The strange things I run across!
Stephen Vincent Benet's John Brown's Body, presented by Paul Gregory (2 record set, ?1950s, $3)
In 1928 Benet wrote a long narrative poem about the Civil War's John Brown. His poem won the 1929 Pulitzer, and is still considered the "only great American epic" (according to Wikipedia). In 1953 Brown was produced on Broadway as a "dramatic reading" by Judith Anderson, Raymond Massey, and Tyrone Power. It was when I saw Tyrone Power's name that I became interested in these records. What, thought I, was Tyrone Power doing in a musical? Well, there is singing, but mostly the part I listened to was talking. And yes, this T.P. sounds just like the T.P. of the movies, even though the photo on the album cover sure doesn't look like him. (Did he really have such funny looking ears?)
John Brown will always be controversial. For those who consider him a hero, they only see his abolitionist stand. His attack on the armory at Harper's Ferry which led to his execution by hanging made him a martyr.
Except earlier he had massacred five pro-slavery settlers in Kansas. He and his followers grabbed the settlers from their homes, stabbed and shot them, smashed open their skulls, and hacked one man's arms to pieces. So why do many people still revere him? I don't get it.
Regardless, if you want to hear the great American epic poem, read by Tyrone Power, this is your chance. Look for it in the back room with the other records, avail. 3/28. (The records are ex-lib, but in very good shape.)
PS: I know it will come as a surprise to you, but I really like Tyrone Power!
