MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: FIFTH ANNUAL RADIO FESTIVAL: FROM THE STONES TO SINATRA: A CONVERSATION WITH JONATHAN SCHWARTZ {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. Held in New York, this seminar, part of the Fifth Annual Radio Festival, is moderated by radio curator Ken Mueller and features a conversation with longtime New York radio voice and force Jonathan Schwartz. The seminar begins with a highlight tape of some memorable radio moments from Schwartz's thirty-year career.
Next, Mueller introduces Schwartz, and the following topics are discussed: the factors that attracted Schwartz to radio despite his family's musical-performance background; his love of all sports, especially baseball; his initial job in 1967 at WNEW-FM, which was playing music about which he knew little; his early education in the progressive-rock-music scene and its many artists; his long tenure at WNEW-AM, a station with deep New York City roots; his many interviews with music stars and celebrated personalities; the importance of Frank Sinatra in all genres of music; the disappearance of the music of the past generation from radio, despite the quality of that music; the changes in radio in the era of satellites, internet, and other electronic advances; the possibilities of satellite radio stations; the differences between commercial and non-commercial radio; Schwartz's opinion of the many changes in radio over the past thirty years; the genesis of his singing career; the hiring of popular singers for private affairs by wealthy people; and the relationship between his books of fiction and music.
The audience then offers questions, which lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: the talent of music writers of the past such as Cole Porter; Schwartz's plans at WNYC-FM; his predictions for the music of his generation in fifty years; his feelings about the suggestion that he return to a morning time slot; the late Jean Shepherd; Schwartz's relationship with his audience through the years; the people who influenced him in the early 1950s; and the possible availability of recordings of his broadcasts or musical performances.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: November 3, 1999 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:18:11
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:58315
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ken Mueller … Moderator
- Jonathan Schwartz … Panelist
- Cole Porter
- Jean Shepherd
- Frank Sinatra