The Cavalcade of America: A Tooth for Paul Revere

New York: Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, 1948. Draft script for "Perfect Union," an episode of the popular anthology drama radio show "The Cavalcade of America," originally broadcast on January 26, 1948. With a few manuscript annotations in pencil and ink on the front wrapper.

The anthology series was part of a campaign by the DuPont chemical corporation to rehabilitate its image following the public exposure of its arms race profiteering during World War I. In lieu of traditional advertising, Roy Durstine, the creative director of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, proposed that DuPont sponsor "Cavalcade," which integrated the company's slogan ("Better Things For Better Living Through Chemistry") and agenda into its stories of American achievement and inspiration. The show was an early experiment in propagandistic corporate brand-building, virtually unprecedented for a company that had no commercially available products to market to the public. To further promote their clean, humanitarian ideals, DuPont shied away from using attention-grabbing tactics, such as the sound of gunfire, that were popular on other radio programs at the time, a choice that attracted pacifist writers such as Norman Rosten and Arthur Miller to the show.

This episode dramatizes the personal life of Chief Justice John Marshall.

White titled self wrappers, dated 1/26/48, with credit for actor Robert Taylor and writer Virginia Radcliffe. Title page integral with the front wrapper, as issued. 39 leaves, with last page of text numbered 35. Mimeograph duplication, rectos only, with undated revision pages printed on white stock. Pages Very Good plus, wrapper Very Good plus, unbound.

[Book #146015]