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Cavalcade of America photographs

Creation: 1939-1951
 Collection
Accession: 1985-259
View selected items online in the Hagley Digital Archives.
View selected items online in the Hagley Digital Archives.

Abstract

The Cavalcade of America was an anthology drama radio program which aired weekly from 1935 to 1953. The radio show was sponsored by the DuPont Company, a chemical company, which began as a manufacturer of gunpowder in 1802. The DuPont Company created the Cavalcade of America as a promotional tool. The collection consists of photographs relating to the Cavalcade of America radio show. The majority are views of rehearsals or live performances; actors and actresses, including numerous Hollywood celebrities such as Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, and Cary Grant; the DuPont Chorus; live audiences; and the production staff.

Dates

  • Creation: 1939-1951

Creator

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet

General Physical Description

697 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. or smaller. 1 negative ; 8 x 10 in. 2 items.

Historical Note

The Cavalcade of America was an anthology drama radio program which aired weekly from 1935 to 1953. The radio show was sponsored by the DuPont Company, a chemical company, which began as a manufacturer of gunpowder in 1802. The DuPont Company created the Cavalcade of America as a promotional tool. The program dramatized historical events focusing on individual stories of heroism, and occasionally presented a musical performance. The stories were presented as uplifting and emphasized human achievements, progress and technological innovations.

Roy Durstine created the show and Donald Voorhees was the musical director. There were numerous writers and directors used for different episodes. Among the writers were Arthur Miller, Virginia Radcliff, George Faulkner, and Robert Tallman. Directors included Robert Stevenson, Harry Horner, Peter Godfrey, and Laslo Benedek.

The show had eighteen series producing 781 episodes. Although not actual advertising for DuPont products, the company motto was read at the beginning of each episode, “Maker of better things for better living through chemistry”. The narrators included countless famous performers such as Bette Davis, Lionel Barrymore, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Helen Hayes, Orsen Welles, and Lana Turner.

Cavalcade of America was adapted into a television program, which aired from 1952 to 1957 on NBC and then later on ABC. The radio show and the television program only overlapped for one year before the radio show was discontinued.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of photographs relating to the Cavalcade of America radio show. The majority are views of rehearsals or live performances; actors and actresses, including numerous Hollywood celebrities such as Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, and Cary Grant; the DuPont Chorus; live audiences; and the production staff. There are also photographs of program scripts and of the RCA Building in New York City. Other photographs are of DuPont Company exhibits advertising the show; of awards being presented to the DuPont Company and/or employees for safety at live performances; and of tours of DuPont plants being given to actors and actresses.

Existence and Location of Copies

View selected items online in the Hagley Digital Archives.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Related Material

Cavalcade of America phonograph records (Accession 1968.001.G68), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.

Language of Materials

English

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Cavalcade of America photographs
Author:
Laurie Sather
Date:
2018.
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400