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CHAPTER 3.1 MAIN INDEX OF (Reefer Madness) OLD TIME RADIO PROGRAMS What follows is the museum's main index of Audio "Reefer Madness" Old Time Radio Programs that the museum has been able to physically locate and hear OR for which we have strong reason to believe that they contained a Reefer Madness theme. Please do not fault us if this index listing is a bit on the short side. In the words of David Goldin (speaking about OTR's in general): "How many radio programs, of all the hundreds of thousands that were broadcast during the so-called "Golden Age" have been found to date? What percentage of what was broadcast will ever be found? The answers to both questions is, unfortunately, "not many" and "not much." . . . [and] I can predict that no matter the current or future total, it will represent only the smallest percentage of what was broadcast during the "Golden Age."In other words, very few Old Time Radio programs were actually recorded and we should be thankful that we got what we got, especially given the state of recording technology back then. According to James Smart of the Library of Congress: "Some of the chief obstacles to large-scale recording of programs in the 1920's and 1930's were the large and cumbersome equipment needed, the expense, and the storage problems by the recordings. The record cutters, or lathes, used by networks handled sixteen-inch aluminum discs . . . each side of the record could hold a fifteen-minute broadcast. Two lathes were necessary to make a continuous recording of a program running longer than [that]." Which today is causing us no end of problems for students of the era. Take for example the following program: "The Lone Ranger - Broadcasted May 14, 1937 - Loco-Weed (a.k.a. medical marihuana) smugglers are using coffins and fake funerals.”Great that that information could be located in an old magazine, but unfortunately, there are NO known audio recordings and it is believed that none was ever made. In addition, one can almost cry, when one reads in an old newspaper that such and such a speaker will discuss the marihuana evil over such and such a radio station etc. Now you just know, that they didn't make any recording of that speech. Additionally, OTR (Old Time Radio) fans have also been frustrated by what one can only be termed, the ---“I’ve got a copy, It’s mine, and I don’t want to share it”--- syndrome. An unfortunately very, very common practice among audio libraries. For example: The L.O.C. (Library of Congress) has a lot of OTR programs, donated to it by various sources, but try obtain copies from them. First, assuming that their is no copy-right, they want you to contact the actual donor or whoever donated the program and the first place and obtain written permission from them. [Why I do not know, but it’s their rules]. Next, only their technicians are allowed to make copies ---aka, between $200 and $300 per recording. Hey, this museum lives off of $5, $10 donations (that's a hint). No way we will have money to spend on a ---maybe it is, maybe it’s not a Reefer Madness theme OTR program. And unfortunately the L.O.C. is not alone in their reproduction polices. [Yuck] Which explains why we have so many MAYBES [but of which we have not physically heard], within our listings. Please note that a lot of energy has been spent on creating the most complete Index listings of proven Reefer Madness theme OTR programs possible. Granted a little anemic, but to the best of our knowledge, still the best one out there. - [Last update Feb 2010] Alphabetical Order: ATTORNEY AT LAW: [WANTED] aka - Terry Regan, Attorney at Law "Radio Broadcast - "The Attorney at law story this evening concerns attorney terry Regan’s effort to clean up a narcotics ring after he and his wife see the effects o marijuana addiction upon the daughter of a friend. Betty Winkler and Henry Hunter are starred in the series." -- The Fresno Bee Aug 23, 1938 pg8A [Source: Newspaper notices] BEHIND PRISON BARS : [WANTED] aka - BEHIND PRISON WALLS aka - WARDEN LEWIS E. LAWES Copy available @ Library of Congress (if you have the money to meet their ransom demands) Shelf no. RWA 3146 B3-4 [found @ Library of Congress] Title Behind prison walls Date Broadcast : 04/11/1938 Time 10:00 p.m. Medium Radio broadcast - Source NBC Blue network Performer(s) Warden Lewis E. Lawes. - Recording Note Duplicated from an NBC Blue network radio program broadcast of Apr. 11, 1938; 10:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Genre(s) Addresses--Radio - Name(s) Lawes, Lewis E. Physical Item RWA 3146 B3-4. 1 sound reel : 7.5ips, double-track ; 10-inch, 1/4-inch (polyester). Recording Laboratory 1982. Duration: 003000. Collection/Donor name: NBC Radio Collection. BEHIND PRISON WALLS - SEE "BEHIND PRISON BARS" BIG TOWN: [HIGHLY RECOMMENDED] THE BLUE BEETLE: [NOT RECOMMENDED] I don’t know if we can recommend this program for listening. It only mentions Marihuana ONCE, and after the first few minutes drifts away from the subject. However, by date and situation, it must be considered (at least by this museum) a Reefer Madness Program. [Source: Actual Program] THE BORDER PATROL: [HIGHLY RECOMMENDED] BROADWAY IS MY BEAT: CALLING ALL CARS: [RECOMMENDED] HOW CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SCIENCE HEALS: [WANTED] "Radio Broadcast - A former drug addict from Chicago reports that he was able to break away from the use of marijuana, heroin and other narcotics through gaining a spiritual understanding of God. He will tell how this was brought about through prayer in an interview on the Christian Science radio program over WROC, on 1180 kc, in Rochester, on Sunday at 9:15 a.m." As seen in the Oswego (N.Y.) Palladium Times for - (Thursday Feb. 25, 1960 p20) DRAGNET: [RECOMMENDED] Due to the sheer numbers of programs, Dragnet causes a sort of small problem for this Index, some of the programs ARE 100% Reefer Madness, while others only contain nothing more then a brief mention. Due more to logistical problems, we will list all anti-Medical marihuana references [Sources: Actual Programs] IT'S A CRIME MR. COLLINS: Famous Jury Trials - [No known copies Exist] FIGHTING SENATOR [WANTED] FU MANCHU: THE SHADOW FU MANCHU: THE DR. FU MANCHU: JUDY AND JANE: [HIGHLY RECOMMENDED] Young Marihuana Addict --- “But I’ve got to have some reefers, I’ve just got to have them”[Technical Note] - According to Reefer Madness Lore, it was always the High School Janitor. Perhaps the following, taken from the Sept 1937 issue of the International Medical Digest best describes the stereo type: “A typical way of introducing this weed to a group of young people is generally brought about in the following manner: One of them may encounter one of these peddlers, or as discovered in one Midwestern city, a school janitor was the distributor of the cigarettes for a group of peddlers on the outside. The youngster is told of the indescribable thrill resulting from a few puffs of these homemade cigarettes. He is usually told that it is "something different and causes no harm," but is a "real kick." He whispers this around to his closer friends and he is delegated to procure one or more of the cigarettes.” K-7: THE LONE RANGER: [WANTED -- No known copies exist] "MARIJUANA" [June 26, 1945]- 30 min The program plot line is based on the pulp novel story by Cornell Woolrich. HOWEVER -- According to David Goldin (the only one I know who has actually heard the program); Other then the TITLE name, no mention of Medical Marihuana is made. Alcohol seems to have been substituted. We (this museum) still want to hear the program for ourselves. THE NATION'S NIGHTMARE: [HIGHLY RECOMMENDED] Title: "Narcotics -- first show of the series" [Sep 13, 1951] 30 min. Must hearing, it begins with a howling wolf like sound made by a Medical Marihuana addict (new Orleans) while under the influence of Medical Marihuana. The program also contains the voices of Harry Anslinger (Hey he was a pretty good speaker, powerful voice, etc.), and also the voice of Dr. Victor Vogel, a well known reefer madness case. Bill Downs Moderator. [Source: Actual Program] - Andy Warhol Record Cover WASHINGTON POSTNIGHT WATCH: [RECOMMENDED] PERRY MASON: [WANTED] Portland Press Herald - Portland, Maine - Radio “Perry Mason - Kay Clements, having witnessed the actual sale of a box of marijuana cigarettes, becomes involved in the secret plot. Listen to the outcome on tide’s exciting drama. [Source: Portland Press Herald - April 30, 1950 pB6] THE SEARCH: [WANTED] SEMINAR IN HEALTH [WANTED] Author(s): O'Carroll, Patrick P. Conf Author(s): Seminar in Health Science; (1968 ; Ball State University, Muncie, Ind.) Year: 1968 Description: 2 sound tape reels (58 min.) :; analog, 3 3/4 ips, 1 track ;; 7 in. Note(s): Plastic; single track./ Address at the Seminar in Health Science entitled Drug dependence and abuse : an interdisciplinary approach, held at Ball State University, Muncie, Ind., July 29-Aug. 9, 1968./ Recorded Aug. 2, 1968. Material Type: Non-musical recording (nsr); Reel-to-reel tape (rtr) [Source: OCLC 28284605 Interloan Library System ] STAND BY FOR CRIME: [RECOMMENDED] SUSPENSE: [RECOMMENDED] TALES OF THE TEXAS RANGERS: [RECOMMENDED] TERRY REGAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW - SEE "ATTORNEY AT LAW" [Chicago Daily Defender - Feb 21, 1956 p20] - Marijuana Story on Radio Tonite” The dark-haired beauty, “La Morena,” made quite a case for Mutual’s TREASURY AGENT. How this beauteous damsel who trafficed in marijuana finally found badge-men who would not succumb to her wiles is detailed on the broadcast tonight (7 to 7:30) over Station WGN. [Nothing else is known abou the program] UNITED NATIONS RADIO: [WANTED]     MO UNIV OF MISSOURI, KANSAS CITY UMK Corp Author(s): Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. ; Marr Sound Archives. Year: 1951 Description: 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, mono. ; 16 in. Standard No: Publisher: 39,837; Abstract: A documentary about New York City dope addicts and what the United Nations is doing to help the addicts and cease the flow of narcotic drug traffic. Genre/Form: Documentary radio programs. Educational radio programs. Nonfiction radio programs. Radio specials. "File number 26554."/ Participants: Narrated by Gary Cooper; Jeff Sparks, U.N. reporter./ Recorded on Dec. 26, 1951 by United Nations Radio./ Funding: Cataloging project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation presented to the UMKC University Libraries Marr Sound Archives Responsibility: Directed by Jeff Sparks; produced by Gerald Keane; music by Irving Szathmary. Material Type: Non-musical recording (nsr); LP recording (lps) Document Type: Sound Recording [Source: OCLC 317893296 InterLoan Library System]     MO UNIV OF MISSOURI, KANSAS CITY UMK Author(s): Cooper, Gary,; 1901-1961. ; (Narrator) Sparks, Jeff. ; (Reporter) Corp Author(s): Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. ; Marr Sound Archives. Year: 1951 Description: 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, mono. ; 16 in. Abstract: A documentary about New York City dope addicts and what the United Nations is doing to help the addicts and cease the flow of narcotic drug traffic. "File number 26554."/ Participants: Narrated by Gary Cooper; Jeff Sparks, U.N. reporter./ Recorded on Dec. 26, 1951 by United Nations Radio./ Funding: Cataloging project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation presented to the UMKC University Libraries Marr Sound Archives Responsibility: Directed by Jeff Sparks; produced by Gerald Keane; music by Irving Szathmary. Material Type: Non-musical recording (nsr); LP recording (lps) Document Type: Sound Recording: [Source: OCLC 317893295 InterLoan Library System] WALTER WINCHELL - The Man on Broadway: [WANTED] WARDEN LEWIS E. LAWES - SEE "BEHIND PRISON BARS" THE WHISPERER: [HIGHLY RECOMMENDED] NEWS PROGRAM: [EDITORIAL BROADCAST] KACE Editorial Page, as aired on KACE Riverside (California). "Declare War on Mexico" regarding increased marijuana use among nation's young. -- Larry Mathis. "Library of American Broadcasting," University of Maryland NEWS PROGRAM: [GOVERNMENT HEARINGS] June 30, 1951 - CBS/WTOP Narcotics documentary (Governmental Hearings)- "Library of American Broadcasting," University of Maryland -- Lots of I've started on Marihuana type of stories. Only the first 7 ˝ minutes of the total program. WANT TO KNOW MORE: ===================== Due to space / download time considerations, only selected materials are displayed. If you would like to obtain more information, feel free to contact the museum. All our material is available (at cost) on CD-Rom format. Please contact: antique_andy@catholic.org
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