March of Dimes

The Crippler

English · Radio, Medical

March of Dimes is a public-service radio program associated with the campaign to fight polio and support the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Its title, “The Crippler,” reflects the period’s stark language for the disease and the campaign’s focus on its devastating effects.

The program presents a message of public awareness and charitable support rather than a fictional radio drama. Listeners encounter an appeal centered on the human consequences of polio and the effort to fund research and care for those affected.

Its tone is earnest and purposeful, shaped by the urgency of a nationwide health campaign. This recording offers a glimpse of how radio was used to bring a public cause into listeners’ homes and encourage participation in the fight against a feared disease.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.