After nearly 40 years at Pacifica Radio, Larry Bensky hosted the final edition of Sunday Salon on April 29, 2007. Perhaps best known as National Affairs Correspondent on Pacifica Radio from 1987 to 1998, Larry Bensky covered many national and international events for Pacifica, including the Iran-Contra hearings in 1987, the confirmation hearings for four Supreme Court Justices, the 1990 elections in Nicaragua, and demonstrations and protests in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. Most recently he anchored Pacifica’s coverage of Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bensky won the prestigious George Polk Award and five Golden Reel Awards from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.

This week, on From the Vault, Aileen Alfandary will lead us on an audio journey celebrating the life and career of Larry Bensky, one of radio’s signature broadcasters.

Produced and edited by Aaron Glantz.

Executive produced by Sasha Lilley.

Special thanks to Kent Yeglin and Bonnie Simmons.

Pacifica Affiliate Programmers can find this program available for broadcast download at www.audioport.org. Password required.

ORIGINAL SOURCE RECORDINGS:

BC0967 Convention Aftermath 1972 / Larry Bensky MORE INFO

KZ2320.02 President William J. Clinton’s Inaugural MORE INFO

Click here to purchase a copy of this program or learn more about and purchase copies of the historic archival recordings used within this episode. To purchase a CD copy of this program by phone, please call Pacifica Radio Archives at 800.735.0230 x 262.

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How many times have you heard emcees say, “And now, here’s someone who needs no introduction…?”

This week, on From the Vault, we feature a radio legend who truly needs no introduction; even if you’ve never heard the name Studs Terkel before, listening to Studs for a brief moment in front of the microphone is all you would need for him to become an old friend.

Indeed, for almost a century, Studs has been doing just that… being an old friend to America’s radio audiences. With the straight talk of the common man, and the innate joy of popping the bubble of puffed-up fraud, Studs has introduced his listeners to citizen-thinkers and artists from all walks of life. Enhanced by his own personal anecdotes ranging from the great depression, through two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and on into the so-called “New American Century.” Like Will Rogers before him, Studs Terkel’s irascible humor promotes the nobility of the working man and woman, and extolls the virtues of a patriotism deeply rooted in the true strength of American democracy – its people.

More than just a series of conversations strung together, our presentation this week serves to highlight Studs Terkel’s unique radio interview style, elevating each interview to the Homeric stature of an oral history. Preserved and presented by the Pacifica Radio Archives as a chronicle of the ages past – for the ages to come – we hope you enjoy the irreverent and irrepressible wit and wisdom of Studs Terkel, as we wish him a Happy 95th Birthday…From the Vault.

Pacifica Affiliate Programmers can find this program available for broadcast download at www.audioport.org. Password required.

ORIGINAL SOURCE RECORDINGS:

AZ1049 Honoring the Elders: Jessica Midford, Decka, and Studs Terkel MORE INFO

PZ0969.01-02 Studs Terkel: The Spoken Century MORE INFO

IZ0940 Introducing Bob Dylan MORE INFO

PZ0663a-f The Best of Studs Terkel, Volume One 6 CD MORE INFO

PZ0697.01-06 The Best of Studs Terkel, Volume Two 6 CD MORE INFO

KZ1048a Memorial for Phil Ochs MORE INFO

Click here to purchase a copy of this program or learn more about and purchase copies of the historic archival recordings used within this episode. To purchase a CD copy of this program by phone, please call Pacifica Radio Archives at 800.735.0230 x 262.

Click here to send an email to From the Vault.

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In this episode of From the Vault, we will be celebrating the rich and diverse collection of womens’ (and mothers!) voices residing on the shelves of the Pacifica Radio Archives:

Folk legend and activist Aunt Molly Jackson interviewed by Studs Terkel;

Arundhati Roy delivering her legendary “Confronting Empire” speech at the World Social Forum in 2003;

Simone Wilkinson, one of the organizers of the Greenham Common protest and the Great Peace March from Sandinavia to the Soviet Union, discusses her tranfromation from a British housewife into a leader of the worldwide women’s anti-war movement;

Voices of women at the World Gathering of Women in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985;

Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Maxine Waters, and Lynn Woosely speaking their minds in January 2007.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Pacifica Affiliate Programmers can find this program available for broadcast download at www.audioport.org. Password required.

ORIGINAL SOURCE RECORDINGS:

PZ0663.05 The Best of Studs Terkel, Part 5 (Aunt Molly Jackson) MORE INFO

PZ0700.04 Voices for Peace MORE INFO

PZ0533 Arundhati Roy: Confronting Empire MORE INFO

PZ0688.086 Democracy Now! 01/29/07 MORE INFO

Click here to purchase a copy of this program or learn more about and purchase copies of the historic archival recordings used within this episode. To purchase a CD copy of this program by phone, please call Pacifica Radio Archives at 800.735.0230 x 262.

Click here to send an email to From the Vault.

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Rhodesia came into existence as a colonial slave state, established during the halcyon days of the British Raj. A quick glance at a modern world map, however, attests that the powerful colony would eventually assert the right of self-rule… that from the belly of Rhodesia, the independent nation of South Africa would be born.

National independence, however, is not synonymous with freedom. Was it possible that the oppressed could set a new standard for freedom-fighters the world over? In the face of modern technological warfare, could they succeed? And if so, how without the gutters of Johannesburgh running red with blood?

Stephen Biko, a soon-to-be martyred activist, Desmond Tutu- a catholic priest from a township parish, and Nelson Mandela, and imprisoned social activist, would inform history of a new process of emancipation. Together they would prevail upon the state and the world to recognize humanism as the true basis for national sovereignty, and demonstrate a method whereby, for the first time in history, the slaves would free their masters.

This week, From the Vault explores the stories of three heroic South African leaders, woven together by the songs of Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba, and the recollections of Pacifica’s own Eva Georgia and Bridgette Ramasodi, women who grew up in South Africa under Apartheid.

From the Vault brings you the inspiring story of South Africa’s struggle for freedom and social justice – South Africa: A Lesson of Freedom

Pacifica Affiliate Programmers can find this program available for broadcast download at www.audioport.org. Password required.

ORIGINAL SOURCE RECORDINGS:

PZ0163 Mandela at the Oakland Coliseum: His Speech MORE INFO

PZ0164 Mandela at the United Nations, 1990 MORE INFO

KZ2080 The Miracle Dream Comes True: Nelson Mandela is Elected in South Africa / Desmond Tutu MORE INFO

PZ0223 The Need for Immediate Change in South Africa / Nelson Mandela MORE INFO

KZ1576 Miriam Makeba at the Coconut Grove MORE INFO

RELATED MATERIALS:

PZ0686a-c Remembering South Africa Box Set 3 CD MORE INFO

Click here to purchase a copy of this program or learn more about and purchase copies of the historic archival recordings used within this episode. To purchase a CD copy of this program by phone, please call Pacifica Radio Archives at 800.735.0230 x 262.

Click here to send an email to From the Vault.

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