D-Day Coverage on CBS Radio: A Collector's Item

Anyone interested in collecting old-time radio broadcasts might consider the CBS D-Day coverage of Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7, 1944. My own set of tapes, which I acquired from a dealer no longer in business, begins at 8:30 a.m. on the 6th and runs continuously until 4:45 p.m. on the 7th except for a break between 3:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on the second day. The sound quality is almost uniformly outstanding.

Control central for these transmissions was CBS World News Headquarters in New York, which fully exercised its authority in pre-empting regularly scheduled programs in favor of a multitude of war-related presentations. Nevertheless-- and happily for the collector-- a great many other shows were swept up in the broader net and have been preserved as well. These are mostly musical performances and soap operas, but with a sprinkling of other generic forms also. They make this package about more than just the war, and therefore enhance its value to the student of the era's social and cultural history.

I have seen this material advertised by a number of internet dealers, usually identified by titles beginning with "CBS," "D-Day," or "Complete Day."

Following is a list of the broadcasts taken from my own copy. All times are Eastern War Time.

June 6, 1944:

8:30 a.m. D-Day news. Lead is press reaction to invasion.

9:00. CBS World News. With Douglas Edwards.

9:30. D-Day news. Lead is report on reaction in London.

10:00. Valiant Lady (soap opera).

10:15. The Light of the World (Biblical dramatic series).

10:30. The Open Door (soap opera).

10:45. Bachelor's Children (soap opera).

11:00. Amanda of Honeymoon Hill (soap opera).

11:15. Second Husband (soap opera).

11:30. D-Day news. Lead is report of Charles DeGaulle's arrival in London.

11:45. Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories (soap opera).

12:00 p.m. Kate Smith (commentary).

12:15. Big Sister (soap opera).

12:30. The Romance of Helen Trent (soap opera).

12:45. D-Day news. Lead is Edward R. Murrow from London.

1:30. Crisco's Radio Newspaper. With Bernadine Flynn.

1:45. D-Day news. Lead is military music.

2:30. Unannounced music. First number: "Stars and Stripes Forever." News reports follow.

3:00. D-Day news. Lead is address by King George VI from London.

3:30. D-Day news. Lead is Merrill Mueller from Eisenhower's headquarters in England.

4:00. Unannounced music. News reports interspersed.

5:00. D-Day news. Lead is John Daly.

5:15. "Archie Bleyer and the Orchestra." First number: "A Pal Joey Medley."

5:30. D-Day news. Lead is news summary.

6:00. D-Day news. Lead is Quincy Howe.

6:30. Jeri Sullivan's Dream House. Music. First number: "My Honey's Lovin' Arms."

6:45. The World Today. With Douglas Edwards.

7:00. D-Day news. Lead is John Daly.

7:15. The Passing Parade. A "special D-Day edition."

7:30. The American Melody Hour. First number: "Long Ago and Far Away."

8:00. Columbia Presents Corwin. "An American Trilogy, Part I: Sandburg."

8:30. D-Day news. Lead is John Daly.

9:00. The Burns and Allen Show (comedy).

9:30. The Doctor Fights (drama).

10:00. D-Day news. Lead is speech by President Roosevelt.

10:30. United States Navy Band Program. First number: "Victory Fanfare."

11:00. D-Day news. Lead is Ned Calmer.

11:15. Words and Music by Joan Brooks. First number: "Look for the Silver Lining."

11:30. D-Day news. Lead is George Hicks from an American warship at sea.

June 7, 1944:

12:30 a.m. "Harry James and His Musicmakers" [The first of several remote band broadcasts between now and 3:30 a.m.] First number: untitled original.

1:00. D-Day news. Lead is Robert Trout.

1:30. "Bill Snyder, His Piano and His Orchestra." First number: "What is This Thing Called Love?"

2:00. BBC newscast (8 a.m. news from London).

2:15. "Ralph Morrison, His Saxophone and His Orchestra." First number: "Maybe."

2:30. "Manny Strand and Band." First number: "Paradise."

2:45. "Dale Jones and Company." First number: "Tess'es Torch Song."

3:00. D-Day news. Douglas Edwards reporting.

3:05. Trianon Time. "Henry King, His Piano and His Orchestra." First number: "San Fernando Valley."

3:30. Off air.

9:00. CBS World News. Harry Marble reporting.

9:15. The Landt Trio. First number: "There'll Be Some Changes Made."

9:45. This Life is Mine (soap opera).

10:00. CBS World News. Harry Marble reporting.

10:15. The Light of the World (Biblical dramatic series).

10:30. The Open Door (soap opera).

10:45. Bachelor's Children (soap opera).

11:00. D-Day news.

11:15. Second Husband (soap opera).

11:30. Bright Horizon (soap opera).

11:45. Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories (soap opera).

12:00 p.m. Kate Smith (commentary).

12:15. Big Sister (soap opera).

12:30. The Romance of Helen Trent (soap opera).

12:45. Our Gal Sunday (soap opera).

1:00. Life Can Be Beautiful (soap opera).

1:15. Ma Perkins (soap opera).

1:30. Crisco's Radio Newspaper. With Bernadine Flynn.

1:45. The Goldbergs (comedy-drama serial).

2:00. Portia Faces Life (soap opera).

2:15. Joyce Jordan, M.D. (soap opera).

2:30. D-Day news. Lead is latest invasion update.

2:45. The New Adventures of Perry Mason (crime serial).

3:00. The Story of Mary Marlin (soap opera).

3:15. United States Navy Band program. First number: "Wings of Victory."

3:30. CBS World News. With Robert Trout.

3:45. The Jubilaires. First number: "Old Dan Tucker."

4:00. Broadway Matinee (variety).

4:30. D-Day news. Lead is John Daly.