ABC Closed Set


This is one of the more curious recordings in the Hehn collection. It is a special information broadcast for ABC affiliates on May 27, 1946 about upcoming schedule changes, special events, and broadcast content. This confidential internal broadcast over the network feed was necessary because of the national strike of railroad workers. D ocuments about show schedules, advertising promotions and other key information was not reaching the affiliates . M uch of the US mail was transported by railroad at that time, including these essential documents, and there were no reasonable communication alternatives available in these days before inexpensive overnight deliveries, fax machines, and other conveniences. Among the items in this private network communication from ABC executives are… A schedule of upcoming live network feeds and their times for political, sporting, and other events are read to the station engineers. Changes to the upcoming regular schedules are announced, such as cancellation of the Bill Thompson Show and who would be guests for Question for America. There is a request for station engineers to go to Washington to work for 10 days resolving problems with overlapping station coverage with the Federal Communications Commission, with the stations required to pay for their visits. Jack Benny will be guest moderator on The Quiz Kids (this was a big deal since ABC could cash in on Benny’s notoriety since he was on a competitive network). Some audience promotion about a new sports news program and an upcoming boxing match. The stations got this advance information to worth with their clients and their sales people in developing. * * * These recordings are part of the Joe Hehn Memorial Collection. Mr. Hehn (1931-2020) was a pioneering collector of radio recordings when the hobby emerged in the 1960s. Digitizing his collection of reel tapes and discs is the effort of a wide range of North American volunteers, and includes assistance of some international collectors. The groups supporting this effort with their funds, time, technology and skills are the Old Time Radio Researchers and a small group of transcription disc preservationists who refer to themselves as the "The Knights of the Turning Table."

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.