After covering so many bombings of the city over the previous six years, Edward R. Murrow of CBS Radio was on hand for the celebration that the War was finally over...May 8, 1945.

Ray Steele and The News

London Picadilly Circus Celebration after VE Day: World War II

Just months from disbanding his civilian band, Glenn's band is in Hollywood while they shoot the movie "Orchestra Wives", and your announcer is the quite famous Don Wilson (crossing networks, since he was an NBC guy on the Jack Benny program, and Miller aired on CBS). Glenn kicks this one off with one of his best... String of Pearls.

Glenn Miller's 'Moonight Serenade', May 5, 1942

75 years ago, CBS Radio presented a special edition of its "I Was There" anthology on the death of the best war correspondent there was at the time, Ernie Pyle.

The Story of Ernie Pyle: CBS Radio's "I Was There", April 29, 1945

The Shadow Intro

Suite for jazz orchestra (orchestral version) by Ray Steele on WIBC

Suite for jazz orchestra (orchestral version)

75 years ago today (May 27, 1944), Glenn Miller's Army Air Force orchestra performed on it's legendary series "I Sustain The Wings" on NBC Radio. Captain Miller was not with the band - they are conducted by Sgt. Jerry Gray, Glenn's top arranger. Miller was on leave, taking care of business interests in California and visiting his mother in Colorado. He was doing so for a reason that wasn't public yet - he and the band were going to Britain to perform for the Allied forces, as the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe was upon us. The Miller band would be the last music many men and women would hear. RIP to those who gave all.

5 - 27 - 44 I Sustain

The Overnight Colt - The Cobra by Ray Steele on WIBC

The Overnight Colt - The Cobra

I sent video of the rain... in the dark by Ray Steele on WIBC

I sent video of the rain... in the dark

Mae West was one of the biggest stars in the world by the time she appeared on the Chase & Sanborn Hour, hosted by Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy - the top rated radio show in the U.S. at the time. She made two appearances - one as Eve in a creatively written Adam and Eve sketch, and this one - that was too scandalous for young ears, or so the Catholic Church and others said the next day.

It Happened Today: December 12, 1937; 4 Minutes that got Mae West Banned from NBC

Courtesy of the BBC archive - with audio restored (!), the most scandalous story from the Royal Family in the 20th century, IMO. Edward VIII abdicates the British throne so that he can marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Notice the door closing at the beginning after the announcer who introduces Edward leaves, and the clear nervousness of Edward.

It Happened Today: Dec. 11, 1936: Edward VIII Abdicates The Throne

Just three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Fred Allen hosts his hour long comedy show on CBS Radio. It's followed by the latest news from the war courtesy of John Daly of CBS News (and later What's My Line fame). Not the announcement at the beginning of the show on how the Texaco siren would not be used due to the Peal Harbor attack.

Today In Radio History: Dec. 10, 1941: Texaco Star Theater

Larry Meier of Mutual Radio: First Eyewitness Account of D-Day From the Air by Ray Steele on WIBC

Larry Meier of Mutual Radio: First Eyewitness Account of D-Day From the Air

What do you hear? Brother!!!, or Bruthaaaa!!!?

H.V. Kaltenborn was one of the pre-eminent news analysts and commentators of his era, if not the most well known. His regular program that aired from 3:15 until 3:30pm Eastern on Sunday afternoons was, naturally, dedicated to the news of the day. This broadcast is interrupted with breaking news -- long before the term was used -- regarding Japanese attacks, even though the actual attack on Hawaii was ending as this aired.

Pearl Harbor Day; H.V. Kaltenborn on NBC, 3:15pm Eastern, Dec. 7, 1941

CBS had a regularly scheduled news program, The World Today, that aired at 2:30pm Eastern on Sunday afternoons. This was minutes after the first word from Washington of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, which had happened just over an hour before. Keep in mind how information moved at that time.

CBS The World Today: 2:30pm Eastern, Dec. 7, 1941

I am a longtime journalist, current producing for RTV6 (WRTV), in Indianapolis. Much of the content here is from my time at crosstown news/talk radio station WIBC. Southerner at heart - hometown is Trenton, Georgia - and though I now live in the IndyCar capital city, pro wrestling, old jazz, science and baseball are my things.

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Ray Steele and The News

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