old time radio / reefer madness / anti- medical marijuana

THE REEFER MADNESS ERA

The Dark side of Old Time Radio
(Written / Text Versions:) Examining the facts behind the conspiracy

Of the thousands of programs that were broadcast during the golden age of radio, most were live broadcasts and thus were never actually recorded. This is the cause no end of consternation to historians and scholars alike. But fortunately for students of the reefer madness campaign, the exact words of numerous speeches and broadcasts (while never actually recorded) were saved for posterity. For example, entered into the congressional Record (for all future generations to see) can be found the powerful words of the Honorable Hamilton Fish (no joke that was his name):

"Marihuana is used largely in the form of cigarettes, which cause delusions and produce insanity and often lead to atrocities that only a drug-soaked mind could conceive. Marihuana is a sinister drug that has only recently become available and popular among the younger element. It is much cheaper than cocaine heroin, or morphine, and to that extent more dangerous, and is fast becoming a serious menace. There should be drastic laws . . . effective legislation without further delay to curb and, if possible, wipe out this growing evil and menace to the youth of America." - The Growing Menace of Narcotic Drugs - As broadcasts on Feb. 23, 1937 - WJSV - CBS - Washington DC

Additionally, some of these radio programs were talked about in various magazines and newspaper articles. As an illustration, few if any would know about a radio broadcast titled "A Radio Symposium on MARIHUANA---THE KILLER DRUG" had it not been mentioned in the Literary Digest (Jan. 1, 1938) a leading magazine of its day.

One can only imagine what else was being said during that era.

"NARCOTIC EDUCATION" [Text version only] Feb. 21, 1935 - (1:PM Chicago studios) CBS speech by Ida B. Wise Smith: - President of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Text of speech was taken from the Congressional Record (Senate) as entered March 26, 1935 [page 4425]. Much of the speech is devoted to the evils of Marihuana.

"WE BATTLE WITH A BEAST" [Text version only] Jan 24, 1935 (National Broadcast) -By Grace Morrison Poole, president of the "General Federation of Women's Clubs." Text of speech was taken from the Congressional Record (Senate) as entered March 26, 1935 [page 4424]. The speech is mostly about narcotics in general with Marihuana mentioned in only one paragraph as follows: "It Is bad enough when the addict is an adult, but we have very good reason to know that at the present time in our colleges, and even in our high schools, drug peddlers are getting a lucrative living through selling a type of cigarette made from the marihuana (mar-i-wa-na) weed, which is known in the parlance of the peddlers as the "killer drug." It comes from a weed that grows in many of the States of the Union, and the student of narcotics tells us that the number of users of this particular drug is growing most rapidly in this country. The users, we are also told, are frequently turned into cruel monsters who commit the most atrocious crimes."

BROADCAST SPEECH - [WANTED]
WANTED - The museum is looking for a copy of this program
Feb. 19, 1934 - Isabelle Ahern O'Neill, (text of radio address over JAR Providence R.I

BROADCAST SPEECH - [WANTED]- Harry Anslinger - [Text version only]
WANTED - The museum is looking for a copy of this program
Today on the Radio - Thursday, Dec. 13, 1934 10:30-11:00 A.M.---"The Narcotic Evil," Harvey Anslinger(sic), commissioner of narcotics, at Crime Conference, Washington, D.C. --- WEAF. As seen in the New York times of Dec. 13,1934 pp26

BROADCAST SPEECH- Harry Anslinger - [Text version only]
"MARIHUANA"- Oct. 25, 1937 - Address by Mr. H.J. Anslinger, U.S. Commissioner of Narcotics, over the Columbia Broadcasting Network - 2.:30 P.M., Oct 25, 1937.
Frederick Post Friday Oct 22, 1937 pp4 --"[Radio Broadcast] - MARIJUANA AND CRIME - What to expect Saturday - WABC CBS --- 6:45 Fighting Crime. Harry Anslinger of the treasury department on "Marijuana and Crime."
The Clearfield Progress (PA) Friday Oct. 22, 1937 "[Radio Day by Day] 6:45 Fighting Crime, Harry Anslinger of the Treasury Department on "Marijuana and Crime." WJZ-NBC
[Museum note, the text version of the speech does not take up a full 15 minutes so something else must have been edited out.]

BROADCAST SPEECH - [WANTED]
WANTED - The museum is looking for a copy of this program Feb. 24, 1936 - H. Anslinger "The need for Narcotic Education" speech over NBC Radio.

A RADIO SYMPOSIUM ON MARIHUANA, THE KILLER DRUG 1937 - Mimeographed./ "Presented over the network of the Mutual Broadcasting System, Friday, December 3, 1937, 2:15 p.m. E.S.T." Presented by the interstate Commission on Crime of the Council of State Governments.

"THE GROWING MENACE OF NARCOTIC DRUGS" - [Text version only] Feb. 24, 1937 -Radio speech (Columbia broadcasting System - WJSV, Washington) of the Honorable Mr. Hamilton Fish (House of Rep. N.Y.). Text of speech was taken from the Congressional Record (Appendix) Vol. 81, Part 9 page 319.

"MARIHUANA" [Text version only]
Oct. 25, 1937 - Address by Mr. H.J. Anslinger, U.S. Commissioner of Narcotics, over the Columbia Broadcasting Network - 2.:30 P.M. [Readers may also want to look over the following newspaper announcements]
Frederick Post Friday Oct 22, 1937 pp4
MARIJUANA AND CRIME - "What to expect," WABC CBS --- 6:45 Fighting Crime. Harry Anslinger of the treasury department on "Marijuana and Crime."
The Clearfield Progress (PA)
Friday Oct. 22, 1937 - "Radio Day by Day" 6:45 Fighting Crime, Harry Anslinger of the Treasury Department on "Marijuana and Crime." WJZ-NBC

DOWN BEAT -- CONSPIRACY WATCH
Isn't it odd that the management of Down Beat Magazine obtained a nice juicy government contract to produce a set of WW2 victory programs just at about the same time that the magazine started printing up some juicy reefer madness articles? Isn't it even odder that these articles should have appeared at all? I mean the editors had access to the likes of Cab (do you know the reefer man) Calloway et al, and most assuredly must have known the truth. -- Coincidence or conspiracy?

DOWN BEAT Magazine: [Text versions only]
[e Jan. 15, 1943] "Tea Scandal Stirs Musicdom"
[e Jan. 15, 1943 pg.10] Editorial - - TEA AND TRUMPETS ARE BAD MIXTURE! - Mike Levin editor
[e Feb. 1, 1943] "Marijuana Use by Musicians"- This great issue features all the music news one could want including a report on investigations by narcotics bureaus on US Military musicians and their use of "tea".
[e May 1, 1943 pg.1] Gene Krupa Takes Plea
[e May 15, 1943 pg.1] Prison Terms in Weed Case
[e May 15, 1943 pg.2] Krupa Denies Plea of Guilt, Set for Trial -
[e June 1, 1943] Fine and Jail For Gene Krupa
[e Aug. 1, 1943] "Gene Krupa Bribery Pot Bust " - This scarcer wartime issue features a Nan Wynn cover & alot of Big Band Celebrity news including the lead story in this issue- Gene Krupa's Bribery & marijuana arrest.
[e Oct. 15, 1943] Weed Arrests On the Coast
[e Mar. 15, 1944 pg.1] Musicians Used for Weed Medical Test - By Frank Stacy
[e Sep 1, 1944] Tests Show Tea-Kick Proves A Poor Lick - by Johnny Sippel
[e Dec. 15, 1944] Leader Seized On Weed Charge
[e Feb 1, 1945] Light Up Gates, Report Finds 'Tea' A Good Kick

LITERARY DIGEST MAGAZINE [Text version only]
PUBLISHER: Funk & Wagnalls Company, N.Y.
[e Oct. 24, 1936 pg. 7] Topics of the day --"Facts and Fancies About Marihuana" - Must reading, Acid trip picture of Cab Caloway.
[e Jan 1, 1938]- "Marijuana menace" By Clarence VB. Beck, Attorney General of Kansas

THE KEYNOTE - [WANTED]
[WANTED] - The museum is looking for a copy of this program
Monthly publication of the Detroit Federation of musicians
Editorial dealing with the use of marihuana- Jan/Feb 1941 - magazine

MELODY MAKER
"Dope Cigarette Peddling among British Musicians" Feb 22, 1936 pp1.

MUSIC AND RHYTHM MAGAZINE [Text version only]
[e Oct 1941 pg. 40] "Was Marihuana responsible for Bus Etri's Death?" - By Robert Crandall - Music and Rhythm was a rival to the US frontrunner Down Beat.

RADIO STARS [Text version only]
[e July 8, 1938 pg. 8] "Exposing the marihuana Drug Evil in Swing bands" - By Jack Hanley.

THE UNION SIGNAL -(National Woman's Christian Temperance Union):
[e Feb. 5, 1944 V.70]- "Tea Scandal Stirs Musicdom" - Reprint from Down Beat Magazine.

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (A Major NewsPaper)
[e June 19, 1938] "The Black Side of Swing" By George D. Lottman [Magazine Section]- "This Vicious Part that Potent Marihuana Plays in Stimulating Certain Melody makers to fantastic heights of inspirations and the efforts made in eliminate the evil"

BROADCAST SPEECH - Meet Marijuana Evil Promptly, Urges Loomis - Madison - Attorney General Orland S. Loomis warned in a radio speech last night that the marijuana evil must be met with promptly. While indications are that the marijuana problem in Wisconsin is not at present a major one, close scrutiny is advisable to prevent it from becoming a serious menace. Through the cooperation of law enforcing agencies, the necessary legislation, and assistance of public-spirited citizens, we should be able to meet this problem," Loomis declared. -- Oshkosh Northwestern Oct 1, 1938 Saturday -

====== NEWSPAPER RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS =========

Drug Czar Harry Anslinger Speaks over Radio:
FREDERICK POST - Frederick, Maryland
[--Oct 22, 1937 pg. 4] Radio "MARIJUANA and Crime"
CLEARFIELD PROGRESS - Clearfield, Pennsylvania
[--Oct 22, 1937] "Marijuana and Crime "

NEW YORK TIMES
[ Feb. 18, 1932 pp29]
[ Dec. 13,1934 pp26] "The Narcotic Evil,"
[ Feb. 23, 1936 ppXX11] "Marihuana Cigarette Menace"
[ Feb 24, 1936 pp13] "Marihuana Cigarette Menace"

World Narcoitc Defense Association
New York times of Apr. 13,1936 pp33
New York times Apr. 12,1936 pp.XX9
New York Times of Feb 27, 1936 pp17
New York times of Feb. 26, 1936 pp15
New York times of July 7, 1935 ppX10
New York times of Nov. 25, 1934 ppX12
New York times of Feb. 27, 1932 pp20
New York times of Feb. 18, 1932 pp29

W.C.T.U. (Women's Christian Temperance Union) Radio Speech(s):
CLEARFIELD PROGRESS - Clearfield, Pennsylvania
[--Aug. 02, 1938 pg. 8] "The Marijuana Evil" Radio speech
FREDERICK POST - Frederick, Maryland
[--Aug 02, 1938 pg. 4] "The MARIJUANA Evil" radio notice of
ZANESVILLE SIGNAL
[--Aug. 2, 1938 pp 3.]
RENO EVENING GAZETTE - Reno Nevada
[-- Aug. 2, 1938-pp 9.]
NEVADA STATE JOURNAL - Reno Nevada
Aug. 3, 1938 pp 5 ]
SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
[--Aug 3, 1938 pg7,] "The Marijuana Evil"
NEW YORK TIMES
[--Feb. 21, 1935 pp36] The Narcotic Evil,"

"Behind Prison bars" a radio program by Warden Lawes of Sing, Sing prison:
APPLETON POST CRESCENT - Appleton, Wisconsin
[--Apr 11, 1938 pg. 5] "Today's Radio Highlights" Radio

The Nation's Nightmare - A short about the program:
SYRACUSE HERALD JOURNAL
[--July 26, 1951 pp63] - Looking and Listening by Thomas D. Coolican

Radio Speech given by Attorney General (Wisconsin) Orland S. Loomis on the evils of Marihuana:
OSHKOSH NORTHWESTERN - Oshkosh, Wisconsin
[--Oct. 01, 1938 pg. 4] "Meet Marijuana Evil Promptly, Urges Loomis" Radio
SHEBOYGAN PRESS - Sheboygan, Wisconsin
[--Oct. 01, 1938] "Marihuana Menace Is Topic of Attorney General Loomis" Radio
[--Oct. 13, 1938] "Problem of Marihuana One that must be Met, Says Attorney General Loomis" Radio
[--Oct. 25, 1938 pg. 15] "Talk On Marihuana Scheduled On WHBL" Radio

Radio Ad for the Perry Mason program:
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD - Portland, Maine
[--April 30, 1950 pg. B6] 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.

Rev. Robert James Divine (author of "Marihuana - Assassin of Youth") will be giving a lecture and one or more radio talks:
EVENING COURIER - Urbana Ill.
[--Feb 18, 1938 pg. 7] "Marijuana will be subject of talk by Dr. Devine Monday" Rober Devine -Radio
COURIER - Champaign, Illinois
[--Feb 18, 1938 ] "Marijuana will be subject of talk by Dr. Devine Monday" Robert Devine -Radio

No attempt is made to suggest that this list is in any way complete. At best, it is but a starting point. For those interested, most of these texts are available to museum members in electronic CD-ROM format or can be obtain via commercial OTR web sites.