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The Cavalcade of America: Classic Stories of American History

Presented by OTR.FM Network

The Cavalcade of America is one of the most respected and influential dramatic history series ever produced for radio. Originally created by the DuPont Company, this landmark program dramatizes the pivotal moments, quiet turning points, and extraordinary individuals that shaped the United States.

Each episode presents a carefully crafted dramatization drawn from real American history - stories of courage, ingenuity, sacrifice, and resolve. From inventors and explorers to soldiers, leaders, and everyday citizens, The Cavalcade of America focuses on the human stories behind the nation’s progress, not just the headlines.

This podcast preserves the original recordings from radio’s golden age, offering listeners an authentic old-time radio experience complete with period performances, orchestration, and storytelling style. It’s history as it was once told to millions of Americans: thoughtful, dramatic, and deeply rooted in the belief that progress is driven by people willing to act.

Ideal for history lovers, educators, and fans of classic radio drama, The Cavalcade of America is both an entertaining listen and a time capsule, bringing America’s past to life one story at a time.

213 episodes

  1. Henry Bergh Founder Of The Aspca

    Nov 5, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: April 21, 1941 Cavalcade of America #223, "Henry Bergh Founder Of The Aspca," distinguished writer Albert Payson Terhune narrates the inspiring story of his friend Henry Bergh, the crusading founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The episode traces Bergh's transformation from a young secretary at the American Embassy in St. Petersburg, where a pivotal encounter with a peasant brutally beating an overloaded donkey awakens his passion for animal welfare. When Bergh attempts to intervene, he discovers a harsh truth about Russian society: people respect the uniform, not the man wearing it. Returning to New York, Bergh throws himself into an uphill battle to establish legal protections for animals. Despite securing prominent supporters like Horace Greeley and John Jacob Astor for his petition, and successfully founding the ASPCA in 1866, Bergh faces enormous challenges enforcing the new laws. With limited funds, no helpers, and no legal authority to arrest or prosecute offenders, he must resort to unorthodox methods to protect suffering animals, leading him to seek greater police powers from Mayor Hoffman.

  2. A Passage To Georgia

    Nov 4, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: April 14, 1941 Cavalcade of America #222, "A Passage To Georgia," tells the story of General James Oglethorpe's transformation from disengaged member of Parliament to passionate reformer. When Anne Castell arrives at his door with news that her husband Bob, a talented architect and Oglethorpe's friend, has been imprisoned for debt, the complacent MP is shocked into action. What he discovers at Fleet Street Prison horrifies him: debtors chained alongside felons, subjected to torture and extortion by the brutal Warden Bambridge, and left to die of disease in filthy conditions. Bob Castell succumbs to smallpox in his chains, a victim of a system that treats poverty as a crime. Galvanized by his friend's death, Oglethorpe rises in Parliament to expose the appalling conditions in England's debtors' prisons. He challenges his fellow MPs to live up to England's ideals of liberty and justice, arguing that even in a land more free than the despotisms of Europe, there remains room for improvement. As skeptical members question whether he has a solution to the problem of debtors, Oglethorpe begins to propose an answer that will ultimately lead to the founding of Georgia as a colony of second chances.

  3. Ode To A Nightingale

    Nov 4, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: April 7, 1941 Cavalcade of America #221, "Ode To A Nightingale," playwright Maxwell Anderson crafts an intimate portrait of poet John Keats in the formative years before his literary immortality. In 1809 London, fourteen-year-old John keeps vigil at his dying mother's bedside, promising to watch over his younger siblings Tom, George, and Fanny. As the years pass, John struggles between his training as a surgeon and his burning ambition to become a great poet—not a "medium-run poet like Byron," but one who writes "words that burn like fire." While his skilled hands work in the surgery, his mind dances off on sunbeams, and he confesses to his brothers his desperate dream of leaving behind a vision that Englishmen will never let die. The narrative takes a poignant turn when George announces his plan to marry young Georgiana and emigrate to America in search of new opportunities. As George and his bride float down the Ohio River toward an uncertain future, contemplating steamboats and settlements in the wilderness, the episode explores the parallel dreams of two brothers—one venturing to the New World seeking fortune, the other remaining in London pursuing poetic greatness, both risking everything on a single throw.

  4. Edwin Booth

    Nov 3, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: March 31, 1941 Cavalcade of America #220, "Edwin Booth," takes listeners into the empty theater of the legendary actor on a winter night in 1873. At three o'clock in the morning, Edwin Booth awakens his assistant Gary and leads him to the furnace room, where he begins destroying costumes and mementos from his theatrical past. Among the items is a cloak belonging to his brother, John Wilkes Booth, whose actions have haunted Edwin for years. As each garment feeds the flames, Edwin relives pivotal moments from his life on the stage. Through dramatic flashbacks, the episode reveals Edwin's journey from prompter to leading man, including the fateful night when his father, the great Junius Brutus Booth, fell ill before a performance and young Edwin stepped into the role of Richard III for the first time. The burning continues as Edwin recalls other memories, including his romance with a Juliet who captured his heart during rehearsals. As Gary watches in dismay, the aging actor methodically purges his past, costume by costume, in an attempt to free himself from the ghosts that have defined and tormented his remarkable career.

  5. Down To The Sea

    Nov 3, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: March 26, 1941 Cavalcade of America #219, "Down To The Sea," dramatizes the early seafaring adventures of author Herman Melville aboard the whaling ship Acushnet. In 1841 New Bedford, Massachusetts, young Herman bids farewell to Elizabeth Shaw and her disapproving mother as he embarks on his first whaling voyage. Under the brutal command of Captain Valentine Pease, conditions aboard ship deteriorate rapidly through floggings, starvation, and death. When fellow sailor Toby proposes deserting at a cannibal island, Herman agrees, choosing exile over the captain's tyranny. On the island of Taipi, Herman finds an unexpected paradise and falls in love with a native woman named Fayaway. He becomes enchanted with the peaceful valley and its people who live without the constant struggle that defines civilization. When Toby announces that a friendly ship has arrived offering passage home, Herman must choose between this island Eden and the world he left behind. Fayaway's heartbreaking wisdom forces him to confront what he truly wants, leading to a difficult decision that will shape his future.

  6. I Sing A New World

    Nov 2, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: March 19, 1941 Cavalcade of America #218, "I Sing A New World," presents a radio fantasy exploring the spirit of America through the eyes of poet Walt Whitman. The immortal Whitman, played by John McIntyre, moves through different eras of American life, from witnessing the great Chicago fire to walking the crowded streets of Manhattan and visiting Coney Island. At Coney Island, he encounters young couple Jimmy and Sue, who struggle with the harsh realities of working-class life and question whether they can afford to marry or raise children. Whitman challenges their despair, reminding them that they are part owners of America's great institutions and that their children can claim the nation's wealth and promise as their birthright. The poet continues his journey, observing workers singing at their labors and eventually ascending a skyscraper under construction, where he narrowly avoids hot rivets while marveling at modern engineering. Through these encounters across time, Whitman celebrates the varied voices of American democracy and the constructive spirit of the common people, insisting that the future belongs to those who recognize their stake in the nation's greatness.

  7. Voice In The Wilderness

    Nov 1, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: March 5, 1941 In Cavalcade of America #216, "Voice In The Wilderness," William Penn, son of Admiral Sir William Penn, faces his father's fury and disinheritance after repeatedly choosing his Quaker faith over a promising court career. Despite being trained to become an ambassador or minister, the younger Penn finds himself drawn to the Society of Friends and their belief in equality before God, even wearing his hat before nobility as a symbol of this conviction. His father pays his fines time and again, exasperated by his son's seeming waste of privilege and position. When royal officers close the Quaker meeting houses, Penn boldly preaches in the street, standing atop a balustrade to address his fellow Friends. This act leads to his arrest alongside William Meade for conspiracy to disturb the king's peace. At their trial before the Lord Mayor of London, Penn and Meade face contempt charges simply for wearing their hats in court. When the jury delivers a partial verdict finding Penn guilty only of preaching and Meade not guilty, the recorder refuses to accept it, threatening to starve the jurors until they produce a conviction for conspiracy that satisfies the court.

  8. Edgar Allan Poe

    Nov 1, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: February 26, 1941 Cavalcade of America #215, "Edgar Allan Poe," dramatizes the struggles of the brilliant but tormented writer as he fights for artistic integrity while battling poverty and personal tragedy. The episode follows Poe through key moments of his career, from his early triumph winning a fifty-dollar literary prize for "Manuscript Found in a Bottle" to his clashes with publishers who demand he write crowd-pleasing material instead of his dark, imaginative works. Edgar finds love and inspiration in Anna, whose failing health shadows their relationship even as she encourages his genius. When publisher Mr. Graham pressures Poe to produce "something different" and "light, romantic" to boost circulation, the passionate writer refuses to compromise his vision, defiantly declaring that American literature will not be "made to order" or treated as a mere commodity. The drama explores the price of artistic genius as Poe grapples with commercial pressures, critical scorn from rivals like the self-satisfied Milford Bard, and the devastating specter of loss that haunts his greatest works and his life.

  9. Plain Mister President

    Oct 31, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: February 19, 1941 Cavalcade of America #214, "Plain Mister President," follows George Washington on his reluctant journey from Mount Vernon to New York for his inauguration as the first president of the United States in April 1789. As his coach departs, Washington confides to his companions, Colonel Humphreys and Mr. Thompson, that he feels "almost like a culprit going to his execution" rather than a man embarking on great days. The journey becomes an opportunity for reflection as Washington recalls the long road that brought him to this moment, from the first reading of the Declaration of Independence to his soldiers in 1776 to the contentious Constitutional Convention where jealous states struggled to unite. Along the route through Alexandria, Baltimore, and beyond, crowds gather to cheer their new president, while Washington wrestles with the weight of his responsibilities. When the coach wheel breaks, representatives from different states quarrel over who will repair it, yet ultimately work together to fix it. Washington observes this as democracy itself in action: chaos giving way to order, yesterday's rebels and loyalists standing together as Americans. The episode captures Washington's deep ambivalence about leaving his beloved Mount Vernon and shouldering the unprecedented burden of the presidency.

  10. Abraham Lincoln The War Years

    Oct 31, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: February 12, 1941 Cavalcade of America #213, "Abraham Lincoln The War Years," based on Carl Sandburg's famous biography, the newly elected President Lincoln faces mounting pressure as the nation teeters on the brink of civil war. As Lincoln departs Springfield for Washington in February 1861, crowds gather to witness the somber journey of a man assuming what he calls a task more difficult than any that faced George Washington. Along the route through Decatur and Indianapolis, reactions are mixed—some viewing him as an awkward frontiersman, others fearing his anti-slavery stance will tear the country apart. Upon reaching Philadelphia, detective Allan Pinkerton warns Lincoln of an assassination plot in Baltimore, forcing the president-elect to arrive secretly in the capital "like a thief in the night." Once in the White House with his wife Mary and sons Willie and Tad, Lincoln faces the crucial decision about Fort Sumter in Charleston. His cabinet is divided, with Secretary Seward and others urging him to avoid provoking the South, while Lincoln wrestles with how to preserve the Union without igniting the war that seems increasingly inevitable.

  11. Henry Clay Of Kentucky

    Oct 30, 2026 · 29 min

    Originally Aired: February 5, 1941 Cavalcade of America #212, "Henry Clay Of Kentucky," the aging statesman Henry Clay races through a stormy night in 1849, desperately trying to reach Washington as the nation teeters on the brink of civil war. When his carriage breaks down at a roadside tavern, Clay witnesses firsthand the violent divisions tearing America apart, as Northern and Southern men come to blows over slavery and states' rights. Both combatants reject Clay's philosophy of compromise, dismissing him as a relic of a bygone era. Arriving in Washington, Clay confronts the grim reality of the crisis. Senator Cass warns him that Congress is hopelessly divided, with Southern delegates meeting in Nashville to discuss secession. Clay visits his old colleague John Calhoun, hoping to forestall disaster through reason and negotiation. However, the pro-slavery Calhoun insists the Union is finished and that the South must part ways with the North. Despite facing opposition from all sides and struggling with his own failing health, Clay vows to fight with every breath to preserve the Union and find common ground between the warring factions.

  12. Dr Franklin Takes It Easy

    Oct 30, 2026 · 29 min

    Originally Aired: January 29, 1941 Cavalcade of America #211, "Dr Franklin Takes It Easy," Benjamin Franklin, now over 80 and living quietly in Philadelphia, shows his granddaughter Deborah his latest invention: a long stick with mechanical prongs that can grab books from high shelves. When Deborah marvels at her grandfather's industriousness and his many inventions, Franklin insists he's actually the laziest man in the world. He explains that all his creations, from his famous Franklin Stove to the chair that unfolds into a step ladder, were born from his desire to avoid unnecessary effort. To prove his point, Franklin shares stories from his past with Deborah. He recalls his very first invention as a boy in Boston, when he tied a kite around his wrist and let the wind pull him across a mile-wide pond rather than walk home tired from swimming. He also recounts his time in London, where he lived with the Martin family and astonished them with another of his inventions—the glass harmonica. The episode reveals how America's beloved philosopher and patriot approached invention not through tireless industry, but through an ingenious quest for comfort and ease.

  13. Wait For The Morning

    Oct 29, 2026 · 29 min

    Originally Aired: January 22, 1941 Cavalcade of America #210, "Wait For The Morning," presents an original drama interpreting the romance of poet Emily Dickinson. The episode opens with an elderly Emily seated alone in her house, reminiscing about a love from long ago. Through her memories, the story unfolds of a young Emily walking in the forest near Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, where she encounters George Gould, a divinity student from the nearby academy. Despite the school's strict rules against unchaperoned meetings, Emily and George begin spending time together, reading poetry and falling in love. Their romance blossoms through secret forest meetings and a memorable school dance, where George surprises everyone with his dancing skills despite his patched trousers. George eventually proposes to Emily during a moonlit walk, and she accepts his kiss. As George prepares to meet Emily's stern father to formally court her, tension builds around whether their love will survive the scrutiny of propriety and family expectations. The narrative weaves between Emily's present-day reflections and the vivid memories of her youthful passion, exploring the bittersweet nature of a romance that clearly left a profound mark on the celebrated poet's life.

  14. As A Man Thinketh

    Oct 29, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: January 15, 1941 Cavalcade of America #209, "As A Man Thinketh," stars Claude Rains as Thomas Cooper, an English immigrant and friend of Vice President Thomas Jefferson who faces a crucial test of American liberty. When Congress passes the Sedition Act of 1798, making it illegal to publish criticism of the government deemed false or scandalous, Cooper is outraged. Despite the warnings of his concerned wife Alice and the cautious Judge Byers, Cooper sees the law as a direct assault on the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. In a passionate discussion with Jefferson, Cooper learns that fear has driven those in power to abandon reason and suppress democratic ideals. Determined to defend liberty before it becomes merely a sham in America, Cooper resolves to make a test case of the Sedition Act, even though challenging it could mean a two-year prison sentence. He plans to criticize President Adams' political mistakes based on the President's own speeches, proving his opinions with facts. As Cooper tells his wife, he cannot be otherwise than he is: as a man thinks, so is he. The episode dramatizes one man's willingness to sacrifice everything to preserve freedom of speech and press for all Americans.

  15. Mightier Than The Sword

    Oct 28, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: January 8, 1941 In Cavalcade of America #208, "Mightier Than The Sword," legendary political cartoonist Thomas Nast prepares to take on one of the most corrupt political machines in American history. When Kate, the Nast family's maid, reveals that her innocent brother Tim has been jailed without cause by Boss Tweed's political machine, publisher Fletcher Harper and Nast realize that Tweed's corruption has reached into every corner of New York City. Harper gives Nast permission to use his powerful cartoons to expose the truth about Tweed and his ring of cronies, including Peter P. Sweeney, Slippery Dick Connolly, and Mayor O.K. Hall, who have been systematically plundering the city treasury. When Nast's first cartoon appears in Harper's Weekly, depicting Tweed as a fat clown leading an army of hoodlums, the Boss takes notice. As Tweed and his ring plot an elaborate Broadway improvement scheme designed to steal 25 million dollars from taxpayers, they discover they face an unexpected enemy: the power of the press and Nast's devastating illustrations that can reach even those citizens who cannot read.

  16. Will Rogers

    Oct 28, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: January 1, 1941 Cavalcade of America #207, "Will Rogers," follows the legendary humorist's journey from cowpuncher to national icon. The story opens in 1899 Indian Territory, where young Bill Rogers disappoints his father by holding onto their cattle herd while prices plummet, having spent his time winning a roping contest instead. Undeterred, Bill asks for permission to sell the herd and travel to Argentina, stopping in London along the way. His father reluctantly agrees, asking only that if Bill must be a fool, he should at least be a money-making one. The narrative traces Bill's adventures across continents as he develops his rope tricks and stage presence. From hustling crowds in Johannesburg to performing in Sydney as "the Cherokee Kid," Bill struggles to find his path. A chance encounter with a fortune teller predicts he will become famous for talking to multitudes, though Bill dismisses the notion as foolishness. By 1912, despite performing brilliant rope tricks at the Hill Opera House, Bill faces unresponsive audiences and must discover what will finally connect him with the American people.

  17. The Green Pastures

    Oct 27, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: December 25, 1940 In Cavalcade of America #206, "The Green Pastures," a Sunday school lesson in a small Louisiana church comes to life as Mr. Deshee tells the biblical story of creation and humanity through the eyes of simple faith. In Heaven, the Lord God Jehovah enjoys fish fries and custard with his angels before deciding to create the earth, its mountains and valleys, and finally Adam and Eve. He places them in paradise with one commandment: they must not eat from a forbidden tree. Time passes, and the Lord returns to earth for a Sunday visit, only to discover that humanity has fallen into wickedness and sin. What begins as a joyful celebration of creation becomes a sobering encounter with human corruption. The Lord witnesses gambling on the Sabbath, disrespectful young people mocking His day, and a world that has strayed far from His original vision. As He walks among His people in disguise, searching for righteousness, the Lord must confront the painful reality of what mankind has become and decide what must be done about the sin that now fills His once-perfect earth.

  18. The Undefended Border

    Oct 27, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: December 18, 1940 Cavalcade of America #205, "The Undefended Border," presents a poetic dramatization by Stephen Vincent Benet celebrating over 125 years of peace between the United States and Canada. The story unfolds in 1817, just five years after the War of 1812 left deep scars between the two nations. On the Canadian side of the great lakes, young Jock McKinstray builds toy warships to battle the Yankees, while his father reminds him of his friend Jimmy Hunter who lives across the water. As both nations frantically prepare for potential conflict—building ships of war, stockpiling cannon, and fortifying their positions—ordinary citizens begin to question the madness of armed borders between neighbors. The narrative weaves together voices across generations, from fur trader Jean Baptiste to Civil War veteran Hugh McKeckham, who served in the Union Army despite his Canadian roots. When Jim Hunter receives a white wampum peace belt from his old friend Jacques McKinstray, the symbolism becomes clear: the people who actually live along the border understand what distant governments do not. Through these interconnected stories of friendship, family, and shared values, the episode illustrates how ordinary citizens on both sides ultimately chose peace over perpetual preparation for war.

  19. John Brown

    Oct 26, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: December 11, 1940 Cavalcade of America #204, "John Brown," brings to life the fierce abolitionist who terrorized Kansas Territory in 1855. John Brown arrives in Kansas to join his sons in Osawatomi, immediately encountering pro-slavery forces at a border inn. After a violent confrontation with innkeeper Tarver and his armed men, Brown makes his way to his sons, where he learns that free-state settlers are being systematically murdered and burned out by pro-slavery raiders. The settlers, including Thompson and Brown's own sons, are peace-loving men who came to till the soil, but Brown has brought sabers from Ohio and compiled a list of suspected raiders living near Pottawatomie Creek. The drama intensifies as Brown insists that righteous violence is the only answer to the devil's terror, quoting scripture to justify his plans for systematic killing. Despite protests from the settlers, including his own sons, Brown leads men on a night raid to the Doyle cabin, forcing Jonathan Doyle to pray the Lord's Prayer before his execution. The episode concludes with Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, wrestling with the moral complexity of Brown's actions, observing that he may go down in history as "about the wrongest right man."

  20. The Battle Hymn Of The Republic

    Oct 26, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: December 4, 1940 Cavalcade of America #203, "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic," takes listeners on a remarkable journey through time, guided by narrator Alexander Woollcott, who invites Americans to look back and see themselves as they once were. The program transports the audience backward through the decades—past world wars, past prosperity and depression—all the way to November 1861, a critical moment in the nation's history. Standing on a "ledge outside of time," listeners observe a raw, unfinished Washington where pigs root in the muddy streets of Pennsylvania Avenue, where the Capitol dome remains skeletal, and where the Washington Monument stands as merely a stump surrounded by packing crates. In this pivotal moment, the program reveals Lincoln at the White House window, gazing across the Potomac at the Confederate flag, penning notes that will become some of history's most enduring words. Outside, troops from across the North march endlessly while the young, untrained Army of the Potomac camps in countless tents, their watch fires dotting the meadows. Through composer Deems Taylor's original musical score, this biography of a masterpiece explores the America that would soon give birth to one of its most treasured songs.

  21. Light In The Hills

    Oct 25, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: November 27, 1940 Cavalcade of America #202, "Light In The Hills," tells the inspiring story of Martha Berry, who battles poverty and skepticism to bring education to the forgotten children of the Georgia mountains. In 1890, young Martha discovers mountain boys Floyd and Sandy Luke listening outside an abandoned log cabin as she plays the harmonium. Moved by their lack of education, she begins teaching them Bible stories and realizes the desperate need for a school. Despite warnings from her father and Judge Wright that one woman cannot tackle such an overwhelming problem, Martha remains determined to establish Berry School, where poor mountain children can earn their keep while learning to read and write. Martha personally travels through the hills to recruit students, facing the suspicion and pride of impoverished families. When she visits one household where a father initially refuses to let his son David attend, the mother's longing for her child to read the Bible ultimately wins out. As opening day arrives in the rain, Martha waits anxiously to see if the boys will actually come, her faith tested as she prepares to fulfill her promise to these families who dared to hope for something better.

  22. The Farmer Takes A Wife

    Oct 25, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: November 20, 1940 Cavalcade of America #201, "The Farmer Takes A Wife," presents a colorful drama of life on the Old Erie Canal during its heyday in the 1820s. At Gammy Hennessy's canal hotel in Rome, New York, boaters gather for the spring opening of the Erie Canal, their livelihoods threatened by the coming of the railroad. Into this world steps Daniel Harrow, son of a legendary canal captain, who takes work as a driver for Sam Weaver with one goal in mind: earning enough money to buy a farm. He meets Molly Larkin, the spirited cook aboard bully Joe from Clore's boat, who loves the canal life and cannot understand Daniel's desire to leave it for the lonely existence of a farmer. As Daniel and Molly encounter each other along the towpath between Rome and Buffalo, their opposing dreams create a compelling conflict. Molly believes the canal is her whole life and wants Daniel to embrace his canal heritage, while Daniel remains determined to save his money and pursue farming. The tension between the old canal ways and the encroaching railroad era, along with the colorful characters like the gambling Dr. Fortune and the hot-tempered Joe from Clore, sets the stage for this romantic drama.

  23. 000 flyers

    Oct 24, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: October 1, 1945 Cavalcade of America #200, "200,000 Flyers," tells the story of Roy Johnson, a World War I pilot struggling to build a future in peacetime America. When Roy returns home determined to continue flying, his sweetheart Elizabeth begs him to choose a safer life. After a barnstorming accident nearly kills a passenger, Roy and Liz compromise by opening a modest flying school. Through the 1920s and 30s, they slowly build the Roy Johnson Flying Academy, training eager young students who dream of taking to the skies. The episode dramatizes America's dangerous complacency about air power in the years before World War II. While Roy encounters German flyer Ernst Udet at the 1932 Cleveland Air Races and hears about Germany's military preparations, America continues training only 550 pilots annually. The story reveals how a small group of foresighted Americans, including civilians like Roy Johnson working alongside military officers, recognized the looming crisis and laid the groundwork for what would become the mighty United States Army Air Forces.

  24. Wild Bill Hickok

    Oct 24, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: November 6, 1940 In Cavalcade of America #199, "Wild Bill Hickok," the legendary lawman's life unfolds from his youth in Illinois to his dangerous days enforcing justice on the Kansas frontier. At just fifteen, Jim Hickok helps a runaway slave escape and stands up to the bully Charlie Hudson, knocking him off a bridge and forcing young Jim to flee west to Kansas. There he meets Sarah, who warns him that Dave McCanles is coming to gun him down over a disputed payment for an express station. Despite Sarah's feelings for both men, a deadly confrontation erupts when McCanles and his men draw their weapons. As marshal of Independence Town, Hickok faces constant challenges maintaining law and order in the rough Kansas territory. When an angry mob threatens to lynch Jess Wallace, a saloon keeper, Hickok must intervene to prevent vigilante justice from overtaking his town. Throughout these trials, the narrative follows the making of a frontier legend whose gun became the symbol of justice in a lawless land, featuring folk singer Woody Guthrie's ballad chronicling Hickok's transformation from an Illinois boy into Wild Bill, the most feared lawman of the Old West.

  25. The Red Death

    Oct 23, 2026 · 31 min

    Originally Aired: October 30, 1940 Cavalcade of America #198, "The Red Death," Dr. Joseph Goldberger arrives in the rural American South in 1915 to investigate a mysterious and deadly disease called pellagra that is devastating the region's poorest communities. Unlike other medical researchers who rely solely on laboratory work, Goldberger takes an unconventional approach, making the hills and people themselves his laboratory. He walks among the afflicted, studying their daily lives and eating habits rather than just examining the dead. As he follows in the footsteps of this phantom killer, Goldberger gradually pieces together a startling discovery about the disease's true cause. Despite mounting evidence from his field research, Goldberger faces fierce opposition from a medical commission that insists pellagra must be caused by a germ. When they laugh at his findings, a frustrated Goldberger resolves to prove them wrong through a dramatic and dangerous personal experiment. With his devoted wife Mary at his side, he prepares to inject himself with blood serum from pellagra victims to demonstrate once and for all that the red death is not contagious at all.