Cavalcade of America

Cavalcade of America

1952
Cavalcade of America
Cavalcade of America

Cavalcade of America

8.3 | en | Drama

Cavalcade of America is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented a musical, such as an adaptation of Show Boat, and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially broadcast on radio from 1935 to 1953, and later on television from 1952 to 1957. Originally on CBS, the series pioneered the use of anthology drama for company audio advertising. Cavalcade of America documented historical events using stories of individual courage, initiative and achievement, often with feel-good dramatizations of the human spirit's triumph against all odds. This was consistent with DuPont's overall conservative philosophy and legacy as an American company dating back to 1802. The company's motto, "Maker of better things for better living through chemistry," was read at the beginning of each program, and the dramas emphasized humanitarian progress, particularly improvements in the lives of women, often through technological innovation.

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Seasons & Episodes

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EP27  Chicago 2-1-2
Apr. 30,1957
Chicago 2-1-2

A caller plays a cat and mouse game with his intended victim when the roles become reversed.

EP26  The Shark on the Mountain
Apr. 23,1957
The Shark on the Mountain

Young Brian Beck is addicted to telling tall tales. After he sees a man killed he tells his best friend Noah, that he is in danger. But the old man thinks it's another of Brian's stories and ignores the boy's pleas for help. With the killer getting closer, Brian decides to go after the criminal himself.

EP25  The Last Signer
Apr. 02,1957
The Last Signer

Citizen's of an American town are infuriated when a Czech immigrant signs his name to one of the historical copies of the Declaration of Independence.

EP24  The Widow is Willing
Mar. 26,1957
The Widow is Willing

After an attempted takeover of her ranch the widow is smitten by her hostile opponent.

EP23  Don Marshall's Brat
Mar. 19,1957
Don Marshall's Brat

Young Trudy Marshall is an 11-year old who dreams of ending the feud between her parents and maternal grandfather. When she saves the life of an elderly Mexican bandit, the Calaveras Kid, he decides to help her.

EP22  The Man Who Asked No Favors
Mar. 05,1957
The Man Who Asked No Favors

During a dry spell, members of a preacher's congregation demand that he ask the Lord to send them rain. He refuses, which enrages his followers.

EP21  The Frightened Witness
Feb. 19,1957
The Frightened Witness

Joe Kohler happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He witnesses a mob hit when a car deliberately runs over a pedestrian. When mob lieutenant Craig tells Joe that he had best keep quiet and even stops home with him to see his family, Joe gets the point. But Joe doesn't like being intimidated and goes to the police to tell his story and do the right thing.

EP20  Decision for a Hero
Feb. 12,1957
Decision for a Hero

Joe Loring, a college football player, doesn't know it, but Dewey Elton, a fellow student, has been writing letters home saying they are best friends. When Dewey dies unexpectedly, his parents arrive on campus and want to talk about him with Joe.

EP19  Are Trees People?
Feb. 05,1957
Are Trees People?

An elderly Irishwoman is living alone in suburban home given to her by her married daughter. On a trip back to the Bronx to visit old friends, she discovers three orphan youngsters, and takes them home with her, without notifying the proper authorities.

EP18  The Man from St. Paul
Jan. 29,1957
The Man from St. Paul

Principal John Norton befriends a youngster who is accused of robbery, and obtains a parole for the boy. He even gets him a job as cashier in the school lunchroom. When money is stolen from the lunchroom, the boy becomes the number-one suspect, and Norton again comes to his assistance.

EP17  Dowry for Ilona
Jan. 22,1957
Dowry for Ilona

A young Hungarian-American couple fall in love and plan to marry. They announce their intentions to their parents, and immediately a family rivalry emerges. Both fathers want to present impressive marriage gifts.

EP16  Leap to Heaven
Jan. 15,1957
Leap to Heaven

Story of two-time Olympic champion Bob Richards in Polevaulting (1952-1956), who started off as a young football halfback, then after winning Olympic medals moving on to the ministry.

EP15  The House of Empty Rooms
Jan. 08,1957
The House of Empty Rooms

A widow worries about the years ahead. All the children are living far away, and her house seems increasingly empty and lonely each day.

EP14  The Two Worlds of Nicolo
Jan. 01,1957
The Two Worlds of Nicolo

A teenage Italian boy comes to this country to attend high school as an exchange student. He is thrilled and happy with everything about his visit, until he learns his family in Italy is in trouble.

EP13  Three Young Kings
Dec. 25,1956
Three Young Kings

As part of the Christmas festivities in a Latin-American village, youngster traditionally distribute gifts to other children whose parents purchased the presents. The gift-givers almost start a revolt one year by giving the gifts to the poor children instead.

EP12  The Blessed Midnight
Dec. 18,1956
The Blessed Midnight

A youngster steals a cake from a bakery to give his aunt. With the help of a friend his own age, the boy tries to keep from being caught.

EP11  Once a Hero
Dec. 11,1956
Once a Hero

An ex-rodeo champion who feels he has failed as a father tries to gain respect in his son's eyes by going back to the rodeo where he was once successful.

EP10  Pursuit of a Princess
Dec. 04,1956
Pursuit of a Princess

Long-time partners in an antique business break up when one of them marries the other?s former girl friend. Each opens an antique store, keeping a wary eye on the other?s activities. When the married partner starts collecting cigar-store Indians, the other begins to thwart his every effort.

EP9  Return of Bombardier
Nov. 27,1956
Return of Bombardier

During his imprisonment in a Japanese POW camp, an American flier finds that religion gives him the strength he needs to withstand hardship. He vows to return to Japan to preach the word of God if he is ever released.

EP8  Woman's Work
Nov. 20,1956
Woman's Work

An elderly man lets his son and the boy's bride live in the family home. His intentions are to turn the girl into a household slave, but she has a different idea.

EP7  Innocent Bystander
Nov. 13,1956
Innocent Bystander

A newspaper reporter that has lived his whole life believing in the biblical maxim of ?As Ye Sow, so Shall Ye Reap.? When he is seriously injured while investigating a juvenile gang fight, he begins to lose his faith.

EP6  Date With a Stranger
Oct. 30,1956
Date With a Stranger

An Austrian girl is desperate because she is about to be deported from the U.S. She prays to George Washington for help. This results in a mysterious encounter with a man named Casimir Pulaski.

EP5  The Hobo Kid
Oct. 23,1956
The Hobo Kid

A truant-officer tracks down a kid who's not in school because he's watching his father drink himself to death.

EP4  Wild April
Oct. 16,1955
Wild April

Portrays events in the later life of Johnny Appleseed, showing his influence on the pioneers who lived in a small community in the Ohio River Valley.

EP3  The People and General Glancy
Oct. 09,1956
The People and General Glancy

The small community of Duluth, Ga., is desperately in need of a hospital, but refuses to accept a wealthy industrialist's check.

EP2  A Bed of Roses
Sep. 25,1956
A Bed of Roses

An engaged girl disagrees with her parents about the kind of wedding ceremony she should have. She wants an elaborate church wedding; her parents insist on a simple home ceremony.

EP1  Monument to a Young Man
Sep. 18,1956
Monument to a Young Man

A Los Angeles police detective, school principal, and star athlete try to help a juvenile delinquent.

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8.3 | en | Drama | More Info
Released: 1952-10-01 | Released Producted By: , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

Cavalcade of America is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented a musical, such as an adaptation of Show Boat, and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially broadcast on radio from 1935 to 1953, and later on television from 1952 to 1957. Originally on CBS, the series pioneered the use of anthology drama for company audio advertising. Cavalcade of America documented historical events using stories of individual courage, initiative and achievement, often with feel-good dramatizations of the human spirit's triumph against all odds. This was consistent with DuPont's overall conservative philosophy and legacy as an American company dating back to 1802. The company's motto, "Maker of better things for better living through chemistry," was read at the beginning of each program, and the dramas emphasized humanitarian progress, particularly improvements in the lives of women, often through technological innovation.

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Reviews

Lame-Username-1234 This was one of many anthology series that aired in the 1950's. These series presented short stories with the plot, cast and characters changing with each episode. It is safe to presume that like most of them, the quality did vary from episode to episode. Nevertheless, I recently saw an episode of this series titled "Chicago 2-1-2", which I will review. In this episode, we are shown the operations of a Fire squad and it efforts to not only fight fire, but also stop arsonists from destroying property and lives. A string of fires in the same era leads to suspicion, and while at the scene of one of the fires, one of the fire department people asks a news reporter to film some footage of the crowd watching, hoping that the "fire bug" who started it may have stuck around to watch his "work". They notice that a young man that notices the camera, looks worried, and quickly gets out of view. A search though police records reveals a youth with a troubled history, and after finding out where he works, they get more suspicious from the reactions of his employer. The young man then starts another fire, being told by his employer that nobody was in the building. However, a young woman was in the place and calls the fire department, only to pass-out from the smoke (on a real-life side note, smoke inhalation is the biggest cause of death during a fire, as opposed to the flames). The crew find her, and the fire bug, still at the scene, notices one of the inspectors and runs away, but gets noticed and is eventually trapped and caught. At first says he is innocent, but after learning that a woman may die from his actions, breaks down and tells the whole story about him and his employer. Of note is that he reveals he doesn't yet shave, followed by a orchestral cue designed to draw emotion from the viewer.Overall, it was an entertaining short drama (25 minutes) and can be found both online and on a budget DVD, as the copyright for the episode has expired. I'd be interested in seeing more episodes of this series.