Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio(1991)
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio Synopsis
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of Lee de Forest, a clergyman’s flamboyant son, who invented the audion tube; Edwin Howard Armstrong, a brilliant, withdrawn inventor who pioneered FM technology; and David Sarnoff, a hard-driving Russian immigrant who created the most powerful communications company on earth.
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (1991) is a documentary and history film directed by Ken Burns, released on October 1, 1991 with a runtime of 1h 53m. It stars Jason Robards, Red Barber, Erik Barnouw and Ken Bilby. Viewers rate it 7.8 out of 10 across 10 ratings.
- Director:
- Ken Burns
- Writers:
- Geoffrey C. Ward, Tom Lewis
- Producers:
- Ken Burns, Morgan Wesson, Tom Lewis
- Cinematographer:
- Allen Moore
- Production:
- Florentine Films
- Status:
- Released
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio Cast & Crew
Main cast
Jason Robards
as Narrator (voice)
- Red Barber
Red Barber
as Self - Radio Announcer
- Erik Barnouw
Erik Barnouw
as Self - Historian
- Ken Bilby
Ken Bilby
as Self - Biographer of David Sarnoff
- Norman Corwin
Norman Corwin
as Self - Writer
Susan Douglas
as Self - Historian
- Frank Günther
Frank Günther
as Self - Engineer
- Jeanne Hammond
Jeanne Hammond
as Self - Niece of Edwin H. Armstrong
- Loren Jones
Loren Jones
as Self - Engineer
Garrison Keillor
as Self - Writer
- Helen Kelley
Helen Kelley
as Self - Radio Broadcaster
- Robert Morris
Robert Morris
as Self - Engineer
Key crew
Directed by Ken Burns, written by Geoffrey C. Ward and Tom Lewis, produced by Ken Burns, Morgan Wesson and Tom Lewis.
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Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 7.8/10 from 10 ratings.
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Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio online?
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Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (1991) does not have a confirmed streaming, rental or digital purchase option listed for your region yet. Availability is refreshed regularly, so check back for updates.
Who stars in Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio?
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The main cast of Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (1991) includes Jason Robards, Red Barber, Erik Barnouw, Ken Bilby and Norman Corwin. The film was directed by Ken Burns. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio released?
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Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio was released on October 1, 1991 and runs for 1h 53m.
Is Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio worth watching?
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Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (1991) holds an average rating of 7.8 out of 10 from 10 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary and history films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.