This collection contains correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, books, photographs, and audiotapes relating to the radio career of Raymond Poindexter Jr. of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Ray Poindexter was born in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, on October 23, 1922. His father’s work as a railroad section foreman made it necessary for the family to move to various towns in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri during the depression year of the 1930’s.
After graduation from high school in 1940, Ray joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp, where he took advantage of the opportunity to begin his college career. He received his B. A. degree two months early in 1943 so that he could enter the U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame University. As a Naval officer, he was in command of a landing craft tank vessel in the South Pacific. He married Hazel Flint on January 22, 1944. Then approximately two years later, he was released from active military duty in 1946.
His career in radio broadcasting began at radio station KBTM Jonesboro in July 1946. Ray then went on to work at eight other radio stations from 1946-1959. A desire to enter the field of education led to his acceptance of the position of English teacher at North Little Rock in March of 1959. He received a Master’s degree at Arkansas State Teacher’s College in 1965. Then he ran unsuccessfully in the 1966 election on the Republican ticket for a state representative position.
In June 1970, Ray gave up teaching to return to radio on a full-time basis. He went on to author two books, Arkansas Airwaves (1974) and Golden Throats and Silver Tongues (1978). He also published a newsletter, “Old time Announcers Club” from 1976-1980.
Ray Poindexter’s radio career spanned forty-two years during which time he broadcast on over twenty-eight radio stations. On March 11, 1988, Ray died of a sudden heart attack.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject areas and then chronologically within each subject. When requesting materials, please specify collection number [M89-09] and file number when known.
Tracings: Poindexter, Raymond Jr.; Raymond Poindexter Jr.; Entertainment and Entertainers; Historical Research – Arkansas Radio; Music and Musicians; Periodicals and Editors – Old Time Announcers Club Politics – Arkansas; Radio History; Writers
Box 1
File 1 – Personal Papers
File 2 – Politics/Political Campaigns
File 3 – Publicity
File 4 – Arkansas Radio History
File 5 – Old Time Radio Announcers Club Newsletters, 1976-1980
File 6 – Miscellaneous National Articles
File 7 – TV and Radio Personalities
File 8 – National Radio and TV News/Entertainment
File 9 – Photographs
Env 1 – Ray Poindexter, 1980
Env 2 – Ray Poindexter, 1980
Env 3 – Ray Poindexter, 1980
Env 4 – Ray Poindexter, 1978
Env 5 – Ray Poindexter and unknown cast members, 1970
Env 6 – Ray Poindexter and cast at an unknown play, 1970
Env 7 – Lum & Abner, 1970
Env 8 – Ray and Hazel Poindexter, 1970
Env 9 – Ray Poindexter and an unknown girl in an unknown play, 1970
Env 10- Ray Poindexter and unknown cast members, 1970
Env 11- Unknown cast members, 1970
Env 12- Jay Stewart, 1970
Env 13- Ray Poindexter and two unknown men at the zoo, 1960
Env 14- Ray and Hazel Poindexter, Randy Merriman, and Bess Myerson in the “The Big Payoff” game show, Jul. 1956
Env 15- unknown girl, 1955
Env 16- Ray Poindexter and an unknown man and women, 1953
Env 17- President Harry S. Truman in Newport, AR, Jun. 1952
Env 18- Lowell Thomas, 1950
Env 19- Ray Poindexter, 1950
Env 20- Ray Poindexter and unknown girl, 1950
Env 21- Ray Poindexter and two unknown men, 1950
Env 22- Stormy Nixon, 1938?
File 10- Photographs
Env 1- Ray Poindexter interviewing unknown Cardinal baseball player – Jul. 1948
Env 2- Ray Poindexter interviewing Cardinal baseball player – Jul. 1948
Env 3- Ted Rand interviewing Cardinal baseball player – Jul. 1948
Env 4- Ted Rand interviewing Cardinal baseball player – Jul. 1948
Env 5- Ted Rand interviewing Pittsburgh baseball player – Jul. 1948
Env 6- Ray Poindexter interviewing Cardinal baseball player – Jul. 1948
Env 7- Ted Rand interviewing unknown man – Jul. 1948
Env 8- Ray Poindexter interviewing Cardinal baseball player – Jul. 1948
Env 9- Ray Poindexter and unknown man at the radio station KBTM – 1947
Env 10- Aerial view of Iwo Jima – c. 1945
Env 11- Beachhead in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 12- Camp area in Iwo Jima – February- March 1945
Env 13- Marines under fire on beach in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 14- Memorial services in Iwo Jima – February- March 1945
Env 15- Japanese gun emplacement in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 16- Chapel of Christ in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 17- Fifth Marine Division Cemetery in Iwo Jima – Mar. 1945
Env 18- LCT 1357 offloading supplies in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 19- LCT 525 and 16 anchored in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 20- Aerial view LCT 525 and 16 in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 21- Aerial view LCT 525 and 16 in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 22- Beachhead in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 23- LCT 525 entering water in Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 24- LCT’s during Iwo Jima invasion – Feb. 1945
Env 25- LCT’s during Iwo Jima invasion – Feb. 1945
Env 26- Iwo Jima – Feb. 1945
Env 27- Iwo Jima and marines climbing a hill – Feb. 1945
Env 28- Iwo Jima beach landing – Feb. 1945
Env 29- Lt, Ray Poindexter, and unknown sailors – 1944
Env 30- Ensign Ray Poindexter, USNR – c. 1943
Env 31- Cardinal baseball dugout – Jul. 1948
Env 32- Ray Poindexter naval officer photo – 1945
File 11- Book: Arkansas Airwaves by Ray Poindexter
File 12- Play Script: “The Bishop’s Candlestick: A plan in one act” by Norman McKinnel
File 13- Play Script: “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial: A drama in two acts” by Herman Wouk
File 14- Play Script: “Carousel” by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II
File 15- Play Script: “The Curse of an Aching Heart; or Trapped in the Spider’s Web!” by Herbert E. Swayne
File 16- Play Script: “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
File 17- Play Script: Part No. 8 Dialogue Part of Pop Father in Gypsy
File 18- Play Script: “Don’t Drink the Water” by Woody Allen
File 19- Play Script: “Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology” adapted, and arranged by Charles Aidman
File 20- Play Script: “If Men Played Cards as Women Do” a comedy in one act by George S. Kaufman
File 21- Play Script: “The Little Foxes” by Lillian Hellman
File 22- Play Script: “Look Out Lizzie” (Note: the cover has been removed)
File 23- Play Script: “Natalie Needs a Nightie” a comedy in three acts by Neil and Caroline Schaffner
File 24- Play Script: “Our American Cousin” a drama in three acts by Tom Taylor
File 25- Play Script: “The Solid Gold Cadillac” by Howard Teichmann and George S. Kaufman
End of Box 1
Box 2A
Item 1 – Scrapbook of Articles by Ray Poindexter
Item 2 – Scrapbook of Articles on Arkansas Airways
Item 3 – Scrapbook of Articles on Gospel Music Radio
Item 4 – Scrapbook of Articles on Announcers
Item 5 – Scrapbook: Literary Book 1
Item 6 – Scrapbook: Literary Book 2
Item 7 – Scrapbook: Literary Book 3
End of Box 2A
Box 2B
File 1 – “Brother Hal” Webber Supplemental Materials
Item 1 – Reel to Reel Tape (7”) The Poindexter Story, tape 1 of 6
Item 2 – Reel to Reel Tape (7”) The Poindexter Story, tape 2 of 6
Item 3- Reel to Reel Tape (7”) The Poindexter Story, tape 3 of 6
Item 4- Reel to Reel Tape (7”) The Poindexter Story, tape 4 of 6
Item 5- Reel to Reel Tape (7”) The Poindexter Story, tape 5 of 6
Item 6- Reel to Reel Tape (7”) The Poindexter Story, tape 6 of 6
Item 7- Reel to Reel Tape (7”): Poems Read by Ray Poindexter
Item 8- Reel to Reel Tape (5”): Movie Lister Interview
Item 9- Cassette Tape: Ray Poindexter’s Last Radio Show, 1 of 3, Mar. 1988
Item 10- Cassette Tape: Ray Poindexter’s Last Radio Show, 2 of 3, Mar. 1988
Item 11- Cassette Tape: Ray Poindexter’s Last Radio Show, 3 of 3, Mar. 1988
Item 12- Cassette Tape: “Brother Hal” Webber, KLRA’s last day on the air, Jan. 1988
Item 13- Cassette Tape: Big Story–Allen Coppethwait (side 1) and Joe Wirges (side 2)
Item 14- Cassette Tape: Interviews with Lowell Thomas and Bing Crosby by Dick Cavitt
Item 15- Cassette Tape: Hemingway program with Prof. Behrens (side A) and Anthony Quinn (side B)
End of Box 2B
End of Collection