I Sing A New World

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.