Here’s a PSA from an unexpected source, the American Jewish Committee, extolling the benefits of working together for a common cause. The cartoon was one of four in a series designed “to foster tolerance and human rights,” according to the edition of Variety (April 21, 1954), which gave AJC its annual award “for the best use of television in the field of human relations.”
The 60-second spot — produced in 1951 by Milton E. Krents, the Committee’s director of radio and television, was performed by Tom Glazer, a popular folk singer of the era, to the tune of “Yankee Doodle Dandy” with lyrics by Lynne Rhodes; Fred Arnott provided the artwork.
The April 28, 1951 issue of TV Guide included a feature on the baseball ad for its “Kids Korner” section, calling it “The little illustrated song with the big message.” An AJC memo, dated April 14, 1952, announced that the cartoons had received “a special award from the 16th annual American Exhibition of Educational Radio and TV Programs, sponsored by the Ohio State University’s Institute for Education by Radio-Television.” They were evidently very popular, appearing “on a regular basis by 77 of the 108 television stations in the United States,” according to the memo.
Our nation is like a baseball team. Only when people of all races and religions team up can the USA roll up a winning score.
AJC promo material
is available on Amazon.com,
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