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Piece Description
This fall marks the anniversary of one of the least known and yet most significant social experiments in American history. In September, 1854, the first "orphan train" carried 46 homeless children from New York City to far off homes to become laborers in the pioneer West. It was the first step in what was to become the emigration of as many as 250,000 orphan children to new homes throughout the entire United States. Widely duplicated throughout its 75 year history, the original orphan train was the creation and life project of the now forgotten man who was to become the father of American child welfare policy.
Some of the most famous orphan train riders included songwriter Eden Ahbez, author of the Nat King Cole classic "Nature Boy," as well as John Brady, a governor of Alaska and Andrew Burke, second governor of North Dakota. More than 150 years after the first orphan train, the remaining riders are scattered across the country, and their descendants live in communities like yours.
This new unnarrated one hour documentary features interviews from surviving orphan train riders as well as readings from period newspapers, letters and journals. The show is laced with an eclectic mix of traditional folk, classical and impressionist music.
A 25-minute version of the show will air on "Soundprint" on Dec. 10, 2004.
3 Comments
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Review of The Orphan TrainThis is my first review and I listened because I remember hearing Annie Wu as a reporter here in Washington DC. I thought it was exquisite, well paced and I found myself saying "I had no idea about this." I didn't care for the violin, but that's really nitpicking a very very well told story. I too cannot believe this story has not run.... |
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Review of The Orphan TrainI can't believe this piece hasn't aired... Producer Annie Wu has done a credible and creative job putting this historical documentary together with no narration. She lets the former orphans tell their stories with scholar descriptions and readings of historical letters and articles. Some of the readings aren't as professional or authentic sounding as some of the others but that didn't detract from this engaging near hour production. Someone simply must air this piece. Stations can air it as a special. I don't think it applies only to the East Coast. This doc lays an historical backdrop for current child welfare and foster care issues. It's short enough to run after NPR news breaks or after a shorter perhaps local feature that relates to this piece. |
Broadcast History
A 25-minute version of the show is scheduled to air on "Soundprint" on Dec. 10, 2004.
Timing and Cues
PIECE TITLE: The Orphan Train
PIECE LENGTH: 00:52:59
RUNDOWN:
BILLBOARD: 00:00 - 00:59
IC: (music 00:07) It was supposed to be...
OC: ...Coming up. (music 00:10)
BREAK: 01:00 - 05:59
SEGMENT 1: 06:00 - 58:59
IC: (music 00:13) They were called...
OC: ...Thanks for listening. (music ends 00:02)
PROMO
LENGTH: 00:29
IC: (music 00:04) Before there were foster homes...
OC: Their journeys aboard the orphan train. (music 00:07)
MODULE FOR NEWS BREAK INSERT
LENGTH: 01:29
PROPOSED HOST INTRO: The experiment began 150 years ago this year when the Children?s Aid Society of New York sent a group of homeless children westward in search of jobs and homes in the country. But it wasn?t all milk and honey.
IC: The first official orphan train...
OC: ...a permanent home. (music 00:15)
PROPOSED HOST BACK ANNOUNCE: Listen (date) at (time) for a one hour special ?The Orphan Trains?
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Additional Files
- 6 minute sample of Orphan Train show (OTsample.mp2)
- 90 second module for news break insert (OTmodule.mp2)
- billboard for Orphan Train show (OTbillboard.mp2)
- promo for Orphan Train show (OTpromo.mp2)
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Pete Daniels
Posted on January 27, 2005 at 01:29 PM | Permalink
Review of The Orphan Train
Quite engaging and touching. Authoritative yet very personal. Wonderful piece of American history. Interesting to children and adults. Will appeal to rural audiences as well as urban. Would be suitable during the Holidays. I would love to hear this during a weekend drive. It would provide conversation and I would ask others if they had also heard it.