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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03.02.1941 | columbia workshop (068) roadside |
+ A farce of the old West. | |
| 02.23.1941 | columbia workshop (067) wings of an eagle |
+ A very touching crime story, beautifully told. | |
| 02.16.1941 | columbia workshop (066) a crop of beans |
+A tragedy of a Southern farm couple during the Depression. | |
| 02.02.1941 | columbia workshop (064) help me hannah |
+ A comedy about a Southern gal in New England and her fight with the Highway Department. | |
| 01.26.1941 | columbia workshop (063) this is from david |
+A sad story about a lonely rich boy whose mother is too busy for him. | |
| 01.12.1941 | columbia workshop (062) cassidy and the devil |
+ An Irish tale about a deal with the devil, but with a happy ending. Good Irish wit. The script was... | |
| 01.05.1941 | columbia workshop (061) love in 32 bars |
+What pop and jazz is, as we know it "today," and why it's the favorite of millions. | |
| 12.29.1940 | columbia workshop (060) dr johnson in scotland |
+ A well-written philosophical portrait of the famous doctor, on a tour with Boswell. | |
| 12.22.1940 | columbia workshop (59) the plot to overthrow christmas |
+The fiendish schemes of the Devil and the arch-villains of all time are to kill Santa Claus and eli... | |
| 12.08.1940 | columbia workshop (057) trojan women |
+ The classic Greek tragedy about the Trojan War. | |
| 12.01.1940 | columbia workshop (056) and to think i saw it on mulberry street |
+A fine story about an imaginative boy named Marco and his parade down a street in New York. The pro... | |
| 11.24.1940 | columbia workshop (055) dynasts |
+The story of Napoleon's aborted invasion of England. | |
| 11.17.1940 | columbia workshop (054) i get the blues from revues |
+A musical look at the life of a Broadway producer, in the Runyon tradition. | |
| 11.10.1940 | columbia workshop (053) piano recital |
+ Mr. and Mrs. Bela Bartok perform Bartok's "Sonata For Two Pianos and Percussion" (world radio prem... | |
| 11.03.1940 | columbia workshop (052) the constitution |
+Readings from the famous American document and its amendments, broadcast shortly before election da... | |
| 10.27.1940 | columbia workshop (051) fulton fish market |
+A "choric poem" read by Bob Edge, a CBS sportscaster. A romance of the sea and the fish in it. | |
| 10.20.1940 | columbia workshop (050) a man's house |
+ A tale about a wealthy family at the time of Jesus. | |
| 09.29.1940 | columbia workshop (048) the pussy cat and the expert plumber who was a man |
+ An amusing fantasy about a cat with a yen for politics and a knack for blackmail! | |
| 09.15.1940 | columbia workshop (046) mr charles |
+ A well-written story with a surprise ending about a harmless, shell-shocked old man and a murder. | |
| 09.08.1940 | columbia workshop (045) the major goes over the hill |
+ A tough army major suddenly cannot make a decision, deserts, and becomes a beauty advisor! | |
| 09.01.1940 | columbia workshop (044) alf, the all american fly |
+An excellent comedy/fantasy that only radio could have made possible. | |
| 08.25.1940 | columbia workshop (043) i followed the seals |
+A beautifully done, nostalgic look backwards at the good old days of vaudeville. | |
| 08.18.1940 | columbia workshop (042) the 500 hats of bartholomew cubbins |
+ The famous children's tale well directed by Nila Mack. | |
| 08.11.1940 | columbia workshop (041) nightmare at noon radio in the rain |
+ Two well-written, well-read anti-fascist poems. | |
| 07.28.1940 | columbia workshop (040) carmilla |
+ A Victorian horror story with hints of vampires, blood, death, other goodies; well told! |
COLUMBIA RADIO WORKSHOP
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