Adult Educational Programs In The 1950s
by Laura Sampson, archive volunteer, May 2021
From its beginning, KRMA offered educational programming for children and adults (see carousel of photographs). KRMA felt it had a responsibility to teach life and business skills to all members of the community. Adult education programs were selected to accommodate the huge waiting lists at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School.
Adult education programs, produced in collaboration with the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, covered many topics such as: upholstery, personality and grooming, parenting, home decorating, family finance, cooking, cake decorating, millinery and sewing.
"Woman’s Home Opportunity" was certainly a reflection of its time. It was a series of daily half-hour programs hosted by Louise Sparks of Emily Griffith Opportunity School. The production was promoted in the Denver Post in February 1958 with a description that said, “Women’s Home Opportunity uses demonstrations and graphics to stimulate both the inexperienced bride and the veteran wife.” Some of the episode themes included: Fashion Magic; Food, Facts, and Fun;Family Dollars and Sense; Home Upholstery; and Your Career in the Home.
One hugely popular class was “Shorthand” with Carol Price. Study kits of the 25-lesson course accompanied the class and a certificate was given to those who passed. One woman who took the shorthand course received a $30 a week raise.
Another popular class was "Artists Today," a series of 30-minute telecasts taught by Opportunity School teacher, Walt Green. Art critics gave "Artists Today" excellent reviews and helped lend prestige to the program.
In February 1957, several new series premiered featuring hobbies or history. Mr. Don Allen, KRMA art director, hosted a program entitled What is Your Hobby? Needlework, coins, stamps and mosaic-work were some of the hobbies featured. Another program -- Who Said It? -- was a game show about famous quotations in American history. Emceed by Dr. William Spears of the Denver Public Schools’ Administration Building, quotes were discussed in relation to the era in which they originated. Representatives from five Denver Public High Schools and from Aurora, Englewood and Jefferson County Schools participated.
One of the unique programs produced by KRMA was broadcast in 1958. “This is Lipreading on TV” was a 26-week series on lipreading with host, Peggy Chambers, Supervisor of Deaf Education for Denver Public Schools. The immediate aim of the program was to promote public education about hearing problems and the value of lipreading, and to gain publicity for the hearing society and the services it offered in the Denver area.