{"id":3357,"date":"2012-04-09T07:07:19","date_gmt":"2012-04-09T12:07:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=3357"},"modified":"2013-10-07T12:26:27","modified_gmt":"2013-10-07T17:26:27","slug":"reprocessing-the-federal-theatre-project-radioscripts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=3357","title":{"rendered":"Reprocessing the Federal Theatre Project – Radioscripts"},"content":{"rendered":"

In support of JAM (Jazz Appreciation Month) I\u2019ve selected two scripts from the Federal Theatre Radio Division of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP) to highlight in this update on reprocessing the FTP.\u00a0 In the radio script series we have over 200 original scripts used for radio productions. These productions are arranged alphabetically by title. Found within overarching titles are often multiple broadcasts.\u00a0 Examples include stories of Detective O’Malley, the Federal Theatre of the Air, the Ibsen and Oscar Wilde cycles, and many non-fiction themes such as History in Action, Pioneers in Science, and Portraits in Oil. One theme that dealt with contemporary history is the set of broadcasts called \u201cThe Story of Swing\u201d.\u00a0 Two of the scripts housed at George Mason Special Collections and Archives are \u201cHarlem in the 30\u2019s\u201d and \u201cWhite Jazz and the Commercial Era\u201d.<\/p>\n

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First page of the radio scripts \u201cHarlem in the 30\u2019s\u201d and \u201cWhite Jazz and the Commercial Era\u201d from the Federal Theatre Project Collection C0002. Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.<\/p><\/div>\n

These shows featured conversations on the history of jazz and the popularity of swing at the time. \u00a0As the announcer says at the beginning of \u201cHarlem in the 30\u2019s\u201d:<\/p>\n

And so throughout the length and breadth of America, today modern music \u2026SWING music\u2026 has become the most talked-of topic in every walk of life. Some shudder at this new trend\u2026others glory in rhythm that spreads from the bistros of 52nd<\/sup> Street to the sanctified concert hall.<\/p>\n

Even Gilbert and Sullivan have fallen under the spell of glorified swing\u2026as witness the current Federal Theatre hit \u2013 THE SWING MIKADO.<\/p>\n

But whether you consider swing music to be a meaningless jumble of noise, or something beautiful and original\u2026the fact remains that swing comes from jazz\u2026and jazz is America\u2019s own folk music.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As one can see in the above photograph the theme music for the show is denoted \u2013 Duke Ellington\u2019s \u201cDaybreak Express\u201d was used for both productions. Here is clip by Gira78giri on YouTube<\/a> of that song.
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