Edward Albano (Rigoletto) ; Dorothy Chapman (Gilda) ; Mike Raggini (Duke) ; Imerio Ferrari (Sparafucile) ; Elizabeth Hoeppel (Madalena) ; Miguel Sandoval, conductor.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
4 recordings
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Arthur Mitchell speaks with Kyra Lynn Kaptzan about his early experience in social dance and his training at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City; his scholarship to Bennington College; his scholarship to School of American Ballet; his training in all styles of dance; starting ballet training at age 18; performing on Broadway, in nightclubs and on television; performing George Balanchine's Western symphony with Tanaquil Le Clercq; performing in Europe with John Butler's American Dance Theatre, with Glen Tetley; joining New York City Ballet in 1955 as a corps member; performing for 15 years with the company; working with Balanchine; founding the Dance Theatre of Harlem School after the assassination of Martin Luther King; the importance of educating children; the role of a Ford Foundation grant and Mitchell's increasing business skills in the development of Dance Theatre of Harlem; the various educational departments at the school; his belief in the importance of an academic education; Karel Shook's influence as a teacher on black dancers and on the school; Mitchell's approach to audience building; the importance of a varied dance repertoire; his thoughts on choreographing; Alexandra Danilova's influence as a role model for female students; male dancers at Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Includes 86 scripts Caswell wrote for the Rochester War Council Speakers' Bureau, 1942-1943 and 28 scripts for The Romance of Old Indian Days broadcast on WHAM, 1937-1938, sponsored by the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences.
Merrill Ashley speaks with Kyra Lynn Kaptzan about the reasons for her rise in prominence at New York City Ballet, including her increased exposure onstage and her principal role in George Balanchine's Ballo della regina; performing roles often danced by Suzanne Farrell and Patricia McBride; dancing a variety of roles; works she would like to perform; rehearsing Ballo della regina with Balanchine, the first principal role he created for her; recording the New York City Ballet repertoire for the television program Dance in America, including the difficulties of filming for television; studying at School of American Ballet; living in New York City as a student; joining New York City Ballet; the possibility of dancing with other companies; changing her name from Linda Merrill to Merrill Ashley; leisure activities; injuries; attending performances of New York City Ballet and other companies.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Part of the Washington Press Club Project, this interview contains material relating to Taylor's radio career, including CBS Radio News during World War II and late 1940s, her reflections on major figures at CBS Radio News, a description of staff and programming, production of news story on atomic energy, women in broadcasting, as a radio broadcaster in Los Angeles during 1950s and 1960s and on Firing Line, 1964-1966.
A recording of an interview with Muller in which he discusses his career as a child actor in Hollywood and as a contestant in radio quiz shows, including The Hollywood Smarty Party and also his appearances on other radio shows such as I Was There and the Mercury Theater of the Air.
Tape contains live performance of the Primarvera String Quartet in in Coolidge Auditorium at Library of Congress. The concert was broadcast on WETA with announcer Steve Ember. Paul Seiko Chihara composed the second piece for the quartet in 1978. The encore of the concert is the first movement of Five songs for string quartet, arranged by Stanley Silverman from George Gershwin's song "He loves, [and] she loves" from Funny face.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
The Museum maintains a large audio collection of radio programs that can be listened to on site. Program holdings cannot be searched online but the research staff will respond to individual queries. The New York City location maintains the main archive. If a program is not available in the Beverly Hills site, a researcher can request that it be dubbed in New York and sent to California. See the Addendum for an additional collection dealing with broadcasts of boxing matches.
Includes scripts and audio for the program broadcast on WMCA and the Inter City Network. Most, but not all, of the audio is on 16" transcription discs.
Contains broadcast recordings done during World War II for Jewish troops. Includes Cantor Putterman officiating at High Holiday services and Rabbi Phillip S. Bernstein and Governor Herbert Lehman addressing troops. Also includes recordings, some scripts and music scores for The Eternal Light, 1945-1948.
David Randolph plays excerpts from three different interpretations of J. S. Bach's B minor mass, keeping the idenities of the performers and conductors a secret until the end of track 1.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Martin Bookspan interviews American contemporary music composer Milton Babbitt. Babbitt talks about his career as a composer; about the difficulties with recordings of his works. The composer discusses in detail each of the following works, excerpts of which are then played during the interview: Philomel (for soprano, recorded soprano, and synthesized sound, text by John Hollander) (1964), Relata I (1965), Sextets (for violin and piano) (1966), Sounds and words (for soprano and piano), All set (for jazz ensemble), String quartet no. 4.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Scripts and correspondence relating to the 12 radio programs Dr. Arthur J. May of the University of Rochester History Department gave over WHAM in 1943. Note: Script for program #11 is missing.
Contains correspondence, scripts, manuscripts and reports regarding his activities in the American radio and film industries. Included are papers regarding projects about various television and radio networks and private ventures. Also includes material regarding the Center for Mass Communications of Columbia University in which Bamouw figured prominently and files for the books he has written dealing with radio history. The online catalog listing for the Papers includes the names of more than a dozen radio related people referenced in the collection. The Radio Pioneers Oral History project also contains a transcript of a Barnouw interview.
Repository/Collector:
Rare Book and Manuscript Collections, Butler Library
Martin Bookspan interviews American composer and teacher Jack Beeson. Beeson talks about his early interest in opera; and about his decision to become an "opera-composer" that was influenced by Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts; and about his career as a composer. The composer discusses each of the following works: Jonah (opera in two or three acts, libretto by the composer, adapted from the play by Paul Goodman) (1948-1950), Symphony no. 1 in A (1959), Lizzie Borden (opera in three acts, libretto by Kenward Elmslie, based on a scenario by Richard Plant, commissioned by the Ford Foundation) (1965), My heart's in the highlands (television opera, libretto by the composer, adapted from the play by William Saroyan, commissioned by the National Educational Television Opera Theater) (1969). Excerpts from Symphony no. 1 in A (second and third movements) and from the opera Lizzie Borden (second act) are played during the interview.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
In this recording, D. Randolph shares both rehearsals (candid warm-ups, song rehearsal clips and train noise) and final polished music tracks of various Christmas carols and one Monteverdi madrigal, "Non più guerra, pietate" sung by this group The Randolph Singers for their second volume of Christmas carols produced by Westminster Records. "Cradle in a manger" was performed and written by Gordon Myers. An unidentified radio announcer is featured at the end of the CD's first track.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Radio and television announcer, reporter, commentator, and host, Grauer began his career as a child actor on the Broadway stage and in silent movies. After graduating from college in 1930, he was hired by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and became one of its most famous "voices." The collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, diaries, radio, television, and "Film" scripts, notes, subject files, documents, financial records, photographs, memorabilia, clippings, and printed materials. The manuscripts consist of early writings; radio, television, "Film", and sound recording scripts with related notes and correspondence. The majority of the Scripts File are for NBC productions, but also included are scripts for the Voice of America, commercials, "Film"s, and records. Among Grauer's many "firsts" in broadcasting are the first live report of Count Folke Bernadotte's assasination, the first radio show to present cash prizes ("Pot 'o Gold"), and NBC television's first live news event, the opening of the 1939 New York World's Fair. Also included is one audio tape recording of "Salute to Ben Grauer," Nov. 15, 1950, an off the air recording.
Formats:
Open reel tape (unknown material)
Extent:
80 linear ft. (171 boxes, 1 audio tape)
Repository/Collector:
Rare Book and Manuscript Collections, Butler Library
In 1st and 4th works (Discussion parts 1-2): Duncan Robinson, Vice President of the Berlioz Society ; Peter Hugh Reed and Olin Downes, music critics. In 2nd work: [André Charpak, narrator] ; Chorus and Orchestra of the New Paris Symphony Association ; René Leibowitz, conductor. In 3rd work: Ruth Lorin, soprano ; John Cooper, piano. In 5th work: Leopold Simoneau, tenor ; Choral Art Society ; Little Orchestra Society ; Thomas Scherman, conductor. In 6th work: Rochester Oratorio Society Chorus and Orchestra ; Theodore Hollenbach, conductor. David Randolph, host ; with unidentified radio announcer.
Content types:
Sounds
Formats:
CD
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Contains personal and business correspondence and other papers, clippings, manuscripts of articles and radio broadcasts, photographs, scrapbooks, pamphlets and other printed matter reflecting Berry's varied talents and interests.
Air checks from 5-90 minutes in length (single station and across dial). Includes content from WKBW, WGR, WBEN, WWOL, WHTT, WBUF, WEBR, an WYSL, local DJs and morning hosts, and formats such as talk, sports, oldies, Top 40, and jazz
Content types:
Sounds and Other
Formats:
Audiocassette
Extent:
25-30 60 and 90-minute audio cassettes from target period
Noble Sissle, vocals and host ; Eubie Blake, piano ; Leslie Barrett, host ; Les Davis, host ; The Harold Austin Trio ; Joan Shaw, Leontyne Watts, vocals ; Sir Charles Thompson, organ.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
2 recordings
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
In 1st work: Shirley Reisman, piano ; Harry Zarief, violin ; William Schoen, viola ; Maurice Bialkin, violoncello ; Homer Mensch ; double bass. In 3rd work: Reginald Kell, clarinet ; Anthony Penie [i.e. Pini], violoncello ; Louie Kentner, piano. David Randolph, host ; with unidentified radio announcer.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
The collection contains acetate and radio transcription disc recordings primarily of Taylor's spoken word radio programs dating from 1935 to 1954. Included are samples of his work on shows such as Information Please, Coronet, Swift's Studio Party, as well as special radio shows such as the ASCAP Cavalcade of Music, and memorial tributes to Stephen Vincent Benet and Jerome Kern.
Content types:
Sounds
Formats:
Disc (Commercial, Homemade, Transcription)
Extent:
90 recordings
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
The collection consists of excerpts of twenty-five consecutive programs, broadcast weekly from April 28, 1946 to September 13, 1946. Thomas Scherman served as conductor for the entire series. Noteworthy singers include Natalie Bodanya, John Brownlee, Eugene Conley, Norman Cordon, Todd Duncan, Dorothy Kirsten, Charles Kullman, Brenda Lewis, Martha Lipton, Ann McKnight, Ray Middleton, Mona Paulee, Eleanor Steber, Lawrence Tibbett, Richard Tucker, and Claramae Turner.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
77 recordings
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
The Photo and Player Files include material relating to the baseball career and personal lives of many players who became broadcasters after retiring from the game. For more information check the online catalog.
Repository/Collector:
National Baseball Library and Archive - Giamatti Research Center
Correspondence, financial material, etc. of the Rochester Broadcasting Corporation founded in 1944 by a group of Rochester businessmen to operate a radio station in the city. The corporation dissolved in 1947 when it was denied a permit to construct a radio station.
Unknown number of magnetic tapes, presumably of concerts of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra as broadcast on WCNY Classic-FM, Central New York’s classical music radio station.
WRUC - Union College; Producer: Navy Recruiting Service; Performances by Performances by Roberta Quinlan, Bill Hayes, Judy Lynn, Eugenie Baird, Edith Adams, Tony Bavaar, Judy Lynn
Brown discusses format changes at WOR after World War II, the relationship between WOR and the Mutual Network, union work rules and their effect on network news coverage, the philosophy and practice of news coverage at WOR, the move from writer to manager of news operations, the organization of network personnel, radio personalities, including Bob and Ray and Marianne Taylor-Young, program innovations, programming cutbacks and remote reporting .
Bryson discus ses his career at CBS, educational broadcasting, the relationships between networks and local stations, fiscal issues and his impressions of academic and broadcasting personalities.
Contains personal and professional correspondence, course schedules, rosters, student letters and other material related to Swearingen's career as a professor of history. Also includes unidentified radio broadcasts.
Contains personal correspondence and related documents of members of the E. H. Butler family, owners of the "Buffalo Evening News" and founders of WBEN. Includes some items related to WBEN which was owned by the Butler family through the late 1970s.
Repository/Collector:
Archives and Special Collections, Buffalo State College
1st work (approximately 21 minutes): Betty Allen, contralto. 2nd work (approximately 38 minutes): Arlene Saunders, soprano ; Enrico Di Giuseppe, tenor. Both works: Orchestra of America ; Richard Korn, conductor.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
2 recordings
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Contains correspondence and manuscripts, including drafts, typescripts, notes, photographs, mimeographed scripts and printed materials relating to Hall's plays, radio and television scripts, short stories and novels.
Repository/Collector:
Rare Book and Manuscript Collections, Butler Library
Contains radio scripts and other papers related to Campbell's career as a government advisor, consumer advocate, economics professor, representative of international organizations to the United Nations and author.
Includes correspondence, reports and other records, including those relating to radio, during Ladd's tenure as Director of Extension at the New York State College of Agriculture.
Carlin discusses his career as an announcer with WEAF, 1923-1926, as program manager with NBC, 1926-1940, Vice President in charge of programs with ABC, 1941-1944, and talent agent with MBS.
In 1st work: Manuel Compinsky Quartet ; Janssen Symphony Orchestra of Los Angeles ; Werner Janssen, conductor. In 2nd work: Fernando Valenti, harpsichord. In 3rd work: Tina de Maria, piano ; Scarlatti Orchestra of Naples ; Franco Caracciolo, conductor.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
The collection consists of noncommercial sound recordings including performances by Jascha Heifetz and Larry Adler of popular chamber music; a performance of Aaron Avshalomoff's Symphony no. 2 by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thor Johnson; a speech by Mrs. Gilbert Chapman broadcast in 1943 promoting the American Women's Voluntary Services; and radio and television interviews with Gilbert W. Chapman and dancer Alexandra Danilova. The interviews with Chapman were recorded from 1956 to 1962 and concern literacy and education in the United States. Notable television and radio programs represented in the collection include the Tex and Jinx television program; a Monitor radio program; and a Lee Graham television interview. Also included is the opening address (given by Mr. Chapman) of the New York Public Library 50th anniversary convocation, and a radio program featuring a story about the WNYC book festival.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
17 recordings
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Contains papers and correspondence documenting various aspects of Chappell's radio career, including scripts for Logic In Science, 1934, WLTH, For Worriers Only, 1937, WMCA and Psychological Forum of the Air, 1937-1938, WNEW. Also includes proposed scripts for other programs, audience measurement papers, 1945-1946, testimony before the FCC, 1943, and material relating to advertising.
Repository/Collector:
West Campus Library, University Archives, Hofstra University
Side A (ca. 50 min.). Charles Ward speaks with Kyra Lynn Kaptzan about his childhood in Los Angeles; his acting as a teenager in musical comedies such as Camelot and West Side story; beginning ballet training at a local Los Angeles school at age 16; training at Gene Marinaccio's school; attending his first ballet performance, of the Stuttgart Ballet, at age 17; joining and dancing with Houston Ballet; Houston Ballet dancers Judith Aaen and John Sellers [Anthony Sellers]; training with a scholarship at American Ballet Theatre School; joining American Ballet Theatre, including an anecdote about Lucia Chase; dancing soloist roles for American Ballet Theatre, including in [Harald Lander's] Etudes; dancing with Carla Fracci in Glen Tetley's Nocturne at the Spoleto Festival [Spoleto Festival U.S.A.] in Charleston, S. C.; being cast as a principal in Tetley's Gemini; reasons a tall male dancer has difficulty in obtaining soloist roles; his feelings about the presence at American Ballet Theatre of the foreign dancers, Natalia Makarova, Fracci, Marcia Haydée and Misha [Mikhail] Baryshnikov; reasons he likes to partner Gelsey Kirkland; partnering Cynthia Gregory; the flatness of almost all male roles in classical story ballets; his reasons for leaving American Ballet Theatre; auditioning for Bob Fosse's musical comedy Dancin'; Bob Fosse's extensive theatrical knowledge; working with him, including Fosse's use of Ward's ballet training; critical and popular response to Dancin', including Ward's and Kaptzan's extensive discussion of their differing opinions of the work [ends abruptly]. Side B (ca. 17 min.). Charles Ward continues speaking about performing in Dancin' ; compares manner of preparing for a performance in Dancin' with preparation for performing in a ballet; his relationship with Ann Reinking; his career aspirations after he has finished touring with Dancin'.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Includes original scripts for Your Home Town, an historical drama, and some World War II related dramas and other programs. Huntley was a writer, announcer and performer on WOY.
Side A. [Music and announcements.] Christian Holder speaks with Kyra Lynn Kaptzan about his family's performing arts background; his early training in London in dance and theater; seeing Jerome Robbins' musical comedy West Side Story and Ballets: U.S.A. as an influence on his decision to dance; moving to New York City in l964; his scholarship to the Martha Graham School [Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance]; attending the New York City High School of the Performing Arts; joining the Joffrey Ballet in 1966; his theatrical experience as a child; his favorite role, Death, in Kurt Jooss's The green table; other roles he enjoys, including in [José Limón's] Moor's pavane, [Robert Joffrey's] Astarte, and the narrator in [Frederick Ashton's] Wedding bouquet; roles he and Gary Chryst perform; his preference for a diverse repertory [short gap]; working with Leonide Massine; dancing in Massine's work Parade; dancing in the Joffrey Ballet's program titled Homage to Diaghilev [Parade, Petruschka, Spectre de la rose, and Afternoon of a faun], including the difficulty of performing the same roles every night; working with Rudolf Nureyev; the Joffrey repertoire and how works are selected for performance; the attempted censorship of certain works when the Joffrey toured in the former Soviet Union; touring in the U.S., including audience reactions; Holder's choreographing, including his work Five dances; how working with Jerome Robbins and other choreographers has helped him as a choreographer; his experience with costume design. [Music and announcements.] Side B is blank.
Content types:
Sounds
Formats:
Audiocassette
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Side A. [Music and announcements.] Christian Holder speaks with Kyra Lynn Kaptzan about his family's performing arts background; his early training in London in dance and theater; seeing Jerome Robbins' musical comedy West Side Story and Ballets: U.S.A. as an influence on his decision to dance; moving to New York City in l964; his scholarship to the Martha Graham School [Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance]; attending the New York City High School of the Performing Arts; joining the Joffrey Ballet in 1966; his theatrical experience as a child; his favorite role, Death, in Kurt Jooss's The green table; other roles he enjoys, including in [José Limón's] Moor's pavane, [Robert Joffrey's] Astarte, and the narrator in [Frederick Ashton's] Wedding bouquet; roles he and Gary Chryst perform; his preference for a diverse repertory [short gap]; working with Leonide Massine; dancing in Massine's work Parade; dancing in the Joffrey Ballet's program titled Homage to Diaghilev [Parade, Petruschka, Spectre de la rose, and Afternoon of a faun], including the difficulty of performing the same roles every night; working with Rudolf Nureyev; the Joffrey repertoire and how works are selected for performance; the attempted censorship of certain works when the Joffrey toured in the former Soviet Union; touring in the U.S., including audience reactions; Holder's choreographing, including his work Five dances; how working with Jerome Robbins and other choreographers has helped him as a choreographer; his experience with costume design. [Music and announcements.] Side B is blank.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Gary Chryst speaks with Kyra Lynn Kaptzan about choreographers with whom he has worked, including Leonide Massine and John Butler; his preference for roles that involve acting and how he prepares a role; the influence of his family as a source of his love of music; studying dance at the [New York City] High School of Performing Arts; performing with Norman Walker; performing with the Joffrey Ballet and his respect for director Robert Joffrey; recent experiences as a guest artist and teacher; leisure activities such as his love of food and cooking, and the pleasure of friendships.
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Air checks, sports, news, political coverage, local DJs, local music, station IDs/jingles, and local commercials from stations WKBW, WBEN, WINE, WHSO, WEBR, and WGR, from 1950s-1980
Content types:
Sounds and Other
Formats:
Disc (Commercial, Homemade, Transcription), Reel-to-reel, Audiocassette, CD, MiniDisc, External drive, Website, VHS (audio), Betacam SP, 1, 2, and 3/4 in videotape, DVC pro tapes, and DVD
Martin Bookspan interviews American composer of contemporary classical music, musicologist, and flutist Claire Polin. Polin talks about the current status of women composers, and about sexism in music. She speaks about both of her careers: as a composer, and as a flutist. The composer also discusses in detail each of the following works, excerpts of which are then played during the interview: Summer settings (for harp), The journey of Owain Madoc, Consecutivo: study on a requiem (for flute/alto flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano) (1966), and Infinito: a requiem (for alto saxophone, soprano solo, narrator, and chorus).
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
The vast majority of the collection consists of audio recordings of more than 2000 radio broadcasts of nostalgia shows hosted by Clark including Rock, Roll Remember, Countdown America, US Music Survey, National Music Survey, Dick Clark’s Music Machine, and Dick Clark’s Solid Gold. The tapes were produced by Dick Clark Productions and broadcast from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s.
Martin Bookspan interviews musician, composer, and educator Michael Colagrass. Colagrass speaks about his studies at the University of Illinois; about his musical career in Chicago where his first professional experiences were as a jazz drummer; about his eleven years career as a free-lance percussionist in New York City; and about switching him career of jazz musician to career of classical music composer. He talks about both of his backgrounds, jazz and classical music, that influenced his works. The composer discusses in detail each of the following works, excerpts of which are then played during the interview: Light spirit (for flute, viola, guitar, and percussion, 2 players) (1963), Rhapsodic fantasy (for percussion soloist and orchestra) (1965), The earth's a baked apple (written for a teen-age chorus, words by the composer) (1968), New people (seven songs for mezzo soprano, viola and piano, words by the composer) (1969).
Content types:
Sounds
Extent:
1 recording
Repository/Collector:
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
The 3608 Toscanini recordings include test pressings of Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra in concerts, as well as NBC broadcasts of operas, festival performances, sacred music and more, including rehearsals; for many of these, the location and date of the recording is given and in some cases additional information such as names of performers. Broadcasts took place in the 1930s and 40s.
Content types:
Sounds and Other
Formats:
Disc (Commercial, Homemade, Transcription) and Reel-to-reel
Extent:
3608 recordings (747 tapes, unknown number of lacquer discs)
These tapes of WAER broadcasts primarily hold topical broadcasts and live concert recordings. Few of the tapes are dated, but those that are cover a span from 1965 to 1979. Announcers or presenters are rarely identified. The news items include a mix of national and local productions, but there are relatively few in the collection compared to the concert recordings. Many concerts were given by popular artists such as Pink Floyd, Bonnie Raitt, Canned Heat, Niels Lofgren, and Commander Cody, taken from national broadcasts, mostly originating from New York City or Boston. The collection contains recordings of only a handful of concerts broadcast by Syracuse University student ensembles. 25 tapes are identified as having been recorded on-campus at the Jabberwocky Café; surviving performances from this intimate venue include those given by John Fahey, Taj Mahal, and David Bromberg.
Consisting of recordings dubbed from WSYR radio broadcasts between 1939 and 1957, the collection largely consists of news broadcasts and speeches. Many important events and public figures of the era are recorded on these broadcasts.
Content types:
Sounds
Formats:
Disc (Commercial, Homemade, Transcription) and Reel-to-reel
Extent:
10 linear feet of material, primarily 78 and 33 RPM instantaneous disc recordings, along with 176 reel to reel tapes.
Wide-ranging collection spanning 1928-70s and beyond. Holdings include local programming from stations throughout the country, including WBAI, WCBS, WNEW, WRCA, WMCA, WRVA, WNWK, WABC, WWL, WNEW, WOR, WHN, WQXR, WNYC, WBRC, WBRD, WBYN, WCAU, WCKY, WOL, WCOI, WEA, WFUN, WGAR, WIIN, WIFE, WINS, WJZ, WJVA, WKIX, WKLO, WLEA, WLOD, WLS, WXRK, WOKO, WONE, WPLI, WQAM, WQUA, WSAF, WTAN, WTYC, WTRY, KFOX, KMET, KABC, KPFK, KPHO, KRLA, KLSX, KROC, Pacifica. Content includes news coverage, interviews, classical and popular music, drama, sports, non-English language programming, etc. Personalities include later-nationally famous hosts and DJs and hosts such as Bob Fass, Dr. Demento, Casey Kasem, Alan Freed, Bob Crane, Arthur Godfrey, among others.
Content types:
Sounds
Formats:
Disc (Commercial, Homemade, Transcription), Reel-to-reel, Audiocassette, Videotape, Digital tape (DAT, DCC), and CD
Internal records for St Lawrence University-operated station WSLU and predecessor WCAD, dating back to 1930s. Recordings held in separate Recorded Sound Collection
Content types:
Other
Repository/Collector:
St Lawrence University Libraries, Special Collections and Vance University Archives
Three Episodes of WNYC’s "Know Your City," 1949-1950 on five LPs. On this quiz show, New York City school children answer questions about their city. The quizmaster is "Aunt Edith," or Edith McGinnis, who went on to become Manhattan’s first Borough Historian. Topics include Flatbush, with John Cashmore, the Brooklyn Borough President, as a special guest; the history of labor in New York City; and the history of the retail industry in New York City.