America Salutes the President's Birthday
This digital collection brings together three rare, all-star radio broadcasts celebrating Franklin Delano Roosevelt's birthday, held in support of the March of Dimes. Featuring an extraordinary roster of Hollywood legends—including James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Shore—these programs capture the warmth, humor, and patriotic spirit of a nation rallying behind its leader. Broadcast on CBS between 1941 and 1944, each installment offers a unique glimpse into the cultural and charitable efforts that defined FDR's era. With over two hours of audio, it's a treasure for collectors of vintage radio, presidential history, and Golden Age entertainment.
Collection Highlights
- The 1941 broadcast features a delightful comedy sketch with James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart playing a pair of dimes in a cash box, eager to make their way to Washington to join the fight against polio—just months before Pearl Harbor changed the world.
- The 1943 program takes a more patriotic tone, including a Norman Corwin drama based on the Four Freedoms, remote broadcasts from military bases like the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and Luke Field, and performances by Artie Shaw, Dick Powell, and Bing Crosby.
- The 1944 birthday salute is narrated by Edward R. Murrow, with appearances by Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Shore, alongside the Marine Corps Band—a stirring tribute as the nation was deep in World War II.
Track Listing
Show all 3 tracks (2 hours, 26 min)
- AmericaSalutesThePresidentsBirthday 410125 MarchOfDimes
- AmericaSalutesThePresidentsBirthday 430130
- AmericaSalutesThePresidentsBirthday 440129
