14 August / 50 Years After 14 August

V-J Day is remembered and celebrated in 14 August, a companion to On a Note of Triumph, aired the night of Japan's Surrender, ending World War II. It is a superb tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedom, and is a lucid summary of the truth about the Pacific War. A half century later, Corwin wrote and produced 50 Years After 14 August, an expansion and update of the original program, covering the same ground, but with the perspective of 50 years of history from which to look. The original starred the voice of Orson Wells. The 1995 production features Charles Kuralt and Pat Carroll.

These two programs will soon be available in a combined edition, with additional audio commentary from Norman Corwin. Available for pre-order now

14 August

The end of World War II in the Pacific came with unexpected atomic suddenness, as the Japanese announced their intention to surrender on August 14, 1945. Instead of having months to prepare a broadcast (as had been the case with his magnificent "On A Note Of Triumph"), Corwin had one day's notice. The original "14 August" was fourteen minutes long, and used one voice--Orson Welles.

50 Years After 15 August

Never completely satisfied with the original production, on The occasion of the half-century anniversary of the end of the war in the Pacific, Norman Cowin wrote and produced an updated companion piece -- 50 Years After 15 August. This new program, looking back at these momentous events with fifty years of perspective, is a full half hour, written and directed with his accustomed mastery of language and of radio.

Looking back after half a century, Corwin takes an honest look at what happened and pulls no punches in his magnificent prose. It's a splendid overview of the war with the Japanese, which will evoke many memories for anyone who was living then, and will introduce younger people to the attitudes, issues and events.

A brand new production, written and directed by Norman Corwin, is an event of the first magnitude! Two great voices, Charles Kuralt and Pat Carroll, bring Corwin's words to vibrant life in this brilliant new show. We are proud and honored to be selected to bring you this program, with a fascinating history: Anyone who remembers Pearl Harbor will treasure this program; anyone who doesn't go that far back will be fascinated and moved.

Nobody reflects in a hurry, and it is not recommended for rush jobs. But there are times when it is required, such as being assigned to deliver a broadcast overnight on an occasion as epochal as the end of the most terrible war of all wars.

That was my situation when, on August 14, 1945, I was asked by CBS to go on the air in a few hours, with a program celebrating the surrender of Japan.

The first thing I did was to put in a call for Orson Welles, to speak whatever I might write. Yes, he said, he'd steal time from what he was doing, to be at the studio. I worked through the night, and came up with fifteen minutes of a meditation scored for voice, sound and music. It was called simply "14 August."

A half century later, when Mary Beth Kirchner commissioned a commemorative look back, I had more time to reflect, and by a stroke of great good luck, was able to enlist Charles Kuralt, a hero of mine and the medium, to take over where Welles left off. This time I had twice as much room to say my say -- thirty minutes worth -- and also had Pat Carroll to act as historical footnoter.

There are some differences between the two productions half a century apart, but both the principals and the principles of the dramatic events recalled, are the same, and so are the rolls of those who perished.

--Norman Corwin, August 1995