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I'm An American -- Fortune Gallo

Recorded Sound | Digitized | RG Number: RG-91.0068

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    Overview

    Description
    On August 3, 1941 Fortune Gallo spoke with Fred J. Schlotfeldt, District Director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of Chicago, about how his faith in democracy brought him success. Gallo reveals he wanted to come to America and make a fortune like his Uncle. He explains the lack of opportunities in Europe and why. The impresario shares how he immigrated to America in the bottom of a boat. He also tells Mr. Schlotfeldt how he got his start in opera and announces his new appointment to the General Manager of the Chicago Opera Company. Gallo explains how opera is improving American lives. He suggests a ‘Temple of Music’ where music from those who have made America their home can be honored. The segment concludes with the opera director disclosing what he believes are the most precious benefits of American citizenship.

    Fortune Gallo was born on May 9, 1878 in Torremaggiore, Italy. As a child he became involved with music and musicians. He immigrated to the United States at 17 with only 14 cents in his pocket. Three years later, the 20-year-old became the advance man for a famous Italian concert band called ‘Banda Rossa.’ Gallo began his career as an opera impresario in 1912, when he established the San Carlo Opera Company in New York City. He also served as the managing director of the Chicago Opera, and as the manager and tour director of the Original Ballet Russe. Gallo continued to manage all publicity, work and business for the San Carlo Opera Company until he disbanded it in 1955. The impresario is credited with having done more than any other man to popularize grand opera in America.
    Date
    Broadcast:  1941 August 03
    Format
    WAV

    Physical Details

    Language
    English
    Genre/Form
    Radio broadcasts.

    Rights & Restrictions

    Conditions on Access
    This archival media can only be accessed in a Museum reading room or other on-campus viewing stations.
    Copyright
    NBC Universal
    Conditions on Use
    Contact NBC Universal at www.nbcuniarchives.com for permission to duplicate and use this film or sound recording.

    Administrative Notes

    Legal Status
    In process
    Recorded Sound Provenance
    The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum purchased digital copies of these sound recordings from the Library of Congress in March 2018.
    Recorded Sound Notes
    More information about Fortune Gallo:
    https://www.nytimes.com/1970/03/29/archives/fortune-gallo-91-impresario-of-the-san-carlo-opera-is-dead.html
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune_Gallo
    http://archives.nypl.org/dan/18525

    More information about I’M AN AMERICAN:
    https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/our-history/historians-mailbox/im-american
    https://www.npr.org/2017/10/16/557338355/im-an-american-radio-show-promoted-inclusion-before-world-war-ii
    Recorded Sound Source
    Library of Congress - Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division (MBRS)
    File Number
    Source Archive Number: RWC 5385 A4
    Record last modified:
    2024-02-21 07:27:11
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn621018

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    Also in "I'm An American" NBC radio broadcasts

    I’M AN AMERICAN premiered in 1940 on the eve of WWII. The NBC radio broadcast was spearheaded by the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the U.S. Department of Labor to foster a “deeper consciousness of the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship and more tolerance for fellow american of all birthplaces”. The weekly program featured distinguished foreign-born citizens discussing their naturalization process, the meaning of “democracy” and reminding all Americans of the value/privilege of U.S. citizenship. Sound recordings of I’M AN AMERICAN are available from the NBC Radio Collection in the Library of Congress.

    Date: 1940-1944

    I'm An American -- Attilio Piccirilli

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Igor Sikorsky

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Louis Adamic

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Konrad Bercovici

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Emil Ludwig

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Walter Damrosch

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Guiseppe Bellanca

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Thomas Mann

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1942 part 2

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1942 part 3

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1942 part 4

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1943 part 1

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1943 part 2

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1943 part 3

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day -- Christmas in Freedom

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Walter Huston

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Robert Zuppke

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Efrem Zimbalist

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Daniel Tobin

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Edith Kempthorne

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Pitirim Sorokin

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1942 part 1

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Vilhjálmur Stefánsson

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- César Saerchinger

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Ferdinand Schumann-Heink

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Frank Kingdon

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Richard Waring

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- William Schlamm

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Max Lerner

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    I'm An American -- Fred Perry

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Raymond Loewy

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1941 -- The Dangerous Days

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    I'm An American Day 1941 -- I'm An American Day

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1941 -- Fiorello LaGuardia

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American Day 1941 -- One Nation Indivisible

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    I'm An American -- Henry Morgenthau Sr

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Kurt Weill

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Franz Werfel

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Frank Capra

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    I'm An American -- Xavier Cugat

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Anton Carlson

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Johannes Steele

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Yolanda Mero-Irion

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Jean Hersholt

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Rabbi Stephen Wise

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Gregory Zilboorg

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Anton Lang

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Guy Lombardo

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Ludwig Bemelmans

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    I'm An American -- Hans Kindler

    Recorded Sound

    I'm An American -- Luise Rainer

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    I'm An American -- Charles Pergler

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    I'm An American -- Gaetono Salvemini

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    I'm An American -- Paul Muni

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    I'm An American -- Béla Schick

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    I'm An American -- Leopold Stokowski

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