Friday, October 09, 2009

Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - You Are There "The Battle Of Hastings" (02-13-49)


The Battle Of Hastings (Aired February 13, 1949)


Imagine if CBS radio news existed when the Bastille was stormed in 1789, or if radio reporters were stationed in Ford Theater as Lincoln was assassinated, or again at the Battle of Gettysburg? Indeed, such was the premise behind the CBS series, You Are There. Audiences witnessed history through the present-tense accounts of newsmen allegedly witnessing historical events transpiring before their eyes. Don Hollenbeck and John Daley (known for his TV game show panelist appearances) played the lead anchors, while real-life newsman provided the remote commentaries as the dramas unfolded. As show opened, an anchor would describe the present situation with "As it stands now…" and segue into commentaries, live remote feeds or analysis as the story unfurled.The show was well received, but perhaps was doomed to eventual failure in part due John Daly's emoting. Bernard DeVoto in Harper Magazine lamented: "We have heard his (Daly) voice vibrate with the real emotion, and our memory of the real simply turns the imagined to ham."


THIS EPISODE:

February 13, 1949. CBS network. "The Battle Of Hastings". Sustaining. The events of October 14, 1066. William, the Duke of Normandy, conquers King Harold and becomes king of England. Guy Sorel, Staats Cotsworth, Don Hollenbeck, Robert Lewis Shayon (writer, producer, director), John Daly, Michael Sklar (writer), Ken Roberts, William Podmore, Oliver Cliff, John Merlin, Peter Hobbs, Alfred de La Fuente. 29:32.

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