.
By Noah Lenstra
Collection Overview
Title: WGN Radio Station Studio Orchestra Music Library and Records, 1925-1956
ID: 12/9/114
Primary Creator: WGN Studio Orchestra
Extent: 32.0 cubic feet
Arrangement: The collection is organized into five series: Series 1, Marion Claire correspondence, 1940-1950, arranged chronologically; Series 2, Tams-Witmark Music Library rental records, 1940-1950, arranged chronologically; Series 3, Theatre of the Air, 1940-1950, which is arranged into 4 sub-series according to format (Sub-Series 1, Scripts; Sub-Series 2, Manuscript Vocal parts; Sub-Series 3, Orchestral parts; and Sub-Series 4, Full scores and over-sized parts) and then arranged by accession number; Series 4) Scripts and Programs, arranged in rough chronological order; and Series 5) WGN Music Library, arranged by accession number. Accession numbers were either established by the WGN library staff or by UIUC Music Librarian Jay Alien in conjunction with his cataloging project of the early 1960s.
Date Acquired: 00/00/1957
Subjects: Music, Radio and music--Illinois--Chicago, Radio station -- WGN
Formats/Genres: Sheet music
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of scripts, programs, production notes, correspondence, music library rental records, sheet music manuscripts, and music scores with annotations that document the WGN Studio Symphonic Orchestra from the 1925 to 1956. Of special note are the music scores, parts, production notes and scripts of the "Theatre of the Air," which include orchestral works and orchestrations to accompany vocal works (many in special arrangements by Rosario Bourdon and others, with reduced instrumentation suitable for theater or salon ensembles). Also of interest are the scripts from the University of Chicago's series called "The Human Adventure."
Biographical Note
The Chicago-based WGN radio station began its life in 1923 as WJAZ, a small Zenith-owned station broadcasting out of the "Crystal Room" studio in the Edgewater Beach Hotel. In 1924, the Chicago Tribune, under Col. Robert R. McCormick, assumed control of the station and gave it the call letter WGN (for World's Greatest Newspaper). That same year, WGN took over station WDAP, assuming control of its programs, as well as its studio. WGN provided its listeners with local and world news, live broadcasts of political and sporting events, and many music and theatrical programs. In the early days of radio, live music was an integral part of the listening experience. "The Theatre of the Air", which ran from 1940-1956, was produced before a live studio audience and broadcast across the country via the Mutual Broadcasting System. In 1943 "Theatre of the Air" moved to the Medinah Temple, where 3,000-4,000 people could watch the famous singer Marion Claire perform with the WGN Studio Orchestra. Col. Robert R. McCormick would often lend his voice to the program, speaking on historic topics like the Revolutionary War. The WGN Studio Orchestra also played for other programs, such the University of Chicago's "The Human Adventure Series," and music-drama presentations like operettas and musicals. The WGN Studio Orchestra developed an extensive music library to support these productions. Although radio broadcasts of live musical productions may be a thing of the past, WGN still operates at frequency of 720 kHz, and has since 1927.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Acquisition Source:
WGN Radio Station
Acquisition Method:
Gift originally given to the Music Library and then later transferred to the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music in 2012.
Processing Information:
Acquired by UIUC in 1958 by University Extension and transferred to University Library in early 1960s. The collection was then transferred to Music Library in 1962 and cataloged by Jay Allen and staff as a circulating collection. Some vocal scores have been withdrawn from the WGN collection or transferred to other stack areas within the Music and Performing Arts Library since 1965. After the Music Library moved to its present location during the 1970s, the WGN collection was packaged in new folders, and shelved in numerical order in Special Collections. During the 1990s the collection was repacked into 163 shipping cartons and placed in storage. Each carton was labeled as to the portion of the WGN accession-number sequence it contained, with a small amount of unnumbered material in cartons at the end of the entire series. In 2009 the record group moved to the Music and Performing Arts Library, where it was processed to archival standards as part of the Library's Special Collections. Published versions of pieces without annotations have been removed from the record group.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Marion Claire correspondence, 1940-1950],
[
Series 2: Tams-Witmark Music Library rental records, 1940-1950],
[Series 3: Theatre of the Air, 1940-1950],
[
Series 4: Scripts and Programs],
[
Series 5: WGN Music Library],
[
All]
- Series 3: Theatre of the Air, 1940-1950
- Consists of scripts, sheet music manuscripts and production notes for the "Theatre of the Air" opera program, which aired on WGN from 1940-1956.
- Sub-Series 1: Scripts
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Cyrano de Bergerac, January 18, 1941
- Multiple drafts of scripts for January 18, 1941 broadcast of Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand. (Sheet music in sub-series 2).
- Folder 2: The Secret of Suzanne, by Jack La Frandre (Wolf Ferrari), March 9, 1946
- Translation and adaptation of Il Secreto di Susanna by Wolf Ferrari. Sheet music in sub-series 2
- Folder 3: My Maryland, February 13, 1954
- Translation and adaptation of Il Secreto di Susanna by Wolf Ferrari. Sheet music in sub-series 2
- Folder 4: Katinka by Jack La Frandre, 1953/1950/1948
- Folder 5: The Flying Dutchman by Jack La Frandre, May 10, 1941 and May 29, 1944
- Folder 6: The Belle of New York by Jack La Frandre, January 22, 1942 and December 30, 1944
- Folder 7: Robin Hood, January 28, 1950 and October 25, 1952
- Folder 8: Lakme, October 31, 1953 and November 22, 1952
- Folder 9: Princess Pat, January 9, 1943
- Folder 10: La Tosca, January 8, 1944; November 10, 1945; October 30, 1954; November 21, 1953
- Folder 11: The Mikado by Jack La Frandre, February 18, 1953
- Versions include "Emergency Script," February 18, 1953; March 5, 1955; January 13, 1950; November 29, 1941; March 2, 1946; April 19, 1947; May 8, 1948; October 22, 1949
- Folder 12: Othello, February 23, 1946
- Box 2
- Folder 1: The Three Musketeers by Jack La Frande, May 10, 1947; April 21, 1945 and December 8, 1945
- Folder 2: Red Mill, February 20, 1943; March 3, 1951; and March 13, 1948
- Folder 3: Madame Pompadour, January 1, 1944; February 2, 1952; January 18, 1947
- Folder 4: H.M.S. Pinafre
- Versions from April 20, 1946; December , 1946; January 15, 1949; February 9, 1952; April 18, 1953; February 20, 1954; January 8, 1955
- Folder 5: The Prince of Pilsen, February 26, 1949 and December 28, 1946
- Folder 6: I, Pagliacci
- Versions from: March 1, 1941; May 28, 1949; March 11, 1950; May 28, 1949; April 7, 1951; May 3, 1952
- Folder 7: Eileen, April 25 1953; March 15 1952; March 12 1949; March 6 1948; March 16 1946
- Folder 8: Battered Bride, January 26, 1946; February 8, 1947; April 15, 1950; May 10, 1952
- Folder 9: Chocolate Soldier, February 5 1949; November 17 1951; May 15 1948
- Folder 10: Samson and Delilah, December 5 1953; January 17 1953
- Folder 11: Iolanthe, January 21, 1950; April 16, 1955; January 21, 1950; March 29, 1947
- Box 3
- Folder 1: April Blossoms, April 14 1951 and April 3 1948
- Folder 2: Count of Luxembourg, December 29 1951; April 8 1951
- Folder 3: The Great Waltz, March 26 1955; November 11 1944; March 26 1955
- Folder 4: A Waltz Dream, December 9, 1944
- Folder 5: Gypsy Love, November 24, 1945; February 24, 1945
- Folder 6: The Gypsy Princess, May 6, 1950; November 16, 1946; October 27, 1945
- Folder 7: Rose Marie, March 6, 1954; Feb. 16, 1952; April 1, 1950; Feb. 16, 1952; Nov. 8, 1947
- Folder 8: Sweethearts, 1941-1957
- Folder 9: The Student Prince, 1943-1954 (various versions)
- Folder 10: Naughty Marietta, 1945-1955 (various dates)
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Ghosts of Gethsemane (A Special Easter Production), April 1955/April 1953
- Folder 2: Vagabond King, 1948-1954
- Folder 3: Desert Song, 1948-1954
- Box 27
- Folder 8: Theatre of the Air programs: Summer Series, 1943
- Folder 9: Theatre of the Air programs: Operetta Series, 1943-1944
- Folder 10: Theatre of the Air programs, 1945-1946
- Folder 11: Theatre of the Air programs: Operetta Series, 1944-1947
- Box 28
- Folder 1: Theatre of the Air programs, 1944-1947
- Folder 2: Valley of the Shadow
- Folder 3: Gondoliers
- Folder 4: Cavalleria Rusticana
- Folder 5: The Only Girl, 1950/1952
- Folder 6: Yeoman of the Guard, 25 March 1950
- Folder 7: Pirates of Penzance, 4 February 1950
- Folder 8: White Eagle, 7 May 1949
- Folder 9: Lead Soldier
- Folder 10: Gandy Dancer
- Folder 11: America Loves a Melody
- Folder 12: Aida
- Folder 13: Bohemian Girl
- Box 29
- Folder 1: Tales of Hoffman
- Folder 2: Rose of Algeria
- Folder 3: Mignon
- Folder 4: Queen of Spades
- Folder 5: Orpheus
- Folder 6: Circus Princess
- Folder 7: Night in Venice
- Folder 8: Manon Lescaut
- Folder 9: Die Fledermaus
- Folder 10: Bloomer Girl
- Folder 11: Gypsy Baron
- Folder 12: Floradora
- Folder 13: Paganini
- Folder 14: Blue Paradise
- Folder 15: Frederika
- Folder 16: My Romance
- Folder 17: La Boheme
- Folder 18: Il Trovatore
- Folder 19: Manon
- Folder 20: Magic Flute
- Folder 21: Eva
- Folder 22: Aida
- Folder 23: The Pink Lady
- Folder 24: La Traviata
- Folder 25: Rigoletto
- Folder 26: Chimes of Normandy
- Folder 27: Marriage of Figaro
- Folder 28: Hansel and Gretel
- Folder 29: Lohengrin
- Folder 30: Blossom Time
- Folder 31: Madame Butterfly
- Folder 32: Martha
- Folder 33: Faust
- Folder 34: Countess Maritza
- Folder 35: Fortune Teller
- Folder 36: Mlle. Modiste
- Folder 37: Carmen
- Sub-Series 2: Manuscript Vocal parts
- Contains manuscript vocal parts for "Theatre of the Air" productions, in all voice types, including both choruses and solos.
- Box 30
- Folder 1: Cyrano de Bergerac
- Folder 2: My Maryland
- Folder 3: Katinka
- Folder 4: The Flying Dutchman
- Folder 5: The Belle of New York
- Folder 6: Robin Hood
- Folder 7: Firefly
- Folder 8: The Three Musketeers
- Box 31
- Folder 1: The Mikado
- Includes vocal parts for: Three Little Maids, A Wandring Minstrel I, The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring, With Joyous Shout!, Behold the Lord High Executioner, He's Going to Marry Yum Yum
- Folder 2: Red Mill
- Vocal parts for: Isle of Our Dreams, Because You're You, Just Because You're You, Every Day is Ladies' Day, Finale, Wedding Entrance, You Can Never Tell About a Woman, When You're Pretty, Because You're You, Moonbeams, I Want You To Marry Me, Legend of the Mill, If you Love But Me, Opening Chorus
- Folder 3: The Prince of Pilsen
- Parts for: Entrance, The Widow, Didn't Know Exactly What to Do, Heidelberg, The Message of the Violet, Waltz Song, Tale of the Sea Shell, Keep it Dark, Opening Chorus
- Folder 4: Eileen
- Folder 5: Girl Crazy
- Folder 6: "My Hero" from "Chocolate Soldier"
- Folder 7: Gondoliers
- "In a Contemplative Fashion" and "Will You Remember"
- Folder 8: Iolanthe
- Folder 9: Count of Luxembourg
- Box 32
- Folder 1: The Great Waltz
- Folder 2: A Waltz Dream
- Folder 3: The Gypsy Princess
- Folder 4: Rose Marie
- Folder 5: "I'll See You Again" and "Tokay" from Bittersweet
- Folder 6: Sweethearts
- Folder 7: The Student Prince
- Folder 8: Naughty Marietta
- Folder 9: Vagabond King
- Box 33
- Folder 1: Desert Song
- Box 37
- Folder 6: April Blossoms
- Box 39
- Folder 1: America Loves a Melody
- Folder 2: Czardas
- Folder 3: Gandy Dancer
- Folder 4: Lead Soldier
- Folder 5: Night in Venice
- Folder 6: Bloomer Girl
- Folder 7: Circus Princess
- Folder 8: Queen of Spades
- Folder 9: Rose of Algeria
- Box 40
- Folder 1: Tales of Hoffmann
- Folder 2: Mignon
- Folder 3: My Romance
- Folder 4: Frederika
- Folder 5: Blue Paradise
- Folder 6: Paganini
- Box 41
- Folder 1: Floradora
- Folder 2: Gypsy Baron
- Folder 3: Bloomer Girl
- Folder 4: Die Fledermaus
- Folder 5: Manon Lescaut
- Folder 6: Sari
- Folder 7: Good News
- Folder 8: Lohengrin
- Folder 9: Marriage of Figaro, The
- Folder 10: Chimes of Normandy
- Folder 11: Rigoletto
- Folder 12: The Pink Lady
- Folder 13: Aida
- Box 42
- Folder 1: Eva
- Folder 2: La Boheme
- Folder 3: When Johnny Comes Marching Home
- Folder 4: Fortune Teller
- Folder 5: Mlle. Modiste
- Folder 6: Merry Widow
- Folder 7: Countess Maritza
- Folder 8: Adolf G. Hoffman "Chicago Theatre of the Air Theme" (1945 edition), 1945
- Box 43
- Folder 1: Faust
- Folder 2: Roberta
- Folder 3: Blossom Time
- Box 63
- Folder 1: Tosca, Act III, String Quartet - O11A
- Folder 2: Gypsy Love Song - O41
- Folder 3: Pink Lady, Opening Act III - O66O
- Folder 4: White Eagle - O77
- Folder 5: Pirates of Penzance - O80
- Sub-Series 3: Orchestral parts
- Box 33
- Folder 2: Cyrano de Bergerac
- Folder 3: The Secret of Suzanne
- Alternate title: "Il Segreto di Susanna"
- Folder 4: My Maryland (1 of 2)
- Folder 5: My Maryland (2 of 2)
- Box 34
- Folder 1: Katinka (1 of 2)
- Folder 2: Katinka (2 of 2)
- Folder 3: The Flying Dutchman (arr. Churchhill and Adolf G. Hoffmann) (1 of 2)
- Folder 4: The Flying Dutchman (2 of 2)
- Box 35
- Folder 1: Belle of New York (1 of 2)
- Folder 2: Belle of New York (2 of 2)
- Folder 3: Robin Hood (1 of 3)
- Folder 4: Robin Hood (2 of 3)
- Folder 5: Robin Hood (3 of 3)
- Box 36
- Folder 1: Lakme
- Folder 2: "In DayDreams" from Princess Pat by Victor Herbert
- Folder 3: La Tosca
- Folder 4: Othello
- Folder 5: Firefly (arr. A.G. Hoffmann Wathall)
- Folder 6: The Three Musketeers
- Folder 7: The Mikado - unknown selection and "A Wand'ring Minstrel"
- Folder 8: Red Mill
- Ladies' Day and rental part transcriptions
- Box 37
- Folder 1: Madame Pompadour
- Parts for No. 3, Duett
- Folder 2: Eileen
- Folder 3: Battered Bride
- Folder 4: Iolanthe "Overture" (1 of 2)
- Folder 5: Iolanthe "Overture" (2 of 2)
- Box 38
- Folder 1: The Great Waltz
- Folder 2: Gypsy Love
- Folder 3: "I'll See You Again" from Bittersweet
- Folder 4: Sweethearts
- Folder 5: The Student Prince - includes parts for "Overture" and "Golden Days"
- Folder 6: Naughty Marietta - parts for "Opening Chorus" "Ah Sweet Mystery of Life" and "Tramp, Tramp Tramp"
- Box 43
- Folder 4: Aida
- Sub-Series 4: Full scores and over-sized parts
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Good News
- Folder 2: Lohengrin
- Folder 3: The Marriage of Figaro
- Folder 4: Chimes of Normandy
- Folder 5: La Traviata
- Folder 6: The Pink Lady
- Box 7
- Folder 1: Frederika
- Folder 2: The Only Girl
- Folder 3: Paganini
- Folder 4: Paganini (part 2)
- Folder 5: Blue Paradise
- Box 8
- Folder 1: Floradora
- Folder 2: Gypsy Baron
- Folder 3: Bloomer Girl
- Folder 4: Die Fledermaus
- Box 9
- Folder 1: Mlle. Modiste
- Folder 2: Fortune Teller
- Folder 3: Bohemian Girl
- Folder 4: White Eagle
- Folder 5: Lead Soldier
- Folder 6: The Gandy Dancer
- Folder 7: America Loves a Melody
- Box 10
- Folder 1: Carmen
- Folder 2: Merry Widow
- Folder 3: Countess Maritza
- Box 11
- Folder 1: Victor Herbert "Sweethearts" Part I
- Folder 2: Victor Herbert "Sweethearts" Part II
- Folder 3: Victor Herbert "Sweethearts" Part III
- Box 12
- Folder 1: Manon Lescaut
- Folder 2: Night in Venice
- Folder 3: Bloomer Girl
- Folder 4: Circus Princess
- Folder 5: Orpheus
- Folder 6: Rose of Algeria
- Box 13
- Folder 1: Faust
- Folder 2: Martha
- Folder 3: Roberta
- Folder 4: Madame Butterfly
- Folder 5: Blossom Time
- Folder 6: Sari
- Box 14
- Folder 1: Vagabond King
- Folder 2: April Blossoms
- Folder 3: Student Prince
- Box 15
- Folder 1: Aida
- Folder 2: Eva
- Folder 3: Magic Flute
- Folder 4: Il Trovatore
- Folder 5: Manon
- Folder 6: La Boheme
- Folder 7: When Johnny Comes Marching Home
- Folder 8: My Romance
- Box 16
- Folder 1: Strauss (arr. Churchill) "Dream Waltz/A Waltz Dream"
- Folder 2: I Pagliacci
- Folder 3: Naughty Marietta
- Folder 4: Naughty Marietta
- Folder 5: Mme. Pompadour
- Folder 6: (arr. Hoffman) "H.M.S. Pinafore"
- Box 17
- Folder 1: Oscar Strauss (arr. Churchill) "Chocolate Soldier"
- Folder 2: Eileen
- Folder 3: Eileen
- Folder 4: Girl Crazy
- Folder 5: The Battered Bride
- Folder 6: Iolanthe
- Box 18
- Folder 1: Samson and Delilah
- Folder 2: (arr. Churchill) Gypsy Princess
- Folder 3: (arr. Churchill) Gypsy Princess
- Folder 4: Lehar "Gypsy Love"
- Folder 5: Ghosts of Gethsemane
- Folder 6: Rose Marie
- Folder 7: Rose Marie
- Box 19
- Folder 1: Apple Blossoms (2 of 2)
- see also Box 14, Folder 2 for folder 1 of 2
- Folder 2: (arr. Hoffman) The Great Waltz
- Folder 3: The Great Waltz (2 of 2)
- Folder 4: Desert Song
- Box 20
- Folder 1: (arr. Churchill) Overture-Naughty Marietta
- 0-38-S
- Folder 2: The Fortune Teller
- O41
- Folder 3: (arr. Churchill) Gypsy Jan
- O41
- Folder 4: The Fortune Teller Overture, 8 November 1941
- O41
- Folder 5: (arr. A.G. Hoffmann) Cavalleria Rusticana, Pietro Mascagni
- Folder 6: White Eagle
- O-77
- Folder 7: The Only Girl
- O-82
- Box 21
- Folder 1: Count of Luxembourg (1 of 2)
- Folder 2: Count of Luxembourg (2 of 2)
- Folder 3: Red Mill (1 of 2)
- Folder 4: Red Mill (2 of 2)
- Folder 5: Prince of Pilsen
- Box 22
- Folder 1: Mikado
- Folder 2: Love Is a Star - Cyrano de Bergenac
- Folder 3: My Maryland
- Folder 4: Katinka
- Folder 5: Flying Dutchman, The
- Folder 6: Belle of New York
- Folder 7: Robin Hood (1 of 2)
- Folder 8: Robin Hood (2 of 2)
- Folder 9: Lakme
- Folder 10: Princess Pat
- Folder 11: La Tosca
- Folder 12: Othello
- Folder 13: Firefly
- Folder 14: Three Musketeers
- Box 50
- Folder 20: The Lead Soldier
- 0-207
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Marion Claire correspondence, 1940-1950],
[
Series 2: Tams-Witmark Music Library rental records, 1940-1950],
[Series 3: Theatre of the Air, 1940-1950],
[
Series 4: Scripts and Programs],
[
Series 5: WGN Music Library],
[
All]
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