Two American anthology radio series (1948–1950/51)
Destination Freedom Genre Dramatic anthology Running time 30 minutes Sunday mornings Home station
WMAQ Starring
Oscar Brown Jr. , Vernon Jarrett, Janice Kingslow, Fred Pinkard,
Studs Terkel ,
Wezlyn Tilden ; also,
Maurice Copeland , Tony Parrish,
Jack Gibson , Harris Gaines, Louise Pruitt,
Arthur Peterson , Norma Ransom,
Forrest Lewis ,
Hope Summers , Boris Apion, Jess Pugh, Ted Liss, Don Gallagher, Harry Elders, Everett Clarke, Jack Lester, Art Hern, Les Spears, Dean Olmquist, Russ Reed Announcer
Hugh Downs Created by
Richard Durham Written by Richard Durham, Ray Derby, William Hodapp, Bob Ecklund, Madeline Peters, Billie McKee, Bob McKee, Christine Squires, Martin Maloney, Charles Flynn Directed by Homer Heck, Dick Loughran,
Norman Felton , Bob Wambold, John Cowan,
Larry Auerbach Produced by Homer Heck
[1] Donnie L Betts
[2] Executive producer(s)
Judith Waller Recording studio
Chicago Original release June 27, 1948 (1948-06-27 ) – November 19, 1951 (1951-11-19 ) Opening theme "
Oh, Freedom " Sponsored by
The Chicago Defender ,
Chicago Urban League (1950),
United Negro College Fund
Destination Freedom was a series of weekly radio programs which was produced by
WMAQ in Chicago. The first set ran from 1948 to 1950 and it presented the biographical histories of prominent African-Americans such as
George Washington Carver ,
Satchel Paige ,
Frederick Douglass ,
Harriet Tubman , and
Lena Horne .
[3]
[4] The scripts for those shows were written by
Richard Durham .
[4]
Studs Terkel voiced some of the radio characters.
[5]
Hugh Downs also served as an announcer in both the initial and 1950 series.
[6]
The second series of shows ran from 1950 to 1951, and it was produced without Durham. This second series featured patriotic themed dramas which were largely based on
Americanism and
anti-Communism .
The show was the brainchild of African-American journalist and author
Richard Durham .
[7]
[8] In cooperation with
The Chicago Defender , he began this series over NBC Chicago outlet WMAQ in June 1948, with scripts emphasizing the progress of African-Americans from the days of slavery to the ongoing struggle for racial justice. Airing in
Sunday-morning public-service time , the series built a steady audience in the Midwest with inspirational stories of social progress, earning strong support from Civil Rights organizations, and offering employment to a wide range of African-American performers. Episodes began with a stanza from the
spiritual "
Oh, Freedom ".
[9]
Destination Freedom premiered on June 27, 1948, on Chicago radio WMAQ. Durham's vision was to reeducate the masses on the image of African American society, since he believed that it was tainted with inaccurate and derogatory stereotypes. Week after week, Durham would generate all-out attacks on these stereotypes by illustrating the lives of prominent African-Americans. For two years, Durham wrote script after script for Destination Freedom , receiving no financial compensation for his effort. In 1950, Durham's financial needs forced him to accept an offer by
Don Ameche to write material for him. It is also said that Durham's relationship with NBC and WMAQ was not entirely harmonious. Continuing without Durham, the final year of the program turned to general themes of "American freedom," without the sharp focus on the African-American experience. This, WMAQ hoped, would create a show to rival Paul Revere Speaks , which was a popular show at the time. For about 50 years, the show was long forgotten until some transcripts were found, and the characters voiced by Fred Pinkard,
[10]
[11]
Oscar Brown Jr. ,
[12]
Wezlyn Tilden ,
[13] and Janice Kingslow,
[14]
[15] were heard once more.
Two early recordings, "A Garage in Gainesville" and "Execution Awaited", are listed in
National Recording Registry .
[16] In 1949 it received a first-place commendation from the
Ohio State University Institute for Education by Radio.
[17]
Richard Durham episodes
Links for each episode subject are provided
Episodes are listed in order of 1st broadcast
[3] : ix–xxi
1948 episodes
1949 episodes
1950 episodes
Post-Durham episodes – Paul Revere "Patriotic Freedom" format
Episodes after the October 1950 relaunch, ending July 1951
Dates may vary depending upon the sources used
Patriotic Format – opening show for 1950, a discussion of freedom amongst historic figures – October 15, 1950
[107]
[108]
[1]
United Nations – promoting the establishment of
the organization – December 17, 1950
[109]
[110]
Magic Words – a recap of the basic rights of freedom – November 5, 1951[
citation needed ]
The Golden Circle – beginnings of the
Knights of the Golden Circle – November 12, 1950
[111]
Breakdown – an arrest (of Michael Shiftkoff) by the secret police in
Communist Bulgaria – November 18, 1950
[1]
The Price (Mackton and Winston of Company 'D') – a retelling of an American infantry unit's deployment to the Korean War – November 26, 1950
[1]
Matthew Lyon – criticism of the
Alien and Sedition Acts – December 10, 1950
[1]
Weapons for Peace (United Nations) – illustrates the danger of world-wide nuclear war – December 17, 1950
[1]
Peace on Earth (Frank Johnson Story) – a veteran's perspective on the end of a war – December 24, 1950
[1]
John, Alma, Johnny and Myra – drama about the
Occupation of the Baltic states – December 31, 1950
[112]
The Capture – retells the story of
Nathan Hale – January 7, 1951
[113]
Dwight David Eisenhower – retells the story of his life up to his presidential election – January 14, 1951
[1]
Freedom of Assembly (Jeff Maxwell Story) – review of the right – February 4, 1951
[1]
Forced Confession – promotes
Due Process of Law – February 18, 1951
[114]
Anna Zenger – the first woman to publish a newspaper in America – February 25, 1951
[1]
Benjamin Drake Story – drama about local people opposing unruly, oppressive people – March 4, 1951
[115]
[116]
The Dick Draper Story – drama about
employment rights in the United States – March 11, 1951
[117]
[118]
Thomas Wright, American Citizen – About private efforts, including coercion, to thwart
housing segregation in the United States – March 18, 1951
[119]
Citizen Whitney – a dramatic criticism of
Marxism and religion – March 25, 1951
[120]
The Jones Family – a dramatization about
eminent domain – April 8, 1951
[121]
[122]
Fred Custer Story – a dramatization about attending college and medical school – April 15, 1951
[123]
[124]
Reverend Browns Half Acre – concerns property ownership – April 22, 1951
[125]
[126]
Korean Frontline – Stories about the
Korean War and communism in China – April 29, 1951
[1]
Harper College Story (The Test) – Discusses education – May 6, 1951
[1]
Open for Business – the difficulties and rewards of owning a small retail business – May 13, 1951
[1]
Judge Farwell's Story – reflections of a US Federal Judge – May 19, 1951
[1]
Anna's Story – an immigrant from Sweden – January 21, 1951
[127]
[128]
Russell Thomas Story: Coal Miner to Pharmacist – Illustrates the opportunity for advancement available in America – June 2, 1951
[129]
Crisis in Avondale (The Avondale Story) – a drama about how free speech can be irresponsibly misused – June 9, 1951
[1]
Mike Yankovich, Minnesota Miner (Decision) – a drama about the costs and benefits of unionization in mining – June 16, 1951
[1]
Wanted, a Witness – a drama about the civic responsibility to assist in solving crimes – June 23, 1951
[1]
References
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q Haendiges, Jerry.
"Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs" .
^ Longo-Better, Rossana (February 15, 2022).
"Storytellers of Color: donnie l. betts on Reaching Destination Freedom by Radio" . Boulder, CO: KGNU Radio. Retrieved 14 December 2022 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
MacDonald, J. Fred , ed. (1989). Richard Durham's Destination Freedom . New York: Praeger.
ISBN
978-0275931384 .
ISSN
0890-7161 .
LCCN
88-35686 .
OCLC
18986323 . : 2–10 (Also see
MacDonald, J. Fred (Spring 1978). "Radio's Black Heritage. Destination Freedom , 1948–1950".
Phylon . 39 (66): 66–73.
doi :
10.2307/274433 .
JSTOR
274433 .
OCLC
425277414 . )
^
a
b
Dunning, John (1998).
On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 196–198.
ISBN
978-0195076783 . Retrieved 12 June 2020 .
^
"Studs Terkel Biography" (audio) . Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
^
"Hugh Downs Biography" (audio) . Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
^
"Richard Durham (1917–1984)" . March 28, 2014.
^
"Richard Durham Biography" (audio) . Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
^ Ashleigh Lawrence-Sanders, March 16, 2018,
History, Memory, and the Power of Black Radio AAIHS.org
^
"Fred Pinkard, 84; Actor's Career Spanned Radio, TV, Film, Theater" . Los Angeles Times . August 11, 2004.
^
"Fred Pinkard Biography" (audio) . Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
^
"Oscar Brown Jr. Biography" (audio) . Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
^
"Wezlyn Tilden on Apple Music" . Apple Music .
^
"Janice Kingslow Biography" (audio) . Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
^
"Janice Kingslow on Apple Music" . Apple Music .
^ Ellett, Ryan.
"Destination Freedom , 'A Garage in Gainesville' and 'Execution Awaited' (September 25; October 2, 1949)" (PDF) . Library of Congress.
^ Olson, O. Joe, ed. (1949). Education on the Air. Nineteenth Yearbook of the Institution for Education by Radio . Columbus: Ohio State University Press. p. 412.
OCLC
499232940 .
^ Recording
OCLC
45756791
^ Ellett, Ryan (2 August 2017).
"Destination: Freedom Review" . wordpress.com . Retrieved 18 November 2023 . Includes a June 30, 1948 review of 'The Knock-Kneed Man' episode
^ Recording
OCLC
1323031217 ,
44432639 ,
13552192
^ Recording
OCLC
1323199177 ,
13571262
^ Recording
OCLC
1323032225 ,
44430954 ,
13571262
^ Recording
OCLC
65428451 ,
13571331 ,
144689200 ;
ISBN
978-1931180290
^ Recording
OCLC
65428606 ,
80786482 ;
ISBN
978-1931180283
^ Recording
OCLC
1323109441 ,
44432615 ,
13539710
^ Recording
OCLC
1323168754 ,
83590829 ,
13539710 ;
ISBN
978-1931180085
^ Recording
OCLC
1323122806 ,
13539680
^ Recording
OCLC
1323028547 ,
44432611 ,
13539680
^ Recording
OCLC
1323213199 ,
13552117
^ Recording
OCLC
1323080874 ,
13571298 ,
83590842
^ Recording
OCLC
1323012887
^ Recording
OCLC
1323009233 ,
13571468 ,
226381133 ;
ISBN
978-1931180177
^ Recording
OCLC
1323070842 ,
26452895 ;
ISBN
978-1931180092
^ Recording
OCLC
1323014705
^ Recording
OCLC
1323214717
^ Recording
OCLC
1323011392 ,
44424423
^ Recording
OCLC
1323185888 ,
191954582 ;
ISBN
978-1931180115
^ Recording
OCLC
1323185888 ,
1323214222 ,
44430951
^ Recording
OCLC
1323172321 ,
13571231
^ Recording
OCLC
1323028679 ,
13571231 ; The episode includes the poem "Negro Hero", by
Gwendolyn Brooks
^ Recording
OCLC
1323131729 ,
13552063
^ Recording
OCLC
1323037869 ,
13571298
^ Recording
OCLC
1323113745
^ Recording
OCLC
1323162018 ,
13552167
^ Recording
OCLC
1323062084 ,
13552167
^ Recording
OCLC
1323159810
^ Recording
OCLC
1323099681 ,
44432611
^ Recording
OCLC
1323101120 ,
1323026386
^ Recording
OCLC
1323099681
^ Recording
OCLC
1323112298 ,
13571462
^ Recording
OCLC
1323156434 ,
13552079
^ Recording
OCLC
1323056044 ,
26452916
^ Recording
OCLC
1323024451 ,
26452929
^ Recording
OCLC
1323169789 ,
13571462
^ Recording
OCLC
1323169789 ,
44432615
^ Recording
OCLC
1323103638
^ Recording
OCLC
1323030252
^ Recording
OCLC
1323062084 ,
45756791
^ Recording
OCLC
26452908
^ Recording
OCLC
1323006041
^ Recording
OCLC
1323050232 ,
26452926 ,
430047751 ;
ISBN
978-1931180122
^ Recording
OCLC
1323116238
^ Recording
OCLC
1323205525 ,
26452932
^ "Norfolk Miracle : the Story of Dorothy Maynor"
OCLC
21243158 ,
61323184241 ,
26452923 ;
ISBN
978-1931180221
^ Audiotape – The legend of Stackalee –
OCLC
1323028307 ,
44432637
^ Recording
OCLC
1323193577 ,
13552079
^ Recording
OCLC
1323055804 ,
13571274 ,
26452918
^ Recording
OCLC
1323144868 ,
13571274
^ Recording
OCLC
1323132659
^ Recording
OCLC
1323030135 ,
226381132 ;
ISBN
978-1931180306 ,
978-1931180177
^
Segregation in Washington a report . National Committee on Segregation in the Nation's Capital. November 1948.
LCCN
49002184 .
OCLC
735403 .
^ Episode:
"Segregation Incorporated"
^ Recording
OCLC
1323103372
^ Recording
OCLC
1323189154
^ Recording
OCLC
1323184049 ,
180701832 ,
13571468 ;
ISBN
978-1931180146
^ Recording
OCLC
1323141961 ,
13571361
^
Destination Freedom – Execution Awaited (Part II in a series on prejudice) , via
YouTube
^ Recording
OCLC
1323134434
^ Recording – includes an interview with
Adam Clayton Powell III
OCLC
176310275 ;
ISBN
978-1931180283
^ Recording
OCLC
102332027 ;
ISBN
978-1931180276
^ Recording
OCLC
223443338 ,
1323199701 ;
ISBN
978-1931180207
^ Recording
OCLC
1323024018
^ Recording
OCLC
1323123490 ,
13571361
^ Recording
OCLC
1323057778 ,
13552045
^ Recording
OCLC
13552045
^ Recording
OCLC
176313684 ;
ISBN
978-1931180320 ; rebroadcast in March 2003 by
KGNU ; cast included Donnie L. Betts as Bill Robinson; with Jeff Campbell, Laurence Curry, Matthew Dente, Jacob Mora, Ruthay, Kurt Soderstrom, and John Williams; theme singer, Claire Frances Peterson
^ Recording
OCLC
1323068494 ,
13552192 ,
26452903
^ Recording
OCLC
1323061080
^ Recording
OCLC
1323183278 ,
26452905 ,
99995878 ;
ISBN
978-1931180313
^ Recording
OCLC
1323101003
^ Recording
OCLC
1323048118
^ Recording
OCLC
1323188137
^ Jones, Reinettn F. (April 22, 2021).
"Chicago Police Officers from Kentucky, 1900–1930s" . NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database . University of Kentucky. Retrieved December 19, 2022 . Kinzie Blueitt, 1900–1971
^ Episode: "
The Fifth District Crime Fighter "
^ Recording
OCLC
1323188137 ,
13528620
^ Recording
OCLC
1323032495 ,
13528620 ,
83590829 ;
ISBN
978-1931180085
^ Recording
OCLC
1323009843
^ Recording
OCLC
1323211758
^ Broemmel, Mike.
"A Look at Richard Durham: The Man Who Created Destination Freedom" . Mike Broemmel .
^ Recording
OCLC
1323018591
^ Recording
OCLC
1323187866 ,
102326573 ;
ISBN
978-1931180214
^ Westbrooks was also a founder of the
Cook County Bar Association : See WorldCat cassette data –
OCLC
1323063546
^ Recording
OCLC
1323074703
^ Recording
OCLC
1323026912 ,
430047751 ;
ISBN
978-1931180122
^ Recording
OCLC
1323095433
^ Authors include Donnie L. Betts, T. J. Betts, Matthew Dente, Daniel Jensen, Ruthay, Julie Swartout, Arthur C. Jones, Spirituals Project Choir (Denver). Recording
OCLC
262779717 ;
ISBN
978-1931180269
^ Episode:
Patriotic Format "
^ Bill Hodak (July 4, 2011).
"Patriotic Format" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? .
^
"United Nations" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . November 5, 2018.
^ Episode:
"United Nations"
^
"Golden Circle, The" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . September 17, 2018.
^
"John, Alma, Johnny and Myra" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . December 31, 2018.
^
"Nathan Hale Story" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . November 12, 2018.
^
"Forced Confession" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . August 27, 2018.
^
"Benjamin Drake Story" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . October 19, 2014.
^ Episode:
"Benjamin Drake Story"
^
"Dick Draper Story" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . September 3, 2018.
^ Episode:
"Dick Draper Story"
^
"Thomas Wright, American Citizen" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . October 15, 2018.
^
"Citizen Whitney" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . October 29, 2018.
^
"Jones Family, The" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . December 17, 2018.
^ Episode:
"The Jones Family"
^
"Fred Custer Story The" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . November 19, 2018.
^ Episode:
"Fred Custer Story"
^
"Reverend Brown's Half Acre" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . October 1, 2018.
^ Episode:
"Reverend Browns Half Acre"
^
"Anna's Story" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . November 14, 2015.
^ Episode:
"Anna's Story"
^
"Russell Thomas Story" . RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably? . June 4, 2018.
Further reading
Barlow, William (1999). Voice Over : the Making of Black Radio . Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
OCLC
39443048 .
ISBN
978-1566396660 ,
978-1566396677 .
Contreras, Felix (October 10, 2015).
"With Dramas on the Dial 'Freedom' Made History by Teaching It" . All Things Considered . NPR.org.
OCLC
8239961269 .
Hine, Darlene C.; McClusky, John Jr.; Smith, Marshanda A. (2012).
The Black Chicago Renaissance . New Black Studies Series. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
ISBN
978-0252037023 .
OCLC
772499394 .
Kavanaugh, Brian (March–April 2022).
"Destination Freedom (1948) & Fred Pinkard & Richard Durham" (PDF) . Old Time Radio Times (119). Lawrence, Kansas: Old Time Radio Researchers Group: 13–16. . Also see
OTRR Maintained Archive Destination Freedom with individual episode recordings available at the
OTRR Library .
Savage, Barbara Dianne (1999). "Chapter 6: New World A'Coming and Destination Freedom ". Broadcasting Freedom: Radio, War, and the Politics of Race 1938–1948 . Chapel Hill & London: University of North Carolina Press. pp. 246–270.
ISBN
978-0807848043 .
OCLC
40135343 .
Williams, Sonja D. (2015).
Word Warrior: Richard Durham, Radio, and Freedom University of Illinois Press,
ISBN
978-0252081392 ,
978-0252097980
OCLC
1004366808 ,
903873679
Williams, Sonja D. (27 Oct 2016).
"Destination Freedom: A Historic Radio Series About Black Life" . Journal of Radio & Audio Media . 23 (2): 263–277.
doi :
10.1080/19376529.2016.1223973 .
S2CID
157918778 .
External links
Destination Freedom programs
"Destination: Freedom" . The Digital Deli Too .
Destination Freedom Black Radio Days Podcast , from Apple Podcasts
Destination Freedom: One For the History Books – review of the series by PODCAKE, June 29, 2021
Destination Freedom – listing of shows on RUSC (R U Sitting Comfortably?)
Destination Freedom Black Radio Days , from
KGNU News – Boulder Community Broadcast Association
Destination Freedom Black Radio Podcast, Audio Drama at its Finest, Joins Broadway Podcast Network – a modern revival of the series from No Credits Productions, LLC
Librivox Audio Books episodes with links to audiofiles
Power, Politics, & Pride: Durham's Destination Freedom – WTTW: Chicago's Black Metropolis (with information on prominent cast members)
RadioGOLDINdex – Destination Freedom – listing compiled by J. David Goldin
Richard Durham Papers –
Chicago Public Library archive
Richard Durham –
Radio Hall of Fame
Word Warrior: Richard Durham, Radio & Freedom – video presentation from the
Library of Congress featuring author Sonja D. Williams