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 INTRODUCING YOUNG PEOPLE TO OLD-TIME RADIO
by Clint N. Evans

Many old-time radio enthusiasts would like to introduce their favorite hobby to young people. Well, my father successfully hooked my brother and I when we were 12 and 14, and I'd like to tell you how he did it. It is possible for the MTV-Generation to enjoy vintage radio shows!

Really, I think there are only three main points to remember.

First, it's important to introduce old-time radio gradually to young people and lower their expectations. Let me explain. When I say lower their expectations, don't just go up to them and shout, "These shows are the greatest thing since the invention of video games! You have to listen!" Instead, invite them to listen to a show when they're not busy doing something else.

That is the approach my father used to introduce these great old programs to my brother and me. In fact, he said, "How about listening to Challenge of the Yukon as you're going to sleep?" He didn't pressure us, thankfully, or tell us how great it was going to be. He let us pick the episode and climb into bed. Would you like to guess which show is still
one of our favorites?

Second, high-quality sound is a must. Young people today are accustomed to digital clarity. If they have to struggle to hear a show, they become easily frustrated and will turn it off. My father purchased some compressed MP3 CDs that held a hundred shows and, frankly, we were not able to listen to the first two minutes of the program. Companies such as
First Generation Radio Archives, however, demonstrate just how clean and crisp the sound can be.

The point is, don't expect children to listen to shows that they have to struggle to hear. This also means that the CD player must be of acceptable quality. It doesn't matter how good the recording is, if the player is junk, then the listener will be frustrated. My brother and I used
to own a cheap CD player that skipped and failed to read some perfectly good discs.

Finally, young people like to have a choice in what they hear. My father enjoys Vic and Sade, and my mother likes Our Miss Brooks, but my brother and I would rather hear Jack Armstrong. Luckily, our parents do not force us to listen to their choices. There's plenty of room in old-time radio for everyone to pick their favorites. That's part of the fun!

My brother and I still listen to old-time radio shows. Our favorite titles are Challenge of the Yukon, Jack Armstrong, Rocky Jordan, Lum and Abner, and Red Skeleton. The manner in which our father introduced vintage radio to us allowed us to appreciate these programs on their own merits. Instead of forcing us to listen, he invited us to listen. There's a
big difference. If older folks use this approach, the number of younger folks who develop an interest may surprise them.

Courtesy of:
First Generation Radio Archives "Preserving Radio's Past for the Future"