Cavalcade of America

4.6(5)|1952-10-01|5 seasons, 131 episodes

Drama

Overview

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.

Episodes

Season 1(20)Season 2(33)Season 3(26)Season 4(25)Season 5(27)

S1E1 · 1952-10-01 · 60m

Poor Richard

Dramatized incidents are used to show how Benjamin Franklin delayed a conference between Lord Howe and John Adams until the spring rainy season commenced, thereby allowing General Washington to extricate his troops from Long Island under the cover of a storm. This drama sent the ""old and obstinate"" Franklin to delay American surrender talks with the British, thereby allowing General George Washington to escape capture to fight another day.

S1E2 · 1952-10-15 · 60m

All's Well with Lydia

The Revolutionary War story of Lydia Darragh, American patriot and Philadelphia widow, who by her cleverness gained information instrumental in an American victory.

S1E3 · 1952-10-29 · 60m

The Man Who Took a Chance

The story of an 19th century genius who adapted 20th century methods to solve an American problem, Eli Whitney first begins to manufacture muskets.

S1E4 · 1952-11-12 · 60m

A Romance to Remember

The tale of the two beautiful Peabody Sisters who become rivals for the love of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

S1E5 · 1952-11-26 · 60m

What Hath God Wrought

The story of how Samuel Morse, after many hardships, gained recognition for the first telegraph.

S1E6 · 1952-12-10 · 60m

No Greater Love

A story about Clara Louise Maas, a Spanish-American War nurse who allowed herself to be bitten by a Stegomyia mosquito in order to further the experiments which were being conducted in the Las Animas Hospital in Havana under the direction of Dr. William C. Gorgas during a yellow fever epidemic at the turn of the century.

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