We Hold These Truths: The Way It Was, 15 December

1941: WHY WE FOUGHT (AND FIGHT)---The story is that the author was completing the script when the news hit about Pearl Harbour over a week earlier. The legend is that there couldn't possibly have come a better time to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Bill of Rights, the impetus behind Norman Corwin's composition and presentation today of We Hold These Truths (The combined American networks: CBS, Mutual, NBC Red, NBC Blue.)

Aired originally on the combined American radio networks, the striking array of the nation's entertainment talent presenting the Corwin jewel (whose title was taken not from the Bill of Rights but from the Declaration of Independence) only begins with James Stewart, Edward Arnold, Lionel Barrymore, Walter Brennan, Bob Burns, Dane Clark, Walter Huston, Marjorie Main, Edward G. Robinson, Rudy Vallee, and Orson Welles. Not to mention President Roosevelt himself, addressing the nation following the original presentation; and, Leopold Stokowski leading the New York Philharmonic through "The Star Spangled Banner."

And there may never again be a more pungent, poignant, and powerful exposition of the promise within the Bill of Rights---a promise too often broken but never forgotten.

CHANNEL SURFING . . .

1947: DANCING FOOLS---Jane (Cathy Lewis) is almost desperate to see Irma (Marie Wilson) teach shiftless and clumsy Al (John Brown) to dance properly for a double dancing date with Jane and Richard (Leif Erickson)----even if it means helplessly loyal Irma going dancing with someone else to prove the point, on tonight's edition of My Friend Irma. (CBS.)

Mrs. O'Reilly: Gloria Gordon. Professor Kropotkin: Hans Conreid. Writers: Parke Levy, Stanley Adams.

1947: LITTLE FELLOW---A midget (Ernest Chappell, who also narrates) who wishes he weren't so small discovers it may be wiser to get what you didn't wish for, originally, on tonight's edition of Quiet, Please. (Mutual).

Jennifer: Betty Garde. Justice of the Peace: J. Pat O'Malley. Writer: Wyllis Cooper.

1959: ONE FELLA'S FAMILY---MISSING CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS---From Book Ex Vee Eye Eye, Chapter Eye Eye, Pages 11, 12, and the Bottom of Page 14, on today's edition of Bob & Ray Present the CBS Radio Network. (We'll give you a hint . . . )

Writers: Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding.

PREMIERING TODAY . . .

1873---Harry Humphrey (actor: Death Valley Days; Ma and Pa), San Francisco.
1888---Maxwell Anderson (writer: Free Company; Keep 'em Rolling; The O'Neill Cycle), Atlantic, Pennsylvania.
1896---Betty Smith (author: Hallmark Playhouse), New York City.
1907---Bob Hawk (host: Take It or Leave It; Thanks to the Yanks; The Bob Hawk Show), Creston, Iowa.
1915---Margaret Hayes (actress: Silver Theater), Baltimore.
1918---Jeff Chandler (as Ira Grossel; actor: Michael Shayne, Detective; Duffy's Tavern; Escape; Our Miss Brooks), Brooklyn.
1926---Rose Maddox (singer: Country Hoedown; The Faron Yougn Show), Boaz, Alabama.