Comm; VE Day; On a note of triumph : First broadcast, V-E Day.
- Collection
- Comm
- Series
- VE Day
- Producing Organization
- WNYC (Radio station : New York, N.Y.)
- Contributing Organization
- WNYC (New York, New York)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/80-171vj183
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- Description
- Episode Description
- On A Note Of Triumph : First Broadcast, V-E- Day, May 8, 1945. Written, directed and produced by Norman Corwin Narrated by Martin Gabel Music composed by Bernard Herrmann and conducted by Lud Gluskin Originally broadcast May 8,1945 When CBS late in 1944 asked me to write a program for broadcast on the day of victory in Europe, everyone knew in advance that the occasion couldn't be celebrated as a victory in any final sense, because the war was continuing in Asia. At that time Japan was still strong and there were no illusions that she would be brought down easily or soon. Already there were reports that no celebrations were planned, that the country would rejoice quietly and pray for a speedy finish to the rest of World War II. It was in this context of limited triumph that I approached the task. Instead of delivering merely a paean to military victory I thought to consider what had been wrought, and why -- what the victory had cost -- what, if anything, we had learned -- and what lay ahead in the way of global obligations and responsibilities. After fifty years some of those questions have yet to be answered. It would seem that a broadcast constructed of such elements could not possibly hold a mass audience for a whole hour, let alone excite it. That it did so, and that, after half a century it is still considered worth replaying, is a tribute first to the network that gave me carte blanche to develop the commission as I wished, then to the artists, technicians, and musicians who brought it off. Many are gone now, but my gratitude to them all is as fresh as when the program signed off. Norman Corwin April 3,1995
- Episode Description
- CORWIN V-E DAY CLASSIC REMEMBERED By R. LeRoy Bannerman It was a brisk day in May, 1945. The nation had just received the long awaited word of a German surrender. Happily, the first phase of World War II -- the conflict in Europe -- was finally over. Unfortunately, however, the report of victory was premature and war-weary citizens had to wait 24 hours for confirmation. On the evening of May 8th, the next day, people sat before their radios in quiet contemplation of what proved to be an historic broadcast. It was, in contrast to a day of celebration, a sobering docu-drama which graphically depicted the dimension and emotion of the fighting just ended. With enduring prophecy, the program envisioned the fate and future of the country and the world. Written and directed by Norman Corwin, "On a Note of Triumph" was aired coast to coast by the Columbia Broadcasting System and was acclaimed immediately as the most significant broadcast of the year. Billboard Magazine applauded it as "the single greatest -- and we use greatest in its full meaning -- radio program we [have] ever heard." Not only was the program an effective tribute to victory, it evidenced exceptional artistry in its dramatic treatment of voice, sound and music. Uniquely Corwin, it exemplified his earlier achievements which had established him as radio's premier writer-producer. Since joining network radio in 1938, he had exercised artistic independence in creating some of the medium's proudest moments. In the decade spanning the end of the Great Depression and World War II, he gave broadcasting a sense of purpose, a grasp of aesthetic principles, a promise of intellectual substance. And he spoke with a rare eloquence for radio, touching with phenomenal success the temper of the times. Eric Barnouw, broadcast historian, lauded him as "America's unofficial poet laureate." It was during the war that Corwin conceived his finest work. His programs for the cause energized the people, marshaled morale, and he significantly bracketed World War II with two of his most powerful productions. The first was not intended as a "war piece"; merely a commemorative program to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. But coming as it did, just eight days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the program - "We Hold These Truths" - became a manifesto of patriotism and national purpose. It was performed by a galaxy of stars and included a live statement by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Consequently, with V-E Day imminent some four years later, CBS called on Corwin to culminate his wartime radio activity with a victory celebration for radio. When news came of the German capitulation, Corwin was in Hollywood. Preparations had been made for production on either coast. Bernard Herrmann's musical score had been copied and sent west. Martin Gabel, named to be the narrator, flew from New York to Los Angeles - to await the historic announcement and his call to perform. Corwin was already in rehearsal when CBS informed him that the program had been postponed because the first report of victory had been false. The next night, after the armistice was confirmed, Corwin reassembled his cast in Studio A of KNX ~ the same studio where he had produced "We Hold These Truths" -- and radio history was made. CBS President William Pdley at the time was attached to the armed services in England. But after hearing the broadcast, his pro tern president of CBS, Paul Kesten, wired Corwin: "I am cabling Paley he can be doubly proud of Corwin, of CBS, and of radio." [R. Leroy Bannerman is a professor emeritus of telecommunications, Indiana University, and author of "Norman Corwin and Radio: The Golden Years" (University of Alabama Press, 1986); paperback edition, "On a Note of Triumph" (Lyle Stuart/Carol Publishing, 1986)]
- Broadcast Date
- 1945-05-08
- Broadcast Date
- 1995-05-08
- Media type
- Sound
- Credits
-
-
Narrator: Gabel, Martin, 1912-1986
Producer: Corwin, Norman, 1910-2011
Producing Organization: WNYC (Radio station : New York, N.Y.)
Publisher: CBS Radio Network
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
WNYC-FM
Identifier: 71943.1 (WNYC Media Archive Label)
Format: audio/vnd.wave
Generation: Dub
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- Citations
- Chicago: “Comm; VE Day; On a note of triumph : First broadcast, V-E Day.,” 1945-05-08, WNYC, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed April 25, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-80-171vj183.
- MLA: “Comm; VE Day; On a note of triumph : First broadcast, V-E Day..” 1945-05-08. WNYC, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. April 25, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-80-171vj183>.
- APA: Comm; VE Day; On a note of triumph : First broadcast, V-E Day.. Boston, MA: WNYC, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-80-171vj183