Five Directors

Book excerpt: Five Directors collects the fascinating memories of some of radio's most vivid personalities: Himan Brown, Axel Gruenberg, Fletcher Markle, Arch Oboloer, and Robert Lewis Shayon. They explain in their own words their journey through radio broadcasting, how it affected their lives, and how they saw it affecting the consciousness of a country. Their histories are not just stories of success in early twentieth century America, but individual portraits of the roller coaster changes in lifestyle that swept the United States. Radio delivered not only entertainment, but up-to-date news, from Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic triumph, to Roosevelt's comforting Fireside Chats during the depths of the Depression. Five Directors is witness to the triumphs of radio, and brings its enormous impact home with clear, personable narratives and prose. It includes a selected list of credits for each director and a handy index, making the book a breezy, useful tool for anyone fascinated by or nostalgic about America's first nationwide entertainment industry.