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DR JACK NORRIS - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 6-5-65
On this recording, Dr Jack is introduced as the Chairman of the Board and an honorary alcoholic. He has been on the AA General Service board for fourteen and chairman for the last five. Dr Jack says that prior to his involvement in AA his work with alcoholics was very frustrating because all he could do was to try to get them over their immediate medical problems but knew that when he released them he would surely see them drunk again. As a result of this he began to dislike seeing the alcoholic coming for treatment. Dr Jack tells of his first introduction to Alcoholics Anonymous. That was through an employee in Rochester, New York. He goes on to tell of several people he knew over the years who also got sober through the AA fellowship. Dr Jack strongly encourages the people in attendance at this meeting to go back to the doctors that had been trying to treat them for alcoholism and tell them of the AA program. He says that the best example of success of the program is you. You are living proof that the program works.
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 50 Minutes
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DR JACK NORRIS - TORONTO, CANADA 7-15-65
This recording was made at the Fourth International AA Convention in Toronto Canada on July 15th, 1965. Dr Jack had been on the AA General Service Board for many years. He was the medical director for the Kodak Company in Rochester, New York and he tells how he attended to many company employees with drinking problems, many of whom were otherwise excellent employees. Dr Jack never had any success treating them. He was finally introduced to AA by a patient and was very impressed. Dr Jack tells of the frustration of wanting to intervene in a patient’s drinking problems before they hit rock bottom.
Contents – 6 Tracks
Length – 29 Minutes
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DR LUKE REED 9-17-66
This Alcoholics Anonymous talk was recorded by Dr Luke Reed at the ninth Anniversary of the Lear-Sigler Group in the Cleveland, Ohio area. The date was September 17th, 1966. He had ten years of sobriety. At the time, Dr Reed lived and practiced medicine in Youngstown, Ohio. Luke grew up in Indiana in a non-alcoholic home. His father was very much against drinking. Luke did a lot of drinking in his college years. After becoming a doctor, he married an alcoholic woman and had three kids. He recalls that his children avoided both he and his wife because of their drinking. Luke entered the rooms of AA only after trying medicine and psychiatry. He was pretty beat up. He talks about how the Serenity Prayer helped him in his time of need. As well as telling his own story, Luke talks about alcoholism in general, how it affects the body, mind, etc.
Contents - 13 Tracks
Length - 62 Minutes
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DR MILTON MAXWELL - 1967
Dr Milton Maxwell was the executive director of the Rutgers School of Alcoholism. This talk was delivered at the 7th Annual Al Anon World Service Conference in 1967. Dr Maxwell was a "friend" of AA and Al Anon so this is not actually an Alcoholics Anonymous talk. We've included it here because we feel it's got some historical value. He gives a little history about temperance societies, such as The Washingtonians. He speaks about the importance of the co-founders first meeting in 1935 and the Yale School of Alcohol Studies. Dr Maxwell talks about the progress made in the past few years in the field of recovery, but believes there is still a small percentage of those in the professional community that truly do not understand AA and Al Anon. Dr Maxwell also speaks about the causes of alcoholism and the different types of alcoholics. Very interesting talk. Dr Maxwell died in 1988.
Contents - 8 Tracks
Length - 38 Minutes
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DUKE PADDOCK - CALIFORNIA 1978 (3 CDs)
This recording is a marathon interview that very early Alcoholics Anonymous member, Duke Paddock made in his home in southern California in 1978. Duke’s wife, Katie was very active during the early days of AA and she contributes also on this recording. Duke says that his company transferred him to Toledo, Ohio in early January of 1940. He was already a very heavy drinker by that time. Duke’s last drink was August 15th, 1940. After reading about Rollie Hemsley’s recovery, Duke’s boss suggested he get in touch with AA. He then entered Akron City Hospital under Dr Bob’s care. Duke talks about many interesting topics from the early days of AA including: Kessler’s Donut Shop, Dr Bob’s slang expressions, the first meeting place in Toledo, Henrietta Seiberling, Dorothy Snyder, and Early AA in Buffalo, New York. Duke also tells of the time Bill Wilson stayed at their house and regaled them with stories throughout the night. He talks about Paul and Dick Stanley and how Wally and Annabelle Gilliam opened their home to many destitute alcoholics. This recording is a great way to look into what was happening in the early days of AA.
The quality of this recording is not ideal. There is some background noise but most of the time the spoken words are pretty clear.
Contents – 42 Total Tracks
Total Length – 206 Minutes
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DUKE PADDOCK - JACKSONVILLE, FL
This is a recording of former Toledo, Ohio early Alcoholics Anonymous member, Duke Paddock. This appears to be a prepared statement that Duke is reading from Jacksonville, Florida because he was not able to attend an upcoming AA event, possibly the 1995 World Services Conference in San Diego, California. As Duke speaks, it’s clear that he put a lot of thought into it. Duke was 89 years old at the time and believes that he is the oldest living member of AA at that time. He tells about being inspired by the Rollie Hemsley anonymity break. He tells about going into Akron City Hospital under Doctor Bob’s care. Duke talks about knowing several of the early Big Book Story authors such as, Jim Scott, Bill Van Horn, and Wally Gilliam. Duke tells about making his first twelfth step call after being in the program for only 36 hours. He was present at the very first AA meeting in Youngstown, Ohio that Dr Bob helped set up. Duke recollects the many meetings he attended at King’s School in Akron and the contributions that Anne Smith made. He talks quite a bit about the four absolutes.
Contents – 4 Tracks
Length – 19 Minutes
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DUKE PADDOCK - JACKSONVILLE, FL 6-6-92
AA Old-timer, Duke Paddock delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Intergroup Breakfast on June 6th, 1992 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was 87 years old at that time and is believed to be AA#118 in Anne Smith’s member record. He is also believed to be the oldest living member of AA at the time of this talk. Although Duke is an historical figure in Alcoholics Anonymous, he doesn’t talk much about the early days on this recording. This talk focuses mainly on his gratitude for the program and his philosophical point of view on the fellowship.
Contents – 9 Tracks
Length – 46 Minutes
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DUTCH WETZEL - OHIO 11-28-67
Dutch Wetzel, from Lisbon, Ohio got sober in Northeast Ohio way back in 1941. This recording was made at the Old Northside Club on November 28th, 1967. Dutch says, "I went to my first AA meeting 26 years and 10 months ago." He was 41 years old at that time. He talks quite a bit about the other early AA members that were in attendance at that first meeting. Dutch also reminisces a lot about the old AA days around Youngstown, Ohio. He tells about the horrible DTs that he had gone through while still drinking. Rare old recording by a very early AA member.
Contents - 11 Tracks
Length - 54 Minutes
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EARL S - HUBBARD, OH 4-16-66
We don't have a description of the contents of this CD because we have not personally listened to this yet. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions after listening to it.
Contents - 10 Tracks
Length - 52 Minutes
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EBBY THACHER - DALLAS & DAVENPORT
This CD contains two talks by Ebby Thacher. The first is Ebby speaking in Dallas, Texas on June 11th, 1954. In this short five-minute talk, Ebby describes how he came to live in Texas, the previous September. He tells how the man in Paris (Cebra Graves) spoke with another man who then returned to New York City and put the wheels in motion for Ebby’s relocation to Texas. Ebby speaks of a phone call with Oly Lancaster that said, “Bring that son-on-a-bitch down here.” He also talks about the help that Ickey Sheridan gave him.
The second Ebby recording starts on track two and was recorded in Davenport, Iowa in 1960. The recording begins with the meeting chairman reading a short letter that Bill Wilson had recently sent to this AA group congratulating them on their anniversary. Bill also says that he’s glad his old sponsor, Ebby is going to be speaking here. Ebby talks about first meeting Bill Wilson in 1911. He tells of the time when he and Bill went “Drunk Flying” together and ended up causing quite a scene in a small town. Ebby tells of his first contact with the Oxford Group, living at the Episcopalian Mission in New York City, and his sober call on Bill Wilson. Ebby also tells how he came to live in Dallas, Texas. This is a great talk by the man who played a big part in starting it all.
Contents – 5 Tracks
Length – 23 Minutes
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EBBY THACHER - GREAT BEND, KS 2-21-61
We don't have a description of the contents of this CD because we have not personally listened to this yet. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions after listening to it.
Contents - 5 Tracks
Length - 24 Minutes
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EBBY THACHER - MEMPHIS, TN 1958
In this talk Ebby tells us that he came from a family of alcoholics. His father and brothers all drank very heavily. Ebby had his initial “moment of truth” when he was supposed to go back in front of a judge and was warned not to show up drunk. After struggling quite a bit, he ended up taking all the beer in his house and giving it to his neighbor. He speaks of meeting Rowland Hazzard and tells of the help that Rowland gave to him. Ebby had a slip after two years and seven months after initially becoming sober. He linked up with a man by the name of Charlie Milton who took him to Texas. This is one of the few talks available by the man who passed the ball to Bill Wilson, Ebby Thatcher.
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 46 Minutes
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EBBY THACHER - SAN JOSE, CA 3-4-61
This is probably the best recording by Ebby that we’ve heard. Ebby recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in San Jose, California on March 4th, 1961. He gives quite a bit of historical AA information. He says that the summer home of Lois Wilson’s family was directly across the street from the Thacher family summer home in Manchester, Vermont. Ebby says that he first met Bill Wilson at Burr & Burton High School when he convinced his family to allow him to go to school in Manchester instead of in his home town of Albany, New York. Ebby talks about his “drunken house painting incident,” and being approached by Oxford Group members. He talks about being rescued in court by his friend Cebra Graves whose father was the judge. Ebby tells of his moment of clarity when he gave his last three bottles of ale to his neighbor. He talks about moving in with Rowland Hazard and how Rowland got him speaking at Oxford Group meetings. He speaks about moving into Calvary Mission in New York City for about a year. Ebby talks about relapsing several times and landing in Chester Crest, a home for intemperate men where they had him doing some therapeutic manual labor. After getting kicked out of Chester Crest for drinking, he found himself back in New York City in the summer of 1953. He would frequently drop into the AA Intergroup Office looking for handouts so he could continue to drink. Ebby tells how Hazel Rice, from the AA office put him in touch with Charlie Milton who took him out and bought him a few drinks and asked him how he’d like to go to Texas. Ebby took him up of the offer so Charlie got a hold of Oly Lancaster and Searcy Whaley down in Dallas. Searcy put Ebby up in the Texas Clinic. He was a reluctant alcoholic celebrity there. After 13 months Ebby got drunk and spent nine days in the county jail. Back on his feet again, Ebby worked for 37 dollars per week at a printing plant, he worked as a flagman on a road construction crew for Icky Sheridan, and he worked for a man named, Ben Thompson in a brickyard. Ebby says keeping busy with these jobs has given him the incentive to stay sober for the past six years. He says he’s extremely grateful to Hazel Rice, Cebra Graves and Charlie Milton for arranging his move to Texas because he feels he would definitely have died had he stayed in New York. This is a truly great talk by Ebby T.
Contents – 7 Tracks
Length – 35 Minutes
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EBBY THACHER - ST LOUIS, MO
The occasion is the 20th anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous. For some reason Ebby recorded this message in his hotel room in St. Louis during the AA convention. From the talk: Ebby tells of how proud he was the first time he walked into a bar about 1914 and bought his own drink. After Ebby’s father died in 1934 Ebby moved to a house in Vermont that his father had owned. It was there that his drinking really took off. He began to get in trouble with the law. Two old drinking buddies by the names of Seabrook and Shep, came to see him. They had joined the Oxford Group and they paid a visit to Ebby to talk about his drinking. There was also a third fellow that stopped in to see Ebby. His name was Rowland Hazzard. For a time Ebby stayed with Rowland in his apartment. Ebby eventually moved into the Calvary Mission in NYC. Ebby says that most people don’t know about this but a few nights after he paid his sober visit to Bill Wilson, Bill showed up at the Oxford Group Meeting at Calvary Mission. He along with a sailor friend of his, were very drunk. Bill got up and made a drunken speech and caused quite a scene. Ebby somehow ended up in Philadelphia, got drunk, and spent five days in a psychiatric ward. He jumped from job to job. He tells of how he ended up in Texas. Even though Ebby never attained long term sobriety, he figures that he has been sober about 14 of the last 20 years.
Contents – 6 Tracks
Length – 29 Minutes
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ED ANDY - CLEVELAND, OH 11-16-86
Ed recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous Talk at the 48th Anniversary of the Borton Group in Cleveland, Ohio. Ed was around in the very early days of the AA program and he begins his talk by saying, “I’m going to tell you about some of the miracles that happened before and after the AA program began.” He says that this Borton Group is the group that Clarence Snyder founded 48 years ago. Ed talks about Clarence Snyder quite a bit including the times that he drank with him on skid row in Cleveland years before the AA program even began. Ed is quite the storyteller and relates some great drinking stories in this talk including times that he drank with Dr Bob in Ravenna, Ohio while both were active alcoholics. Ed speaks about how angry the Akron AA people were when Cleveland broke away and had their first meeting. The Akron members “Came with clubs and were going to break up our meeting.” In reference to all the anguish that people go through before coming to AA, Ed says that even though joining Alcoholics Anonymous is free, it’s one of the most expensive organizations to be a member of. Ed’s talk is very dynamic and at the end he says, “For the rest of my living life I always want to remember that I would rather have the spirit of God in my heart than the spirits of alcohol in my head. Thank you all for coming to the 48th anniversary and bless you all.”
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 68 Minutes
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ED ANDY - CLEVELAND, OH 11-26-81
Ed Andy from Lorain, Ohio, an early Cleveland/Akron area AA member, gave this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Westside Morning Group in Cleveland, Ohio on November 26th, 1981. Ed is a very dynamic speaker. He had his first drink in 1912. He became known as, The Drunk of Florence, Ohio.” During the late 1920s, Ed prayed for many years to get some relief from his alcoholism. He finally received a message from his higher power telling him to, “Move to Ravenna, Ohio and look for the Well Dressed Man.” This message was so clear to Ed that he did exactly that. In Ravenna, he ended up drinking with a man who turned out to be Dr Bob Smith, a very well dressed man. Ed also shares a few other stories that he refers to as miracles.
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 49 Minutes
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ED ANDY - FLORIDA 3-5-83 (2-CDs)
Ed Andy was a very early active AA member who knew Dr Bob very well. Ed recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at Clarence Snyder’s Spiritual Retreat in Florida on March 5th, 1983. Ed gives a very dynamic and spirited talk. Ed did a great amount of 12th Step work in the early years of AA. He knew Bill Wilson, Dr Bob, Clarence Snyder and many of the earliest AA members. He traveled extensively. He also knew Dr Bob prior to either of them getting sober. He drank with Dr Bob on Sunday mornings at the bar of an Akron bootlegger. They discussed a solution for their drinking problem but Dr Bob said as a doctor he didn't know of one. This is really an amazing talk about the often miraculous happenings in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Contents – 17 Tracks
Length – 85 Minutes
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ED ANDY - RAVENNA, OH 3-15-83
Ed Andy, a very early and active AA member recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the 35th Ravenna, Ohio Group Anniversary on March 15th, 1983. Shortly before this talk, Ed had paid a visit to Lois Wilson in Bedford Hills, New York. Ed begins this recording by delivering a message from Lois Wilson. “She says, May all the AAs of Ohio live even longer than my 92 years.” Ed continues with his talk by telling his story of “The well-dressed man.” Ed has a way of building up and stretching out this very suspenseful story. The well-dressed man that he keeps referring to ends up being Doctor Bob. Ed also tells about the empty whiskey bottle containing a note that he threw into the foundation of the Cleveland Indians Stadium when the concrete was being poured. He feels that this bottle has inspired many people to seek help for their drinking problems. Ed’s a unique character with a special way of getting his message across.
Contents – 11 Tracks
Length – 54 Minutes
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ED B - CHICAGO, IL 4-28-63
We don't have a description of the contents of this CD because we have not personally listened to this yet. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions after listening to it.
Contents - 10 Tracks
Length - 50 Minutes
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ED BURKE - BLACKSTONE, VA 1961
Early Cleveland AA member, Ed Burke delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Blackstone, Virginia way back in 1961. Ed has a great sense of humor and it’s very evident on this recording. At the time of this recording, Ed had been sober for 21 ½ years. When anyone asks him how long he’s been in AA, Ed tells them, “I only count the memories, I don’t count the years.” He begins by talking about the role of the wives of alcoholics in early AA. Ed became a lawyer and tried to drum up business by going into saloons. He tells another very funny story about being tricked into going to an alcohol treatment center. He tells how a couple of “Well dressed” men came to talk to him while he was in the hospital. Ed tells how the wives “allow” their husbands to do certain tasks again after they sober up. This is really a great talk by a man who sobered up way back in 1939.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 58 Minutes
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ED GILLESPIE - HUBBARD, OH 10-13-65
Ed Gillespie, from Youngstown, Ohio, delivered the Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Hubbard, Ohio on October 13th, 1965. Fast Eddie, as he was sometimes called, tells of the many years he spent drinking in the barrooms of Chicago. He was a salesman, and felt that the "fortification" he got in those taverns made him better at his job. He did a lot of lying, bragging and exaggerating while drinking. He often claimed to be an FBI agent. Ed talks of some things he’s learned about the disease of alcoholism since joining AA. He’s learned about the physical allergy. He talks about that common feeling among alcoholics, Impending Disaster. He believes that every time he speaks at an AA meeting, it helps him; recalling just how sick he was, is a good thing.
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 47 Minutes
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ED WEBSTER - LONG BEACH, CA 7-1-60
Ed Webster was the author of the much read, Little Red book. He also wrote the AA books called Stools and Bottles, (1955), Barroom Reveries (1958) and Our Devilish Alcoholic Personalities (in 1970, just a year before his death). This is a relatively short Alcoholics Anonymous talk. We're including it here because of its historic value and the fact that there were very few talks recorded by Ed. This recording was made at the 3rd International AA Convention in Long Beach, California on July 1st, 1960. Even though this recording is fairly old, the sound quality is very good. Ed tells about his experience with Step One. He finally called AA, after he was tired of being desperate, broke and sick all the time. That date was December 13th, 1941, which is also his sobriety date. Ed talks about the poor physical appearance of the man that twelfth stepped him; his initial impression of AA was very bad because of that. Ed learned very early on in AA that he was suffering from a physical ailment. He's a big believer in, when talking to a newcomer, giving them the medical side of their disease just like Dr Silkworth advised Bill Wilson way back in 1935. This recording is fairly short, but very good and right to the point.
Contents - 2 Tracks
Length - 9 Minutes
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EDDIE COCHRAN - AMARILLO, TX 10-18-59
Eddie made this Alcoholics Anonymous recording at the Top of Texas Roundup in Amarillo, Texas on October 18th, 1959. We don't have a description of the contents of this CD because we have not personally listened to it yet. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions after listening to it.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 57 Minutes
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ERNIE GERIG - CHICAGO, IL 1961
Ernie recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Chicago, Illinois in 1961. Ernie says that his drinking began at age 26 and continued for the next 12 years. He doesn’t mention Dr Bob by name, but Ernie says that he was told to go to Akron and find the Doctor that could cure drunks. In about 1939, Ernie was admitted to the hospital in Akron. He was completely sober. He had several “strangers visit him there and told of their experiences with drinking. This Doctor gave Ernie the AA Big Book and told him that the answers to his problems are in there and it’s up to him to make the decision. This is a good, sincere talk by Ernie and even though it’s over 45 years old, it’s very crisp and clear.
Contents – 5 Tracks
Length – 24 Minutes
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ERNIE GERIG - OHIO JULY 1978
Ernie delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Ohio State Convention in July of 1978. He sobered up in May of 1939 and was one of the first 100 people to get sober in Akron, Ohio. Ernie talks about how important it was that the Big Book be written since he entered into AA just one month after its publication. Ernie says that he was introduced to AA by way of his wife, Ruth who had gotten the name of Dr Bob through an Oxford Group member. He and Ruth both eventually walked into Dr Bob’s office. Ernie argued with Dr Bob quite a bit during their first meeting. After being admitted to the hospital, Ernie was amazed how many men were coning to see him. Dr Bob himself finally came in with the newly published Big Book and The Sermon on the Mount. On the way back from his first AA meeting, Ernie’s wife said she had felt the presence of God in that room more than any other place in her life. Toward the end of this talk, Ernie talks in a very spiritual manner and tells about trying to live his life according to the Four Absolutes.
Contents – 8 Tracks
Length – 35 Minutes
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ESTHER ROBERTSON - WICHITA, KS 9-29-69
Esther, a blind woman from Cleveland, Ohio delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Wichita, Kansas on September 29th, 1969. She’s a very well spoken woman who was sober for 13 years at the time of this recording. Esther says she drank for eleven years. She had become helpless and hopeless. By 1954, Esther’s drinking had gotten so bad that she was on a two month drunk and had attempted suicide. In October of 1954 she called the Central Office of AA in Cleveland for help. Esther says that her physical blindness is the least of her worries; it’s the spiritual blindness that she’s got to be aware of. Esther sums up her talk by saying, “With you, I have lived a little, alone I can only die.”
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 61 Minutes
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ESTHER ROBERTSON - YOUNGSTOWN, OH - JANUARY 1962
Esther, from Cleveland, Ohio, is somewhat of a pioneer in Alcoholics Anonymous. She was a blind, black woman who became an AA member in the Cleveland area. She's been sober since October 13th, 1954. She recorded this talk at the first Quo Vadis Meeting Anniversary in Youngstown, Ohio in January of 1962. Esther grew up in the Cleveland slums but her mother saw to it that she still got a good education. She had her first experience with alcohol at an all-girl party when she was 16. Esther explains, step by step and drink by drink as she began to experience the benefits of those first few drinks. She tells how her very caring brother, Jimmy watched over her during her drinking years. Esther was hooked on AA at her very first meeting. The generosity of the men at that meeting impressed the hell out of her. Esther shares her experience with taking some of the twelve AA steps.
Contents - 11 Tracks
Length - 53 Minutes
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EVERETT BARKER - NILES, OH 5-30-68
We don't have a description of the contents of this CD because we have not personally listened to this yet. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions after listening to it.
Contents - 11 Tracks
Length - 52 Minutes
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FATHER "DOUBLE SHOT" GEORGE - SACRAMENTO, CA
Father "Double Shot" George, from Richmond, California recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Sacramento, California in the early 1950s. Father George tells how, after years of heavy drinking, a woman from his congregation confronted him. This set up an extremely hardcore resentment against this woman. He hated her so much for bringing up his drinking that he was actually contemplating jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Father George was asked to speak at an AA meeting while he was still actively drinking. After his speech they asked him to become an honorary member. George finally admitted he was an alcoholic and joined AA. He continued to drink for quite a while afterward. He denied that he was drinking. Now George says that he's come to love Alcoholics Anonymous so much that he'd rather go to an AA meeting than to his own church.
Contents - 11 Tracks
Length - 53 Minutes
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FATHER ED DOWLING - 1955
This recording is one of the few talks recorded by Father Ed Dowling, Bill Wilson’s spiritual mentor. Bill Wilson introduces Father Dowling and also tells a brief story of how they first met in New York City in 1940. Father Dowling’s talk is basically about God as we understand him. He believes that one’s choice of a higher power is none of AA’s business. That is up to the individually himself. Father Dowling also recites one of Bill Wilson’s favorite lines, “If I ever get to Heaven it will be in backing away from Hell.” This is a very good and rare recorded talk by Father Ed.
Contents – 7 Tracks
Length – 31 Minutes
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FRANK L - COOKSBURG, PA - SPRING 1963
This recording was made in the spring of 1963 at Cook Forest State Park in Cooksburg, Pennsylvania. Quite frankly, we’re including this recording in our collection because of its possible historic value only. Although the sound quality is fantastic, we don't believe the content of Frank’s speech is all that great. Frank was from Alexandria, Virginia. He got sober in 1950. He talks about his sponsor, Clarence Snyder of Cleveland. Frank talks quite a bit about religion. He has a real flair for the dramatic.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 59 Minutes
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FRANK MAUSER - ATLANTA, GA 7-16-98
Frank from New York City recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Atlanta 1998 Roundup in Atlanta, Georgia on July 16th, 1998. Frank has been sober since June 10th, 1970. He tells some of his own story at the beginning of this recording but a good portion of this talk is dedicated to the history of AA and its predecessors. Frank tells about some of the alcoholism writings of Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Frank talks about The Washingtonians in 1840, The Emmanual Movement, Frank Buchman and the Oxford Groups. He then talks about Alcoholics Anonymous itself. This talk ends with Frank reading a very funny letter written to Dear Abby.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 58 Minutes
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FRANK MAUSER - NEWPORT, RI 3-24-95
Frank from New York City, talks about his work as an archivist at the Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office. He says that every alcoholic quits drinking. It’s just kind of nice if you’re still alive when that happens. This is a very good AA talk.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 59 Minutes
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FRANK SEIBERLING - CHAUTAUQUA, NY 1-15-63
Frank was an early member of the Cleveland area AAs. He got sober way back in April of 1940. If there is a connection between him and the Seiberlings of Akron, Ohio, he does not mention it in this speech. Frank says that prior to his introduction to Alcoholics Anonymous he had been in many hospitals, prisons, sanitariums and jails. He met his future sponsor in the Warrensville Workhouse, a notoriously known hardcore prison outside of Cleveland, Ohio. While working in the prison hospital he witnessed at least 25 alcoholics die during delirium tremens, strapped down to their beds. He landed in a sanitarium in Berea, Ohio in early 1940 and while there, he believes he was paid a visit by every single, male member of AA from the Cleveland group. At the end of his talk he says that if it was necessary to go through all he has been through, jails, prisons, skid rows and hospitals, to be able to find the kind of life he has now, “Then thank God I’m an alcoholic.”
Contents – 8 Tracks
Length – 37 Minutes
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FRED MILLER - CLEVELAND, OH 1965
Fred Miller, from Hubbard, Ohio gave this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. Fred was raised in a good Christian home, so had no trouble accepting a Higher Power when he joined AA later in life. His drinking got pretty bad around 1956. He spent time in several different clinics for treatment of alcoholism. Fred was eventually employed at a State Liquor Store in Warren, Ohio. When his wife finally left him due to his drinking, Fred had no problem with that. He was lured to his first AA meeting with the promise of getting some free cigarettes. Fred was put to work early on in AA by cleaning ashtray, sweeping floors, etc. This was good for his humility and eventual recovery. Good Story.
Contents – 9 Tracks
Length – 45 Minutes
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GENE SALAZAR - AKRON, OH 6-4-61
This is a recording of early Alcoholics Anonymous member, Gene Salazar. This talk by Gene, from Chicago, IL was recorded on June 4th, 1961 at the Founder’s Day Breakfast Celebration in Akron, Ohio. Gene’s got a great lead story. After struggling on his own for many years, he finally heard about Alcoholics Anonymous by reading an article about an AA convention that was held in Chicago. His wife called AA for him. That same night, two men from AA showed up at his door. They really understood what Gene had been going through for all these years. Gene had always been amazed that he and his sponsor are from “different sides of the tracks” but the common problem of drinking has kept them very close over the years. This talk provides a good look into Alcoholics Anonymous as it was in the formative years of the program.
Contents – 9 Tracks
Length – 45 minutes
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GEORGE STRACHAN - SAN DIEGO, CA JUNE 1995
George recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the AA International Convention in San Diego, California in June of 1995. George knows a lot about AA history. He was there at the beginning and served as a delegate from Wisconsin on the First General Service Conference. George was a long-time friend of Nell Wing and acknowledges her in the audience. In 1938, he was at a treatment center in Ohio when someone told him about the AA happenings in Akron. That was the first he ever heard of AA. George tells a touching story about Bill Wilson who had just suffered a personal AA defeat and still had tears running down his cheeks when George introduced him to his new wife who had just joined AA. Bill was able to set aside his personal sadness and showed genuine excitement to meet George’s new wife and welcome her into AA. This talk gives you some good insight into some behind-the-scenes goings-on in early AA.
Contents – 5 Tracks
Length – 22 Minutes
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GERALDINE DELANEY - EATONTOWN, NJ 10-14-94
Geraldine, from Blairstown, New Jersey delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Woman to Woman Northeast Seminar in Eatontown, New Jersey on October 14th, 1994. At the time of this talk, Geraldine was 87 years old and 47 years sober. She tells about her mother dying as a direct result of alcoholism. Geraldine had first heard of AA while speaking with her doctor. This doctor had heard Bill Wilson deliver a speech and was very impressed. Bill Wilson ended up paying a twelfth step call on Geraldine’s brother. Geraldine was admitted to Townes Hospital on seven different occasions. Dr Silkworth had tried to talk with her about her drinking but she threw him out of the room. Geraldine says that she was the fourth woman in AA in the New York – New Jersey area. She became close friends with Bill and Lois Wilson.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length - 62 Minutes
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GERALDINE DELANEY - OMAHA, NE 8-14-88
We don't have a description of the contents of this CD because we have not personally listened to this yet. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions after listening to it.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 58 Minutes
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GERT BEHANNA - BLACKSTONE, VA 10-15-1960
Gert Behanna, from Houston, Texas recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Blackstone, Virginia on October 15th, 1960. Gert was the only child of very wealthy parents and she believes that it was the large amount money available to her that enabled her to keep drinking for 30 plus years. She had few consequences. She talks about her two polar-opposite sons; one is a hardcore alcoholic living on skid row in San Francisco and the other is a minister. In 1946, Gert’s younger son found her body after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. She talks about God quite a bit. She finally got down on her knees and asked for God’s help after she read a very inspiring article by Reverend Sam Shoemaker. She was also extremely inspired when she finally read the AA Big Book. Gert sums up her talk by stating her belief that the people in the rooms of AA are the only people who truly understand the meaning of love.
Contents – 11 Tracks
Length – 54 Minutes
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GERT BEHANNA - CLEVELAND, OH 5-14-66
Gert recorded this talk in Cleveland, Ohio on May 14th, 1966 at the Statler Hotel. Gert was an early member of Alcoholics Anonymous. She was the author of the book, “THE LATE LIZ,” which was later made into a movie. On this recording, Gert tells her own story in AA style at a gathering of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Contents - 16 Tracks
Length – 76 Minutes
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GERT BEHANNA - GOD ISN'T DEAD 1962
Gert Behanna was the author of the book, “THE LATE LIZ,” which was later made into a movie. This is a great AA Talk. Gert tells her own story in great detail including how she found a higher power first and then found Alcoholics Anonymous 5 1/2 years later.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 59 Minutes
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GERT BEHANNA - SOUTH CAROLINA
We don't have a description of the contents of this CD because we have not personally listened to this yet. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions after listening to it.
Contents - 13 Tracks
Length - 62 Minutes
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GERT BEHANNA - WHO IS THE ALCOHOLIC? 1965
Author, Gert Behanna recorded this talk in 1965. It was originally recorded for a phonograph record. Gert opens this talk with a very emotional reading of a letter that her son had written to her. Gert was a woman who had all the money she could ever want but still fell victim to the disease of alcoholism.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 58 Minutes
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HANK GRIEME - CINCINNATI, OH 7-18-59
Hank Grieme, a really oldtimer from New York City recorded this very passionate and dramatic Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Ohio State Convention way back on July 18th, 1959. Hank tells how he was drunk when his daughter was born and he was subsequently thrown out of the hospital. His father died while Hank was extremely drunk and he could barely sober up enough to tell his mother. He gives a very vivid description of how he hit bottom, and it’s damn sad. To put this talk into historical perspective, it’s interesting to note that Hank says he is looking forward to Long Beach, California next year on July 1st, 2nd & 3rd to attend the International AA Conference. This is a good, old but clear, passionate and dramatic recording by a guy who really appreciates being in AA.
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 47 Minutes
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HARRY DANKWORTH - BEREA, OH 10-18-48
This is an old talk by an early Cleveland area member of Alcoholics Anonymous. One of the first things that Harry does when he begins his talk is to acknowledge his sponsor, Warren Chisholm who is in the crowd. Harry tells his story and says that he entered AA for the first time in 1940. He joined the Orchard Grove Group in the Cleveland area. Shortly after his first meeting, Harry decided to drop out of AA with his wife’s approval. His plan was to just cut his drinking in half. After about 8 months, Harry came crawling back to AA. Harry has worked with Cleveland’s Central Bulletin. Toward the end of his talk, Harry discusses Dr Jellinek and his extensive studies on alcoholism. He gives some very interesting statistics about alcoholism and AA membership at the time.
Contents - 11 Tracks
Length – 53 Minutes
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HARRY SMITH - WARREN, OH 8-3-69
This is an old Alcoholics Anonymous talk by early AA Member, Harry Smith. Harry was sponsored by Clarence Snyder way back in 1940. Harry, from Ravenna, Ohio recorded this talk at the Warren Sunday Breakfast in Warren, Ohio on August 3rd, 1969. He was one of the original members of the Borton Group and has been sober since September of 1940. Before he begins to tell his own story, He gives a general description of the history of AA. He didn’t have a drink of alcohol until he was 33. Harry tells about being Twelfth Stepped. He talks about the hospitals that early Cleveland area AAs used to go to. Harry talks about starting the very first men's group.
Contents – 9 Tracks
Length – 46 Minutes
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HAZEL RICE - CLEVELAND, OH 7-19-68
Hazel, from the GSO in New York City recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk way back at the 12th Ohio State Convention. When Ebby Thacher was hanging around the New York AA offices looking for handouts, Hazel was the woman who made a few phone calls and got the ball rolling for Ebby’s move to Dallas, Texas. Even though this recording is over 35 years old, it’s very clear. In this talk, Hazel talks growing up in a Baptist home where alcohol was a definite taboo. Before her own dinking had started Hazel recalls being a nurse in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was very bewildered by the drunks that came in time after time. In 1935, Hazel, at age 23 decided to become an airline stewardess. She also began drinking. When her drinking was at its worst, Hazel was living in New York City and she called the Intergroup Office there. She spent her first three years sitting in the back of the rooms of AA before she got a desire to stay sober. Then she became very active in AA. She tells a great story and says, “I think of the General Service Office as a treasure chest that’s filled with all the wonderful miracles that is AA. It’s a place that’s filled with the miracle of Dr and Bill meeting in Akron and starting AA!”
Contents – 14 Tracks
Length – 67 Minutes
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HENRIETTA SEIBERLING - 1971
Shortly after Bill Wilson’s death in January of 1971, the Akron Alcoholics Anonymous groups asked Henrietta Seiberling, to speak at the annual “Founders Day” meeting in Akron. She lived in New York City at the time and did not feel up to traveling. Her son, John Seiberling was asked to speak in her place. John agreed, but felt that it would mean more to them to hear some of her own words, so he called her on the telephone and asked her to tell him about the origins of Alcoholics Anonymous so that he could make sure his remarks were accurate. John made a tape recording of the conversation and played part of it at the 1971 Founders Day meeting, which was held in the gymnasium at the University of Akron with a couple of thousand people present. This CD contains the recording of that telephone conversation John Seiberling had with his mother, Henrietta on that day. Henrietta is right in the middle of telling about Bill picking up “Alec the Finn” when the phone connection is lost. However, this is still a very interesting and important piece of AA history, and the only known recording of Henrietta Seiberling.
Contents – 6 Tracks
Length – 30 Minutes
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HENRY WOMER - NILES, OH 6-8-67
Early Cleveland area AA Member, Henry Womer delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Niles, Ohio on June 8th, 1967. Henry's home group was the Euclid-Wade Group in Cleveland. At the time of this recording, Henry had been sober for 18 years. He’s a very well-travelled man and during these travels makes it a habit to seek out AA meetings all over the world. Henry says that he loved alcohol from the very first time he tasted it. He took his last drink around Christmas time in 1948, when he spent nine days in jail. He goes on to tell how he got into AA and how he eventually recovered from alcoholism.
Contents - 13 Tracks
Length - 65 Minutes
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