- Paperback: 546 pages
- Publisher: University of California Press; New Ed edition (31 Aug 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0520223039
- ISBN-13: 978-0520223035
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 15.3 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,771,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"Nachman takes such delight in chronicling the medium's rise and fall that even readers raised away from radio will understand why a whole generation projected their imaginations onto this vast sonic canvas."--"Publishers Weekly"
Product Description
In the late 1920s radio exploded almost overnight into being America's dominant entertainment, just as television would do twenty-five years later. Gerald Nachman, himself a product of the radio years, takes us back to the heyday of radio, bringing to life the great performers and shows, as well as the not-so-great and not-great-at-all. Nachman analyzes the many genres that radio exploited or invented, from the soap opera to the sitcom to the quiz show, zooming in to study closely key performers like Jack Benny, Bob Hope, and Fred Allen. Raised on Radio is a generous, instructive, and sinfully readable salute to an extraordinary American phenomenon.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Although Gerald Nachmann presents a good overview of the golden age of radio, the book is riddled with errors, a clear indication of faulty research.
For instance, he indicates that Mary Jane Croft portrayed the Southern belle, Leila Ransom on the Great Gildersleeve show, when in fact the character was played by Shirley Mitchell. Nachmann also states that Harold Peary portrayed George Gildersleeve who owned a girdle factory on the Fibber McGee and Molly program. Harold Peary did portray a wide array of stooge characters on the show, many of whom shared the Gildersleeve name. However, it was Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve who owned the girdle works, not George.
For the beginner the book provides a good introduction to old time radio, but beware of quoting the the many errors as facts.
Format:Hardcover
While reading this book, I was once again 9 years old, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of our old Philco, slurping Cheerioats all over my school clothes, but determined not to miss Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders or the Lone Ranger. With just the quote of a jingle or a telling announcer's phrase, Gerald Nachman evokes a whole era and and important segment of our social history. It's a complete history, from crystal sets to Don Imus, with tremendous good stuff in between, especially juicy tidbits about Red Skelton and Arthur Godfrey. To the other reviewer who quibbled with Nachman's accuracy regarding Adlai Stevenson in 1960--he WAS a presidential candidate during the convention, just not on the national ticket. Picky-picky! I heartily recommend this wonderful book to everyone, but especially to those aging nostalgiacs like me who love getting back to their childhood if just for a few hours. Don't touch that dial!
Format:Hardcover
I laughed out load during many passages of this exceedingly well written book about the "good old days of radio." It's a balanced mixture of behind the scenes info, warm rememberances and hilarious author comments on the glory days of radio. Chapters are divided by types of shows. There's even a chapter on sound effects. I wished it could have been twice as long.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Episodic and discontinuous
There's disappointingly little narrative or historical continuity to tie together the anecdotes that make up "Raised on Radio". Read more
Published on 3 Feb 1999
There's something wrong here.
There's something wrong here. This is not a well written book. The writing lacks music, it does not flow, and I have the feeling that the author was uncomfortable writing. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 1999
A radio lover's book that could be fine tuned.
Raised on Radio is for those not really raised on radio but who experienced radio sometime in the twenties, thirties, particularly the forties, and just possibly the fifties... Read more
Published on 19 Jan 1999
Disappointing, yet pleasant, journey to the past.
A disappointment here. Very readable overview of the glory days of radio before television. Doesn't break much original ground, but is a fun rehash of radio history. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 1999
A very enjoyable learning and entertaining experience
Raised on Radio is a delight to read. Gerald Nachman has done a fine job of reviewing the Golden Years of Radio. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 1998
A must for anyone raised on radio.
I come at this book from an oblique angle. Yes, I was definitely raised on radio shows like "The Great Gildersleeve" and "Fibber McGee and Molly," but I was... Read more
Published on 15 Oct 1998
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