5 - The 1959 Companion Book

Summary

From the earliest stages of its “Navy Project” NBC planned to market both a Rodgers-Bennett soundtrack recording and an illustrated book. The record's amazing sales prompted production of follow-up sequels, but the book wouldn't appear until 1959, much changed from its original vision.

NBC's search for a publisher began in 1951 and its first overtures were to a Boston firm with ties to Forester, Morison, and Salomon. Little, Brown, and Company had published Forester's popular Horatio Hornblower novels since the 1930s, and Morison's History of United States Naval Operations in World War Two was a Little, Brown imprint as well, seven of its fifteen volumes having appeared by 1951.

On 1 November 1951 Salomon met with the press's representative and then recapped details for David Sarnoff:

Yesterday afternoon I had a meeting with one Ned Bradford, Editor-in- Chief… . he professed a great interest in publishing a pictorial book, using film clips from the series together with the scripts. So great was this interest, I can practically guarantee that by next week Little, Brown will make a formal pitch to NBC for a contract… . Meanwhile … I think the book should include. 1) Twenty-six chapters corresponding to the twenty-six programs. 2) Every other page text and every other page pictures. This is the only practical format if we are to publish the book in the fall of 1952, in time for Christmas sales of that year. 3) I should like to make a publishing innovation by printing the principal musical themes along with the title page for each chapter. 4) I believe I could get Winston Churchill to write a foreword or introduction. I believe we should have both, with General Sarnoff writing one or the other … 5) The book would be written by Forester and Rodgers, edited by me and copyrighted by NBC. 6) The book will be about 8 by 11 with the front endpapers consisting of a chart of the Atlantic, and the rear ones a chart of the Pacific. 7) The book should sell for not more than five dollars ($5.00), and, following an early idea of yours, perhaps could be tied into the Rodgers record sales by arranging a deal with RCA Victor. A simple postage-free card could be inserted with each copy entitling the buyer to a discount on the record.