Theater of the Mind

You Are There

71 episodes · 1947–1950 · CBS, Armed Forces Radio Service · Historical

Illustration: a transcription disc label made for Radio Days, not an original disc

CBS newsmen such as John Daly and Don Hollenbeck covered history as if it were breaking news, from Lincoln's assassination to the fall of Troy. Goodman Ace created it. It began July 7, 1947, as CBS Is There, was renamed You Are There, and ended March 19, 1950, after 90 broadcasts, of which 75 survive. Walter Cronkite hosted the television version from 1953.

Sources: You Are There (series), Wikipedia

Episodes

Tap a year to see its episodes, then a title to play it on Radio Days.

19479 episodes

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln July 7, 1947 · CBS · 29 min
The first broadcast, under the title CBS Is There: CBS newsmen report from Ford's Theatre on the night Lincoln is shot, as if it were happening now.
Storming of the Bastille (July 1947) July 14, 1947 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Witchcraft Trials at Salem July 28, 1947 · CBS · 27 min
The witchcraft trials at Salem, June 29, 1692.
Defeat of the Spanish Armada (1947) August 11, 1947 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Alamo (1947) August 18, 1947 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Last days of Pompeii August 25, 1947 · 31 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Radio - the Listening Years November 6, 1947 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Sailing of the Mayflower (1947) December 21, 1947 · CBS · 29 min
CBS reporters cover the Mayflower's departure for the New World on September 6, 1620. It aired under the first title, CBS Is There.
Storming of the Bastille (December 1947) December 28, 1947 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

194830 episodes

The Signing of the Magna Carta January 18, 1948 · CBS · 28 min
King John signs the Magna Carta, June 19, 1215. A commercially released version of the program.
Alamo (1948) January 25, 1948 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Defeat of the Spanish Armada (1948) February 1, 1948 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Dreyfus Case February 8, 1948 · CBS · 31 min
The Dreyfus case, September 8, 1899: will an innocent man be sent back to Devil's Island?
The Battle of Gettysburg February 22, 1948 · CBS · 29 min
The Battle of Gettysburg and Pickett's Charge, July 3, 1863. A commercially released version of the program.
The Execution of Joan of Arc February 29, 1948 · CBS · 28 min
The Maid of Orleans refuses to recant and is burned at the stake, May 30, 1431.
Okalahoma Land Run March 7, 1948 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Death of Socrates March 14, 1948 · CBS · 29 min
Socrates explains why he will drink the hemlock, 399 B.C.
Philadelphia July 4 March 21, 1948 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Monitor and the Merrimac April 4, 1948 · CBS · 29 min
March 9, 1862: CBS reporters cover the first battle between ironclad warships.
The Last Day of Pompeii April 11, 1948 · CBS · 31 min
The last day of Pompeii, August 26, 79 A.D., told with humor and excitement.
The Battle of Plassey April 18, 1948 · CBS · 31 min
The Battle of Plassey, June 22, 1757, with a remarkable elephant charge.
Execution of Maximillan May 23, 1948 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Toussaint Louverture Liberates Haiti May 30, 1948 · 31 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Sailing of the Mayflower (1948) June 13, 1948 · Armed Forces Radio Service · 29 min
The Mayflower sets sail, September 6, 1620.
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson (1948) June 20, 1948 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Signing of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1948 · CBS · 28 min
July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia.
Lexington, Concord and Merriam's Corner August 22, 1948 · CBS · 30 min
April 19, 1775: the Redcoats march, the Minutemen answer, and the shot heard round the world.
The Ratification of the Constitution September 19, 1948 · CBS · 28 min
June 25, 1788: Virginia's Governor Randolph changes his mind, and the fight over the Constitution comes to a head.
The Trial of Anne Hutchinson September 26, 1948 · CBS · 30 min
November 7, 1637: the Puritans put Anne Hutchinson on trial.
The First Battle of Bull Run October 3, 1948 · CBS · 29 min
July 21, 1861: confident Union troops meet a strong Confederate force.
Columbus Discovers America October 10, 1948 · CBS · 29 min
October 12, 1492: reports from Columbus's ships in the New World and from Europe.
The Trial of Marie Antoinette October 17, 1948 · CBS · 30 min
October 16, 1793: the Revolution tries the former queen, with little thought of justice.
The Fall of Troy October 24, 1948 · CBS · 29 min
1184 B.C.: beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
The Election of Thomas Jefferson October 31, 1948 · CBS · 30 min
February 17, 1801: the House decides the election, and Federalism begins to fade.
Lee and Grant at Appomattox November 7, 1948 · 35 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Napoleon Recaptured and Exiled November 14, 1948 · 31 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Execution of Maximilian December 5, 1948 · CBS · 28 min
June 19, 1867: Emperor Maximilian of Mexico faces a firing squad.
The Conspiracy of Catiline December 12, 1948 · CBS · 27 min
December 5, 63 B.C.: the Roman Senate debates the fate of five conspirators.
The Hanging of Captain Kidd December 19, 1948 · CBS · 29 min
Reporters cover the hanging of the pirate Captain Kidd on May 23, 1701, and the strange true story behind it.

194926 episodes

The Surrender of Sitting Bull January 2, 1949 · CBS · 30 min
July 21, 1881: Sitting Bull, last great chief of the Sioux, decides to surrender.
The Execution of Charles I January 9, 1949 · CBS · 27 min
January 27, 1649: Charles I insists on his divine right and is sentenced to die.
Mutiny in the Colonial Army January 16, 1949 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Betrayal of Toussaint L'Ouverture January 23, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
May 6, 1802: Napoleon's treachery ends the fight for freedom in Haiti.
Colonel Johnson Eats the Love Apple January 30, 1949 · CBS · 28 min
September 26, 1820: a town's leading citizen risks his life to eat a supposedly poisonous tomato in public.
The Trial of John Peter Zenger February 6, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
August 4, 1735: Andrew Hamilton's defense of John Peter Zenger wins a free press.
The Battle of Hastings February 13, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
October 14, 1066: William of Normandy defeats King Harold.
The Fall of Savonarola February 20, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
April 7, 1498: Savonarola, ruler of Florence, is tricked into an ordeal by fire.
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson (1949) February 27, 1949 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Alexander the Great, Part 1: The Peace Offer March 6, 1949 · CBS · 30 min
Part 1, The Peace Offer. September 30, 331 B.C.: Darius offers Alexander half his kingdom.
Alexander the Great, Part 2: The Battle for Asia March 13, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
Part 2, The Battle for Asia. October 1, 331 B.C.: outnumbered twenty to one, Alexander attacks.
Alexander the Great, Part 3: Mutiny in India March 20, 1949 · CBS · 28 min
Part 3, Mutiny in India. September 326 B.C.
The Oklahoma Land Run March 27, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
April 22, 1889: the Oklahoma land run.
The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots April 3, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
February 8, 1587: Mary, Queen of Scots, chooses death over mercy.
Peary's Dash to the North Pole April 10, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
April 6, 1909: Peary reaches the North Pole. His daughter is interviewed.
Napoleon Returns from Elba April 17, 1949 · CBS · 31 min
March 7, 1815: Napoleon gambles his life to win back the crown.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar April 24, 1949 · CBS · 28 min
March 15, 44 B.C.: the Ides of March.
Montezuma and the Spaniards May 1, 1949 · CBS · 28 min
June 30, 1520: will Montezuma betray his people to save himself?
The Impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase May 8, 1949 · CBS · 30 min
March 1, 1805: the impeachment of Justice Samuel Chase. Will the Supreme Court become a political battleground?
Lexington and Concord May 15, 1949 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Fort Sumter May 22, 1949 · CBS · 30 min
April 12, 1861: the shot that started the Civil War.
The Siege of Leiden May 29, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
October 3, 1574: the Spanish are starving out Leiden. Will help come in time?
The Capture of John Wilkes Booth June 5, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
April 26, 1865: Lincoln's assassin is trapped in a burning barn.
The Trial of Aaron Burr October 30, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
September 1, 1807: the treason trial of Aaron Burr. The first show of the season.
The Trial Run of the Tom Thumb November 27, 1949 · CBS · 30 min
August 28, 1830: steam against horsepower in the trial run of the Tom Thumb locomotive.
The Crowning of Charlemagne December 25, 1949 · CBS · 30 min
Christmas Day, 800: the crowning of Charlemagne.

19506 episodes

New Amsterdam January 22, 1950 · 31 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Charge of the Light Brigade February 19, 1950 · 31 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Stamp Act Rebellion March 19, 1950 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Thermopolae April 16, 1950 · 32 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
William Penn Trial May 14, 1950 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Womens Rights June 11, 1950 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.