Archive of radio producer Adrian Michaelis

Heading: (Standard School Broadcast)
Author:
Title: Archive of Adrian F. Michaelis, producer and program manager for Standard Oil Company's The Standard Hour radio broadcast, also known as The Standard School Broadcast
Place Published: San Francisco
Publisher:
Date Published: [1930's-1960's]
Description:

Comprises:

Hundreds of publiciity photographs and negatives, sheet music, programs, typescript signed correspondence, promotional material, internal memorandums, posters, and ephemera. Featuring signed correspondence with African-American composer William Grant Still accompanied by a signed musical score, La Guiablesse Ballet, dedicated to Michaelis. Included is a file of signed correspondence dated 1957 between Adrian Michaelis and Mrs. Jean Seaman, head instructor to the child actors in the cast of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Club. Included are 13 holograph letters from Mousketeers to the Standard School Broadcast, including one signed by Annette Funicello, expressing their appreciation and pro tips on how to make the radio show better. The Mouseketeers, ranging from second grade to high school, enclosed seven works of original drawings and watercolors inspired by the Standard School Broadcast.

The Standard School Broadcast was a weekly educational radio program that went on the air in 1928 and promoted music appreciation for students in the western United States. It was the oldest educational radio program in America. Based in San Francisco, California, the series was carried on NBC radio stations and via syndication. The Standard School Broadcast was devoted to music and American history. Carmen Dragon was music director of the programs for many years. Some of Adrian Michaelis's papers are held at the Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library in San Francisco and at UC Berkeley.

Michaelis began work for the Standard Oil Company as a hall boy. Over the next few years, he progressed to positions such as typist, clerk, editor of the employees' magazine, photographer, writer, and finally into positions in advertising and public relations. In 1926, through a collaboration with the then-struggling San Francisco Symphony, Standard Oil sponsored a series of broadcasts of the Symphony's performances. Due to his background with the company and strong interest in music, Michaelis was appointed as the Program Manager for the newly created Standard Symphony Hour Broadcast, later simply known as The Standard Hour, a role he would retain until the show's final broadcast in 1955. Alongside this role, Michaelis worked as the Producer-Writer for The Standard Hour's companion broadcast, the Standard School Broadcast. Michaelis also served as creator and producer for the short-lived The Standard Hour television series in 1952. Michaelis remained with Standard Oil Company until his retirement in 1966 and worked subsequently as a consultant. - Library of Performing Arts, SF.
Condition Report: Varying amounts of wear, overall very good.