It’s a bird, it’s a plane…it’s "Harriet"!
This is not a story of oppression but a story of liberation.
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (1991)
For 50 years radio dominated the airwaves and the American consciousness as the first “mass medium.” In Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio, Ken Burns examines the lives of three extraordinary men who shared the primary responsibility for this invention and its early success, and whose genius, friendship, rivalry and enmity interacted in tragic ways. This is the story of Lee de Forest, a clergyman’s flamboyant son, who invented the audion tube; Edwin Howard Armstrong, a brilliant, withdrawn inventor who pioneered FM technology; and David Sarnoff, a hard-driving Russian immigrant who created the most powerful communications company on earth.
- / 5
PopScore
Representation
Pictures and Videos
Movie Information
For 50 years radio dominated the airwaves and the American consciousness as the first “mass medium.” In Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio, Ken Burns examines the lives of three extraordinary men who shared the primary responsibility for this invention and its early success, and whose genius, friendship, rivalry and enmity interacted in tragic ways. This is the story of Lee de Forest, a clergyman’s flamboyant son, who invented the audion tube; Edwin Howard Armstrong, a brilliant, withdrawn inventor who pioneered FM technology; and David Sarnoff, a hard-driving Russian immigrant who created the most powerful communications company on earth.
Rating:
Genre:Documentary, History
Written By:Geoffrey C. Ward
In Theaters:10/1/1991
Box Office:
Runtime:113 minutes
Studio:Florentine Films
Cast
Ken Burns
Director
Jason Robards
Narrator (voice)
Red Barber
Self - Radio Announcer
Erik Barnouw
Self - Historian
Ken Bilby
Self - Biographer of David Sarnoff
Norman Corwin
Self - Writer
Susan Douglas
Self - Historian
Frank Günther
Self - Engineer
Jeanne Hammond
Self - Niece of Edwin H. Armstrong
Loren Jones
Self - Engineer
Garrison Keillor
Self - Writer
Helen Kelley
Self - Radio Broadcaster
Articles You May Like
'Show Dogs' Are On the Case
A K-9 police dog goes undercover to stop an illegal animal smuggling ring and learns a valuable lesson along the way.
'The Suicide Squad' Is Gory, Gratuitous, but Great
'The Suicide Squad' is at its best when it focuses on its characters and commentary on real-life issues, but stumbles when it relies too heavily on gratuitous gore and insensitive humor.
Diversity Programming At The Austin Film Festival
Coverage from the Austin Film Festival, highlighting some panels and films that emphasized the importance of diverse and inclusive storytelling.
Bring Her Back: the Psychological Threat and How to Grieve Properly
The external threat invaded the domestic environment at the most valuable moment: grieving.
'Legally Blonde' Was a Woke Feminist Comedy — Then It Kind of Wasn't
'Legally Blonde' remains a standard of feminist filmmaking over two decades after its release, although its poor treatment of racial and sexual minorities make it a product of its time.