"Those Were the Days" Host Steve Darnall presents "Golden Age of Radio" November 10 at Oak Park Public Library

Join "Those Were the Days" host Steve Darnall for a look back at the Golden Age of Radio, with sound clips and stories galore on Thursday, November 10 at 2 pm at the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street.

During the "Golden Age" of Radio," listeners were treated to clever comedy and groundbreaking drama with the flick of a switch. But this "golden age" was more than mere entertainment; it was the dawn of mass media in America, a chance for Americans to come together as a listening community and share a listening experience. Among the performers you'll hear are Jewish comedian Jack Benny (who built his comedy upon assimilation) and Gertrude Berg whose "Rise of the Goldbergs" show was actually an attempt to bring a specific ethnicity to radio. 

This special program is part of the Maurice Sendak celebration which includes "In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak," a national traveling exhibit at the Oak Park Public Library through Friday, December 16. The celebration also includes the "Oak Park: Where the Wild Things Are" art exhibit in the Main Library Art Gallery and the "Hollywood Looks at The Jewish Experience in America" film series.

For a complete schedule of Sendak events, see www.oppl.org/sendak/.