American History Through the Eyes of Radio ep1 1712AD Sentinels of the Deep

American flags, with a diversity of citizens standing in front. Men in jeans and t-shirts.
People in front of American flag. "Used with permission from Microsoft."

Cavalcade of America 1936 Sentinels of the Deep. ep51, 361014

A story of lighthouses and ships.
To help set the stage. the show opens with an instrumental, Sinbad the Sailor .

Battered after a 3 month journey from England, the sailing ship races a Noreaster into the safety of port. Weary passengers wonder if the new land will be as wild as the storms. Full of wild Indians and dangers. With no guiding beacon, the ship may not find a safe haven at all.

one of the first acts of the new Continental Congress is to make sure to put lighthouses in place. The lonely life at the lighthouse seems futile, but diligent and dutiful families sacrifice comfort for the safety of ships at sea. Heroism and unsung loyalty pay off.

Even the modern ships of 1934 rely on the network of lighthouses to navigate safely through the foggy nights. Sailing toward the light, then veering off to follow the safe channel has been supplemented by following radio beacons. Sometimes, the best measures can’t prevent a shipwreck. As long as there are ships, men continue to bravely sail them through all manner of dangers.

Duponte describes the work chemists do to consistently convert colors from coal tar. Providing dyes to color clothes.