We have
struggled during this election year of 2016 with the effects of too much
news. Imagine December 7, 1941, when all
our information came either from the newspaper or the radio. The Journal-Review reported on December 8
that hundreds of people stood outside their building on Green Street waiting
for and reading Associated Press bulletins as they were received on the news
wire.
Here is part of an original bulletin from that day.
“WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 - (AP) - Japanese airplanes
today attacked American defense bases at Hawaii and Manila, and President
Roosevelt ordered the Army and Navy to carry out undisclosed orders prepared
for the defense of the United States." http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/1.757505
And that was all
they knew. Several county residents were
already in the Armed Forces, and families were worried about their role in this
new engagement with the Japanese. John
C. McIntyre was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Virginia, based in Hawaii. B. F.
Suverkup, had been stationed aboard the
U.S.S. Oklahoma, which had been damaged in the attack, as an aerial photographer, but he had been
recently moved to another ship, and was on his way home for Christmas.
1940 Stewart Warner Radio |
People attending
movie performances at the Strand Theater, just down the street from the Journal-Review, were updated by means of the public address system. When war was declared, the
show stopped, and all stood to sing the Star Spangled Banner.
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