On This Day, September 1: FDR and Hoover
Also featured: Polskie Radio, 1939 WWII Broadcasts.
September 1 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on September 1, 1939 across historic emergency addresses and live field reporting at the onset of World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's emergency press address on American neutrality, former President Herbert Hoover on NBC, Polskie Radio Warsaw's emergency military mobilization broadcast, Lionel Marson and Alvar Liddell reporting for the BBC Home Service, and S.J. de Lotbinière live on the platform at London Waterloo Station (1939):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Lionel Marson Reports the German Invasion of Poland with BBC Home Service" | BBC Home Service 1939-09-01 12:00 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC War News |
Lionel Marson (Newsreader) | BBC News Service | ["News", "History", "WWII", "Invasion Of Poland", "BBC"] |
Newsreader Lionel Marson delivers official reports on Polish counter-attacks against invading German armored columns and Luftwaffe air raids. |
| "Former President Herbert Hoover on the Outbreak of War in Europe with NBC" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1939-09-01 10:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Public Address |
Herbert Hoover (31st Pres.) | NBC Special Events | ["News", "History", "WWII", "Herbert Hoover", "NBC Red"] |
Former President Herbert Hoover calls upon the American government to maintain strict neutrality and focus humanitarian relief on European refugees. |
| "President Franklin D. Roosevelt on European War and American Neutrality with All Networks" | All Networks 1939-09-01 10:30 PM EDST |
Sustaining Presidential Press |
Franklin D. Roosevelt | White House Staff | ["News", "History", "WWII", "FDR", "Neutrality"] |
President Franklin D. Roosevelt convenes an emergency press conference outlining American neutrality policies and urging nations to avoid bombing civilian populations. |
| "Polskie Radio Warsaw Reports the German Invasion of Poland with Roman Umiastowski" | Polskie Radio 1939-09-01 6:30 AM CET |
Polish State Radio Emergency Mobilization |
Roman Umiastowski | Polskie Radio Warszawa I | ["News", "History", "WWII", "Poland", "Warsaw Radio"] |
Polskie Radio broadcasts emergency mobilization orders across Poland following surprise German air and ground assaults on border towns. |
| "Alvar Liddell Reports on the Evacuation of London Children with BBC Home Service" | BBC Home Service 1939-09-01 2:00 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Transport Bulletin |
Alvar Liddell (Newsreader) | BBC News Service | ["News", "History", "WWII", "Evacuation", "BBC"] |
Newsreader Alvar Liddell reviews government transport coordination as thousands of mothers, infants, and teachers relocate to countryside billets. |
| "S.J. de Lotbinière Reports Live as Evacuation Train Departs Waterloo Station with BBC" | BBC Home Service 1939-09-01 3:30 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Outside Broadcast |
S.J. de Lotbinière | BBC Outside Broadcasts | ["News", "History", "WWII", "London", "BBC"] |
A live on-platform report from London Waterloo Station captures departure whistles and singing schoolchildren heading into rural safety. |