1949 Christmas Seal Campaign 49-12-12 Guest - Gordon Macrae

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 1949 Christmas Seal Campaign 49-12-12 – Guest: Gordon Macrae
Release Date: November 29, 2025

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Overview

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio presents a special broadcast from 1949 focused on the Christmas Seal Campaign, an annual effort to raise awareness and funds to fight tuberculosis (TB) in the United States. Hosted by Gordon MacRae and featuring guest star Jo Stafford, the Norman Luboff Choir, and the orchestra of Carmen Dragon, the episode blends musical performances with heartfelt appeals to the public, reflecting the communal spirit and social consciousness of mid-century radio.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christmas Seal Campaign Purpose and Urgency

• The episode’s core mission is to promote the Christmas Seal Campaign, dedicated to fighting TB—a leading health threat of the era.

• The Christmas Seal Campaign Spokesperson draws attention to the long-standing history (43 years at the time) and effectiveness of the initiative, urging everyone to participate by using Christmas Seals on their mail and sending in donations.

  • [02:45 | Spokesperson Quote]:
    “Christmas is a beautiful time of the year, a time of goodwill. But goodwill alone is not enough. Christmas is also a time of giving, like giving to the Christmas Seal Campaign and putting Christmas seals on every letter you send.”

• They confront public complacency, reminding listeners that TB "respects no one" and affects "one of every 280 Americans."

  • [10:13 | Spokesperson Quote]:
    “TB respects no one. It attacks anyone anywhere. Now TB can be cured, wiped out. Modern techniques, X-ray surveys are helping to ferret out this killer… The Christmas Seal campaign reaches into the home, the school, the factory. It is your strong ally. But it can only continue to fight if you continue to give.”

2. Music as Outreach and Inspiration

• Throughout the broadcast, musical performances serve as both entertainment and a method of emotional appeal, aiming to put listeners in a generous and reflective mood.

Notable Performances & Moments

• "The Rift Song"
  • [00:26-02:38] Gordon MacRae and Jo Stafford open with this stirring march, using the imagery of warriors fighting darkness as a metaphor for the battle against TB.
    • [02:38 | MacRae]:
      “And now to speak of other warriors that fight a stern battle each day of the year…”
• "That’s for Me" (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s State Fair)
  • [03:44-07:11] A light, romantic performance jointly sung by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae, accompanied by the Norman Luboff Choir, reflecting the warmth and connectedness of the season.
• "Rosemary" (Rudolf Friml)
  • [07:11-10:11] Gordon MacRae delivers this operetta classic, with Jo Stafford joining in. The song’s theme of enduring love is offered as another emotional appeal to caring and generosity.
• "One Alone" (from The Desert Song)
  • [11:14-13:38] Performed by Gordon MacRae and the Norman Luboff Choir, the song's longing and hopefulness echo the campaign’s aspiration to eradicate TB through collective effort.

3. Memorable Appeals and Facts

• The tone is earnest, communal, and urgent, blending appeals to sentiment with hard facts about TB.

• Repeated reminders to listeners to act immediately:

  • [02:45 | Spokesperson]:
    “…send in your check, won’t you please?”
  • [10:13 | Spokesperson]:
    “…Use the Christmas seals which were sent to you through the mail and send your check this very evening, won’t you, please?”

• Gordon MacRae reinforces the spokesperson’s message, maintaining the seamless integration of music and advocacy:

  • [03:44 | MacRae]:
    “And with that request, I'm certain we'll all comply. But now our guest star, Jo Stafford, joins…”

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• [02:45] — Christmas Seal Campaign Spokesperson:
  “Christmas is a beautiful time of the year, a time of goodwill. But goodwill alone is not enough...”
• [10:13] — Christmas Seal Campaign Spokesperson:
  “TB respects no one. It attacks anyone anywhere. Now TB can be cured, wiped out…”
• [03:44] — Gordon MacRae:
  “And with that request, I'm certain we'll all comply. But now our guest star, Jo Stafford, joins…”
• [02:38] — Gordon MacRae (on the fight against TB):
  “And now to speak of other warriors that fight a stern battle each day of the year…”

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Structure & Flow

• The episode moves fluidly between music and message, establishing a warm, communal, and persuasive atmosphere.
• Musical interludes provide emotional resonance, reinforcing the campaign’s mission of compassion and collective action.
• The host and spokesperson maintain a respectful, urgent, but hopeful tone throughout, exemplary of the era’s sense of social responsibility.

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Main Takeaways

• Theme: A blend of musical entertainment and urgent public health advocacy, leveraging the popularity of radio and beloved stars to rally collective action against tuberculosis.
• Memorable Appeal: The use of vivid metaphors, statistics, and heartfelt performances create a persuasive call to “give and use Christmas Seals,” encapsulating the spirit of postwar American community and philanthropy.
• Legacy: The episode stands as both a time capsule and an enduring reminder of the power of popular media in public health campaigns.

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Transcript

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[Gordon McRae]

The gordon mcrae show presented by christmas. Ladies and gentlemen, in behalf of the annual Christmas Seal campaign, your Tuberculosis association presents Gordon McRae, our guest Joe Stafford, the orchestra of Carmen Dragon and the Norman Luboff Choir. Now the star of our show, Gordon McRae. In the stirring march of the warriors, the Rift Song.

[Joe Stafford]

Drum, drum of hook beats in the.

[Christmas Seal Campaign Spokesperson]

Sand.

[Joe Stafford]

Whiver with fear if you are near. It is the thunder of the shadow and his band and all who thunder learn to understand and not cry of hope. So we sing as we are riding ho it's the time you'd best be hiding low it means the rifts are abroad Go before you've bitten the sword oh, that's the sound that comes to warn you so in the night or early morn you know if you're the Red Shadow's foe the wrist will strike with a blow that brings you woe O so we sing as we are riding ho it's the time you bet the hiding low it meets a river.

[Gordon McRae]

Broad.

[Joe Stafford]

Before you bitten the soul oh, that's the sound that comes to warn you so in the night or early morning oh, if you're the Red Shadows for the rest will strike with a bone that brings you home.

[Gordon McRae]

And now to speak of other warriors that fight a stern battle each day of the year, Here is Gordon MacRae.

[Christmas Seal Campaign Spokesperson]

Christmas is a beautiful time of the year, a time of goodwill. But goodwill alone is not enough. Christmas is also a time of giving, like giving to the Christmas Seal Campaign and putting Christmas seals on every letter you send. For Christmas Seals are fighting the good fight, waging war against the unseen, deadly enemy, tb. It has been a long war, but it has been successful. Christmas Seals have been helping to fight TB for 43 years. Slowly, surely, Christmas SEALs are helping to conquer TB today. Science knows how TB is spread and how TB can be cured. How TB can be conquered. But it can only be wiped out if you and I work together against it. The most effective way is to support the Christmas Seal Campaign. Your Christmas seals were sent to you through the mail. Start using them right away. And before you go to bed tonight, send in your check, won't you please?

[Gordon McRae]

And with that request, I'm certain we'll all comply. But now our guest star, Joe Stafford, joins Gordon MacRae, the orchestra and choir in the smash hit from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical picture State Fair For Christmas Seals. THEY SING that's for me.

[Joe Stafford]

I saw you standing in the sun and you were something to see I know what I like and I like what I saw and I said to myself that's for me A lovely morning.

[Norman Luboff Choir Member]

I remarked and I was quick to agree.

[Joe Stafford]

You wanted to talk and I nodded my head as I breathlessly said.

[Norman Luboff Choir Member]

That.

[Joe Stafford]

For me.

[Norman Luboff Choir Member]

I left you standing under star as the day's adventures are true there's nothing for me but the dream in my heart and the dream.

[Joe Stafford]

In my heart that's for you.

[Christmas Seal Campaign Spokesperson]

O.

[Joe Stafford]

My darling that's for you I saw you star standing in the sun and you have something to see I know.

[Norman Luboff Choir Member]

What I like and I like what I saw and I said to myself that.

[Joe Stafford]

A lovely morning I remark that you were to love me you wanted to.

[Norman Luboff Choir Member]

War and I nodded my head as I breathlessly said that for me.

[Joe Stafford]

I left you standing under stars the day's adventures are through oh, there's nothing for.

[Norman Luboff Choir Member]

Me but the dream in my heart.

[Joe Stafford]

And the dream in my heart.

[Gordon McRae]

Many theatrical seasons ago, Rudolph Frimmel composed in operetta who whose locale was the Canadian Northwest. Of all the songs his genius produces, none blooms more frequently in our memories than the one dedicated to the heroine of the play Rosemary. To bring it to you, here is Gordon Macrae.

[Joe Stafford]

O sweet Rosemary it's easy to see why I learn to know you love you O you're gentle and kind Divinely designed As graceful as the pines above you there's an angel's breath beneath your sign There's a little dibolin your eyes O Rose Mary, I love you I'm always dreaming of you no matter what I do I can't forget you Sometimes I wish that I had never met you and yet if I should lose you Twould mean my very life to me of all the queens that ever lived I choose you to rule me My Rosemary or Rose Rosemary, I love.

[Christmas Seal Campaign Spokesperson]

You.

[Joe Stafford]

I'm always dreaming of you.

[Gordon McRae]

No.

[Joe Stafford]

Matter what I do I can't forget you Sometimes I wish that I had never met you and yet if I should lose my. You would mean my very life to me of all the queens that ever lived I choose you to rule me My own.

[Gordon McRae]

Now for Christmas Seals.

[Christmas Seal Campaign Spokesperson]

Gordon McRae, perhaps you are one of those people who think comfortably. Oh, I can't get TB when you hear about Christmas Seals. But did you know that one of every 280Americans has TB in an active stage. That's a fearful rate, a rate which comes very close to you, whether you are rich or poor. For TB respects no one. It attacks anyone anywhere. Now TB can be cured, wiped out. Modern techniques X ray surveys are helping to ferret out this killer. Modern health education is teaching people to recognize danger signals. It is in this vital work that Christmas seals are so important. The Christmas seal campaign reaches into the home, the school, the factory. It is your strong ally. But it can only continue to fight if you continue to give. Use the Christmas seals which were sent to you through the mail and send your check this very evening, won't you, please?

[Gordon McRae]

And that we certainly shall remember. But on with our music. As Gordon MacRae sings One Alone from.

[Joe Stafford]

The Desert Song Lonely as a desert breeze I may wander where I please Yet I keep on longing Just to rest a while Where a sweetheart's tender eyes Take the place Place of sand and skies all the world of forgotten in one woman smile One alone.

[Norman Luboff Choir Member]

To.

[Joe Stafford]

Be my own I alone to no caresses One to be eternally the one My worshiping soul. At her call I'd give my all for my life and all my love enduring. This would be a magic world at home me if she were a mine all. Give my all My life and all my heart.

[Norman Luboff Choir Member]

Endure.

[Joe Stafford]

This would be a magic world to me if she were mine.

[Gordon McRae]

Your Christmas Seal show was made possible through the Courtesy of Gordon McRae, Joe Stafford, the orchestra of Carmen Dragon, the Norman Luboff Choir, the American Federation of Radio Artists and the American Federation of Musicians. This is Marvin Miller speaking.