What I’m Reading – “Air – An Anthology”

Air: An Anthology curated and edited by Donna Talarico (2019) Books by Hippocampus

I have been meaning to write a full review of the book for months.  But in the words of Butterbur “One thing drives out another!”  I promo-ed the book when it first came out (HERE).  Part of Books by Hippocampus’ The Way Things Were series, the book looks at radio as it used to be.  As the previous post notes, I am one of the contributors to the anthology.

As I expected, many of the stories were from “old-timers” (like me) remembering a very different business than radio today. The rest takes us to different ways and places that radio affected our lives.  As I’ve said before, these are stories told by storytellers, and worth every moment of the read:

My Old Time Radio (Ross Klavan) talks about watching his father’s career in the ’50s and ’60s.

Satellites (Amy M. Miller) brings us forward by a half-century or so to examine the crossroads of radio, music, and romance.

Breathing Famous Air (James Fox) is a story of that first job in small market radio and a chance meeting with the biggest celebrity in town.

Radio Envy (Beth R. Barth) takes to the other end of the radio.  A lifelong affair as a listener.

Sidekicks, Stunts & A Frog Suit (RobCardillo) brings you along to another small market station, and the hooks the radio life can sink in you (even when the job stinks!)

Glass City Memories (Francis DiClemente) takes into the newsroom, a vital part of the old-time radio station (and where I got my start!)

Voiceover (Ginny McDonald) gives you a look at the real workhorse studio of the radio station, the production studio.  Voice the commercials, the promos, the teases and more.  Just you, the script, the mic, and rolling tape.  I love the line “I take the good decongestants”.  Every announcer will nod their head at that.

The Radio Was Always On (Victoria Otto Franzese) goes back to the day when radio was THE electronic medium. During the Second World War, it was a lifeline from every home to the wider world and from the front lines back home.

Re-Creating Baseball Games on Radio in 1951-52 (Big Jim Williams) will be a surprise to the younger generations.  Once upon a time, if you couldn’t get to the ball game, you just made it up (sort of).

Robin Williams, The Ticktockman and Me (Petrea Burchard) gives us a taste of radio theater when she got the chance to work with Williams and sc-fi legend Harlan Ellison.

Radio Daze (Dagney C. Ernest) takes into small market radio again, this time in Maine.  Part of the life is problem-solving, like what to do when the bathroom is being re-built.

Dayparts (Vicki Mayk) offers a hometown story for me!  KDKA, Pittsburgh and Ed and Wendy King.  Staying up late when you’re supposed to be asleep.  It’s only the beginning.  Been there…

We’re Just Plain Fun (Scott Manthe)  More problem-solving genius!  What to do (before cell phones) when the on-location talent has kicked out a plug and doesn’t know it.

Making Radio History In Michigan, 1968-69 (Jack C. Heinritz) Top 40 radio arrives in Lansing Michigan.  Do you remember Top 40 arriving at “WKRP in Cincinnati”?  Yeah.

Takin’ Ya Right Up To Midnight (John Fisher) Did you ever work in a market with a station owned by an old guy who had been around forever?  Who did his own thing no matter what the industry did? Me too.  Here’s a story of a small-time radio station and a “big time” announcer.

Being Delilah (Jessica Forcier)  Satellite delivered programming forced lots of us out of the industry.  Forcier tells the story of watching one of the most successful love song hosts doing radio right.

When I Was Famous (Colin Rafferty) Being on the air brings fame, and the industry hasn’t been afraid to use that as a lure for its own ends.

A Car To Drive (Sarah Wells) All I have to say is “getting the lyrics wrong”.  You know the rest.

A Box And A Blast (J.D. Phillippi) Some dude does something untoward live during the news.  (It’s not as awful as it sounds, lol)

WLRW, 1963 – In The Stereo From The Cornfield (Brian R. Bland) Big dreams in the middle of nowhere.

Keep Them Tables Turnin’, Discs A-Spinnin’, Cards and Letters Comin’ In (Maggie Martin) A single mom begins a new life in Florida on the air.

Super Summer Spectacular (Anthony J. Mohr)  Every station has a crazy promotion that didn’t work out.  This is a story of one that went very, very wrong.

Witness to History: D-Day on the Air (Stephanie Feuer) – A great idea, even when it’s crazy and hard and your boss thinks you’re nuts, is worth fighting for.

That’s It.  That’s The News  (Anne B. Henry) – Coming home and working with the local legend.

It’s a wonderful book, filled with wonderful stories.  Radio vets will recognize many of the themes and situations.  If you loved listening, it’s a spectacular peek behind the curtain.

Rating – **** Recommneded