Resource id #75
Image Source: Wikipedia

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

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  
Brunswick XE33267 12-in. July 1930 Mirth Quakers, program A, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick E33364 10-in. July 1930 Exploitation record [for] Warner Brothers’ Silver Anniversary Norman Brokenshire ; Brunswick Studio Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Orchestra; male vocal solo; announcement speaker  
Brunswick XE34119 12-in. Aug. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program E, [part unknown] Artists vary Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34120 12-in. Aug. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program E, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34121 12-in. Aug. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program E, part 3 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34122 12-in. Aug. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program E, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34123 12-in. Aug. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program E, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34124 12-in. Aug. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program E, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34275 12-in. Sept. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program D, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34276 12-in. Sept. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program D, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34277 12-in. Sept. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program D, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34278 12-in. Sept. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program D, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34279 12-in. Sept. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program D, pt. 5 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34280 12-in. Sept. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program D, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34464 12-in. Sept. 1930 Radio Sweethearts, program K, [unknown part] Radio Sweethearts Radio transcription disc : Female-male vocal duet, with piano speaker  
Brunswick XE34465 12-in. Sept. 1930 Radio Sweethearts, program K, pt. 2 Radio Sweethearts Radio transcription disc : Female-male vocal duet, with piano speaker  
Brunswick XE34466 12-in. Sept. 1930 Radio Sweethearts, program K, pt. 3 Radio Sweethearts Radio transcription disc : Female-male vocal duet, with piano speaker  
Brunswick XE34467 12-in. Sept. 1930 Radio Sweethearts, program K, [part unknown] Radio Sweethearts Radio transcription disc : Female-male vocal duet, with piano speaker  
Brunswick XE34468 12-in. Sept. 1930 Radio Sweethearts, program K, [part unknown] Radio Sweethearts Radio transcription disc : Female-male vocal duet, with piano speaker  
Brunswick XE34469 12-in. Sept. 1930 Radio Sweethearts, program K, [part unknown] Radio Sweethearts Radio transcription disc : Female-male vocal duet, with piano speaker  
Brunswick XE34776 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program M, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34777 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program M, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34779 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program M, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34780 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program M, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34781 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program M, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34782 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program N, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34783 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program N, [part unknown] Artists vary Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34784 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program M, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34784 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program N, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34785 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program N, pt. 5 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34786 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program N, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE34787 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program N, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35015 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program P, pt. 1 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35016 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program P, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35017 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program P, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35018 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program P, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35019 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program P, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35020 12-in. Oct. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program P, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35374 12-in. Nov. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program Q, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35375 12-in. Nov. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program Q, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35376 12-in. Nov. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program Q, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35377 12-in. Nov. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program Q, pt. 4 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35378 12-in. Nov. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program Q, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35379 12-in. Nov. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program Q, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35553 12-in. Dec. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program W, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35554 12-in. Dec. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program W, pt. 3 Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy ; Charles Magnante Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra and accordion solo speaker  
Brunswick XE35555 12-in. Dec. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program W, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35556 12-in. Dec. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program W, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35557 12-in. Dec. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program W, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35558 12-in. Dec. 1930 Mirth Quakers, program W, [part unknown] Norman Brokenshire ; Jerry Macy Radio transcription disc : Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
Brunswick XE35559 12-in. Dec. 1930 Hawaiian shadows, program Z, pt. 1 Hawaiian instrumental ensemble (unidentified; Brunswick Records) Radio transcription disc : Instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) speaker  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brokenshire, Norman," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100753.

Brokenshire, Norman. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100753.

"Brokenshire, Norman." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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