshop (013) a study in bells and house |
+A mad professor discourses in his favorite topic, and a short story with a strange twist. | |
| 05.05.1946 | columbia workshop (014) sam small's better half |
+ A British comedy about a man who schizophrenically splits in two. | |
| 05.12.1946 | columbia workshop (015) no children at play |
+The horror of the hunger of the European children. | |
| 05.19.1946 | columbia workshop (016) the trial |
+ The strange story by this strange author, foretelling the horrors of totalitarianism. | |
| 05.26.1946 | columbia workshop (017) the fisherman and the genie |
+A fairy tale based on Arabian Legend, filled with spells, magic, and the forces of good and evil. | |
| 06.02.1946 | columbia workshop (018) richard iii |
+ The supporting performers were members of The Old Vic Theatre Company. | |
| 06.09.1946 | columbia workshop (019) peer gynt |
+ A performance by the Old Vic Theatre Company of England. A beautiful production, fairly well adapt... | |
| 06.16.1946 | columbia workshop (020) sometime every summertime |
+ Possibly Fletcher Markle's first program for CBS. He used the same script when he was directing "S... | |
| 06.23.1946 | columbia workshop (021) how radar saved democracy |
+ A fascinating explanation of the invention of radar and how the British defeated the Nazis with it... | |
| 06.30.1946 | columbia workshop (022) this is singing country (1776 1864) | ||
| 07.07.1946 | columbia workshop (023) the day baseball died |
+ Interesting story of that fantastic pitch "Knucklerduster II" and the way it ended the game of bas... | |
| 07.14.1946 | columbia workshop (024) three's company |
+ A well-written trilogy about three couples with martial problems told in 3 separate stories with q... |
COLUMBIA RADIO WORKSHOP
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