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Americas Town Meeting of the Air

1935–1952

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

38 surviving broadcasts held in the archive

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are public domain, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Source collection: ATMOTA

The surviving run

Transmission

14 June

No. 1

1935

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 350614 - Will The Demands Of Organized Labor Promote Recovery

Running time

59 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

5 December

No. 2

1935

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 351205 - Has The New Deal Promoted Or Retarded Business Recovery

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

12 December

No. 3

1935

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 351212 - Personal Liberty And The Modern State

Running time

59 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

19 December

No. 4

1935

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 351219 - Should We Plan For Social Security

Running time

59 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

19 March

No. 5

1936

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 360319 - The Supreme Court And The Constitution

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

2 April

No. 6

1936

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 360402 - Will Unionization Promote Industrial Recovery

Running time

59 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

16 April

No. 7

1936

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 360416 - Will The Machine Dominate Man

Running time

58 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

5 November

No. 8

1936

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 361105 - Public Opinion And The Town Meeting Idea

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

26 November

No. 9

1936

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 361126 - What Does The Public Want In Music

Running time

59 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

3 February

No. 10

1938

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 380203 - What Does Democracy Mean

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

1 December

No. 11

1938

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 381201 - Is An Economic Plan For World Peace Available

Running time

32 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

8 December

No. 12

1938

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 381208 - How Should The Democracies Deal With The Dictatorships

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

12 January

No. 13

1939

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 390112 - Do We Have A Free Press

Running time

1h 10m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

16 February

No. 14

1939

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Reinhold Niebuhr on Progress in Technology and Morality (excerpt

Running time

10 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

2 March

No. 15

1939

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Are the Schools Doing Their Job

Running time

59 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

19 October

No. 16

1939

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 391019 - What Are The Real Issues In The European War

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

16 November

No. 17

1939

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 391116 - Should We Ignore Racial Differences

Running time

1h 1m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

23 November

No. 18

1939

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

What Does American Democracy Mean to Me (excerpt)

Running time

5 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

7 December

No. 19

1939

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 391207 - Can Business And Government Work Together Today

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

18 January

No. 20

1940

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Does America Need Compulsory Health Insurance?

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

25 January

No. 21

1940

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 400125 - Should The Presidents National Defense Program Be Adopted

Running time

59 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

7 March

No. 22

1940

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 400307 - What Should America Do For The Joads

Running time

59 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

11 April

No. 23

1940

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 400411 - What Are The Essential Differences Between The Republican And Democratic Parties

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

12 December

No. 24

1940

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

What Are We Preparing to Defend

Running time

55 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

26 December

No. 25

1940

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

What Is Youth's Role in the Defense of Democracy

Running time

55 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

13 November

No. 26

1941

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 411113 - What Kind Of Peace Must We Have clip

Running time

2 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

17 January

No. 27

1946

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 460117 - What Does The Returning GI Expect At Home excerpt

Running time

5 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

24 October

No. 28

1946

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Earl Browder on Labor and American Communism (10-24-1946)

Running time

8 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

31 October

No. 29

1946

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Debating Refugee and Immigration Policy in Post-WWII America

Running time

59 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

3 April

No. 30

1947

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Should the Communist Party Be Outlawed in the United States

Running time

44 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

10 April

No. 31

1947

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Do We Really Elect Our Own President

Running time

14 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

23 September

No. 32

1947

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Ladies' Fashions

Running time

56 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

7 October

No. 33

1947

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

What Can We Do To Improve Race And Religious Relationships In America

Running time

57 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

23 March

No. 34

1948

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Should The Presidents Civil Rights Program Be Adopted

Running time

1h 0m

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

22 June

No. 35

1948

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 480622 - Are You Preparing To Grow Old Successfully

Running time

30 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

7 June

No. 36

1949

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Lemuel Boulware on America's Town Meeting of the Air ~ 6-7-1949 (selection)

Running time

4 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

20 December

No. 37

1949

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

ATMOTA - 491220 - Will A 100 Dollar Pension Provide Real Security

Running time

58 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.

Transmission

3 June

No. 38

1952

Americas Town Meeting of the Air

Who Are The Troublemakers In Our Democracy - Incomplete

Running time

31 min

America's Town Meeting of the Air was broadcast from New York's Town Hall from 1935 to 1956, first on NBC Blue and later ABC. Each week a panel argued a question of the day — labour, the New Deal, the Supreme Court, the coming war — and the studio audience was invited to put unscreened questions to the speakers. It is one of the earliest surviving records of live, unmoderated public argument on American radio. Recordings here are, digitised by the Old Time Radio archives.