[Blindtlk] "Mike-ing History"

[Mike Freeman]

Hello, everyone.

I suppose this isn't strictly blindness-related except that when Robert 
Irwin, Director of the American Foundation for the Blind during the 
1940's, died, he gave a great collection of talking books to the 
Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB). Obviously, most of these 
records were 33 and a third rpm records; WSSB still has them although 
not all are in great shape anymore. I said "almost" because among the 
collection was a set of 78 rpm records containing dramatizations of 
famous events in history designed for school kids. It was called 
"Mike-ing History" and the narrator was the "Man at the Mike". Among 
these were a dramatization of the Johnstown Flood and the San Francisco 
Earthquake, the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the signing of the 
Declaration of Independence. Hamilton's duel with Burr and the entrance 
into Troy by Greek commandos in the wooden horse are also depicted. 
There were others. These all were in a "You Are There" style with 
newsmen narrating the events as if they were on the scene.

So far, that set of records that I remember from the 1950's when WSSB 
acquired the collection hasn't resurfaced. I've been trying to find that 
set of records. So far, all I've turned up on the Net was an article 
(which I had to pay for, alas) from a teachers' journal out of Columbia 
University published in 1947 which referred to the series. I've also 
seen a couple of digital catalogues which showed some of these shows. 
But nowhere have I seen the complete collection in a form I could beg, 
borrow, buy or steal.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Mike Freeman