Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bakin’ Tips and Mason Bits – Episode 11

May 12, 2020Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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This episode marks the 6th edition since the Coronavirus quarantine began, and we hope that it finds you healthy, safe, and finding some joy in a slower, more sedentary pace of life. Many people have been finding outlets for the newfound time at home in cooking, crafting, home projects, new skills, and also baking, a favorite pastime of our host Joe Weber. Joe comes from a long line of bakery suppliers and has been baking bread himself for 50 years, so he thought that this would be a good chance to share some essential tips and techniques learned from his many years of trial and error.

But the bread is just the first course of an episode chock full of delectable treats — two classic comedy bits by Jackie Mason, a reading from Richard Yates, some humor by Jack Handey, and a couple of Cole Porter tunes are just some of the menu items on offer. We even feature an appearance from Christopher Walken and his favorite instrumentalist. We hope you enjoy!

Frank O’Connor’s ‘The Genius’ – Episode 10

May 5, 2020Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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“So far, our town hadn’t had a proper genius, and I intended to supply the deficiency.” So says Larry, the precocious young narrator of Frank O’Connor’s 1957 short story “The Genius.” It is one of several of O’Connor’s stories told from the perspective of a child, and follows our genius Larry navigating the lesser minds around him, questioning where babies come from, and trying not to look dumb in front of his new crush Una. This episode features Joe reading this classic story, along with some musings from another of our favorite deep thinkers, humorist Jack Handey. We also feature Richard Wilbur reading his poem, “The Last One,” and as always, some wonderful music. We hope you enjoy it!

Tales of the 20th Century – Episode 9

April 27, 2020Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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Our episode this week will feature two magnificent recordings of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” along with some accompanying commentary about the renowned 1904 opera. We then fast-forward about 50 years with a passage from Richard Yates’ novel of suburban frustration, “Revolutionary Road.” Along the way, we’ll have some great music and poetry to lead you through. Enjoy!

Dukes and Mobsters – Episode 8

April 21, 2020Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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We are back this week with a brand new episode designed to transport you to yet another time and place, this time 16th Century Mantua, Italy. Joe explores the rough lawmakers of the time, in particular the Duke of Mantua, through commentary on a glorious recording of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” We then move to a more modern telling of Italian-American history, and take a look at another tough bunch, the Corleone family of Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather.” Through some film clips and a couple of pieces of Nino Rota’s indelible score, Joe will draw parallels between the monarchs of hundreds of years ago and the mobsters of the 1940s.

Return to the Old West – Episode 7

April 13, 2020Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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Travel back to a bygone time with host Joe Weber, as he explores some of the legends and tales of the Old West through music and storytelling. Resident Western expert Jim Dunham returns to teach Joe about Wyatt Earp’s gunfights and why it probably wouldn’t have been smart to ask Doc Holliday for a refund if you weren’t satisfied with your dental work. We’ll feature some wonderful country tunes, and also a more modern take on rough and ready outlaws with a clip from the Coen Brothers’ early classic “Raising Arizona.”

Back to the Old West – Episode 6

April 6, 2020Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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This week, your host Joe Weber takes you back on a tour of the Old West with poetry, some classic Western tunes and a fascinating interview about the rivalry between Sheepherders and Ranchers with Cartersville, GA-based expert Jim Dunham. You’ll also be treated to the very first visit to the AM1690 studio of Stephan Fllambeau, Atlanta’s “premiere” performance “artist”, a long running sketch that Joe produced with actor Larry Larson over several years. Please enjoy!

Comedy Roundup – Episode 5

March 30, 2020Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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This week, your host Joe Weber has compiled some of his favorite comedy bits from AM1690, The Voice of the Arts in Atlanta. Comedy was always an essential glue that held together the blend of music, short stories, poetry, and other facets of culture that the station explored. This first edition of our Comedy Roundup features readings, clips from some timeless comedy bits and performers, and a first taste of the kind of original sketches and faux-commercials that were created specifically for the station, with some wonderful music choices to tie them all together. Enjoy!

A Late Encounter With the Enemy – Episode 4

March 6, 2020Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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This week’s episode finds your host, Joe Weber, ruminating on the realities of aging, and features a reading of Flannery O’Connor’s “A Late Encounter with the Enemy”. Written in 1953 and published in 1955 in her short story collection “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, this is O’Connor’s only story dealing with the American Civil War. Enjoy!

First Confession – Episode 3

November 4, 2019Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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On this episode of “The Voice of the Arts,” host Joe Weber offers listeners a reading of Frank O’Connor’s short story “First Confession.” Originally published in 1950, this story uses humor and playfulness to tell the story of a young boy’s fears over going to give his first ever confession at Church. Along with this story, we have a couple other surprises in store this week. We hope you enjoy!

Everything That Rises Must Converge – Episode 2

July 31, 2019Uncategorizedthevoiceofthearts

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The second episode of “The Voice of the Arts” features a reading of Flannery O’Connor’s “Everything That Rises Must Converge.” Originally published in 1961, it won the O’Henry award in 1963. Please enjoy!