An excellent piece of radio introducing us to Gene Leitner who grew up during the golden age of radio. As a child, Leitner marveled at the 'pictures' radio could paint for him and still finds the medium superior to others. Leitner eventually gets his own show in 1972, playing tapes of recorded old time radio plays, forms a radio drama enthusiasts club, and does re-creation of dramas that had once entertained him. There are some great moments in the piece where Leitner demonstrates how old time radio created sound effects by using simple props. He also recalls moments from one of his favorite radio series 'Lights Out' with excerpts played side by side his recount.
Funny how, in 1972, radio stations weren't keen on broadcasting radio drama, perceiving it 'dead' whereas college students and the younger generation were intrigued by the art form. 33 years later, the perception hasn't changed a bit. While Generation X and onward listen to radio drama and say "If that's radio drama, I like it", radio stations still shy away from the art form.
This piece, thankfully, inspires us to keep those radio plays coming.
This is a completely charming piece that, more than just being a valentine to the great old radio days, is also a portrait of sixtiesish/seventiesish yearning, a tribute to the power of imagination, as well as a celebration of the magic that happens when a group of like-minded, similarly passioned individuals find each other. So much takes place within these thirteen minutes… you even get a behind the scenes look at how radio sound effects are done. As someone in the story says, when you listened to the old radio shows, you didn’t see what everyone else saw. The selection of old radio clips is great, too. What talent these actors had. The whole thing is a warm, deserving tribute to the beauty of the medium… and as such, it could probably play nicely as a part of a radio pledge drive.
A great story. Aaron has proved he can successfully produce radio on a variety of subjects. Overall this piece a bit too long for my short attention span, but that's more of a critique of me, not Aaron. This would touch collectors, radio buffs, and anyone who likes interesting stories about interesting people.
A wonderful story about, and for, radio buffs. Digging through a library of about ten thousand tapes of great radio moments. Great proof what how powerful and imaginative can be - both in years passed. And now. Terrific production!
Comments for Sounds Like Yesterday
Produced by Aaron Henkin
Other pieces by Aaron Henkin
Rating Summary
4 comments
Emon Hassan
Posted on May 01, 2005 at 12:43 PM | Permalink
Review of Sounds Like Yesterday
An excellent piece of radio introducing us to Gene Leitner who grew up during the golden age of radio. As a child, Leitner marveled at the 'pictures' radio could paint for him and still finds the medium superior to others. Leitner eventually gets his own show in 1972, playing tapes of recorded old time radio plays, forms a radio drama enthusiasts club, and does re-creation of dramas that had once entertained him. There are some great moments in the piece where Leitner demonstrates how old time radio created sound effects by using simple props. He also recalls moments from one of his favorite radio series 'Lights Out' with excerpts played side by side his recount.
Funny how, in 1972, radio stations weren't keen on broadcasting radio drama, perceiving it 'dead' whereas college students and the younger generation were intrigued by the art form. 33 years later, the perception hasn't changed a bit. While Generation X and onward listen to radio drama and say "If that's radio drama, I like it", radio stations still shy away from the art form.
This piece, thankfully, inspires us to keep those radio plays coming.
Jonathan Goldstein
Posted on January 30, 2005 at 02:08 PM | Permalink
Review of Sounds Like Yesterday
This is a completely charming piece that, more than just being a valentine to the great old radio days, is also a portrait of sixtiesish/seventiesish yearning, a tribute to the power of imagination, as well as a celebration of the magic that happens when a group of like-minded, similarly passioned individuals find each other. So much takes place within these thirteen minutes… you even get a behind the scenes look at how radio sound effects are done. As someone in the story says, when you listened to the old radio shows, you didn’t see what everyone else saw. The selection of old radio clips is great, too. What talent these actors had. The whole thing is a warm, deserving tribute to the beauty of the medium… and as such, it could probably play nicely as a part of a radio pledge drive.
Justin Grotelueschen
Posted on October 17, 2004 at 09:22 AM | Permalink
Review of Sounds Like Yesterday
A great story. Aaron has proved he can successfully produce radio on a variety of subjects. Overall this piece a bit too long for my short attention span, but that's more of a critique of me, not Aaron. This would touch collectors, radio buffs, and anyone who likes interesting stories about interesting people.
Claes Andreasson
Posted on September 08, 2004 at 07:41 AM | Permalink
Review of Sounds Like Yesterday
A wonderful story about, and for, radio buffs. Digging through a library of about ten thousand tapes of great radio moments. Great proof what how powerful and imaginative can be - both in years passed. And now. Terrific production!