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WJSV, Washington, D.C., was owned by the Columbia Broadcasting System (C.B.S). On September 21, 1939 the entire broadcast day was recorded.  From 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. the following day a "time capsule" was created for posterity. Of important note is Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech to Congress encouraging repeal of the U.S. Neutrality Law.  Other items of interest include a short interview with George Washington Carver, a Pet Milk advertisement extolling the goodness of irradiated milk, an audio clip from a soap opera, news clips, and more commercials of the day.

The broadcast had been only available on tape for years but now is available in mp3 format and the day has been categorized in 19 hour-long segments. Some portions of the day's broadcast are available for listening and the entire schedule has been divided onto the four pages below.

Columbia's station for the nation's capital:
(I edited this clip from two different announcements.) 
 
Segment 1 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time: 53:26
Clock Time
Time within mp3 Segment*
Program or Event
6 a.m.
 
00:00*
Sign-on and music 
 
15:00
technical difficulty
6:30 a.m.
22:15
Sundial with Arthur Godfrey - morning program with recorded music
 
27:20
boat being sold by station employee
 
34:18
weather
 
34:40
Pepsi-Cola adverstisement read by Arthur Godfrey
 
39:00
The day's broadcast being recorded for posterity is mentioned.
 
39:40
M.G.M.'s The Woman advertisement
 
44:55
Minit Rub pain reliever advertisement
 
46:20
birthday announcements
 
46:45
Leesburg, Virginia Rotary Club petition drive to improve road
 
51:10
birthday announcements and lost and found
 
51:55
Zlotnick the Furrier advertisement
Segment 2 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time: 62:08
7 a.m.
03:30
Sundial with Arthur Godfrey continues
 
05:15
birthday announcements
 
05:30
Grainesville Methodist Church ice cream social
 
08:45
Harvest Moon Ball announcement
 
15:10
News update
 
16:45
lost Bulova watch and birthday announcements
 
17:15
Pontiac dealer advertisement
 
22:00
 
News update
 
23:35
President's Club Regatta – interviews with Chairman Sims and participants
 
31:10
Leggett's 10 cent fudge cake promotion and birthday announcements
 
35:25
Bond Clothing Store advertisement
 
39:40
News Break brought to you by Arrow?? Beer
 
41:45
lost and found
music: first act of Carmen
 
44:10
Bond Clothing Store advertisement
 
50:20
President's Regatta and interview with Queen of proceedings
Segment 3 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  61:23
8 a.m.
00:38
8:00 a.m. chime
 
00:45 to 05:30
News Break brought to you by Arrow?? Beer
 
05:45
Peter Paul Mounds candy (advertisement or "electrical transcription")
 
06:45 to
09:05
Shortening Bread (advertisement or "electrical transcription")
 
09:05 to
09:40
Alka-Seltzer (advertisement or "electrical transcription")
 
09:40 to 10:45
song
 
10:45 to 11:35
Alka-Seltzer (advertisement or "electrical transcription")
 
11:50 to 12:50
Capital Fur Shop advertisement
 
12:50
birthday announcements, autumn equinox and music
 
16:25
Johnny Walker Clothes – Pellsman Store? advertisement, birthdays
 
18:25
Straya??? College (time to register) advertisement birthday announcements
 
19:45
music resumes
 
22:30
Kinsmen Optical advertisement and birthdays
 
24:20
Dr. Pepper advertisement
 
26:30
Gulf Service Stations advertisement
 
 
birthday announcements
 
27:35
Charles Schwartz & Son advertisement for radios as low as $19.95
 
28:50
Penn-Daw Hotel
 
29:30
Butler Cars closeout sale
 
30:45
Sundial program ends
8:30 a.m.
31:00
Certified Magic Carpet quiz show sponsored by Certified Double Flavor Bread
 
44:45
Arthur Godfrey announces $1.00 prizewinner for Certified Magic Carpet.
 
45:35
R.K. Sunshine Clothes Storage advertisement
8:45 a.m.
46:20
Bachelor's Children soap opera sponsored by Old Dutch Cleanser
Segment 4 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  62:10
9 a.m.
00:01
Time Chime
 
00:07
Pretty Kitty Kelly soap opera presented by Wonder Bread
 
01:25
 
Wonder Bread advertisement
 
15:00
Buick automobile advertisement
9:15 a.m.
15:45
Myrt and Marge (soap opera) presented by Concentrated Super Suds
 
30:45
Halo Shampoo advertisement
9:30 a.m.
31:40
Hilltop House (soap opera) presented by Palmolive Soap (learn to be a "wise wife") 
9:45 a.m.
47:00
Stepmother (soap opera) presented by Colgate Tooth Powder
Segment 5 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  61:16
Clock Time
Time within mp3 Segment*
Program or Event
10 a.m.
00:01
Time sponsored by Bulova Watches
 
00:25 to 03:00
News update
 
03:30
Mary Lee Taylor show presented by Pet Milk Company (recipe show) promoting irradiated Pet Milk.
10:15 a.m.
15:17
Sanitary Food Store advertisement
 
16:00
Life Story of Brenda Curtis (soap opera) presented by Campbell's Soup with Agnes Moorehad.
 
30:20
Campbell's Tomato Juice advertisement
10:30 a.m.
31:00
promo for Your Family and Mine at 1:30 p.m.
 
31:22
Rinso clothes detergent advertisement which sponsors Big Sister.
 
33:35
Big Sister (soap opera)
 
46:05
Lifebuoy advertisement
 
46:35
Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories (soap opera) sponsored by Spry?? Vegetable Spread.
 
61:05
the District weather forecast
Segment 6 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time: 59:34
11:00 a.m.
00:00
time
 
00:10
Jean Abbey Notes on fashion
11:15 a.m.
15:00
When a Girl Marries presented by Prudential Insurance Company of America
11:30 a.m.
29:30
Sanitary Food Stores advertisement
 
30:00
Romance of Helen Trent (soap opera)
 
31:05
Angelus Lipstick advertisement
 
43:15
Angelus Lipstick advertisement
 
44:20
3 in 1 Oil advertisement
 
45:00
Our Gal Sunday (soap opera)
 
45:55 to
47:10
Anacin Tablets advertisement
 
58:05
Anacin Tablets advertisement
 
59:08
Clat's??? Baby Food advertisement
Segment 7 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  61:43
Noon
00:00
The Goldbergs (comedy-drama) presented by Oxydol detergent
 
14:35
time change announcement
 
15:05
Camay cleansing soap (advertisement)
 
15:35
Life Can Be Beautiful (soap) brought to you by Ivory Flake
 
16:36
Ivory advertisement (Announcer Ralph Edwards)
 
28:40
Ivory advertisement
12:30 p.m.
31:10
time
 
31:20
Road of Life (soap opera) brought to you by Gypsol?? Detergent
 
46:04
Ivory advertisement
12:45 p.m.
46:30
This Day is Ours (soap opera) brought to you by Crisco shortening
 
47:30
Crisco sure mix shortening advertisement
 
58:36
Crisco sure mix shortening advertisement
 
60:50
time change announcement
 
61:25
time announcement - 1:00 p.m.
 
61:30
Regatta Radio Gram (ad) boat racing
Segment 8 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  55:39
1 p.m.
00:00 to 05:05
News Break – missing first 4 minute  brought to you by Loushwire??? Biscuit  Company, makers of Sunshine Cracker.
 
05:05
Sunshine Crackers advertisement
 
06:00
to 06:45
Announcement: the entire day of WJSV broadcast is being recorded for posterity and will be placed in the National Archives.
 
10:40
Illinois Hair Association adopted resolution urging hair dressers to avoid war hair motif
 
06:45 to 11:45
News Break continues
 
12:00
Buick dealers advertisement
1:15 p.m.
12:20
The Life and Love of Doctor Susan (soap opera) presented by Lux Toilet Soap
 
12:50
Lux Toilet Soap advertisement (with song)
 
24:25
Lux Toilet Soap advertisement (with song)
 
26:15
reminder to listen to Big Sister on C.B.S.
1:30 p.m.
26:30
1:30 time chime sponsored by Sanitary Food Store
 
27:10
Your Family and Mine (soap opera)
 
27:30
Sealtest Dairy New York World's Fair exhibit (advertisement)
 
37:50
Sealtest banana macaroon ice cream (advertisement)
 
39:30
Southern Dairy Soda Fountain (advertisement)
 
41:00
News broadcast in preparation of special session of Congress
1:45 p.m.
45:15
market report
 
45:30
Special Report – Extra Session of Congress
Albert Warner reporting and interviewing Minority Leader Senator Austin from Vermont, a New York Representative, and Democrat Senator Burns
 
53:00
description of scene and itinerary in the House of Representatives
Segment 9 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  60:45
2 p.m.
00:00
John Charles Daley continues report on Special Session of Congress with background facts.
 
04:50
President Roosevelt enters House of Representatives
 
06:15
Roosevelt's speech to Congress urges the repeal the Neutrality Law
 
41:25
Roosevelt's speech concludes 
(the sound file is about the last five minutes of the 35-minute speech)
 
42:20
French Premier Edouard Daladier (speech in French)
 
50:04
C.B.S. New York translation and summary of Daladier's speech
 
58:11
C.B.S. New York News Summary - Romanian premier assassinated & other news dispatches including German attacks on France
Segment 10 of 19 mp3 files.  Total Running Time: 60:07
Clock Time
Time within mp3 Segment*
Program or Event
3 p.m.
00:00
News - C.B.S. in Washington, D.C.  Albert Warner reports and interviews with Congressmen
3:10 p.m.
09:25
time chime brought to you by Bulova Watch Company
 
09:45
baseball game begins at 4 p.m.
3:10:30
10:00
Career of Alice Blair (soap opera) sponsored by a cold cream maker
 
22:00
Daggett and Lamsel?? cold cream commercial
 
25:00
Announcement: Roosevelt's speech will be repeated at 10:45 p.m.
 
25:15 to 30:00
News Summary sponsored by Globe Brewing Company, Baltimore maker of Arrow Beer.
 
30:15
 
Rhythm and Romance (music)
 
37:02
Manhattan Service (laundry advertisement - $1.59 for 9 pounds)
 
38:00
Rhythm and Romance continues
 
40:28
M.G.M.'s The Woman (movie advertisement)
 
41:26
M.G.M.'s The Woman (movie advertisement)
3:45 p.m.
45:08
Scattergood Baines (drama/comedy) which was "electrically transcribed"
 
45:30 to
46:20
Wrigley Company advertisement for Spearmint Gum
 
57:30 to 59:10
Wrigley Company advertisement for Spearmint Gum
Segment 11 of 19 mp3 files.  Total Running Time: 60:31
4 p.m.
 
time and station identification
Cleveland Senators and Washington Senators Baseball Game
Segment 12 of 19 mp3 files.  Total Running Time: 60:06
5 p.m.
 
Cleveland Senators and Washington Senators Baseball Game continued
5:17 p.m.
17:20
time chime sponsored by Bulova Watch Company
 
14:45
The World Dances (transcribed music)
Segment 13 of 19 mp3 files.  Total Running Time: 58:49
6 p.m.
00:00
Technical difficulty delaying presentation of Amos and Andy
 
00:20
organ music (transcribed)
 
02:42
Amos and Andy (comedy) sponsored by Campbell's Soup (in progress)
 
11:38 to 12:25
Campbell's Soup advertisement
 
12:25
organ music and closing of Amos and Andy
 
13:30
Campbell's Tomato Juice advertisement
6:15 p.m.
14:30
Parker Family (comedy) sponsored by Woodbury Facial Soap
 
15:15
Woodbury Facial Soap advertisement
 
16:30
Parker Family continues
 
26:55
Woodbury Facial Soap advertisement
 
28:00
Parker Family conclusion
6:30 p.m.
29:05
time chime sponsored by Bulova Watch Company.
 
29:25
Joe E. Brown (comedy and music) sponsored by Post Toasties Corn Flakes
 
33:55
Post Toasties advertisement
 
34:55
Joe E. Brown continues
 
43:30 to 44:20
Post Toasties advertisement with plug for Paramount movie
 
54:05
return to Joe E. Brown
 
57:00
Post Toasties advertisement done by Joe E. Brown (study hard in school to get far) and closing
7 p.m.
58:25
time chime sponsored by Bulova Watch Company
 
58:30
request for type 3 blood donors to contact Garfield Hospital.
Segment 14 of 19 mp3 files Total.  Running Time: 59:31
 
00:00
Colgate Ask It Basket (quiz show) sponsored by Colgate Dental Cream
 
00:40
Colgate Dental Cream advertisement by host and announcer for the show
 
09:15
Colgate Dental Cream advertisement
 
10:00
Ask It Basket continues
 
15:45
Colgate Dental Cream advertisement
 
16:10
Ask It Basket continues
 
24:37
Colgate Dental Cream advertisement
 
25:25
Ask It Basket continues
 
28:55
Colgate Dental Cream advertisement by host Jim McWilliams.
7:30 p.m.
30:20
Strange As It Seems sponsored by Palmolive Lather Cream and Palmolive Brushless
 
31:05
Palmolive Lather Cream advertisement
 
31:33
Strange as It Seems continues (Most Ingenious Salesman)
 
35:20
Palmolive Lather Cream advertisement
 
35:55
Strange as It Seems continues (Most Beautiful Wife in America)
 
38:40
Palmolive Brushless advertisement
 
39:15
Strange As It Seems continues with a scientist is traded for a race horse.
(a short interview with George Washington Carver)
 
47:15
 
Palmolive Shave Cream advertisement
 
47:40
Strange As It Seems continues (General Putnam dueling by powder keg)
 
52:42
Palmolive Brushless advertisement
 
53:30
Strange As It Seems continues (Only 44 States in the U.S.A.) and concludes
 
54:40
 
News with Elmer Davis 
Part 15 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  63:08
Clock Time
Time within mp3 Segment*
Program or Event
8 p.m.
00:00
time chime brought to you by Hailey's (1940 Plymouth)
 
00:30
Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour sponsored by Plymouth, Dodge, Desoto, and  Chrysler announcing the "great" 1940 models.
 
05:30 to 07:20
City of Mansfield, Ohio tribute
 
11:15
Chrysler advertisement
 
27:30 to 31:20
Chrysler advertisement for 1940 models describing features
 
32:00
Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour continues
 
33:30
"Over the Rainbow" sung by Dorothy Moore
Part 16 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  60:17
 
00:00
H.B. Leary Jr. and Brothers (Washington D.C.'s Chrysler's distributor)
9 p.m.
00:25
time chime
 
01:00
Columbia Workshop "Now It's Summer" by Arthur Cobur (drama)
 
30:10 to 30:30
Buick automobiles advertisement (electrical transcription)
9:30 p.m.
31:00
Americans at Work (true stories) episode about auctioneers
10 p.m.
59:58
time chime brought to you by Bulova Watch Company
Segment 17 of 19 mp3 files.  Total Running Time: 61:10
 
00:00
News sponsored by Arrow Beer
 
04:40 to 04:55
Buick automobiles advertisement (electrical transcription)
 
05:00 to 05:30
AMOCO (American Oil Company) advertisement
 
05:35
New continues
 
11:00 to 11:35
AMOCO (American Oil Company) advertisement
10:15 p.m.
14:40
time chime
 
14:40 to 15:00
National Bohemian beer advertisement (most expensive 10 cent beer)
 
15:05
Streamline Interlude (music) Freddie Monroe Orchestra
 
18:33 to 19:30
news commentator Sullivan program promo
 
19:32
music continues… Marian Forbes vocals and more
 
25:55 to 26:45
Zlotnick the Furrier advertisement
 
26:45
music continues
10:30 p.m.
29:40 to
30:05
time chime brought to you by Bulova Watch Company's President watch 
 
30:20 to 45:00
Mid-week Review with Albert Warner (news and analysis)
 
45:55
transcription recording of Franklin Roosevelt's speech aired earlier live earlier in the day
Part 18 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  60:16
11 p.m.
00:00 to 20:45
continuing repeat of F.D.R.'s speech aired lived earlier in afternoon
11:21 p.m.
20:45 to 21:00
time chime brought to you by Bulova Watch Company
 
21:05
Jerry Livingston Orchestra (music)
11:30 p.m.
29:08 to 29:30
time chime sponsored by National Bohemian beer advertisement
 
30:05
Teddy Powell Orchestra (music)
Midnight
60:10
time chime
Part 19 of 19 mp3 files. Total Running Time:  62:45
 
00:00
Louis Prima Orchestra ("New Orleans brand of swing") at New York Hickory House
12:30 a.m.
29:50
time chime
 
30:15
Bob Chester Orchestra (music) from Hotel VanCleve, Dayton, Ohio
 
55:28 to 59:50
News recap
 
60:00 to 60:40
Washington, D.C. area weather
 
60:50
sign-off and National Anthem
 
 
*These numbers indicate the approximate time within the particular hour the event occurs in minutes and seconds.
 
Please note:  The above WJSV schedule may be freely distributed provided this site is acknowledged as author.  Please advise the Webmaster.
 
WJSV Schedule - September 21, 1939
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