When the wife of Jackie Robinson, Rachel Robinson, appeared on this telecast "Reading Out Loud" (May 1, 1960), which aired, 62 years ago, as Rachel Robinson approaches her 100th birthday (July 19, 2022), she discusses the importance of Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" with her husband Jackie Robinson, and two of her three children, Sharon Robinson and David Robinson. Interestingly, if we subtract 62 years from 1922 the year when Rachel Robinson was born from the year when President Abraham Lincoln actually gave "The Gettysburg Address" (November 19, 1863), the year span is less.
A Letter dated Feb. 26, 2008, sent by Rachel Robinson, to Phil Gries related to his TV Audio Air Check of "Reading Out Loud," which was recorded off the air by Phil Gries on May 1, 1960, of Jackie Robinson reading the "Gettysburg Address" to his wife Rachel and to two of his three children, Sharon and David.
This rare TV audio recording was donated to the Jackie Robinson Museum in 2008 which after many delays opens its doors to the public in the spring of 2022.
THE JACKIE ROBINSON FOUNDATION One Hudson Square 75 Varick Street New York, NY 10013
February 26, 2008
Phil Gries Archival Television Audio, Inc. 209 Sea Cliff Avenue Sea Cliff, NY 11579
Dear Phil,
My apologies for the long delay in responding to your kindness in sending me the exciting television audio air check of "Reading Out Loud" the TV program where Jack read the Gettysburg Address. The Jackie Robinson Foundation has moved and we are still locating material sent to us as we reorganize the archives.
I listened to the tape with ABSOLUE AMAZEMENT and DELIGHT. Sharon and I remember vividly the family trip to Washington, and we have one photo taken on that occasion. Unfortunately, I do not have any memory of the recording session.
It is thrilling for us to hear Jackie's reading of this profound speech, and we shall cherish and preserve it in our archives. Most importantly, we will share it with our visitors to the Jackie Robinson Museum now being designed.
Phil, I am deeply grateful to you for this historic gift, and we will appropriately attribute it's preservation to you.
Sincerely,
Rachel Robinson
cc: Della Britton Baeza Len Coleman
This rare TV audio recording was donated to the Jackie Robinson Museum in 2008 which after many delays opens its doors to the public in the spring of 2022.
THE JACKIE ROBINSON FOUNDATION One Hudson Square 75 Varick Street New York, NY 10013
February 26, 2008
Phil Gries Archival Television Audio, Inc. 209 Sea Cliff Avenue Sea Cliff, NY 11579
Dear Phil,
My apologies for the long delay in responding to your kindness in sending me the exciting television audio air check of "Reading Out Loud" the TV program where Jack read the Gettysburg Address. The Jackie Robinson Foundation has moved and we are still locating material sent to us as we reorganize the archives.
I listened to the tape with ABSOLUE AMAZEMENT and DELIGHT. Sharon and I remember vividly the family trip to Washington, and we have one photo taken on that occasion. Unfortunately, I do not have any memory of the recording session.
It is thrilling for us to hear Jackie's reading of this profound speech, and we shall cherish and preserve it in our archives. Most importantly, we will share it with our visitors to the Jackie Robinson Museum now being designed.
Phil, I am deeply grateful to you for this historic gift, and we will appropriately attribute it's preservation to you.
Sincerely,
Rachel Robinson
cc: Della Britton Baeza Len Coleman
READING OUT LOUD
( Feb. 7, 1960 - May 15, 1960
The following is a list of READEING OUT LOUD guest appearances detailing the 15 broadcasts aired, and the dates when they were broadcast.
-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (reading Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling to a group of children)-March 13, 1960.
-Actress Julie Harris (reading selections from Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in The Willows")-May 8, 1960.
-Actor José Ferrer (reading Huckleberry Finn)-March 20, 1960.
-Baseball player Jackie Robinson (reading excerpts from Stephen Crane's "The Red Badge of Courage" & Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" to his family)-May 1, 1960.
-Entertainer Garry Moore (reading The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)-Feb. 28, 1960.
-Novelist Pearl S. Buck (reading Chinese fables)-April 17, 1960.
-Actor Cyril Ritchard (reading "Alice in Wonderland")-Feb. 14 or 21(?)1960.
-Singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte (reading a collection of Jamaican folk tale about Anansi the Spider Man)-April 10, 1960.
-Senator John F. Kennedy (reading The Emergence of Lincoln)-March 27, 1960.
-Pulitzer Prize poet and author, Archibald MacLeish (reading poems of Walter de la Mare to his grandchildren)-Feb. 7, 1960
-Stage Actress Eva Le Gallienne (reading Hans Christian Anderson's "The Ugly Duckling.")-March 6, 1960.
-Vice President Richard M. Nixon (reading Carl Sandburg's "Abe Lincoln Grows Up" to his daughter Julie and her friends)-April 3, 1960.
-UCLA English Professor / TV Educator Dr. Frank Baxter (reading the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.")-April 24, 1960.
-Industrialist Charles H. Percy (reading from James Daugherty's "Poor Richard" to his children)-May 15, 1960.
-Actor Richard Boone (reading Bret Harte's story "How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar.")-February 21, 1960.
The following is a list of READEING OUT LOUD guest appearances detailing the 15 broadcasts aired, and the dates when they were broadcast.
-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (reading Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling to a group of children)-March 13, 1960.
-Actress Julie Harris (reading selections from Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in The Willows")-May 8, 1960.
-Actor José Ferrer (reading Huckleberry Finn)-March 20, 1960.
-Baseball player Jackie Robinson (reading excerpts from Stephen Crane's "The Red Badge of Courage" & Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" to his family)-May 1, 1960.
-Entertainer Garry Moore (reading The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)-Feb. 28, 1960.
-Novelist Pearl S. Buck (reading Chinese fables)-April 17, 1960.
-Actor Cyril Ritchard (reading "Alice in Wonderland")-Feb. 14 or 21(?)1960.
-Singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte (reading a collection of Jamaican folk tale about Anansi the Spider Man)-April 10, 1960.
-Senator John F. Kennedy (reading The Emergence of Lincoln)-March 27, 1960.
-Pulitzer Prize poet and author, Archibald MacLeish (reading poems of Walter de la Mare to his grandchildren)-Feb. 7, 1960
-Stage Actress Eva Le Gallienne (reading Hans Christian Anderson's "The Ugly Duckling.")-March 6, 1960.
-Vice President Richard M. Nixon (reading Carl Sandburg's "Abe Lincoln Grows Up" to his daughter Julie and her friends)-April 3, 1960.
-UCLA English Professor / TV Educator Dr. Frank Baxter (reading the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.")-April 24, 1960.
-Industrialist Charles H. Percy (reading from James Daugherty's "Poor Richard" to his children)-May 15, 1960.
-Actor Richard Boone (reading Bret Harte's story "How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar.")-February 21, 1960.