When It Went Wrong On Air
Newsroom
1937–1945 · Newsroom
Broadcasts
10
Cadence
Twice weekly
Rated
PG
Since
1937
Episodes
Start here
Listen to the run in order
Restored broadcasts from 1937, in original transmission order.
- 1. Herbert Morrison at Lakehurst — “Oh, the humanity” · 6 May 1937
- 2. The Hindenburg Disaster — Morrison's discs, second transfer · 6 May 1937
- 3. Neville Chamberlain — “This country is at war with Germany” · 3 Sep 1939
- 01
Herbert Morrison at Lakehurst — “Oh, the humanity”
6 May 1937 · 5 min
Morrison and engineer Charlie Nehlsen were cutting a routine feature onto acetate when the airship caught. NBC waived its own ban on recordings to carry it the next day. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
- 02
The Hindenburg Disaster — Morrison's discs, second transfer
6 May 1937 · 1 min
A separate surviving transfer of the same Lakehurst acetates. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
- 03
Neville Chamberlain — “This country is at war with Germany”
3 Sep 1939 · 12 min
Broadcast live from the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street on a Sunday morning, eleven fifteen. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
- 04
This Is London Calling
9 Apr 1940 · 14 min
A BBC transmission from the morning Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
- 05
News Flash — The Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
7 Dec 1941 · 14 min
The bulletin that broke into a Sunday afternoon schedule. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
- 06
H. V. Kaltenborn — Analysis of the Attack on Pearl Harbor
7 Dec 1941 · 14 min
Kaltenborn, radio's first news analyst, working live with almost no confirmed facts. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
- 07
Pearl Harbor — Broadcast of 7 December 1941
7 Dec 1941 · 27 min
Surviving off-air recording of the afternoon's coverage. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
- 08
Franklin D. Roosevelt — “A date which will live in infamy”
8 Dec 1941 · 11 min
The war message to Congress, carried live by every American network. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
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