Burl Ives and Sir Edmund Hilary

Burl Ives, folksinger and author of "The Burl Ives songbook : American Song in Historical Perspective", and Sir Edmund Hillary, Mountain Climber and subject of John Hunt's account of the Everest Expedition, "The Conquest of Everest", are honored at this Books and Authors Luncheon. Ives performs songs and Hillary speaks. Irita Taylor Van Doren hosts.


The Program begins with a Mrs. West introducing Edmond Hillary and Burl Ives, and the joy each brings to life. She celebrates joy as the reason for life and art. She praises Hillary's sense of adventure and Ives's gift of song.

The host of the program, Irita Taylor Van Doren, introduces Burl Ives. She recounts an anecdote for the last time Ives performed at the Books and Authors Luncheon when he shared a song with Eisenhower, who was also being honored at the luncheon. She discusses Ives's enormous repertoire of songs, coming from a wide variety of places, sources, and subjects. He is being honored for the publication of "The Burl Ives Songbook: American Song in Historical Perspective."

Burl Ives discusses writing a speech in preparation for a previous Books and Authors Luncheon, one where he was asked to sing instead.
He sings several folk songs, including "Stuttering Lovers," "Goober Peas," "Foggy, Foggy Dew" (Sir Edmund's favorite according to Mrs. Van Doren), and "Blue Tail Fly (Jimmy Crack Corn)."

Van Doren begins her introduction of Sir Hillary, by honoring the other members of the expedition and introducing the two other members in attendance - Charles Evans and George Low. She describes Hillary's history as a climber and the overall success of the expedition and the team. She invites the crowd to read John Hunt's The Conquest of Everest.

Hillary speaks. He belittles his qualifications to speak at an Authors Luncheon. He talks about Hunt's abilities as a climber and a writer and his dedication as well. He recounts a story about working with Hunt. He talks (and jokes) about the spirit of adventure in human beings. He tells a story involving a climb with George Low and others in which they were caught in a whirlpool. He praises books of adventure.

Van Doren closes out the luncheon.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 150181
Municipal archives id: LT2743