My hobby is collecting old time radio shows (OTR). Recently I was listening to the March 18, 1939 broadcast of Information Please, hosted by Clifton Fadiman. The show has a panel of four noted and wise individuals, and the premise of the show is that it gives the public a chance to stump the experts.
These experts, including regulars such as writer, actor, pianist Oscar Levant as well as newspaper editor, columnist and intellectual Franklin P. Adams and sports columnist and intellectual John Kieran, along with guests such as playwright Moss Hart and mystery author Rex Stout (who created the fictional crime fighter Nero Wolfe) who would field an amazing array of questions, and – in the midst of fun and entertainment – answer a significant number of them correctly. After all, they were the experts.
One that stumped three of the four of the very intelligent members in the March 18th episode was one that every American should know.
Having said that, I need to come down off of my high horse and admit that I did not know the complete answer either.
Can you, without using outside resources, answer this question from the show?
From Information Please, 3/28/1939: This question has three parts.
1. Name of your Congressman.
2. Name the Congressional District you live in.
3. Name your Congressman’s political party.
What is yours?
If you are stumped on the complete answer, as I was, check here.
These experts, including regulars such as writer, actor, pianist Oscar Levant as well as newspaper editor, columnist and intellectual Franklin P. Adams and sports columnist and intellectual John Kieran, along with guests such as playwright Moss Hart and mystery author Rex Stout (who created the fictional crime fighter Nero Wolfe) who would field an amazing array of questions, and – in the midst of fun and entertainment – answer a significant number of them correctly. After all, they were the experts.
One that stumped three of the four of the very intelligent members in the March 18th episode was one that every American should know.
Having said that, I need to come down off of my high horse and admit that I did not know the complete answer either.
Can you, without using outside resources, answer this question from the show?
From Information Please, 3/28/1939: This question has three parts.
1. Name of your Congressman.
2. Name the Congressional District you live in.
3. Name your Congressman’s political party.
What is yours?
If you are stumped on the complete answer, as I was, check here.
Essential Question: Why is political awareness a valuable and essential attibute for American citizens to have?
PHOTO RESOURCE:
Information Please Panel, from Old Time Radio Catalog.
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1 comment:
I think I have the entire question.
Allan Boyd, Democrat from the 2nd Congressional District.
Mike - I'm always troubled by those man-on-the-street interviews that illustrate the level of civic illiteracy plaguing our nation. But as you point out - it's nothing new.
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