Remembering the Golden Age

I interviewed my Grandma Verla May. She recently turned eight-two years old and was born in 1925 and had plenty of things to say about radio's Golden Age. For example, she told me that her father (my great grandpa) bought the families first radio when she was just twelve years of age. Growing up in Poplar Bluff, she explained that the family radio was not very good in quality and also had limited reception and frequency. She described that her family lived in "the hills.," or out in the middle of nowhere. The radio was a very important part of the family for many years. She told me that usually, right after dinner, the whole family would sit around the radio, and also they would listen to many radio prorgrams, sometimes until 10:00 in the evening. My grandma said that the radio was very family oriented back in the thirties and fourties, and that the family would walk about a quarter of a mile to a friends house to listen to the news. She remembers that her parents' friends got a much better radio and had better reception on the unit. My grandma told me that her favorite radio program was the Grand Ol' Opry, which first debuted in 1925 and remained on-air until 1960, making it the longest running radio show in American history. The show was purchased by NBC and syndicated many years later. She also told me that she enjoyed listening to the Bing Crosby show and how the music on the show had influence on her life. My grandma told me that the she would like the younger generations to realize that the radio really paved the way for television, and that the "golden era" of radio was an important time in American history.

I learned a couple of things from this assignment. For example, by interviewing my Grandma I realized just how important the radio really is, and how it made the invention of the television possible. Furthermore, during the interview, I realized that my grandma is a very knowledgeable person and that the knowledge of the older generation needs to be respected by young people.

What and Why- Television

• Title: 24
• Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
• Local Channel: Fox Channel 2 (KTVI)
• When does the show Air?: Mondays normally at 8:00 p.m. central time. Season 7 premieres on Sunday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m. central and is a two hour special.
• Cable or Broadcast: 24 airs on FOX which is a broadcast channel
• Show in Syndication?: Yes
• Movie Studio involved in Production: 20th Century Fox
• Movie Studios Parent Company: News Corporation
• Year Show Began: 2001 - Present
• Producers: Robert Cochran, Howard Gordan, Joel Surnow, Brian Grazer, Kiefer Sutherland
• Directors: Jon Cassar, Brad Turner, Bryan Spicer
• Writers: Robert Cochran, Joel Surnow, Howard Gordan
• Stars: Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer), Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe O'Brian), Carlos Bernard (Tony Almeida), Dennis Haysbert (President David Palmer)

Q and A:


It is California Presidential Primary Day in Los Angeles and the longest day of Federal Agent Jack Bauer's life is about to begin. Jack has just patched his family back together after a trying separation. Midnight finds Jack playing chess with his teenage daughter Kim. As she goes to bed, Jack gets a call from Nina Myers, his coworker at the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit, telling him to come in for an emergency meeting. Jack has no choice but to report in, but he and his wife Teri learn that Kim has snuck out before he leaves. Kim and her friend Janet York drive to an empty furniture store where they party with a couple of college guys whom they recently met. Kim enjoys herself at first, but starts to become suspicious of the two men when they won't take her home. At CTU, Jack learns that an assassination attempt is being planned against Senator David Palmer; the first African-American presidential candidate with a serious shot at the White House. Jack's boss and friend, Richard Walsh, warns him that people in their own agency may be working with those who plan to kill Palmer. Jack shows how far he's willing to go to do his job when he blackmails District Director George Mason in the hopes of learning information about the Palmer hit. Teri receives a call from Janet's father, Alan York, and the two decide to go out looking for the girls. A European photographer makes pleasant conversation with a beautiful woman on a plane bound for LA. The two end up in a lustful encounter, but more sinister plans come to light that involve a stolen wallet and the destruction of the airplane.


I was introduced to this show around 2005. My parents were obsessed and watched it every week. They told me how amazing the show was, and sure enough, the first time watching was hooked. I have come to realize that the show is so addicting because it happens in real-time, which makes the plot very believable and the options for the show endless. Jack Bauer is a great character, and the show has great special effects. There really is nothing to dislike about the show, and I can't wait for the season seven premiere in early January. I would recommed this show to anyone because it is a great show. There is really no other way to describe it. If anyone out there would like to get involved in a great television show with great action, acting, and storyline, 24 is the show!

Season 7 Preview (E.C.)

What and Why- Music/Recordings

Artist: Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., Lil Wayne, a.k.a. lil weezy, a.k.a. da Carter, a.k.a. Birdman jr., a.k.a. Weezy f. Baby

Album Name: Tha Carter

Popular Songs: Where you at, Fireman, Shooter (ft. Robin Thicke), Hustler Musik, Bring it Back, Soldier, Get Something, Go D.J., Stuntin' Like my Daddy, Duffle Bag Boy

Record Label: Cash Money Records

Year "Tha Carter" was released: 2004

Genre: Rap

Artist Website/Bigraphy Page

Q and A:

I found this album when I was at Best Buy one day in 2004. I learned about this album because I heard Lil Wayne on the radio one morning. I like to listen to rap, and Lil Wayne can rap about anything and everything. He is very talented, and has been rapping since he was eleven years old. I also like the fact that he works with so many different artists and talks about real things that can happen in life. Granted our lives are in no comparison, although I can still relate to certain things he raps about. I would describe myself as a very musical person. I like to listen to all kinds of music, but my favorite music has to be hip hop and rap. Examples of artists I enjoy listening to include: Kanye West, 50 Cent, T- Pain, Akon, T.I., and Justin Timberlake. Unfortunately, I do not have a myspace page, but if I had to choose a favorite song by lil wayne it would be Stuntin' Like My Daddy. I chose this song because it is a song with an awesome beat, with interesting lyrics, and a sweet music video. I normally listen to my music on my IPOD, and download it using Limewire on my computer.

My Favorite Movie

• The Godfather (1972)
• Paramount
• Parent Movie Company: Viacom
• Highest Grossing Films in Paramount's History: Titanic, Braveheart, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Mission Impossible
• Producer: Albert S. Ruddy Executive Producer: Gray Frederickson
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Writer: Mario Puzo
• Stars of the film: Marlon Brando (Don Vito Corleone), Al Pacino (Michael Corleone), James Caan (Santino "Sonny" Corleone)

Q and A:

The story begins as "Don" Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia "family", oversees his daughter's wedding. His beloved son Michael has just come home from the war, but does not intend to become part of his father's business. Through Michael's life the nature of the family business becomes clear. The business of the family is just like the head of the family, kind and benevolent to those who give respect, but given to ruthless violence whenever anything stands against the good of the family. Don Vito lives his life in the way of the old country, but times are changing and some don't want to follow the old ways and look out for community and "family". An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants to start selling drugs in New York, and needs the Don's influence to further his plan. The clash of the Don's fading old world values and the new ways will demand a terrible price, especially from Michael, all for the sake of the family.

Vito Corleone is the aging don or head of the Corleone Mafia Family. His youngest son Michael has returned from WWII just in time to see the wedding of Connie Corleone (Michael's sister) to Carlo Rizzi. All of Michael's family is involved with the Mafia, but Michael just wants to live a normal life. Drug dealer Virgil Sollozzo is looking for Mafia Families to offer him protection in exchange for a profit of the drug money. He approaches Don Corleone about it, but, much against the advice of the Don's lawyer Tom Hagen, the Don is morally against the use of drugs, and turns down the offer. This does not please Sollozzo, who has the Don shot down by some of his hit men. The Don barely survives, which leads his son Michael to begin a violent mob war against Sollozzo and tears the Corleone family apart.

I saw this movie on DVD for the first time in or around 2000. I was interested in seeing this film because my older brother and a couple of friends told me that I needed to see this film, and that it was an amazing gangster movie with great acting. They also told me it was a classic and a "must see." I liked that the movie was a great film and ranks, in my book, as one of the greatest movies of all time. Yes, I would recommend this film to anyone because it is an excellent movie for so many reasons.

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