Americana: Radio Essays from the Heartland
In the mid-century, Chicago’s WMAQ, with the cooperation of the Speech Department at Northwestern University, presented a series of thoughtful radio essays that sought to define the American character. Hosted by Professor Martin Maloney, Americana was a follow-up to the previous season’s The Meaning of America, and it remains a warm, reflective journey into what makes a nation great. Across 24 episodes totaling over 11 hours, Maloney explores the people, places, and traditions that form the American identity—from its heroes and villains to its small towns, great cities, songs, and even its jokes. Though produced more than half a century ago, the observations resonate just as clearly in the Internet age, reminding us that the values of the Heartland continue to define who we are.
Collection Highlights
- Hear Professor Martin Maloney’s engaging essays on topics like “The American Frontiersman,” “Chicago,” “Thomas Wolfe’s America,” and “Yankee Crusade,” each offering a thoughtful snapshot of mid-century life.
- This collection includes rare rehearsal excerpts and a deep dive into American folklore, from a rogue’s gallery of historical villains to studies of notable writers and the character of the big town.
- With a focus on the people, institutions, and traditions that shaped the nation, Americana is a treasure for collectors of historical radio and anyone curious about the enduring spirit of the Heartland.
Track Listing
Show all 24 tracks (11 hours, 34 min)
- Americana 53092x 001 Enclosures For A Cornerstone
- Americana 530930 002 The American Frontiersman
- Americana 531021 005 An American Rogue's Gallery
- Americana 5310xx xxx Rehearsal Multiple Excerpts
- Americana 531107 007 The Poet's Life
- Americana 531205 011 An American Sampler
- Americana 540102 015 Some Rebels, Eccentrics And Others
- Americana 540115 017 Getting From Here To There
- Americana 540123 018 Chicago
- Americana 540206 020 The Writer In Person
- Americana 540213 021 A Study In Villainy
- Americana 540220 022 Great Man, Good Man
- Americana 540313 024 Thomas Wolfe's America
- Americana 541113 006 Two Literary Lights
- Americana 541120 007 Three Musketeers And Other Characters
- Americana 541127 008 Yankee Crusade
- Americana 541211 010 Some Pleasant People
- Americana 541225 011 Winter Scene
- Americana 550101 012 Fine Additions
- Americana 550115 014 The Big Town
- Americana 550122 015 Stories From Home
- Americana 550129 016 The Reason Why
- Americana 550205 017 Notable Books
- Americana 550212 018 Mr Lincoln
