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Norman Brokenshire

Norman Ernest Brokenshire (June 10, 1898 – May 4, 1965), nicknamed "Sir Silken Speech", was a familiar radio voice in the 1940s, heard as an announcer on such programs as Theatre Guild on the Air. He was the first radio announcer to break from anonymity and use his name on the air.

His autobiography This Is Norman Brokenshire: An Unvarnished Self-Portrait was published in 1954.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1898 (Kingston), Died May 4, 1965

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1932

Roles Represented in DAHR: speaker, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 76 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W152115 10-in. 3/2/1932 Dr. Brokenshire and Dr. Marvin Norman Brokenshire ; Johnny Marvin Male vocal duet vocalist  
Columbia W152116 10-in. 3/2/1932 Dr. Brokenshire and Dr. Marvin Norman Brokenshire ; Johnny Marvin Male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick XE30701 12-in. 8/23/1929 Bremer-Tully broadcast record no. 1 Bremer-Tully Orchestra Orchestra, with announcement speaker  
Brunswick XE30933 12-in. 9/13/1929 Bremer-Tully Broadcast record no. 27 Norman Brokenshire Announcement(s) speaker  
Brunswick XE30953 12-in. 9/16/1929 Brunswick brevities program G, pt. 1 Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra Radio transcription disc : Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo speaker  
Brunswick XE31120 12-in. 10/7/1929 Brunswick Brevities program L, part 4 Six Jumping Jacks Radio transcription disc : Piano solo; piano solo, clarinet solo, and trumpet solo; Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo speaker  
Brunswick XE31125 12-in. Oct. 1929 Brunswick brevities program J, part 1 Los Castilians ; Luis Medrano Radio transcription disc : Instrumental ensemble speaker  
Brunswick XE31126 12-in. Oct. 1929 Brunswick brevities program J [part unknown] Los Castilians Radio transcription disc : Instrumental ensemble speaker  
Brunswick XE31127 12-in. Oct. 1929 Brunswick brevities [program and part unknown] Castilians Radio transcription disc : Instrumental ensemble speaker  
Brunswick XE31128 12-in. Oct. 1929 Brunswick Brevities program J, part 2 Los Castilians Radio transcription disc : Instrumental ensemble speaker  
Brunswick XE31129 12-in. Oct. 1929 Brunswick Brevities program J, part 3 Castilians Radio transcription disc : Instrumental ensemble speaker  
Brunswick XE31418 12-in. 11/15/1929 Brunswick brevities broadcast Norman Brokenshire Radio transcription disc : Announcement speaker  
Brunswick XE31419 12-in. 11/15/1929 Brunswick brevities broadcast Norman Brokenshire Radio transcription disc : Announcement speaker  
Brunswick XE31542 12-in. 11/14/1929 Brunswick brevities [program and part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Kessinger Brothers Radio transcription disc : Fiddle (violin) and guitar duet, with announcement speaker  
Brunswick XE31543 12-in. 11/14/1929 Bremer-Tully broadcast no. 81 Kessinger Brothers Radio transcription disc : Fiddle (violin) and guitar duet speaker  
Brunswick XE31637 12-in. Dec. 1929 Brunswick brevities program T, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire Radio transcription disc: Announcement speaker  
Brunswick XE31842 12-in. Jan. 1930 Brunswick brevities program X, pt. 6 Brunswick Concert Orchestra Radio transcription disc : Orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE31928 12-in. 1/17/1930 Brunswick Brevities Program Y, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire Announcement speaker  
Brunswick XE32410 12-in. March 1930 Exploitation record for “Mammy” Norman Brokenshire Talk speaker  
Brunswick XE32411 12-in. March 1930 Exploitation record for "Mammy" Norman Brokenshire Radio transcription disc speaker  
Brunswick XE33262 12-in. July 1930 Mirth Quakers, program A, pt. 1 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE33263 12-in. July 1930 Mirth Quakers, program A, pt. 2 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE33264 12-in. July 1930 Mirth Quakers, program A, pt. 3 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE33265 12-in. July 1930 Mirth Quakers, program A, pt. 4 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE33266 12-in. July 1930 Mirth Quakers, program A, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
(Results 1-25 of 76 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brokenshire, Norman," accessed November 4, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/100753.

Brokenshire, Norman. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 4, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/100753.

"Brokenshire, Norman." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/100753

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