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Cavalcade of America AI simulator
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Cavalcade of America AI simulator
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Cavalcade of America
Cavalcade of America is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented musicals, such as an adaptation of Show Boat, and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially broadcast on radio from 1935 to 1953, and on television from 1952 to 1957. Originally on CBS Radio, the series pioneered the use of anthology drama for company audio advertising. The series moved to the NBC Red Network, NBC Blue network, and NBC Radio Network.
DuPont's motto, "Maker of better things for better living through chemistry," was read at the beginning of each program, and the dramas emphasized humanitarian progress, particularly improvements in the lives of women, often through technological innovation.
Cavalcade of America started as part of a successful campaign to reinvigorate DuPont. In the early 1930s, the Nye Committee investigations concluded that DuPont had made a fortune profiteering in World War I. The company stood accused of encouraging an arms race between World War I enemies, after being heavily subsidized by the Allies to increase black powder production. The negative effects of the investigation left the company demoralized, directionless and with a tarnished corporate image in the middle of the Great Depression. DuPont was not the only company being investigated, those were H Hercules Powder Company, General Motors Corporation, Anaconda Copper Company, United States Steel Corporation, and Bethlehem Steel Company.
DuPont's products were primarily not for public consumption, so there was no purpose in promoting them through advertising. As a solution to DuPont's troubles, Roy S. Durstine, then creative director of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, proposed the creation of Cavalcade of America using the company motto. This was to be an important element in the successful rebranding of DuPont as an American legacy engaged in making products for the well-being of Americans and humanity in general.[citation needed] Durstine hired Arthur Pryor, Jr. in 1927 to head the BBDO radio department. Pryor either directed or oversaw the development of General Motors Family Party and The Parade of the States, Standard Oil of New York's Soconyland Sketches, and DuPont's Cavalcade of America. BBDO presented DuPont with two programs: a Channing Pollock monologue and Cavalcade of America. Lammot du Pont II and DuPont's executive committee inspected in detail the show until Bruce Barton got involved. Durstine and Columbia Broadcasting System came to terms with network affiliates and its willingness to broadcast a program from an advertising firm. Edgar Kobak, vice president of sales at NBC Radio Network, was not happy that NBC had lost out to CBS.
DuPont's image problems led the company to promote some pacifist and socialist ideals. DuPont stipulated several topics would be taboo on the show, such as gunfire of any kind, which attracted writers such as Norman Rosten and Arthur Miller, who had signed the Oxford Pledge while at University of Michigan. For scripts, the program was also able to attract such prominent writers as Maxwell Anderson, Stephen Vincent Benét, Carl Sandburg and Robert Sherwood. Although Yale University historian Frank Monaghan signed on as an advisor to ensure historically accuracy of the scripts, listeners were quick to point out anachronisms; trains did not use air brakes in 1860 instead used brakemen, and Washington's troops could not have sung O Tannenbaum while crossing the Delaware since it was written forty-eight years after that event making the program not have continuity.
Cavalcade of America offered something different than the escapist entertainment, the sensationalized cries of soap operas, or the hard-boiled dialogue of crime thrillers. It offered a look back at American History. Producers made careful decisions on scripts deliberately trying to avoid offending the affluent audience and not including people of color. The show gained a wider audience giving producers confidence to do different story material. This produced stories from Hollywood screenwriters, film adaptions, and original works. Singer Woody Guthrie performed on an episode titled Wild Bill Hickok: The Last Of Two Gun Justice in 1940. In June 1944, producers thought about changing the program to a folksy serial and sought out stars and stories for its upcoming season.
The premiere episode of Cavalcade of America titled No Turning Back starred Walter Hampden as Edward Winslow in part one and a farmer, a descendent of Winslow, in South Dakota in part two on October 9, 1935.
In the summer of 1936 Cavalcade of America deviated from its normal storytelling to air music starting with The Development Of Band Music In America, Part 1: The Small Bands: Sousa, Gilmore And Pryor and ending with Music Of The Movies. The September 1, 1936, episode opened with Gypsy Love Song from Victor Herbert's The Fortune Teller and featured from the Broadway plays On Your Toes and Florodora.
Cavalcade of America
Cavalcade of America is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented musicals, such as an adaptation of Show Boat, and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially broadcast on radio from 1935 to 1953, and on television from 1952 to 1957. Originally on CBS Radio, the series pioneered the use of anthology drama for company audio advertising. The series moved to the NBC Red Network, NBC Blue network, and NBC Radio Network.
DuPont's motto, "Maker of better things for better living through chemistry," was read at the beginning of each program, and the dramas emphasized humanitarian progress, particularly improvements in the lives of women, often through technological innovation.
Cavalcade of America started as part of a successful campaign to reinvigorate DuPont. In the early 1930s, the Nye Committee investigations concluded that DuPont had made a fortune profiteering in World War I. The company stood accused of encouraging an arms race between World War I enemies, after being heavily subsidized by the Allies to increase black powder production. The negative effects of the investigation left the company demoralized, directionless and with a tarnished corporate image in the middle of the Great Depression. DuPont was not the only company being investigated, those were H Hercules Powder Company, General Motors Corporation, Anaconda Copper Company, United States Steel Corporation, and Bethlehem Steel Company.
DuPont's products were primarily not for public consumption, so there was no purpose in promoting them through advertising. As a solution to DuPont's troubles, Roy S. Durstine, then creative director of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, proposed the creation of Cavalcade of America using the company motto. This was to be an important element in the successful rebranding of DuPont as an American legacy engaged in making products for the well-being of Americans and humanity in general.[citation needed] Durstine hired Arthur Pryor, Jr. in 1927 to head the BBDO radio department. Pryor either directed or oversaw the development of General Motors Family Party and The Parade of the States, Standard Oil of New York's Soconyland Sketches, and DuPont's Cavalcade of America. BBDO presented DuPont with two programs: a Channing Pollock monologue and Cavalcade of America. Lammot du Pont II and DuPont's executive committee inspected in detail the show until Bruce Barton got involved. Durstine and Columbia Broadcasting System came to terms with network affiliates and its willingness to broadcast a program from an advertising firm. Edgar Kobak, vice president of sales at NBC Radio Network, was not happy that NBC had lost out to CBS.
DuPont's image problems led the company to promote some pacifist and socialist ideals. DuPont stipulated several topics would be taboo on the show, such as gunfire of any kind, which attracted writers such as Norman Rosten and Arthur Miller, who had signed the Oxford Pledge while at University of Michigan. For scripts, the program was also able to attract such prominent writers as Maxwell Anderson, Stephen Vincent Benét, Carl Sandburg and Robert Sherwood. Although Yale University historian Frank Monaghan signed on as an advisor to ensure historically accuracy of the scripts, listeners were quick to point out anachronisms; trains did not use air brakes in 1860 instead used brakemen, and Washington's troops could not have sung O Tannenbaum while crossing the Delaware since it was written forty-eight years after that event making the program not have continuity.
Cavalcade of America offered something different than the escapist entertainment, the sensationalized cries of soap operas, or the hard-boiled dialogue of crime thrillers. It offered a look back at American History. Producers made careful decisions on scripts deliberately trying to avoid offending the affluent audience and not including people of color. The show gained a wider audience giving producers confidence to do different story material. This produced stories from Hollywood screenwriters, film adaptions, and original works. Singer Woody Guthrie performed on an episode titled Wild Bill Hickok: The Last Of Two Gun Justice in 1940. In June 1944, producers thought about changing the program to a folksy serial and sought out stars and stories for its upcoming season.
The premiere episode of Cavalcade of America titled No Turning Back starred Walter Hampden as Edward Winslow in part one and a farmer, a descendent of Winslow, in South Dakota in part two on October 9, 1935.
In the summer of 1936 Cavalcade of America deviated from its normal storytelling to air music starting with The Development Of Band Music In America, Part 1: The Small Bands: Sousa, Gilmore And Pryor and ending with Music Of The Movies. The September 1, 1936, episode opened with Gypsy Love Song from Victor Herbert's The Fortune Teller and featured from the Broadway plays On Your Toes and Florodora.