Genre Terms

Adaptations

SN Works created by the modification of other works

Examples: World's greatest novels; NBC University theater; Screen director's playhouse

Addresses

SN Speeches, lectures, or remarks delivered to audiences by individuals

UF Lectures

UF Speeches

UF Talks

Examples: Inaugural addresses; FDR's fireside chats; Marconi memorial address; Speeches at the dedication of the Avenue of the Allies

Adult fantasy

USE Fantasy

Addresses

SN Fictional programs that dramatize the exciting and usually hazardous exploits of a person or persons; sometimes set in a particular historical period

Examples: The Count of Monte Cristo; Superman

Advertising

SN Paid announcements, of any length, used to promote a product, service, person, or organization

UF Commercials

UF Political advertising

UF Promotional spots

UF Spots

Examples: Meier & Frank commercial spot; Weekend preview promotion spots

Amateur talent shows

USE Talent shows

Announcements

SN Statements made by a station or a network

UF Special announcements

UF Station identification

RT News bulletins

RT Public service announcements

Examples: Special announcements for WLWO

Anthologies

SN Previously existing or newly created discrete works intentionally gathered together into a single program or entity

Examples: Modern romances; My secret story; Stroke of fate

Audience participation programs

SN Programs which involve spontaneous participation by members of the studio audience

RT Call-in shows

RT Talk shows

Examples: Puzzle program; Deadline dramas; People are funny; Dr. I.Q.

Auditions

SN Material that demonstrates or tests the abilities of a performer(s) or speaker(s); also used for prospective programs intended for evaluation

Examples: Two for the money: rehearsal or audition; Gene Rayburn audition; Roadshow audition #1

Beauty programs

USE Informational programs

Biographies

SN Accounts of a person's life

UF Portraits

UF Profiles

Examples: Will of Stratford; Lives of great men; Biography in sound

Call-in shows

SN Talk shows in which a host(s) fields telephone calls from the public; callers typically seek expert advice and/or express their opinions on current events or topics; may feature guest experts or celebrities

RT Audience participation programs

RT Talk shows

Examples: The Diane Rehm show; Car talk

Campaign debates

USE Debates

Childcare programs

USE Informational programs

Children's programs

SN Fictional or nonfictional programs produced primarily for children

Examples: Our barn; Mary Small and her junior revue; Horn and Hardart's children's hour

Classical music

USE Western art music

College courses

USE Instructional programs

Comedies

SN Programs in which the primary intention is to amuse; the plot is humorous; the tone of the program is overwhelmingly comic or light

CN See also LCSH for other literary terms for comedy, wit, and humor

UF Situation comedies Examples: The Jack Benny show; The life of Riley; Easy Aces; Town Hall tonight (comedy/variety); The great Gildersleeve; Amos 'n' Andy

Commentary

SN Analysis or evaluation of news events or trends; may include editorial comment

UF Editorials

UF Opinion Examples: Behind the headlines; Commentary by John T. Flynn; Martin Agronsky commentary; On the line with Bob Considine

Commercials

USE Advertising

Community affairs

SN Nonfictional programs dealing with issues, problems or events concerning a locale or community Examples: Death on a weekend; Citizens Committee for Pecora program

Contests

USE Quiz shows

Continuing education

USE Educational programs

Cooking programs

USE Informational programs

Crime or mystery programs

SN Programs which focus on the commission and investigation of crime, or revolve around the solution of a mystery

CN See also LCSH under Detective and mystery [plays] or [stories]

UF Detective programs

UF Gangster programs

UF Murder mysteries

UF Police programs

UF Prison programs

UF Spy programs

UF Suspense programs

UF Thrillers

UF True crime programs Examples: Alias Jimmy Valentine; Adventures of Ellery Queen; Mr. District Attorney; Big town

Criticism

SN Analysis, evaluation, or interpretation of literary, artistic, or cultural works and/or events

CN See also LCSH for more specific types of criticism Examples: Critics' choice; Talking about music

Debates

SN Formal arguments between two or more individuals taking opposite sides of a question or questions

UF Campaign debates

UF Political debates

Examples: Congessional debate; Debate on jobs for women; You and your government; National radio forum

Detective programs

USE Crime or mystery programs

Disc jockey programs

SN Music programs in which a radio host plays records; these do not feature live music Examples: Music you want when you want it; Caravana tropical; To be perfectly Frank

Discussion shows

USE Panel discussions

Discussions

USE Panel discussions

Doctor dramas

USE Medical dramas

Docudramas

USE Historical dramas

Documentaries

SN Nonfictional programs that present political, social or historical subject matter in a factual and informative manner; often consist of actual news reports, actualities, and/or interviews; often contain narration

RT Histories Examples: The war that did not come; Army hour; The challenge of our prisons; Yalta papers story

Dramas

SN Serious, fictional narrative works in which actors represent characters; includes works of literature adapted for the radio and original radio dramas

CN See also LCSH for more specific types of literary dramas

UF Plays NT Historical dramas NT Soap operas Examples: Shakespeare streamlined; Great plays; March of time; Laboratory theater; NBC University theater

Dramatic readings

USE Literary readings

Editorials

USE Commentary

Educational programs

SN Programs intended primarily to inform or edify rather than to entertain and which do not utilize an instructional format; may have cultural content and could entertain; intended for a general or professional audience

UF Continuing education

RT Informational programs

RT Instructional programs Examples: The schools are yours; New world; Pageant of art

Ethnic programs

SN Fictional or nonfictional programs dealing with specific ethnic experiences and/or intended for a specific ethnic or cultural audience Examples: Ukrainian Catholic hour; Breakfast in bed (Scottish audience); Portugual de hoja

Etiquette programs

USE Informational programs

Exercise programs

USE Informational programs

Fairy tales

USE Fantasy

Fantasy

SN Fictional programs which depict imaginary characters, often with supernatural powers, sometimes inhabiting imaginary worlds

UF Adult fantasy

UF Fairy tales

Examples: Dark fantasy

Farming programs

USE Informational programs

Fashion programs

USE Informational programs

Field reports

SN Reportorial pieces recorded on location; often at the scene of a particular event; these can be edited

RT News

RT Special events coverage

Examples: A broadcast from aboard ship during the 1944 Guam campaign; Coverage of the dedication of RCA transmitter in Fairbanks, AK

Forums

USE Panel discussions

Game shows

USE Quiz shows

Gangster programs

USE Crime or mystery programs

Gardening programs

USE Informational programs

Gossip

SN Nonfictional programs that relay rumors, anecdotes, likes and dislikes and personal histories of celebrities

UF Gossip columns

Examples: Jimmy Fidler program; Sidney Skolsky; Jergen's journal; The Hedda Hopper show

Gossip columns

USE Gossip

Health/medical programs

USE Informational programs

Helpful hints programs

USE Informational programs

Historical dramas

SN Fictionalized or dramatized accounts of news, events, or social conditions

UF Docudramas

UF Historical recreations

UF Historical reenactments

BT Dramas

Examples: Confession; Last man out; Stroke of fate

Historical recreations

USE Historical dramas

Historical reenactments

USE Historical dramas

Histories

SN Nonfictional programs which present, explain, or analyze past events in an historical context

RT Documentaries

Examples: Torch of progress; Lives of great men; Pageant of art

Horror

SN Fictional programs in which the primary intention is to frighten; often feature monsters

CN See also LCSH for more specific literary terms

Hospital dramas

USE Medical dramas

Household programs

USE Informational programs

Informational programs

SN Programs designed to impart somewhat ephemeral information in the nature of news, helpful hints or advice, often containing audience participation; designed for a general audience

CN Consider using LC subject headings to describe what the show is about

UF Beauty programs

UF Childcare programs

UF Etiquette programs

UF Exercise programs

UF Farming programs

UF Fashion programs

UF Gardening programs

UF Health/medical programs

UF Helpful hints programs

UF Household programs

UF Petcare programs

UF Psychology programs

RT Educational programs

RT Instructional programs

Examples: The ABCs of NBC; Food for all; Woman of tomorrow; Your health

Instructional programs

SN Nonfictional programs designed to instruct or train using a structured format

UF College courses

UF Pedagogy

UF Training

RT Educational programs

RT Informational programs

Examples: Music appreciation hour; Dancing on air; Band lessons; American school of the air; You are an artist

Lectures

USE Addresses

Literary readings

SN Recitations of works of literature

CN See also LCSH for more specific types of literary form/genres

UF Dramatic readings

UF Literature readings

UF Poetry readings

Examples: World's greatest short stories; Pilgrimage of poetry; Words and music

Literature readings

USE Literary readings

Magazines

SN Nonfictional programs that take the form of a number of stories on items of current interest which are treated in a more in-depth and/or reflective way than they would be on news programs

Examples: Rollins College magazine of the air

Man on the street interviews

USE Vox pop

Medical dramas

SN Fictional programs in which the protagonist(s) are medical personnel and the plot takes place in a medical setting

UF Doctor dramas

UF Hospital dramas

UF Nurse dramas

Examples: Doctor Paul; Inside the doctor's office; The doctor; Joyce Jordon, MD

Murder mysteries

USE Crime or mystery programs

Music rehearsals

USE Rehearsals

News

SN Programs that feature commentators in the studio reporting on current events and noteworthy issues

UF Newscasts

NT News bulletins

RT Field reports

RT Special events coverage

Examples: World news roundup; News communique, no. 29; The Huntley and Brinkley report

News bulletins

SN News announcements that interrupt the regularly scheduled programming

UF News flashes

BT News

RT Announcements

EXAMPLES: Johnstown flood bulletin; News flashes about Nova Scotia trapped miners; Bulletins announcing the death of JFK

News flashes

USE News bulletins

Newscasts

USE News

Nurse dramas

USE Medical dramas

Opinion

USE Commentary

Outtakes

SN Material that is not intended to be included in the original program and that has been edited from a radio broadcast or otherwise excluded from a radio program

Examples: Gene Autry outtakes; Outtakes from a talk by James R. Angell

Panel discussions

SN Discussions conducted by a selected group of speakers, usually formal in nature

UF Discussion shows

UF Discussions

UF Forums

UF Roundtables

Examples: University of Chicago roundtable; Herald Tribune forum; Let's talk it over

Panel game shows

USE Quiz shows

Pedagogy

USE Instructional programs

Petcare programs

USE Informational programs

Plays

USE Dramas

Poetry readings

USE Literary readings

Police programs

USE Crime or mystery programs

Political advertising

USE Advertising

Political debates

USE Debates

Portraits

USE Biographies

Press conferences

SN Collective interviews granted to journalists by political figures or others in the public eye

Examples: Press conference at the Labor Dept.; President Nixon's press conference; President-elect Jimmy Carter's news conference

Prison programs

USE Crime or mystery programs

Profiles

USE Biographies

Promotional spots

USE Advertising

Propaganda

SN Intentionally persuasive and/or ideological programs that are primarily designed to propagate particular doctrines

Examples: National Defense Week program; Army recruiting program; You're in the Army now; Day of reckoning

PSAs

USE Public service announcements

Psychology programs

USE Informational programs

Public affairs

SN Nonfictional programs concerned with public policy or politics

Examples: Congress speaks; University of Chicago roundtable; You and your government

Public service

SN Programs intended to be presented over the air by or on behalf of nonprofit or governmental organizations that attempt to persuade the audience to take some specific action or adopt a favorable view towards some service, institution, or cause

Examples: Mobilization for human needs; Your health; The greater New York fund program; Catholic charities

Public service announcements

SN Usually unpaid announcements of any length presented by or on behalf of nonprofit or governmental organizations used to persuade the audience to take some specific action or adopt a favorable view towards some service, institution, or cause

UF PSAs

RT Announcements

Examples: Saint Charles Community Center appeal spots

Quiz shows

SN Programs on which a group of people (experts, celebrities, and/or members of the audience) compete in answering questions or partake in some other competitive activity, following certain rules, usually for prizes

UF Contests

UF Game shows

UF Panel game shows

Examples: NBC spelling bee; Truth or consequences; What's my name?; Information please

Rehearsals

SN Private performances or practice sessions preparatory to public appearances

UF Music rehearsals

Examples: Toscanini at a rehearsal with NBC Orchestra; Boston Symphony Orchestra rehearsal

Religious programs

SN Fictional and nonfictional programs clearly designed to promote a religious point of view; or programs that feature religious services or activities

Examples: Call to youth; Catholic hour; Easter Mass at St. Peter's; Art of living; Eternal light

Roundtables

USE Panel discussions

Science fiction

SN Fictional programs that revolve around imaginary science and technology, visions of future society, outer space, and futuristic world cataclysms

CN See also LCSH for more specific literary terms

Examples: The fifth horseman; Dimension X; X minus one

Science programs

SN Nonfictional programs which depict, analyze, or are concerned with the sciences, including life, physical, and the applied sciences, and mathematics and logic

RT Informational programs

RT Instructional programs

Examples: Solar eclipse expedition; Science in the news; March of science

Situation comedies

USE Comedies

Soap operas

SN Melodramatic serials usually dealing with domestic themes

BT Dramas

Examples: Stella Dallas; John's other wife; Mary Noble, backstage wife; Guiding light

Special announcements

USE Announcements

Special events coverage

SN Nonfictional reports of noteworthy events; often feature several commentators; usually combine studio reports with on-the-scene coverage; often combine field reports, actualities, news and commentary

RT Field reports

RT News

Examples: Goldwater statement; Presidential election coverage; Gemini coverage; Pope's visit

Specials

SN Programs that are not part of a regular series or serial and do not consist of a number of parts or episodes broadcast over time

Examples: NBC tenth anniversary banquet; Bundles for Britain program; ASCAP program; Red Cross relief program

Speeches

USE Addresses

Sports events coverage

SN Coverage of and commentary on sporting events as they happen

RT Sports news and commentary

Examples: Max Baer vs Jim Braddock post-fight interview; Santa Anita derby; National Open golf championship; Kentucky Derby preview

Sports news and commentary

SN Programs that give news, scores, and possibly commentary on various sports-related events that have occurred or will occur

RT Sports events coverage

Examples: Sports forum; Sports stories; Sports news

Spots

USE Advertising

Spy programs

USE Crime or mystery programs

Station identification

USE Announcements

Suspense programs

USE Crime or mystery programs

Talent shows

SN Programs consisting of a series of individual performances by amateurs who may be selected for special recognition as performing talent

UF Amateur talent shows

Examples: Major Bowes amateur hour; NBC employees talent program; Youth on parade

Talk shows

SN Programs consisting primarily of informal conversations between a host and various guests

RT Audience participation programs

RT Call-in shows

Examples: Adela Rogers St. John; Mary Margaret McBride show; Adelaide Hawley show

Talks

USE Addresses

Telescoped airchecks

SN Radio broadcasts in which most of the music and/or commercials are eliminated leaving the announcer's segments intact. Primarily used by announcers who are sending tapes to prospective employers.

Thrillers

USE Crime or mystery programs

Training

USE Instructional programs

Travelogues

SN Nonfictional programs that record trips and/or describe travels

Examples: Where have you been?; Pan American holiday; Vagabond traveller; Television travelogue

True crime programs

USE Crime or mystery programs

Variety

SN Programs that feature various kinds of acts, including comedy, skits and/or music

CN For comedy-variety programs, use two genres: Comedies and Variety

CN For musical-variety programs, use two or more genres: Variety and the appropriate LCSH music heading Examples: Town Hall tonight; The Bob Hope show; The Martin & Lewis show; Toast of the town

Vox pop

SN Impromtu interviews with randomly chosen people in which opinions are elicited on a particular issue or event; usually conducted outside the studio

UF Man on the street interviews

UF Vox populi

Vox populi

USE Vox pop

War dramas

SN Fictional programs whose protagonists engage in warfare

Examples: Cavalcade of America; Words at war; Doctors at war; They call me Joe

Western art music

CN Used for programs in which "classical" music (as opposed to popular music forms) predominates. To be used as a general identifier when more specific LCSH music forms cannot be applied to describe the musical selections.

UF Classical music

Westerns

SN Fictional programs set on the American frontier and/or in the American West Examples: Death Valley days; Western caravan; Tales of the Texas rangers

FORMS The following terms which indicate format, intended audience, or structure of the material rather than content, may be used as form subdivisions to modify radio genres in form/genre strings. With the exception of EXCERPTS, RADIO, SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS and TELEVISION they also may be used as main headings in form/genre strings. RADIO, TELEVISION and SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS are to be used only when one is sure of the format of the program; if the format cannot be determined, then none of the terms is used and an explanation is placed in a general note field. RADIO, TELEVISION, and SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS will always be the final term in the form/genre string.

Adaptations

SN Works created by the modification of other works

Anthologies

SN Previously existing or newly created discrete works intentionally gathered together into a single program or entity

Auditions

SN Material that demonstrates or tests the abilities of a performer(s) or speaker(s); also used for prospective programs intended for evaluation

Excerpts

SN Portions from radio programs; these are often complete sequences

CN EXCERPTS will always be placed last in the form/genre string unless RADIO, TELEVISION or SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS are used, in which case they will be the final term

Outtakes

SN Material that is not intended to be included in the original program and that has been edited from a radio broadcast or otherwise excluded from a radio program

Radio

SN Sound from a radio program (not necessarily broadcast)

CN RADIO will always be placed last in the form/genre string

Rehearsals

SN Private performances or practice sessions preparatory to public appearances

Shortwave broadcasts

CN SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS will always be placed last in the form/genre string

Television

SN The soundtrack from a television program (not necessarily broadcast)

CN TELEVISION will always be placed last in the form/genre string