George C. Howard radio scripts, 1929-1930.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

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LocationCall NumberStatus
Special Collections - Upon RequestWorkroom range 5 section 4Library Use Only

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Format
Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material
Physical Desc
.4 cu. ft.
Language
English

Notes

Organization & arrangement of materials
Organized: by radio program title;,Arrangement: chronological.
General Note
Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.
Restrictions on Access
In library use only. Available by appointment.
Description
Scope and content: Radio scripts for the "Ham and Eg" (sometimes spelled Egg) show; the "Ape and Ex" show (sponsored by Apex Oil Co.) and one script entitled "The Malones Never Quit." The first two programs are comedies with characters intended to be African-American, who speak in a caricature of black dialect. The third program is a drama about a district attorney who fights gangsters, his father who is a railroad engineer, and the son's love interest. One or two items of correspondence concerning the scripts and payment for them are also part of the collection, including a lone newsclipping proclaiming the success of the Ham and Eg show. Such materials are filed in separate folders behind all scripts for a particular program.
Description
"Ham and Eg" : holdings include scripts beginning with the premiere broadcast on Oct. 19, 1929 and concluding on Oct. 11, 1930. There is a gap from May 7, 1930 to Oct. 11, 1930, but holdings are fairly comprehensive for the time period Oct. 19, 1929 to May 7, 1930. Several scripts are duplicates, often containing hand-written annotations, and were probably used as reading copies during the broadcasts. Some scripts include the announcer's introduction and conclusion for that particular episode. Topics of the shows include: the stock market crash of 1929; a trip to Washington, D.C. (rebroadcast due to popular demand); a trip to London, England to a disarmament conference; returning to the United States through Ellis Island, encountering a Russian Jew and an Italian; holidays such as Washington's Birthday and Valentine's Day; Prohibition; the 1930 census; and a variety of other subjects. A number of scripts are set in Washington or London. Ham is a member of the Cotton Pickers Association and some scripts concern his work with this fictional organization. When he travels to meetings in Washington and London, he does so as a representative of this group.
Description
"Ape and Ex" : holdings include 8 scripts beginning July 7, 1930 through Aug. 4, 1930 and include topics such as the Fourth of July; personal finances; social life and dancing; and evolution. There are no duplicate or "reading" copies of scripts.
Description
"The Malones Never Quit" : one script, undated, a drama about a plot by gangsters to sabotage a town water system, a railroad engineer who races to get machinery to the town on time, a love triangle, and a close election for district attorney.
Preferred Citation of Described Materials
Cite as: [title of specific program or script], George C. Howard Radio Scripts, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code). Nashville Public Library does not have intellectual property rights to these materials.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Mr. and Mrs. Hal Richards;,Gift;,1988.,Acc. RT-119.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
WLAC began broadcasting in Nashville, Tenn. in 1926 when a one-year-old station, WDAD was purchased by the Life and Casualty Insurance Company. The call letters of the station were changed to reflect the new owner's company name. It used a crystal control oscillator, said to be the first station to do so in the United States or Canada. During an early test broadcast, its 5000 watt signal was heard in 33 states and as far away as California. In 1928, it became a CBS affiliate. In 1942, WLAC obtained limited clear channel status, sharing its 1510 frequency with a station in Spokane, Wash. WLAC's signal remained strong enough to reach deep into the East Coast at night. WLAC's most notable contribution came in the late 1940s and early 1950s when the station began broadcasting requests for black popular music from students at Fisk University and Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial College, bringing black rhythm and blues to both black and white audiences. It was one of the first stations to have a "deejay" who played records and interacted with radio listeners. This was in contrast to most musical programs which were broadcasts of live performances in the studio or from the network. By the 1950s, it used a 50,000 watt signal, reaching into Canada and the Caribbean, and prompting historian Colin Escott to claim "the influence of WLAC probably exceeds that of WSM," the rival station which brought country music and the Grand Ole Opry to the masses. During this same time, exposure on WLAC gave a number of Nashville fledgling record labels, such as Dot, Nashboro, and Excello Records a boost in business, helping make them a success. In the 1960s the station played Top-40 hits, and in the 1980s moved to a talk radio format.
Biographical or Historical Data
George C. Howard was born around 1891. In 1930, he was chief clerk at the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Railroad in Nashville, Tenn. He wrote radio scripts on the side.
Biographical or Historical Data
"Ham and Eg," a comedy written by George Howard, first aired on WLAC on Oct. 19, 1929 and continued for one year. Similar to the more nationally famous Amos 'n' Andy program, which began just a year previously, Ham and Eg are two African-American characters who speak in a caricature of black dialect, which was most likely voiced by white actors. The humor of Ham and Eg frequently comes from wordplay and misunderstood words, ignorance, and sharp wit. Most of the humor is not overtly racial in nature. Contemporary events are usually interwoven into the story line, such as the stock market crash of 1929, an international disarmament conference, and the 1930 census. Other scripts concern more everyday affairs, such as holidays or work. Ham does not have a good education, and often misunderstands words and events, prompting some of the humor, but he does have good common sense. He is married and has a son named Bacon, who occasionally makes appearances in a few scripts. Eg is more educated and often presents himself as knowing more about a situation than he actually does, which also leads to humor. Both characters are originally from the country and sometimes find themselves in humorous situations in the city.
Biographical or Historical Data
"Ape and Ex" is a comedy show similar in nature to "Ham and Eg," and was sponsored by the Apex Oil Co. Written by George Howard, it was broadcast on WLAC in Nashville, Tenn. from May 12 to Aug. 8, 1930, consisting of 26 programs, of which 8 are extant. Both characters are prone to getting in trouble, and Ex sometimes outsmarts Ape.
Biographical or Historical Data
"The Malones Never Quit" was purchased in Feb. 1931 from George Howard by the McJunkin Advertising Company of Chicago, Ill. for their client, the Great Northern Railway.
Language
In English
Ownership and Custodial History
Custodial history prior to donation to Nashville Public Library by Mr. and Mrs. Hal Richards is unknown.
Action
Process;,2011;,Rose Mary Reed.
Accumulation and Frequency of Use
No further accruals are expected.

Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

Howard, G. C. George C. Howard radio scripts .

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Howard, George C., b. 1891?. George C. Howard Radio Scripts. .

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Howard, George C., b. 1891?. George C. Howard Radio Scripts .

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

Howard, George C. George C. Howard Radio Scripts

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.

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