American Cancer Society - 1948 - Accounting

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: American Cancer Society - 1948 - Accounting
Air Date: March 20, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

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Overview

This episode features a 1948 radio broadcast produced for the American Cancer Society, highlighting the organization's ongoing efforts to fight cancer through research, service, and—most notably—education. Through dramatized storytelling and informative narration, the episode offers a transparent “accounting” to the public, detailing how contributions are used, dispelling dangerous myths, and advocating for early detection and ongoing support in cancer control.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Three Pillars of Cancer Control (01:03–01:29)

• Research: Funding hundreds of projects at leading institutions.
• Service: Providing communities with up-to-date information and resources for detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Education: Emphasizing the importance of public awareness and early action, delivered through a dramatised case study.

Quote:
"You are entitled to know where it goes and how it is being used… Only with your contributions now can it continue to carry the fight against cancer in the future."
— Tyler Redick (00:18)

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2. The Story of Bill Goran: Early Detection Saves Lives (01:29–06:36)

A dramatized account follows Bill Goran, an average businessman, who notices a persistent sore on his lip:

• Initial Doubt: Bill’s mother dismisses his concerns, illustrating common underestimation of symptoms.
• Prompt Action: Encouraged by a cancer society speaker who stressed early doctor visits, Bill decides to see Dr. Hanley.
• Diagnosis & Treatment: After a biopsy, Bill is diagnosed with early-stage cancer. Because it was detected early, his prognosis is very good.
• Result: Months later, Bill is told he is “to all practical, extensive purposes… cured,” though final clearance requires a five-year wait.

Memorable Moments & Quotes:

• "If you think you might have cancer, see your doctor and see him early. That was the important thing." — Narrator (03:13)
• "You're a very lucky boy, Bill. You came in to see me when your cancer was in the early stages, and that made all the difference in the world." — Dr. Hanley (06:36)

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3. Dangerous Myths and Misconceptions (08:03–10:05)

The next segment tackles widespread cancer myths through another vignette:

• Kitchen Scene: Margie throws out all aluminum cookware, convinced—based on hearsay—that it caused a friend's cancer.
• Debunking Myths: The narrator explicitly states there’s no evidence linking aluminum pots to cancer.
• Message: Misinformation not only leads to unnecessary fear but can also result in loss of life if it delays action.

Quote:
"People don’t get cancer from eating food cooked in aluminum utensils. Now, we’re not throwing these away. Honestly, I never heard anything as crazy as that."
— Narrator (09:56)

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4. How the American Cancer Society Educates & Spreads Awareness (10:57–11:46)

The episode underscores the Society’s comprehensive public and professional outreach:

• Education for the Public: Posters, pamphlets in five languages, radio programs, talks, and films.
• Professional Education: Refresher courses for doctors, symposiums, seminars, exhibits, and up-to-date literature.
• Community Outreach: Targeting various professions and groups to maximize reach.

Quotes:

• "The American Cancer Society reaches the people through thousands upon thousands of publications and pamphlets in five, five different languages." — Dr. Hanley (11:16)
• "It brings the facts of cancer control to the people over the radio with talks, announcements, dramatic programs, and through films…" — Narrator (11:32)

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5. The Ongoing Battle and the Need for Support (12:00–13:15)

The episode closes on a direct call to action:

• Funds in Action: Your donations fund not only research and patient services, but also this far-reaching educational effort, vital in dispelling deadly myths and encouraging effective early action.
• Urgency: The fight is "nowhere near done"; continuous support is essential to saving more lives.

Quote:
"To arouse the indifferent, to reassure the frightened, to re-educate the misinformed, to activate the informed, to put the whole nation on the alert against cancer—this is how part of the contribution you gave to the American Cancer Society is being used."
— Narrator (12:00)

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Transparency and Commitment:
  "You are entitled to know where it goes and how it is being used…"
  — Tyler Redick (00:18)
• On Early Detection:
  "If you think you might have cancer, see your doctor and see him early. That was the important thing."
  — Narrator (03:13)
• On Myths:
  "People don’t get cancer from eating food cooked in aluminum utensils."
  — Narrator (09:56)
• On Outreach and Education:
  "The American Cancer Society reaches the people through thousands upon thousands of publications and pamphlets in five, five different languages."
  — Dr. Hanley (11:16)
• On Why Support Matters:
  "This is a fight for life. And it may be your life."
  — Narrator (13:00)

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Concluding Theme

With a mix of drama and direct address, the episode communicates:

• Early detection is critical: It greatly increases chances of cure.
• Education is essential: To combat both ignorance and dangerous misinformation.
• Public support fuels progress: The fight against cancer is costly and ongoing, relying on donations and informed action.

The 1948 broadcast serves as an enduring call: “Give as much as you can. Give more than you can. This is a fight for life.”

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Transcript

[Tyler Redick]

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[Narrator]

This is cancer control month.

[Tyler Redick]

Cancer control month. It is the time when the American cancer society comes to you with an accounting for. It is your money that is being spent in the fight to control cancer. You are entitled to know where it goes and how it is being used. Without your voluntary contributions, the american cancer society cannot act as your shield to blunt the deadly sword of this ravishing killer. Only with your contributions now can it continue to carry the fight against cancer in the future. The american cancer society presents now the story of what your money does in the fight against cancer.

[Narrator]

It fights cancer in these three ways. First, research.

Hundreds of research projects in our greatest medical, educational and industrial institutions.

Second, service.

A program designed to provide a source of public information concerning cancer and the facilities available in your community for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

[Dr. Hanley]

And third, perhaps the most important control of them all.

[Narrator]

Education. Education. It's a word that always sounds a little heavy, but in this case, it translates itself dramatically. Take the case of bill goran. You've met him before. He's someone you know, or you yourself. Nothing spectacular about Bill. He isn't a celebrity or anything like that. Just a successful young businessman. Works hard, pays his bills, saves a little, concerns himself with the ordinary things we concern ourselves with. Anyway, one day, Bill was standing before the mirror when his mother came into the room.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

Bill, if you don't hurry, you're going to be late for the office. Oh, and why on earth are you staring in the mirror?

[Narrator]

Well, it's that. It's that sore on my lip, mother.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

Oh, now, don't tell me you're worrying about that again. Well, I. I've been talking about it and staring at it in the mirror every day for the last week, son, and I don't know what you're making such a fuss about.

[Narrator]

Well, I'm a little worried about it, that's all.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

Good heavens. Why, it's only a little sore. It'll go away.

[Narrator]

That's what I thought, but it hasn't gone away. Seems to me that it's getting bigger all the time.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

Nonsense. It's just your imagination.

[Narrator]

Maybe.

But on the other hand, it could be.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

Could be what?

[Narrator]

Cancer.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

Cancer? Oh, of all the silly things, son, what on earth has come over you? Why, it's absurd, ridiculous. It couldn't be cancer. You're like a little child afraid of the dark, looking for the boogeyman under your bed.

[Narrator]

All right, I'll admit it. I'm not just worried, mother. I'm scared. Darn scared.

[Dr. Hanley]

Oh, now.

[Narrator]

And I don't think I'm going to wait around for it to go away.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

What are you going to do?

[Narrator]

After hearing that speaker at the club last week.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

What speaker?

[Narrator]

He was a field representative of the american cancer society.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

What did he have to say?

[Narrator]

Well, he told us some of the primary symptoms of cancer, and he kept banging away at one thing. He said, if you think you might have cancer, see your doctor and see him early. That was the important thing. See him early. Mother, I'm not taking any chances. I'm not going to wait any longer.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

Don't tell me you're going to run right down and see Dr. Hanley.

[Narrator]

That's just what I'm going to do.

[Bill Goran's Mother]

Bill goran, don't be a fool. You're just going to give Dr. Hanley $5 for nothing. Why, if everyone ran to his doctor just because of a little sore on the skin, there wouldn't be time or money for anything else.

[Narrator]

Well, maybe, but I'm not taking any chances. I'm going to the doctors. Now, this morning,

Bill goran was taking no chances. To him, cancer was not something that only happens to the other fellow in the doctor's office.

This sore on my lip, Dr. Hanley, what does it look like?

[Dr. Hanley]

Can't tell yet, Bill. I'll want to take a biopsy.

[Narrator]

Biopsy?

[Dr. Hanley]

Yes. We'll take a piece of tissue from the affected part and examine it under a microscope.

[Narrator]

I see. And after that?

[Dr. Hanley]

After that, we'll have to hope for the best.

[Narrator]

There was the biopsy, and after that, the waiting, the tense and worried waiting. Then finally. Hello?

[Dr. Hanley]

Is this bill goran?

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Dr. Hanley]

This is Dr. Hanley.

[Narrator]

Oh, Doctor.

[Dr. Hanley]

What? Will you come down to my office, bill?

[Narrator]

What is it, doctor?

[Dr. Hanley]

Bill, I'm sorry to tell you, but it's cancer.

[Narrator]

So it is cancer. Well, what are we going to do?

Do?

[Dr. Hanley]

We're going to treat it, bill. We're going to perform a little operation.

[Narrator]

Then there's a chance?

[Dr. Hanley]

Sure, there's a very good chance. Better than even, because what you have, bill, is a cancer in the early stages, and that's a very large factor in your favor.

[Narrator]

And so bill goran had cancer. His mother collapsed when he told her. And bill, well, he was worried, frightened, naturally. Who wouldn't be? But he drew strength from his doctor, Dr. Handley. He said the cancer was in an early stage. That was the big thing, the important thing that was in his favor. And then after about three months, the doctor said.

[Dr. Hanley]

Bill, sit down.

[Narrator]

Yes, Dr. Henley.

[Dr. Hanley]

Now, three months ago, you came in to see me with cancer on the lip.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Dr. Hanley]

Now, I've got some good news for you. To all practical, extensive purposes, you're cured. Of course, we'll want to wait five years before we can definitely close your case. Right now, there's nothing to worry about. Cured.

[Narrator]

Dr. Hanley, I. I don't know what to say.

[Dr. Hanley]

Well, I do. You're a very lucky boy, Bill. You came in to see me when your cancer was in the early stages, and that made all the difference in the world. You had waited, you had come in for a diagnosis. Later, when the cancer was in a more advanced stage, the consequences might have been very serious.

[Narrator]

Yes. Bill Goran is a very lucky boy. He had cancer and he lived. Why? Because somewhere he had read or heard that it was important to see the doctor early, to get at the cancer early. At that stage, he had a 75% chance of complete cure. But others, like Bill Goran, must be reached, must be educated, must know many elementary things about cancer. This killer has been claiming lives since before the dawn of recorded history. It is as old as man, as old as life itself. There is no person or living thing immune to the ravages of cancer. You would think then that in this enlightened era we would know. We would seek out information about cancer with which to help us protect ourselves against it. You might think we would yet. Listen to this.

Marjorie, what in the world's going on out there?

[Margie]

Oh, nothing. I'm just getting some pots out of the cupboard.

[Narrator]

They sound as if you're getting them all out and all over the floor.

[Margie]

Sound. Sorry if I disturbed you, dear. I didn't think they were going to fall.

[Narrator]

Well, here, here, let me help you pick them up.

[Margie]

Oh, thanks, but that won't be necessary.

[Narrator]

Oh, why you keeping your cooking utensils on the floor these days?

[Margie]

Well, these I am until tomorrow morning.

[Narrator]

Oh, then what?

[Margie]

I'm throwing them out after I get them all together.

[Narrator]

Throwing them out? Well, they look perfectly good to me. What's the matter with them?

[Margie]

They're all aluminum. Could you reach that large frying pan up there? I don't use it very often, but it's going to all right.

[Narrator]

Here, Margie, I don't get this. These pots and pans are in perfect condition. Some of them aren't very new, but there's years of service Left in them. You haven't won a new set on a radio quiz program, have you?

[Margie]

Nope, that's not it. And you're probably going to kick like a steer at the expense of replacing these. But I'm doing it for the sake of our health.

[Narrator]

What's the matter with our health?

[Margie]

Nothing. Nothing at all. I just want to keep it that way.

[Narrator]

Now, look, just what are you talking about?

[Margie]

Well, you know that Helen's husband died of cancer last week?

[Narrator]

I know that, yes, but what's it got to do with us?

[Margie]

Simply this. Why did Paul get cancer?

[Narrator]

I don't know. Why does anyone get cancer?

[Margie]

Well, that's what I wanted to know, so I made it my business to find out. I spoke to Helen about it, and she's convinced Paul. Paul's cancer was caused by her cooking in aluminum pots all the time.

[Narrator]

Oh, come on. You're not serious about that.

[Margie]

I sure am. I've heard it before, and now I'm convinced it's true.

[Narrator]

Margie, you're an intelligent woman. I can't believe you'd accept something as foolish as that.

[Margie]

I'm throwing these pots out and we're getting a complete new set of porcelain ones. We're not going to take any chances on getting cancer.

[Narrator]

People don't get cancer from eating food cooked in aluminum utensils. Now, we're not throwing these away. Honestly, I never heard anything as crazy as that.

Yes, Margie is an intelligent woman, yet she honestly believes cancer is caused by eating food prepared in aluminum utensils. This is just one of the many dangerously wrong notions about cancer, dangerous because they cost human lives. This knowledge is passed along with good intentions, but deadly effect. The truth, authentic facts about cancer must be known by everyone. Through the educational programs of the American Cancer Society, they are becoming more widely known. Right now. The money you gave and the money you will give is working for you, for your loved ones, your neighbors, your friends. The American Cancer Society uses these methods to educate the people about cancer. And there are only a few of the sum total.

Through a professional educational program, through the Society's medical and scientific departments, it brings refresher courses for doctors on the latest developments in cancer and new techniques of diagnosis and treatment.

It arranges professional symposiums, seminars, exhibits, medical films, slides, distributes literature.

[Dr. Hanley]

The American Cancer Society reaches the people through thousands upon thousands of publications and pamphlets in five, five different languages.

[Narrator]

It exhibits posters in trolleys, buses, offices, factories. It reaches special groups, professional women, businessmen, industrial workers.

It brings the facts of cancer control to the people over the radio with talks, announcements, dramatic programs, and through films

to movie audiences, through speakers, addressing clubs, associations, church and community groups, and by

educational exhibits whenever and wherever possible.

This is where your money goes in cancer control education. To arouse the indifferent, to reassure the frightened, to re educate the misinformed, to activate the informed, to put the whole nation on the alert against cancer. This is how part of the contribution you gave to the American Cancer Society is being used, combined with its programs of research and service. This is the job the society is doing for you. But the job is nowhere near done. The battle for cancer control is going on and it must still go on. This is an expensive battle. It costs money. The American Cancer Society needs your contribution to carry on the fight. It must have it to go on saving lives. For after all, it is supported by your money. Give as much as you can. Give more than you can. This is a fight for life. And it may be your life.

[Tyler Redick]

An Accounting was narrated by Roger De Koven, written by Max Ehrlich produced and directed by Walter King

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[Alex Canceroitz]

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