About this Item
"One Man's Family" was the longest running Radio Series ever to be broadcast. Sponsored by Standard Brands Inc., Mention was frequently made of Tender Leaf Tea on the show. The Series, a long-running soap opera in format, revolved around the Barbour Family (fictional, but seemingly quite real to many radio listeners), Father and Mother Barbour, who were filled with down-home, common-sense wisdom, and their children . and eventually in-laws and grandchildren. The fictional Barbours purportedly lived in a well to do section of San Francisco (Father Barbour was a banker), and many mentions of that city are made throughout the series. ************************************************ This small, hardcover book, "One Man's Family Looks at Life" is presented as if it were the script for a single show. The family is sitting around discussing their concerns about the possible forthcoming war (a waste of lives and money), and their observations that American civilization just wasn't up to the high family standards of the Barbour Family (ie: People were lazy and wanted lots of things for no effort). The book is illustrated with nifty black-and-white photographs of the cast - one picture of them sitting in the living room in comfortable chairs, and there are also individual portraits of each separate character. Under Father Barbour's picture is the following quote: "The family is the source from whence comes the moral strength of a nation." ****************************************** The front cover has a group photograph of the cast -- the family is gathered around Father Barbour who is talking on the phone. He looks very serious and the rest all look quite concerned! Yes sir the country was going down hill! This book came out in 1938 - the Great Depression had been a major blight on the entire nation for some years. But the Barbours , bless their souls! - forged on, striving to do their best to cheerfully spread their homey wisdom through the modern miracle of the radio . and eventually television. The series ran from 1932 (Radio only) to 1959 (Radio and Television). ***************************************** TITLE : One Man's Family Looks at Life / AUTHOR : Not attributed [ but Carlton E. Morse, 1901 - 1993 ] / IMPRINT : Standard Brands Incorporated / PLACE : No Place Given [ New York City ] / DATE : 1938 / EDITION : Unstated First Edition. / STATUS : OP / PHYSICAL DETAILS : Small hardcover; contains black-and-white photographs, placed within bright pink borders; text is presented as a one act play; 27 pages with no numbering; 5 3/8" x 7 3/8", pictorial paper-covered boards, stitched and glued ( a black-and-white photograph, with pink background depicting the Barbour Family gathered around Father Barbour, who is on the phone) the photograph is surrounded by alarming newspaper headlines - one of the most prominent of which reads DICTATORSHIPS. The rear cover is blank. Issued with no end-papers. ****************************************** CONDITION VERY GOOD This is a previously owned book which remains clean a and attractive, with the following particulars noted : EXTERIOR -- The spine is rubbed and somewhat abraded; the front cover has only mild surface rub and displays nicely; the rear has considerable rub, is somewhat toned, and has a touch of smudging. / BINDING : Solid enough . although the book opens quite widely, no leaves are detached or loose. / INTERIOR -- The inside of the front cover has some spotting (or foxing) ; the inside of the rear cover has only a touch of foxing. The rest of the interior is clean and bright, with no marking, and no signatures. Seller Inventory # 1052
Contact seller
Report this item
