Great Moments in History
Great Moments in History was a dramatic radio series broadcast on NBC in 1927–28. It offered recreations of famed historical situations.
The program was the creation of actor-director Gerald Stoop, a New York Theater Guild member, and playwright Henry Fisk Carlton, an English instructor at New York University and a graduate of Harvard's Dramatic Work Shop. Carlton was previously involved in the production of other NBC programs, including Re-told Tales and House of Myths.
The series featured major figures of history, such as Alexander Hamilton. One show in the series, "Paul Revere's Ride", employed this dialogue:
- REVERE: That you, John Hancock?
- HANCOCK: Yes, Paul Revere, what's the matter?
- REVERE: Matter enough, Hancock. The Redcoats are coming. Is Sam Adams in the house with you?
- HANCOCK: Yes, Paul Revere, what's me. Oh, Sam–Sam Adams!
- ADAMS: Yes, yes, I'm coming.
Carlton felt every aspect had to be dramatized with elaborate details, as he explained, "To make your audience see, it is necessary to make your characters describe what they see."[1]
Carlton has been credited (along with William Ford Manley and one John Harwood) with joint authorship of the dramatic play Shooting Shadows.[2]
