Revive Your Imagination with the Golden Age of Radio

When was the last time you turned on your radio and were truly entertained? Are you like so many other listeners out there who simply have the radio on in the car to drown out the traffic, but once you return home find little use for the Am or FM dial? Have you ever considered, or even known about, Old Time Radio broadcasts?

I happened to come across an old time radio show a couple of years ago and from the opening credits I was hooked. Albeit that I am a lover of history, but that isn't necessarily what draws me to continue listening to Old Time Radio broadcasts. The fact is that there are several groups today that are actively recreating the radio atmosphere that existed in the golden age of radio.

Movies or television programs can be entertaining and the recent addition of the high definition format has brought a new depth to video viewing. Even so, there is something more tangible to the "old" radio shows that is hard to find in the computer animated world of modern video programming.

It may be a new concept to some, but the incredible advancement of video and film producing has created an environment of limited imagination for the viewer. There is little doubt that those who create the incredible images and surround-sound scores of today's multimedia experience proudly wave their imagination in front of the audience. Unfortunately though, this causes the viewer to not have to imagine much about the setting or scene. That is where Old Time Radio has a large advantage.

Because there is no video, the producers and artists that created these past audio programs were forced to engage the audience to use their imagination. Sound effects and music scores painted general reference pictures on the listener's mind, but it was the listener themselves that filled in the missing parts of the tapestry. Thousands of radio listeners could hear the same dramatic or comedy program yet walk away with a different interpretation of what they heard.

What is the advantage to this one may ask? It isn't only that each person can have a different interpretation of the program, but the same listener hearing a repeat of it may learn a new perspective based simply upon the hearing of a sound that had previously gone unnoticed. These mental images are more apt to remain in a person's memory longer and undoubtedly stir up engaging conversation between listeners.

So, those shows were broadcast years ago and aren't available anymore right? Wrong! There are various groups today that are dedicated to restoring, preserving and rebroadcasting these terrific shows. A brief internet search for "old time radio shows" will result in numerous links to such wonderful preservationists as the Old Time Radio Researchers group and Old Time Radio Network. Many of the shows are available free of charge, but can also be purchased on individual CDs or sets.

I highly recommend taking a brief vacation from the over sensory experience of video entertainment and rewind the calendar back to a simpler time. It will only take a moment for old time radio listeners to fade into the vibrant colors of their natural imagination and come away with a new found respect and interest in Old Time Radio.