Finding Aid for WGN Radio Station Studio Orchestra Music Library and Records, 1925-1956 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Noah Lenstra

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Collection Overview

Title: WGN Radio Station Studio Orchestra Music Library and Records, 1925-1956

ID: 12/9/114

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

Music
Radio and music--Illinois--Chicago
Radio station -- WGN

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