5. 1947 NBC Ruth Premium Helps Launch New Audio Section
1947 NBC Radio Ruth Premium
(approximately 1/2 actual size)
|
A Babe Ruth Premium issued in 1947 by the National Broadcasting Company has helped spur the launch of a new Audio Section on the Old Cardboard website. We have tracked down the original NBC 30-minute broadcast that the premium card was used to promote, and the broadcast has become the lead recording for the new section of Old Time Radio broadcasts. In time, the section will feature additional baseball-related broadcasts from the golden age of radio.
The one-card "set" was distributed by NBC to promote its weekly DuPont "Cavalcade of America" programs.
The premium card (shown at right) is printed on heavy stock. It's six-by-nine-inch format displays an impressive black and white image of Ruth in a batting pose, and is free of any other labeling on the card front. On the reverse is a reminder for listeners to tune in to hear "The Story of Babe Ruth on the DuPont Cavalcade of America." The program was aired by NBC on Monday, September 29, 1947. Following the card's promotional message is a full listing of "The Babe's 54 Major League records" provided courtesy of The Sporting News.
The Cavalcade of America might well be considered as the old-time radio equivalent to the current A&E Biography channel, or the programming now seen on the History Channel. The long-running (mid 1930's until the early 1950's) weekly broadcast was well funded by its sponsor, DuPont Company. Programming was written, directed and acted by many of the period's leading personalities from the stage, screen and radio. A full orchestra accompanied the action narrative. Authors, playwrights, artists, inventors, industrialists and sports personalities were among the many subjects profiled in the broadcasts.
In addition to the NBC Ruth broadcast, the new Audio Section includes the recorded broadcast of a 1934 game played between two of the strongest teams of that era--the Yankees and the Tigers.
All files in the Old Time Radio Audio Section are provided in "MP3" format. When selected, they will download and play automatically on most computers. Additional information about the premium card (along with a near-full-size image of the card's front and back) is provided in an article in Issue #6 (Winter 2006) of Old Cardboard Magazine.
Lyman and Brett Hardeman
Old Cardboard, LLC.
Old Cardboard, LLC. was established in December, 2003, to help bring information on vintage baseball card collecting to the hobbyist. Produced by collectors for collectors, this comprehensive resource consists of three components: (1) Old Cardboard Magazine, (2) a companion website at www.oldcardboard.com and (3) this eNewsletter. The Old Cardboard website contains more than 500 pages of descriptive reference information for baseball card sets produced before 1950. Each of these set summaries has a direct set-specific link to 
auctions and a similar link to 
's powerful search engine for further research. The website also includes a Show and Auction Calendar, an eBay Top 50 Vintage Sellers List, and much more. As a result, the Old Cardboard website makes a great "Alt-tab" companion for vintage card shoppers and researchers. Old Cardboard eNews provides current hobby news, upcoming shows and auctions, and updates to the website and the magazine. It is published around the middle of each month. For a FREE subscription to the eNewsletter, or for subscription information on Old Cardboard Magazine, please visit the website at www.oldcardboard.com. If you find this information resource helpful, please tell your friends. We need your support and your feedback. Thank you.
Note: To Unsubscribe to this eNewsletter, just send a reply email with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line.
