WE REMEMBER D-DAY

Originally broadcast on WNIB
Saturday, June 2, 1984

HARRY JAMES AND HIS MUSIC MAKERS (12:45 a.m. Eastern War Time, 6-6-44) Final 15 minutes of a remote broadcast from the roof of the Hotel Astor in New York City. Vocals by Kitty Kallen and Buddy DeVito. Broadcast interrupted by the first unofficial news bulletin of the invasion of Normandy: D-Day, 1944. Sustaining, MBS. 114:05)

CBS NEWS (3:30 a.m. EWT, 6-6-44) First official announcement of the Allied invasion. Ned Calmer, Bob Trout, Edward R. Murrow report. Announcement by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Sustaining, CBS. (11:45; 12:45)

CBS NEWS (12:36 p.m., EWT, 6-6-44) From London, Edward R. Murrow reports on the beginning of the invasion and Churchill’s com­ments to the House of Commons. In New York, Douglas Edwards recaps Churchill’s speech, German news flashes, summarizes news. Sus­taining, CBS. (16:00)

RONALD COLMAN (3 p.m., EWT, 6-6-44) The noted actor reads “A Poem and Prayer for an Invading Army” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, written especially for this D-Day broad­cast. Sustaining, NBC. (13:40)

BURNS AND ALLEN SHOW (9 p.m., EWT, 6-6-44) George and Gracie with guest Dinah Shore and regulars Mel Blanc, Frank Nelson, Bea Benadaret, Verna Felton, Felix Mills and the orchestra, singer Jimmy Cash. George gets a telegram to sing at a War Bond Rally. Swan Soap, CBS. (9:30; 7:55; 11:15)

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT (10 p.m., ETW, 6-6-44) The president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt speaks to the nation on D-Day, reading a prayer he wrote the night before, after he had been notified of the start of the invasion. At the end of FDR’s speech, the network switches from Washington to New York where Fred Waring and the Pennsylvan­ians sing “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Sustaining, NBC. (14:55)

BOB HOPE SHOW (10:15 p.m., EWT, 6-6-44) Broadcasting from the Metropolitan P-38 Airfield in Van Nuys, California, Bob presents an abbreviated program (shortened due to the preceding speech by the President) starring Frances Langford, Vera Vague, Jerry Colonna, Stan Kenton and his orchestra. Hope saw’, “No one feels like being funny on a night like this.” Frances sings “Ava Maria,” the band plays a military medley, and the cast and audience join to sing the “Army Air Crawl Song.” This is also the last Bob Hope Show of the 1943-44 season. Pepsodent, NBC. (12 :25)

D-DAY BROADCAST (11:15 p.m., EWT , 6-7-44) An actual report of the landing of the ships involved in the Allied Invasion of the Normandy beaches. Reported via wire recorder by George Hicks. Actual battle sounds are heard. Introduced by Robert Trout. Sustaining, CBS. (14:55)

NBC NEWS (11:28 p.m., EWT, 6-7-44) An um cerpt from a 15 minute newscast feline log Robert St. John from New York with more news flashes on the invasion. NBC attempts to pick up George Hicks report from London (which CBS had just broadcast), but is not able to get it. Finally, a few minutes later, they pick up the end of the Hicks’ report. Sustaining, NBC. (6:00)

CBS NEWS (11:45 p.m., EWT, 6-7-44) Bob Trout is anchorman for this newscast. Quentin Reynolds in New York reports on the relation of US and British troops; Charles Collingwood reports from London with reaction there of the invasion. Sustaining, CBS. (13:10)