The Ghost Writer

Destination Freedom is a Chicago based series form radio's classic era which brought to life the experiences of Black Americans. This episode is entitled, Ghost Editor. It's the story of Oklahoma newspaper publisher Roscoe Dunjee. He founded the Black Dispatch in 1915, it was the first African-American newspaper in Oklahoma City. Dunjee used it as a platform to support civil rights and to reveal the injustices facing African-Americans. More at http://krobcollection.com

Many experts believe he was the greatest boxer of all time. Henry Armstrong, famously nicknamed "Hurricane Hank, achieved a monumental feat that remains unmatched in boxing history. Armstrong held three simultaneous world championships, in three different weight classes—Featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight—during a brief period in 1938. The African-American was known for his relentless, high-volume punching style, and a seemingly endless energy supply. When he wasn't boxing, Armstrong was acting in the movies. He starred in the 1939 boxing film "Keep Punching", along side legendary Black actor Canada Lee. Over his boxing career, Armstrong compiled over 150 victories, and successfully defended his welterweight title a record-setting 18 times. In 1946, Armstrong retired from boxing and opened a Harlem nightclub. In 1966, he appeared on the network TV game show "I've Got A Secret".From NBC Radio in 1941, you're going to hear a difficult battle Armstrong had with fellow champion Fritzi Zivic. But first, the story of his life on a 1948 edition of Destination Freedom.More at KrobCollection.com

Horror and fantasy shows appeared on radio nearly from the very start. The first horror drama during radio's golden age was The Witch's Tale, which was aired from 1931 to 1938. It featured Old Nancy, the Witch of Salem, who introduced a different terror tale each week. You'll hear an episode from 1937. Another early horror program was Lights Out, which started in 1934 and eventually made it to television. We have an episode from 1939, as well as popular series Inner Sanctum and the Sealed Book both from 1945. Our horror fest ends with the show Quiet Please from 1947, a program that was unique because most episodes featured no more than two or three actors. More at http://krobcollection.com

Daniel Robert Bankhead was the first African American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. He had played for the Negro leagues starting in 1940, where is was also a powerful hitter. Bankhead served in the Marine Corps Reserve during World War Two, and achieved the rank of sergeant. He was signed by the same man who signed Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey. Even though Robinson was the first Black man to play in the Majors, there is no recording of his monumental premiere. But we have Dan Bankhead's debut as a major league starting pitcher which occurred on April 22nd, 1950 at Ebbets Field. So sit back and enjoy the sound of history as Dan Bankhead and the Dodgers battle the New York Giants.More at KRobCollection.com

From it's early days in the 1920's news was an important part of radio. The first newscasts were little more than announcers reading press releases and police reports. In the 1930s and 40s, network newscasts evolved into audio versions of newspaper columns. During the World War Two and into the 1950s there was the arrival of the radio news anchor, who presented reporters on the scene, with commentary confined to the people actually making the news. You're hear this transition develop over decades of radio news coverage. Elmer Davis on CBS Radio in 1939HV Kaltenborn on NBC Radio in 1940Walter Winchell in 1941, American Radio's most popular newsman at the time, and was heard on the Blue Network, which later became ABC.Fulton Lewis Jr on the Mutual Radio Network in 1942.Raymond Gram Swing on ABC Radio in 1945Mutual Newsreel Digest in 1950Taylor Grant suffers the news anchor's nightmare on ABC in 1953.The legendary Edward R. Murrow on CBS Radio in 1957.Frank Bourgholtzer on NBC Radio in 1961.Charles Osgood before he became famous in 1966 on ABC RadioBill Maher Jr, father of the famous comedian on Mutual Radio in 1969.Mike Stanley on CBS in 1969.James Limbach on Associated Press Radio in 1977. Al Williams on the Mutual Black Radio Network in 1978. David Leslie on ABC in 1978.Ed Gullo on RKO Radio in 1979.Pat Prescott on the National Black Network in 1981.Becky Bailey on Mutual in 1988. Jim Lounsbury on the United Press International radio network in 1989.Sheri Preston on ABC radio in 2004. More at KRobCollection.com

From 1955 it's the NBC Radio show Best of All. This episode featuring a salute to the National Association of Negro Musicians. Honoring African-Americans involved in classical music. The program is hosted by Marian Anderson, the famous contralto, who performed a wide range of music, from opera to spirituals, with renowned orchestras throughout the United States and Europe, between 1925 and 1965. More at http://krobcollection.com

The Great Gildersleeve was a radio situation comedy broadcast from 1941 to 1957. The series was built around the character of Throckmorton Gildersleeve, a small town water commissioner and his family. One of the co-stars was Lillian Randolph, an African-American actress and singer. However, later in the series her actress sister Amanda Randolph took the role. Both Randolphs were active during radio's golden age and were often mistaken for each other. First we'll hear Lillian, and then Amanda as Birdie the maid on the Great Gildersleeve. For details visit http://krobcollection.com

Destination Freedom - A Chicago based series from radio's classic era. This episode is entitled, Ghost Editor. It's the story of Oklahoma newspaper publisher Roscoe Dunjee. He founded the Black Dispatch in 1915, the first African-American newspaper in Oklahoma City. Dunjee used it as a platform to support civil rights and to reveal injustices. More at http://krobcollection.com

From the 1940's, it's the bar-room situation comedy series Duffy's Tavern, starring Ed Gardner as Archie the manager of the tavern. Co-starring on the show was Eddie Green, an actor, film director, and composer, who was one of the most influential African-American artists on radio during the golden age. Green got into the entertainment business as a boy magician in Baltimore, and later transitioned to Broadway, and the silver screen. Green's film career got him noticed by famous broadcasting personality Rudy Vallee who convinced Green to move to radio. This lead to appearances on the Fleischmann's Yeast Hour, The Royal Gelatin Hour, and Sealtest Dairy Show. Green was also a prolific songwriter, his biggest hit being "A Good Man Is Hard to Find.More at http://krobcollection.com

From the 1940s, this is the popular and influential Wings Over Jordan program. It was a Sunday morning show, named for the prominent African American choir that performed on it during the 1930s and 1940s. The choir was founded in 1935 by Rev. Glen Settle pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. The show originated on local station WGAR, but was picked up nationwide by the CBS Network. Wings Over Jordan used sermons and spirituals to promote civil rights across Jim Crow America.For details visit http://krobcollection.com