As Ye Sow
{{Short description|1937 radio serial}}
{{Infobox radio show
| name = As Ye Sow
| image = As_Ye_Sow_Poster.png
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| other_names =
| format = serial drama
| runtime = 30 mins
| start_time =
| end_time =
| runtime_note =
| country = Australia
| language = English
| home_station = 2FC
| syndicates = ABC
| presenter =
| starring =
| announcer =
| creator =
| writer = Edmund Barclay
| director =
| producer = Lawrence H. Cecil
| exec_producer =
| editor =
| senior_editor =
| narrated =
| rec_location =
| rem_location =
| oth_location =
| first_aired = 4 January 1937{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17292721 |title=Broadcasting |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=30,886 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=30 December 1936 |accessdate=29 June 2023 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}
| last_aired = 6 September 1937{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70544748 |title=Monday, September 6. |newspaper=The Central Queensland Herald |volume=9 |issue=402 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=2 September 1937 |accessdate=29 June 2023 |page=57 |via=National Library of Australia}}
| num_series = 1
| num_episodes = 36
| audio_format =
| opentheme =
| othertheme =
| endtheme =
}}
As Ye Sow is a 1937 Australian radio serial by Edmund Barclay. It told the story of six generations of Australians in early colonial Australia.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article266216552 |title=Stars of the Air |newspaper=Queanbeyan Age |volume= |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 May 1947 |accessdate=29 June 2023 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244651411 |title="As Ye Sow" Opens Drama Week |newspaper=The Herald |issue=18,697 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=20 April 1937 |accessdate=29 June 2023 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}
It was "regarded by many critics as the greatest contribution to Australian historical drama."{{Citation
| title=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 35 | issue =40 | date = October 5, 1940
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-715934473
| id=nla.obj-715934473
| access-date=3 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
Premise
The story of an Australian family from 1788 to 1938, beginning with convict woman, Prudence Dent, and the Rum Corps officer, Gilbert Teal.
Background
Barclay had written an earlier saga about an Australian family for radio Love o' Land but that was a one off drama not a serial.
Barclay later said, "I lived with the characters in As Ye Sow for six months prior to writing the story."
He added, "In my heart, I felt that Janet in As Ye Sow deserved a happier ending, but I couldn't let personal feelings interfere... I had dozens of letters protesting -against my treatment of Bluey and Mary... I can only say that it just had to turn 'out' that way."
The series was heavily publicised by the ABC.{{Citation
| title=As yesom
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =2 | date = January 8, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-713793410
| id=nla.obj-713793410
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
The serial ran into September, after which it was followed by another Barclay serial, Into the Light, set in medieval Europe.
Reception
The Bulletin said it "is not, as done, as good a thing as it might be. "{{Citation
| title=Radio News Sundry Broadcasts.
| journal=The Bulletin
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| volume=58
| issue=2971
| date=20 Jan 1937
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-569602208
| id=nla.obj-569602208
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}} However the same magazine later said "the production shines because of its excellent radio technique. To portray character, suggest scenery and limn every situation definitely and unmistakably by sound alone is a difficult job, but it has been accomplished in this case with signal success."{{Citation
| title=All Round the Dial.
| journal=The Bulletin
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| volume = 58 | issue =2981 | date = 31 Mar 1937
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-571554922
| id=nla.obj-571554922
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
Leslie Rees called it:
A pioneer in historical-personal writing for Australian radio... There were faults of sentimentality and strained pattern-making as well as other shortcomings... but the story also had epic progress, characters who could become more real than one’s own circle, and the liveliest interest in the Australian chronicle...{{cite book|pages=100–101|url=https://archive.org/details/towardsaustralia0000lesl/page/100/mode/2up?q=%22as+ye+sow%22+%22edmund+barclay%22|title= Towards An Australian Drama|last=Leslie|first= Rees|year=1953}} It gathered a tremendous following from coast to coast. No one had ever before tried to recreate the whole course of Australia’s history in one dramatic chronicle... Barclay’s success, more particularly in the first dozen episodes, was in projecting a group of characters as real as the members of one’s own family, with side-philosophies humorous and human, and in a confident flow of action.{{cite book|title= Australian drama, 1970-1985: a historical and critical survey|last=Rees|first= Leslie|year=1987 |publisher=Angus & Robertson Publishers |pages=157–159|url=https://archive.org/details/australiandrama10000rees/page/158/mode/2up?q=%22as+ye+sow%22+%22edmund+barclay%22}}
Clement Semmler called it "an early ABC triumph... written by a prolific and usually hack radio writer."{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/abcauntsallysacr0000semm/page/120/mode/2up?q=%22as+ye+sow%22+%22edmund+barclay%22|page=120|title= The ABC: Aunt Sally and sacred cow
|last=Semmler|first= Clement|year=1981 |publisher= Melbourne University Press }}
The series was very popular. There was another version in 1941,{{Citation
| title=A.B.C. Serial, As Ye Sow
| journal=ABC Weekly
| volume = 3 | issue =43 | date = 25 October 1941
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1323330284
| id=nla.obj-1323330284
| access-date=29 June 2023
| via=Trove
}} 1947{{Citation
| title=A.B.C.’s Popular As ye Sow Serial To Be Revived
| journal=ABC Weekly
| volume = 9 | issue =8 | date = 22 February 1947
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1377471060
| id=nla.obj-1377471060
| access-date=29 June 2023
| via=Trove
}} and 1951.{{Citation
| title=As Ye Sow
| journal=ABC Weekly
| volume = 13 | issue =32 | date = 11 August 1951
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1549725373
| id=nla.obj-1549725373
| access-date=29 June 2023
| via=Trove
}}
In the late 1940s there was discussion the drama would be filmed in Hollywood.{{Citation
| title=Authors' Views on Drama
| journal=ABC Weekly
| volume = 12 | issue =52 | date = 30 December 1950
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1536603119
| id=nla.obj-1536603119
| access-date=24 August 2023
| via=Trove
}}
Select episodes
- Ep 1 (4 Jan 1937). Seed Time{{Citation
| title=Monday January [4]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =1 | date = January 1, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-712948714
| id=nla.obj-712948714
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 2 (11 Jan 1937). Wavering{{Citation
| title=Monday January [11]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =2 | date = January 8, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-713794220
| id=nla.obj-713794220
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 3 (18 Jan) Crossing the Rubicon{{Citation
| title=Monday January 18
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =3 | date = January 15, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-712957415
| id=nla.obj-712957415
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 4 (25 Jan) Tillage{{Citation
| title=Monday January 25
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =4 | date = January 22, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-713026552
| id=nla.obj-713026552
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 5 (1 Feb) The First Australians{{Citation
| title=Monday February 1
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =5 | date = January 29, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-713008932
| id=nla.obj-713008932
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 6 (8 Feb) The Golden Fleece{{Citation
| title=Monday February 8
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =6 | date = February 5, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-710927916
| id=nla.obj-710927916
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 7 (15 Feb) Governor Bligh{{Citation
| title=Monday February 15
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =7 | date = February 12, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-713018380
| id=nla.obj-713018380
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 8 (22 Feb) Over the Mountain{{Citation
| title=Monday February [22]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =8 | date = February 19, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-713055821
| id=nla.obj-713055821
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 9 (1 March) Broadacres{{Citation
| title=Monday March 1
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =9 | date = February 26, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-713035306
| id=nla.obj-713035306
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 10 (8 March) Gilbert the Second{{Citation
| title=Monday March 8
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =10 | date = March 5, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-712741514
| id=nla.obj-712741514
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 11 (15 March) Reap in Joy{{Citation
| title=Monday March [15]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =11 | date = March 12, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-712879512
| id=nla.obj-712879512
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 12 (22 March) Harvest Home{{Citation
| title=Monday March 22
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =12 | date = March 19, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-723015855
| id=nla.obj-723015855
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 13 (29 March) Evensong{{Citation
| title=Monday March 29
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =13 | date = March 26, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-712900288
| id=nla.obj-712900288
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 14 (5 April) The New Era{{Citation
| title=Monday April [5]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =14 | date = April 2, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-719996740
| id=nla.obj-719996740
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 15 (12 April) The Gold Rush{{Citation
| title=Monday April 12
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =15 | date = April 9, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718552311
| id=nla.obj-718552311
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 16 (19 April) The Eureka Stockade{{Citation
| title=Monday [April 19]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =16 | date = April 16, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-719971897
| id=nla.obj-719971897
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 17 (26 April) Ploughshares into Scales{{Citation
| title=Monday April 26
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =17 | date = April 23, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718566566
| id=nla.obj-718566566
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 18 (3 May) Sydney Siders{{Citation
| title=Monday May 3
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =18 | date = April 30, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718578795
| id=nla.obj-718578795
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 19 (10 May) Coming of Age{{Citation
| title=Monday May [10]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =19 | date = May 5, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-719805007
| id=nla.obj-719805007
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 20 (17 May) Town and Country{{Citation
| title=Monday May [17]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =20 | date = May 14, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718591572
| id=nla.obj-718591572
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 21 (24 May) Reaping Enquiry{{Citation
| title=Monday May [24]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =21 | date = May 21, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718604132
| id=nla.obj-718604132
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 22 (31 May) Many Waters{{Citation
| title=Monday May [31]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =22 | date = May 28, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718619031
| id=nla.obj-718619031
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 23 (7 June) The Rift{{Citation
| title=Monday June [7]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =23 | date = June 4, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718633876
| id=nla.obj-718633876
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 24 (14 June) Black Wednesday{{Citation
| title=Monday [June 14]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =24 | date = June 11, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718643889
| id=nla.obj-718643889
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 25 (21 June) The Last of the Old{{Citation
| title=Monday June [21]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =25 | date = June 18, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718667985
| id=nla.obj-718667985
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 26 (28 June) The Barren Harvest{{Citation
| title=Monday [June 28]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 29 | issue =26 | date = June 25, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-718724594
| id=nla.obj-718724594
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 27 (5 July) Federation{{Citation
| title=Monday [July 5]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =1 | date = July 2, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714769845
| id=nla.obj-714769845
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 28 (12 July) Nearing Today{{Citation
| title=Monday July 12
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =2 | date = July 9, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714761070
| id=nla.obj-714761070
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 29 (19 July) Prelude to War{{Citation
| title=Monday [July 19]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =3 | date = July 16, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714864762
| id=nla.obj-714864762
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- 30 (26 July) Anzac{{Citation
| title=Monday [July 26]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =4 | date = July 23, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714684021
| id=nla.obj-714684021
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 31 (2 August) Turn of the Tide{{Citation
| title=Monday [August 2]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =5 | date = July 30, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714693146
| id=nla.obj-714693146
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 32 (9 August) The Last of the Teals{{Citation
| title=Monday [August 9]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =6 | date = August 6, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714703775
| id=nla.obj-714703775
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 33 (16 August) The Bubble Bursts{{Citation
| title=Monday August 16
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =7 | date = August 13, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714712852
| id=nla.obj-714712852
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 34 (23 August) Prudence and Gilbert{{Citation
| title=Monday [August 23]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =8 | date = August 20, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714724186
| id=nla.obj-714724186
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 35 (30 Aug) Big John Intervenes{{Citation
| title=Monday August 30
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =9 | date = August 27, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714733195
| id=nla.obj-714733195
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}
- Ep 36 (6 Sept) The New Crop (last episode){{Citation
| title=Monday [Sept. 6]
| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal
| volume = 30 | issue =10 | date = September 3, 1937
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Wireless Press
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-714752265
| id=nla.obj-714752265
| access-date=23 September 2023
| via=Trove
}}