The K-Rob Collection

He was Martin Luther King, Muhammed Ali, Harry Bellafonte, and Malcolm X rolled into one. Paul Robeson was an extraordinary American singer, actor, and civil rights activist. The son of a slave, Robeson was Born in Princeton, New Jersey, and excelled academically. He became a star athlete earning a scholarship to Rutgers University, and a law degree from Columbia University. Robeson became a global sensation, using his recordings, films, and live performances, to fight racism in America and around the world. However, the more popular Robeson became, the more the U.S. government tried to silence him, with harassment, surveillance, congressional investigations, and finally confiscating his passport so he couldn't travel. But in 1957, Robeson used new technology to appear at a rally and concert supporting union coal miners in the U.K., without leaving New York City. We'll learn how Paul Robeson did it, from the BBC World Service program "Witness History", followed by this amazing rally in its entirety.More at http://krobcollection.com

The stories of two very deserving, but seldom celebrated heroes. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the influential African American historian, author, and journalist, who is the "Father of Black History." His parents had been slaves, but Woodson became one of the first Blacks to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Woodson was a follower of Marcus Garvey, and established Negro History Week in 1926, which later evolved into Black History Month. His work emphasized the importance of African American contributions to history and culture, and he founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.Then, we have the story of Dr. J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. the prominent African American mathematician, nuclear engineer, and civil rights advocate. He earned his first degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago at just 19 years old, and was nicknamed The Negro Genius. Wilkins worked on the Manhattan Project, which produced the atomic bomb. He taught at Tuskegee Institute, and later became President of the American Nuclear Society. Wilkins career spanned 7 decades, and tirelessly worked to get young African Americans into the STEM trades. The biographies of Woodson and Wilkins are told on the classic radio series, Destination Freedom. More at KRobCollection.com

Did you ever wonder why a legal copyright disclaimer is always played during baseball games? It's probably because of Gordon Barton McLendon, a radio broadcaster known as the Old Scotchman. After serving in the military during World War Two, McLendon created the Liberty Broadcasting System, a nationwide radio network that broadcast Major League Baseball games from 1948 to 1953. Those broadcasts never originated from ballparks, they were re-created inside McLendon's studio. Wes Wise, the former mayor of Dallas Texas, worked for McLendon as a sports reporter, and says those re-creations were so vivid, audiences thought McLendon was actually at the scene, and the broadcasts were wildly popular. However, baseball bigwigs later caught on, shut down McLendon's broadcasts, and banned any more re-creations. Mclendon went on to become a multi-millionaire, perfecting the popular Top 40 music radio format in the 1950s and 1960s. He developed pirate radio broadcasting to Europe, and became involved in television, and movies. In 1964–65 he served as a communications adviser to the United States Peace Corps. In 1971 McLendon conducted a month-long all-expense-paid broadcasting course for nine minority-group members, including African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexican-Americans. We will hear Gordon McLendon recreate the New York Giants comeback win over the Brooklyn Dodgers, in the 1951 National League Championship. Then, the Old Scotchman tells his life's story to Dr. Cliff Ganus, president of Harding College in 1969. More at KRobCollection.com

Willie Howard Mays Jr., also known as "the Say Hey Kid", is widely regarded as the greatest all-round baseball player in American history. The African-American center fielder spent 23 seasons in the major leagues. Mays started his outstanding career with the New York Giants in 1951, quickly becoming rookie of the year. In 1954, he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award, and helped the Giants win the world series before the team moved to San Francisco. One of May's early milestones was hitting four home runs in a game against the Braves in 1961. Mays went on to win another MVP Award in 1965. He became an All-Star 24 times, and won 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards. Mays was the first National League player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season, the first player in history to reach both 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases, and the first right-handed hitter to smack 600 home runs. Mays was also a hit on national television, appearing on the game, variety, and comedy shows. Willie Mays ended his career after being traded from the San Francisco Giants to the Mets in 1972, celebrating his return to New York City. You will hear the game that marked his Big Apple homecoming, plus an interview with the Say Hey Kid on the network radio show Sports Byline USA in May of 2000. More at KRobCollection.com

On this edition of Audio Antiques we again salute Cleveland, Ohio USA. The 54th largest city in the United States. However, during radio's golden age, Cleveland was one of the 10 largest cities in the U.S.and was a center of entertainment, the arts, manufacturing, and technology. But there was also also crime. So First up, we hear a newspaper story from the Cleveland News going coast to coast on NBC's Big Story in 1947. Then, the popular Bob Hope Show variety broadcasts from the comedian's old home town in 1946. Followed by live music on the show One Night Stand broadcasting from the Bronze Room of Hotel Cleveland in 1945. We will hear the game show Quiz Kids broadcasting from Cleveland's gigantic Public Auditorium in 1951. Next, legendary Cleveland Browns kicker Lou Groza appears on The Greatest Sports Thrill. Lastly, the wartime program Command Performance broadcasts live from the National Association of Broadcasters convention in 1945. Out salute to Cleveland starts right after this break. More at K-Rob Collection.com

On this edition of Audio Antiques we are celebrating Cleveland, Ohio USA. During radio's golden age, Cleveland was one of the 10 largest cities in the United States. During it's heyday, Cleveland was a center of manufacturing , innovation, business, arts & culture, and crime, as you will hear in some of the law & order shows of the day. We begin with President Franklin Roosevelt giving a campaign speech in Cleveland on November 2nd, 1940 just days before his victorious election against Wendell Willkie. Cleveland Indians President Bill Veeck appears on Author Meets The Critics just weeks before his team would win the 1948 World Series. Legendary Indians pitcher Bob Feller recalls his opening game of the 1940 season on his 1960's radio show. Then a 1948 Cleveland broadcast of the ever popular Jack Benny Show. Followed by 2 episodes of the crime drama Big Story, featuring newspaper coverage from the Cleveland Press in 1948, and the Cleveland News in 1949. More at K-Rob Collection.com

Many experts believe André Watts was one of the greatest classical pianist of all time. Over the six decades of his career, this celebrated African-American musician performed as soloist with every major orchestra in the United States, and most of the world's finest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Watts recorded a variety of repertoire, concentrating on Romantic era composers such as Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt, but also including George Gershwin. In 1973 at the age of 26, Yale University gave Watts his first honorary doctorate, and many more awards would follow. At the age of sixteen, Watts made his nationwide debut on CBS-TV's, Young People's Concert series, and was introduced by legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein. You will hear Andre Watts talk about his remarkable life, in an extensive interview with David Dubal at WNCN Radio in New York City in October of 1983. More at http://krobcollection.com

Portia May White was a operatic contralto, known for becoming the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame. Born in 1911, White's formative years were spent performing in her father's church choir in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She competed in local singing competitions as a teenager and later trained at the Halifax Conservatory of Music. One of her most popular recordings was of the African-American spiritual "Think of Me". She also had a hit with the song "4 & 20 Elders". In 1944, Portia White made her international debut auditioning for the Metropolitan Opera. White became the first Canadian to sing at New York's Town Hall performance space. The New York Times reported her singing was "remarkable." White later completed tours throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Central and South America. When vocal difficulties and cancer eventually contributed to her retirement in 1952, White settled in Toronto and trained other Canadian musicians such as Lorne Greene of Bonanza TV fame, and famous pop singer Robert Goulet. Portia White was interviewed by CBC Television in 1958. One of White's final major public appearances was a special command performance for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1964. Portia White occasionally performed on American radio during the medium's golden age. We found one appearance on the show New World A'Comin in 1945, celebrating the Allied Victory in Europe during World War Two, and it's meaning to African-Americans. More at KRobCollection.com

We are examining women's fight for democracy in the United States. In 1939, NBC and the federal government teamed up to produce a series of programs called Gallant American Women. These shows outlined their struggle for equality beginning with the nation's founding. We're going to hear two episodes. The first entitled These Freedoms, about women's fight for freedom of speech, worship, and expression, as well as their fight to end slavery. The second episode is called Women Are People, and detailed their work to win the right to vote. More at KRobCollection.com

Sidney Poitier was a trailblazing actor, film director, and diplomat who achieved numerous significant accomplishments throughout his career. As the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, he made history with his powerful performances in films such as "Lilies of the Field" and the 1967 classic, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." Poitier's impact extended beyond the silver screen, as he used his influence to challenge racial stereotypes and advocate for civil rights. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to American culture, and his legacy continues to inspire future generations of actors and activists. We're going to hear Sidney Poitier being interviewed by Bill Parkhurst on the radio show Between the Lines in 1981. More at KRobCollection.com

Everything you ever wanted to know about hypertension and how it affects African-Americans. Ken Robinson interviews 4 medical experts about the dangers of high blood pressure. (1981) More at http://krobcollection.com

An interview with a true Christmas Grinch, plus an exploration of ways to beat the Holiday blues. More at KRobCollection.com

In 1960, WBAI Radio in New York City hosted a historic debate between two prominent civil rights leaders, Malcolm X and Bayard Rustin. The discussion centered around the best approach to achieving racial equality and justice in America. Malcolm X, a fiery advocate for black nationalism and self-defense, argued for a more radical and militant approach to combating systemic racism. On the other hand, Bayard Rustin, and follower of Martin Luther King Jr and a key organizer of the March on Washington, advocated for nonviolent resistance and integration as the most effective means of achieving civil rights. The debate highlighted the ideological divisions within the civil rights movement and sparked important conversations about the most effective strategies for achieving racial equality in America. The debate is moderated by John Donald of the Pacifica Network. More at Krobcollection.com

Ken Robinson explores ways to have a trouble free Christmas Season.  More at KRobCollection.com

Muhammad Ali, was an African-American boxer, activist, entertainer, and philanthropist. Many experts regard Ali has the best heavyweight boxer of all time, and the greatest sportsman of the 20th Century. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. he became the heavyweight champ in 1964, and retired in 1981. Ali was an early performer of spoken word poetry and rap music. In 1963 his album "I Am The Greatest" was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2001, Muhammad Ali was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by U.S. President Bill Clinton. You're going to hear ABC Radio's ringside descriptions of Ali's 1964 fight against heavyweight champ Sonny Liston which put him on the path to greatness.  From 1971 we'll hear Mutual Broadcasting System coverage of Ali's first bout with Joe Frazier which was called the "Fight of the Century". Unfortunately, during the late 1960s boxing promoters banned live ringside reporting by broadcasters, to force fans to buy tickets for closed circuit telecasts in theaters, thus ending radio's long tradition of carrying fights live from the scene. It also sparked a long decline in the popularity of boxing. Finally, there's a 1979 Muhammad Ali press conference on United Nations radio in New York, held just two years before he retired.  More at KRobCollection.com

This edition explores one of the worst incidents of racial hatred in U.S. history. It happened to Army Sgt. Isaac Woodard in 1946, as the African-American veteran was returning home from World War Two, where he earned a battle star, Good Conduct Medal, and the Service medal. When traveling through Batesburg, South Carolina, Woodard was removed from the Greyhound bus he was riding on, by the police chief and beaten by the chief and several officers with nightsticks, who ruptured his eyes, leaving him blind for life. At first, the incident received very little press coverage, but the news did reach President Harry Truman, who was well aware of the savage nature of the Jim Crow South. Truman demanded an investigation. The story also reached media icon Orson Wells, the famous, actor, journalist, stage and film director, who created and starred in Citizen Kane, which critics called one of the greatest movies of all time. Wells used one of his network radio shows to join with the NAACP in demanding justice for Sgt. Woodard. However, no officers were ever punished for the crime, and Wells was later blacklisted and banished from American media. He later left the country. You will hear his valiant campaign. It's estimated that thousands of black veterans were accosted, attacked, or lynched between the end of the Civil War, and the end of World War Two. More at KrobCollection.com

How to keep from going broke during the Holiday Giving Season. Also, why society gangs up on fathers.  More at KRobCollection.com

Comedy Teams have a long history in the world of entertainment, beginning in British music halls, and then in vaudeville in America. They were also popular during the golden age of radio. Among the many comedy teams on the air at the start of commercial broadcasting were George Burns and his wife Gracie Allen. They got married in Cleveland, Ohio in 1926 and never looked back, performing in early talking movies, and getting a network radio show in 1930s, which would last until 1950 when the couple took their act to  television. We have a Burns & Allen radio show from 1938. Another one of the biggest double acts on radio were Abbott & Costello. Best known for their "Who's On First" baseball routine. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were popular burlesque theater comedians, and got their own radio show in 1940. They also made it big in movies. You will hear one of their radio shows from 1943. Abbott and Costello's popularity began to decline when nite club performers Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were given a radio show in 1949. It wasn't exactly a hit, but the pair became superstars in movies, and on television. you will hear a Martin & Lewis radio show from 1949. More at KRobCollection.com

In this edition, we learn about the woman who was named one of the most important people of the 20th Century. Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, feminist, political activist and humanitarian. The Alabama native, lost her sight and her hearing due to illness when she was just 19 months old. However, Keller later learned to speak and write with the help of her first teacher and life-long companion Anne Sullivan. Keller was the first deaf-blind person in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She became a global superstar, and a long time supporter of the NAACP and the ACLU. We will hear Helen Keller in her own words on the CBS Radio Show, This I Believe with Edward R. Murrow in the early 1950s. And on the Rudy Vallee variety show on NBC Radio in 1936. More at KRobCollection.com

How to find a good mate, and how to get rid of a bad one. More at http://krobcollection.com

Duke Ellington was a major influence on music during the jazz age. Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in 1899, and in 1927 had his first international hit with Creole Love Call. The African-American composer, pianist, and orchestra leader would remain popular for this rest of his life, touring the world, while based at the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York. Ellington was given many awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1966, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969, the Legion of Honour by France in 1973. You will hear the Duke Ellington story on the radio program Destination Freedom in 1948, the Duke performing live on NBC radio in 1945, and Ellington with entertainment superstar Bing Crosby on the Kraft Music Hall also in 1945. More at KRobCollection.com

Ken interviews Gerome Warcloud of the American Indian Center, and the American Indian Movement on the struggles and concerns of North America's indigenous people. (1981) More at http://krobcollection.com

This podcast focuses on the contributions made during the times of Jim Crow segregation, to promote racial harmony during World War Two, in two episodes of the show New World A-Comin', both aired during the war on New York Radio Station WMCA. First, we'll hear a 1944 play about one of the 125,000 African Americans who fought in World War Two, all in segregated units. Then we'll hear a 1945 presentation about a white union worker in Detroit who kept his weapons plant from shutting down by fighting racial bias and discrimination. More at KRobCollection.com

Superman first appeared in comic books in 1938, and quickly became one of America's most famous fictional heroes. In 1940, The Adventures of Superman appeared as a radio serial that appealed to kids, it was an instant success. The serial continued until 1951, with more than 2,000 original episodes produced. In 1946 the producers began focusing on racial and ethnic issues to fight the rising popularity of the Klu Klux Klan. In 1947, Superman fought the Knights Of The White Carnation. You will hear the Man of Steel and his friends take on a murderous immigrant hater. More at KRobCollection.com

Fear of Public Speaking, Divorce, and Sick Buildings. For details visit http://krobcollection.com

An interview with Jerry Johnson of the rehabilitation center Orca House, and Beverly Bell of the Urban Minority Alcoholism Outreach Program. He reveals how alcohol can affect African-American families. More at http://krobcollection.com

On this podcast we take examine of two historic and legendary African-American educators. First, there's the story of philanthropist, humanitarian, and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune who was an advisor to President Franklin Roosevelt. She was the founder of what would become Bethune-Cookman University in Florida. Bethune will also speak to us in her own words. Then, the story of Booker T. Washington, the founder of Tuskegee University in Alabama. Washington was born a slave, but became an advisor to several U.S. presidents. Both biographies are from the radio series Destination Freedom and first aired in the late 1940s. More at KrobCollection.com

Josh White was a rock star, before there were rock stars. Joshua Daniel White was born in 1914, and overcame tremendous odds to become a world famous musical powerhouse. By mastering the guitar, he took the world of folk, blues, and pop music by storm. Growing up as a young African-American child prodigy, he was forced to perform under involuntary servitude. As a young man, White was able to break free, becoming a cabaret, radio, and recording artist. He even appeared in movies, and was welcomed into the White House. But because Josh White was a tireless advocate for racial justice and civil rights, he was blacklisted, and banned from performing in the U.S. in the 1950s. White then went to Europe, where he was in demand to perform frequently, and was even given his own TV show and radio program in England. The blacklisting of White in America was finally broken in 1963. You will to hear the story of his early life in a 1949 episode of the radio drama Destination Freedom. Then Josh White performs on a 1947 edition of the radio variety show Jubilee. More at KRobCollection.com

It seems the United States always been a divided nation in many respects. Since its founding, proponents of the right and left have battled for influence and control. It was no different during the Great Depression of the 1930s, as the struggle played out on the new medium of radio. Father Charles Coughlin was a Catholic priest who's radio shows reached millions. He promoted right wing conspiracies, Christian Nationalism, and antisemitism on the air. Louisiana senator and former governor Huey Long was a progressive populist who on the radio called for wealth re-distribution, government involvement and expanded social programs. In Coughlin you hear Rush Limbaugh, in Long you hear Bernie Sanders. We have two presentations, Coughlin in 1939, and Long in 1935. Both were early supporters of President Franklin Roosevelt, but went their separate ways after he was elected. More at KRobCollection.com

We're going to the theater! Live radio theater was very popular during the medium's golden age. There were many theater-like shows on the networks. We're going to hear 3 installments of the Screen Guild Theater, which ran from 1939 to 1952 and featured movie stars, primarily in original dramas and sometimes comedies, or in adaptations of movies. All three are from 1939, the first features Judy Garland and Jack Benny. The second stars movie tough guy George Raft. Eddie Cantor, Joan Blondell, and Gene Autry perform on the 3rd show of Screen Guild Theater. Throughout its run, profits from these programs were donated to the Motion Picture Relief Fund, which supported the Motion Picture Country Home for retired actors. More at KrobCollection.com

Ken Robinson interviews art gallery director Ernestine Brown, about collecting and investing in contemporary artworks. There also advice on creating your own art gallery and furthering a career as an artist, with a special focus on people of color. (1982) More at http://krobcollection.com

From it's early days in the 1920's news was an important part of radio. The first newscasts were little more than announcers reading press releases and police reports. In the 1930s and 40s, network newscasts evolved into audio versions of newspaper columns. During the World War Two and into the 1950s there was the arrival of the radio news anchor, who presented reporters on the scene, with commentary confined to the people actually making the news. You're hear this transition develop over decades of radio news coverage. Elmer Davis on CBS Radio in 1939 HV Kaltenborn on NBC Radio in 1940 Walter Winchell in 1941, American Radio's most popular newsman at the time, and was heard on the Blue Network, which later became ABC. Fulton Lewis Jr on the Mutual Radio Network in 1942. Raymond Gram Swing on ABC Radio in 1945 Mutual Newsreel Digest in 1950 Taylor Grant suffers the news anchor's nightmare on ABC in 1953. The legendary Edward R. Murrow on CBS Radio in 1957. Frank Bourgholtzer on NBC Radio in 1961. Charles Osgood before he became famous in 1966 on ABC Radio Bill Maher Jr, father of the famous comedian on Mutual Radio in 1969. Mike Stanley on CBS in 1969. James Limbach on Associated Press Radio in 1977. Al Williams on the Mutual Black Radio Network in 1978. David Leslie on ABC in 1978. Pat Prescott on the National Black Network in 1981. Becky Bailey on Mutual in 1988. Jim Lounsbury on the United Press International radio network in 1989. Sheri Preston on ABC radio in 2004. More at KRobCollection.com

America's Town Meeting of the Air was a public affairs discussion program which began on NBC radio's Blue Network in 1935 and ran for 21 years. It was one of radio's first talk shows, and NBC did not expect it to become a success, but it did, and eventually picked up a sponsor. Each week moderator George Denny Jr presided over an examination of a controversial issue with a large audience present and participating in the discussion. We're going to hear America's Town Meeting of the Air on November 16, 1939. The topic is, Should We ignore Racial Differences? More at KRobCollection.com

Ken interviews author Whitley Strieber, and explores the subjects of miscarriage, and dating. Details at http://krobcollection.com

William Warfield was a famous opera singer, born in the U.S state of Arkansas in 1920. Known for his rich baritone voice and commanding stage presence, the African-American rose to prominence in the mid-20th century, captivating audiences worldwide, and gracing the stages of prestigious opera houses and concert halls. Warfield served in the Army during World War Two, working in military intelligence. After the war, he earned a masters degree at the Eastman School of Music, and was quickly invited to tour Australia where he gave 35 concerts. Warfield then made 6 separate tours of Europe taking the continent by storm. He became a regular guest on radio and television shows. Warfield later became a University of Illinois music professor at Urbana-Champaign, and was later promoted to Chairman of the Voice Department. In 1984 he received a Grammy Award. You will hear William Warfield just as his operatic career was starting to skyrocket, on NBC Radio's popular Edgar Bergen-Charlie McCarthy Show in 1952. One of only a handful of African-Americans to appear on the show during its more than 20 year history. More at KRobCollection.com

She's one of the most celebrated entertainers in American history. Lucille Désirée Ball was an actress, comedian, model, studio executive, and producer. However, she's best known as the star of the wildly popular, classic TV show I Love Lucy. Before her long career on television began, Lucy had a successful radio career during the medium's golden age, in addition to occasional roles on stage and screen. You will hear Lucille Ball in a 1948 episode from her long running radio sitcom My Favorite Husband, which I Love Lucy was patterned after. She will perform on a 1951 episode of Screen Director's Playhouse, and finally in a 1944 dramatic role on the legendary radio series, Suspense.  More at KRobCollection.com

Ken Robinson interviews members of the Forest City Dental Society about the challenges facing black doctors of oral medicine. (1982) More at KRobCollection.com

Arthur Lee Simpkins was an African-American singer with a unique talent. He was born in South Carolina in 1907, where he became known as the "Black Caruso" in reference to the legendary opera singer Enrico Caruso. In 1936, Simpkins recorded a hit version of "Sing, Sing, Sing" with Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra. That record jump started Simpkins career, allowing him to perform a wide variety of music ranging from classic standards to operatic renditions, and not just different genres, but in many different languages and dialects. Simpkins performed on television regularly during the medium's early days, and also appeared in movies, like the film Why Men Leave Home in 1951. He was last remembered for singing at the memorial for legendary R&B legend Sam Cooke in 1964. Tragically, Simpkins died from a routine bladder operation in 1972 and was largely forgotten. You will hear Arthur Lee Simpkins sing three songs on the David Rose Show on CBS Radio in 1950. More at KrobCollection.com

Walker Smith Jr. was one the greatest boxers of all time. You know him as Sugar Ray Robinson, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He started fighting in 1940, using the name of Robinson because he was underage. From 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91-fight winning streak, the third-longest in professional boxing history. Robinson also became the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times. After his boxing career ended, Robinson became an entertainer, singing, dancing, and acting on TV shows and a few movies. Hear the story of Sugar Ray Robinson, presented in a 1950 edition of Destination Freedom, and the inside story of his 6th match with the legendary Jake LaMotta, which was called the St. Valentines Day Massacre, on the CBS radio news magazine Hear It Now, in 1951.  More at KRobCollection.com

Ken Robinson interviews Cuyahoga Community College instructor Lee Henn, who reveals how you can become more successful by being more assertive. (1982) More at KrobCollection.com

Richard Wright was an African American author who lived from 1908 to 1960. He is best known for his novels, which often dealt with the struggles of black Americans in the early 20th century. Wright grew up in poverty in Mississippi and faced racism and discrimination throughout his life. Despite these challenges, he became a prolific writer. His works include Native Son and Black Boy, are considered classics of American literature. Wright was also a political activist and his writing often reflected his beliefs in the need for social justice. Today, he is remembered as one of the most important writers of the 20th century and a voice for the African American experience. Listen in, as Richard Wright's biography comes alive in a 1949 edition of the radio show Destination Freedom. More at KrobCollection.com

In this edition, history comes alive with Richard Nixon being interviewed by British journalist David Frost. This was a major news event, with Nixon emerging from seclusion after spending more than two years away from public life, when he became the first U.S. president to resign from office, due to the Watergate scandal. Nixon granted Frost an exclusive series of interviews, with the premiere episode attracting 45 million viewers, the largest television audience for a political interview in history. It resulted in both a play and movie about the event. You'll hear the first of the 4 interviews, as aired on the Mutual radio network, the evening of May 4th, 1977.   More at KRobCollection.com

Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Berger, Child Sense, Sibling Rivalry. For details visit http://krobcollection.com

This podcast examines the education and care of black children in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Segregation was the law in most public U.S. schools during this period. White and black students usually went to separate, but supposedly equal quality classrooms, but most often white students had access to better resources and qualified teachers. In contrast, African-American students were frequently taught by under-qualified and underpaid teachers, and their schools were poorly maintained and lacked basic amenities, their textbooks were often outdated and in poor condition. Also, many black children had to deal with hunger, homelessness, and difficult family conditions. You will hear their stories in three radio dramas from 1944. I Teach Negro Girls, on New World A-Comin', Your School-Your Children on Words At War, and the Colored Orphan Asylum on New World A-Comin'. More at KRobCollection.com

The Great Gildersleeve was a radio situation comedy broadcast from 1941 to 1957. The series was built around the character of Throckmorton Gildersleeve, small town water commissioner and his family. One of the co-stars was Lillian Randolph, an African-American actress and singer. Randolph appeared in hundreds of radio shows, getting her start on WTAM in Cleveland, Ohio. She appeared in many films, and television shows. Randolph's most notable movie appearances was in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Magic (1978), and The Onion Field (1979). Randolph was a prominent voice in nineteen Tom and Jerry cartoons. She performed on the Bill Cosby Show, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, and Roots. You'll hear Lillian Randolph as Birdie the maid on NBC radio's the Great Gildersleeve in 1946, 1948, and 1950. More at KRobCollection.com

Ken Robinson hosts a show about getting minorities involved in the banking and financial industries. (WJMO-AM Cleveland, 1982) More at http://krobcollection.com

On this edition we take a look at African-American professional boxer Jersey Joe Walcott, who is regarded among the best heavyweights in the world during the 1940s and 1950s, winning the title at the age of 37. Walcott was born in 1914, and was only 15 years old when his father died. He quit school and worked in a soup factory to support his mother and 11 younger brothers and sisters, and then began training as a boxer. His first bout was in 1930. His last fight was in 1953, when he was knocked out by Rocky Marciano in the first round. After retiring from boxing, Walcott did some acting, playing small parts in a few movies and television shows. In 1956, Walcott performed the role of George the Trainer, in the Humphrey Bogart boxing drama The Harder They Fall. Walcott also refereed several boxing matches, including the second fight between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston. From 1971 to 1974, Walcott was the elected Sheriff of Camden County, New Jersey, the first African-American to hold the position. From 1975 to 1984, Walcott was the chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission. You're going to hear Jersey Joe Walcott take on boxing legend Joe Louis in a 1948 rematch on ABC radio. It's one of the earliest bouts broadcast on closed circuit television. More at KRobCollection.com

Soap Operas were very popular during radio's classic era. Experts say the radio networks made more money from daytime serials than any other broadcast genre, because so many women were homemakers, and enjoyed being entertained while doing boring, tedious, housework. The first soap opera appeared on radio in 1930 and was an instant success. Very quickly, midday programing was filled with mostly soaps, lasting about 15 minutes each, with occasional news breaks. You will hear several soaps broadcast on CBS Radio the morning of September 21st, 1939. They are Hilltop House, Stepmother, Brenda Curtis, Big Sister, and Aunt Jenny's True Life Stories. More at KrobCollection.com

First Jeopardy host Art Fleming, Home Health Care, and Phil Donahue.  More at KRobCollection.com

Timmie Rogers was an African-American comedian, singer-songwriter, bandleader and actor. Rogers was one of the first Black comedians allowed to directly address a white audience. Before Rogers, African-American comics had to either work in pairs or groups, only conversing with each other, and they had to play a character. Because of this, Rogers was known as the Jackie Robinson of comedy. Rogers was born in Detroit in 1915. At the age of eight, he was earning money by dancing on the street. At the age of 12, Rogers ran away from home and found a job as a dishwasher on a boat, where he learned to speak 9 languages including French and German. By 1932, Rogers was a professional dancer, and in the 1940s he began performing on radio. In 1949, Rogers starred in America's first black prime-time television show Uptown Jubilee on CBS. He was also a recurring guest star on The Jackie Gleason Show on CBS-TV for over 12 years, and would continue to work with Jackie for the next thirty years. In the late 1950s Rogers recorded for Cameo and Parkway Records. His hits included "Back to School Again" and "You'd Better Go Now". When performing, Rogers often played a 10-stringed guitar-like instrument called a Martin tiple, which he used on a 1975 episode of the Redd Foxx sitcom Sanford and Son. Rogers was inducted into the National Comedy Hall of Fame in 1993. You will hear Timmie Rogers perform on 3 editions of the Armed Forces Radio show Jubilee, the first two in 1945, and the third in 1947. More at KRobCollection.com

The focus of this edition is the career of Lena Horne, the African-American dancer, actress, singer, and civil rights activist. Her career spanned over 70 years, appearing on film, television, and theater. Born in 1917, Horne became a popular night club singer at the age of 16. She made her first movie appearance in 1935, which lead to many radio performances. Lena Horne is the winner of 4 Grammy awards, one Emmy award and many other accolades. We'll will hear the story of her life in a 1949 edition of Destination Freedom. Then Lena Horne performs in a starring role (Which was very rare during Jim Crow America) on the CBS Radio drama, Suspense in 1944. You will hear Lena sing with the legendary Benny Goodman band on the armed forces program Jubilee in 1946. Lastly, She appears on the radio show, Guest Star in 1947. More at KRobCollection.com