REPOBT OF THE SECRETARY 11 



of successful operation. On the air every week almost without a 

 break for more than 300 weeks, the series finally was brought to 

 an end because of the urgent demand of war agencies for radio 

 time. In explaining the necessity for closing the program, Thomas 

 D. Eishworth, director of public service programs, Eastern Division, 

 National Broadcasting Co., wrote to the Institution: 



I regret that it was necessary to cancel "The World Is Yours" in view of 

 its long and successful history as one of our oldest educational broadcasts 

 * * * The war emergency has brought upon radio many difficulties that 

 were uiiforsecn, not the least of which is the Impossibility of expanding a 

 strictly limited schedule to meet the needs of all agencies involved in the war 

 effort ♦ * * I believe everyone will agree that through "The World Is 

 Yours" you have made a unique contribution to the development of the educa- 

 tional significance of radio in terms that were interesting to all types of 

 listeners. 



"The World Is Yours," a half-liour dramatized program, first went 

 on the air on June 7, 1936, and almost every week since that time it has 

 presented over a Nation-wide National Broadcasting Company net- 

 work some phase of science, invention, history, and art. The series from 

 the beginning struck a responsive chord in radio listeners throughout 

 the country. Supplementary articles on the subjects discussed were 

 offered to listeners, and many thousands of those who responded 

 took occasion to express enthusiastic commendation of the program. 

 It was made very evident that the American public is keenly inter- 

 ested in science, history, and related fields if the subjects are brought 

 alive by dramatization and if excessive technicality is avoided. 



Radio proved to be an ideal aid in achieving a principal goal of 

 the Institution, namely, the diffusion of knowledge. For this rea- 

 son it was with great regret that "The World Is Yours"' was brought 

 to an end as one of the sacrifices that have to be made when the 

 country is at war. 



The subjects presented during the year up to the close of the series 

 on May 10 were as follows : ''■ 



1941 



Thomas Jefferson July 5 



Builders of American Aircraft July 12 



Pirates of the Deep July 19 



Dust Storms July 26 



Herbert Ward Aug. 2 



Our Nearest Neighbor in Space Aug. 9 



John Ericsson Aug. 16 



Chemistry — and American Independence Aug. 23 



The Norsemen in Greenland Aug. 30 



Gilbert Stuart Sept. 7 



Cave and Chff Dwellers Sept. 14 



Pompeii Lives Again Sept. 21 



Historical Gems Sept. 28 



^ Because of National Broadcasting Co. comniitnients, no programs were given on November 

 16, 1941, and January 11, February 22, March 15, and April 12, 1942. 



