VOLUME 16 NUMBER 1
WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INC.
Incorporated under laws of Wisconsin in November 1952, the Council is directed by 19 volunteer delegates: ten are appointed by four organizations representing people who are blind; nine delegates at large elected by blind people throughout the state.
The Council is a strong voice for blind citizens of Wisconsin. Its mission is to promote the dignity and independence of people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public. The Council is funded through proceeds of endowments established through bequest grants, private gifts from individuals and corporations, and the White Cane Fund campaign.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANOTHER ATKINS JOINS THE COUNCIL RANKS
FROM THE PRESIDENT
By: Virginia DeBlaey
The WCB held its organizational meeting on January 25. Four new Council delegates were recognized and welcomed to the group. Two Courier articles will introduce them. I know you will agree that their skills and talents will enhance the Council's ability to run its programs and advocate for better services throughout the state.
We were very sorry to lose two staff members, Kathy Lange-Novak and Tom Wolf. Kathy assisted Gary Goyke with the Capacity Campaign. Tom's duties included assisting in our store, providing transportation to Council members each year during the State Fair, and in and around Madison when working on Council business. We will miss both Tom and Kathy and hope they will continue to be involved in the Council's activities as volunteers.
Kathi Genin was hired as Gary's half-time assistant. She recently moved to Madison from the St. Louis area. Her other duties include answering the phone along with clerical assignments. Jan Wilson was hired to replace Tom. Her qualifications include a master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from Western Michigan University. She recently returned to Madison after living in England for several years. We welcome both Kathi and Jan and hope they enjoy working with us.
As you know, the state budget deficit will mean changes in programs and services for blind people. The Bureau for the Blind has been notified by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) of a change in the way money from its budget will be allocated for clients who receive services from Bureau staff. The result of these changes will mean a significant shortfall to the Bureau's budget. Several Council members attended a meeting sponsored by the Statutory Council on Blindness with DVR Administrator Charlene Dwyer, and other state personnel, to discuss the impact of DVR's decision. These budget cuts may result in some staff changes that will take affect in July of 2004.
The Council will be hosting a luncheon in the Wausau area on April 25. This event will raise funds for our Capacity Campaign. Several other events will be held in conjunction with it. Those in the area will receive information and an invitation to participate in a half-day seminar and an adaptive technology workshop.
There are some changes to the schedule of Council meetings for the rest of the year. Our next meeting will be held on Saturday, May 31. White Cane allocations will be granted at this meeting. The Council will hold a strategic planning meeting in August and our annual Awards Banquet will take place in Madison in conjunction with our final meeting of the year which is held in November.
Although there will only be three issues of The Council Courier produced this year, we will make every effort to keep you informed of our activities and provide you with other information in a timely manner.
THE COUNCIL AT THE CAPITOL
By: Rhonda Staats
This year the Council planned a day at the State Capitol which was held on Thursday, March 20. Given the fiscal crisis in state government, the WCB Legislative Committee believes that it is imperative to keep issues important to people who are blind and visually impaired before members of the State Senate and Assembly.
Consequently, we divided our Legislative Day into two sections. We made visits to the Governor’s office and Department of Workforce Development, which includes DVR. We also visited the Department of Health and Family Services which houses the Bureau for the Blind. The Department of Transportation, which controls disabled parking permits and non valid driver’s licenses, was contacted. In our second session we visited legislative offices, beginning with those who are in leadership positions-the Joint Finance Committee and other Committee Chairs. We delivered information packets containing fact sheets describing the Council’s legislative priorities, Council programs and services.
Because of current fiscal conditions, participation in this year’s Legislative Day was limited to members of the Legislative Committee and other Council members. The Council will continue to be an articulate and effective voice promoting the interests and well being of citizens who are blind or visually impaired in the Wisconsin Legislature.
JANUARY COUNCIL MEETING
By: Nona Graves
The Wisconsin Council of the Blind met at its office in Madison on January 25, 2003. Kathy Brockman and Patty Slaby were unable to attend the meeting.
This is the meeting at which the Board of Directors and officers are elected for the coming year. Unanimously elected to the Board were: Chris Zenchenko representing the Alumni Association of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped, Virginia DeBlaey representing the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Bruce Parkinson representing the Midwest Association for the Blind; Rhonda Staats and Nona Graves were elected without regard to affiliation. The officers for the coming year are Virginia DeBlaey President, Bruce Parkinson Vice-President, Nona Graves Secretary, and Arnold Tucker Treasurer.
Executive Director Dick Pomo informed the Council that Tom Wolf planned to leave his position with the Council’s Assistive Devices Department on February 7, 2003. He also reported that the Council’s web site is up and running. No decision has yet been made about arrangements for receiving online donations.
Mike Nelipovich, Director of the Bureau for the Blind, came to the meeting to inform Council members of a planned change in the policy of DVR which, he said, would cause much less money to be available for the programs of the Bureau. He said that DVR plans to go to a fee-for-service plan which he feels will be detrimental to blind persons who are not seeking employment. The Council agreed to write a letter urging DVR and the Bureau to work out a plan which would be beneficial to all clients.
Rhonda Staats who chairs the Council’s Legislative Committee, said that although the committee had not met since the November Council meeting, plans are going forward to draft a Vendors’ Review Bill. The Guide Dog Users have also found a sponsor for the Guide Dog Users Safety Bill. Rhonda moved that the Council endorse a bill which Senator Robert Jouck has proposed requiring all cell phone networks to enter into the 911 grid for emergency services. Her motion was seconded and carried.
Bruce Parkinson expressed concern that the Council did not plan to hold a Legislative Day this year. After some discussion, he moved that the Legislative Committee plan some method of keeping in contact with legislators. His motion carried.
Nona Graves expressed concern that the Legislative Committee subcommittees were often more concerned with advocacy than with actual legislation. Since the Advocacy Committee has not been very involved with advocating for individuals, that committee seemed the appropriate place for this advocacy to take place. Becky Williams then moved that the Legislative Subcommittees become a part of the Advocacy Committee. Her motion was seconded and carried.
Bob Hueller, Chair of the Fund Development/Public Relations Committee, reported that the Council received $2,000 from the State Fair Board because its ad did not appear in the State Fair program. Bob also said that there would be $64,000.00 in White Cane Funds to be allocated this year. The Council plans to renew its contract for radio spots in the coming year.
Reporting for the Capacity Campaign Committee, Virginia DeBlaey said that four fund-raising events are planned for 2003. There will be an awards luncheon in Wausau, two golf outings during the summer, and a reception at the Council office in December. She also reported that the Sheboygan County mailing was completed. Another mailing is planned for Rock County to begin soon. Letters are being sent to all state Lions Clubs inviting them to contribute to the Council’s Assistive Devices Program.
Following committee reports, the committees for the coming year were appointed. A list of these committees is available from the Council office.
CROSSWALKS REVISITED
By: Bruce Parkinson
The “Take Back the Crosswalks” program spread out into the state in 2002. Nine communities beyond Manitowoc had some sort of program on October 15 (International White Cane Safety Day) and they were all very successful. I hope that these communities will have some sort of program or continued effort in 2003 and that more of you will get involved and get programs started where you live.
Now is the time to get started. It takes time to put a program together, to find the funding, and to do what needs to be done to have a successful outcome.
The Lakeshore Visually Impaired Support Group had a different program this year. During the year we had bumper stickers printed that state, “I BRAKE FOR WHITE CANES AND GUIDE DOGS.” On October 15, I was able to address all of the Manitowoc Transit bus drivers about the White Cane Safety Law. I presented them with enough bumper stickers for all the buses. On March 10 my wife and I followed a bus with a well placed bumper sticker advocating safety for visually impaired people.
We have not yet determined what we will do on October 15, 2003, but you can be certain the Lakeshore Group will be out there somewhere.
There is a sad fact in all of this. It is dangerous for us on the street and no one else is about to help us change that. We must do it ourselves. If we don’t take an active role in educating the driving public, they'’ll never learn.
To get information about “Take Back the Crosswalks” you can contact me at 920-533-3290. Gary Goyke in the Council Office can also provide information.
It would be great if 30 communities had a “Take Back the Crosswalks” program on October 15 this year. It can be done, but you have to do it.
WAUSAU EVENTS DAY
By: Gary Goyke
The following letter was sent to residents in the Wausau area. If you live in this area and have not received an invitation, please call the Council office.
The Wisconsin Council of the Blind and the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups are pleased to invite you to a symposium on “Age-Related Eye Disorders: Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma” in Wausau, Wisconsin on Friday, April 25, 2003. The symposium will be held in downtown Wausau at the Wausau Elks Lodge, 414 Scott Street. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. with registration and a continental breakfast. The program begins at 9:00 a.m.
The symposium is designed for seniors and professionals who serve the senior community. Learn the signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of both macular degeneration and glaucoma. Plus, the afternoon session focuses on computer assistive technology. The seminar is offered at no charge, thanks to our generous local sponsors. Please call Sue in our Madison office at 800-783-5213 to register, or call us with any questions.
In conjunction with the symposium, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind is sponsoring a Philanthropy Awards Luncheon at noon. You are invited to join us to recognize and celebrate several individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the community. The award recipients are listed on the enclosed announcement about the luncheon.
The Philanthropy Day Luncheon costs $25.00 per person, part of which is considered a charitable donation. Your financial support is greatly appreciated, if you are not able to attend. All proceeds will be used to improve the services and programs of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind.
If you have not received an invitation, please contact the Council office. We look forward to meeting you on Friday, April 25, 2003!
To read more about the days events click here.
SUPPORT GROUP NEWS
By: Sue Barker
A new Support Group has been started in Prairie du Chien with co-leaders Ethelyn Boardman and Elthear Rieck. Ethelyn has had previous experience as facilitator in a Florida senior group. When she returned to Wisconsin she decided to start a group here.
Meetings are held the last Tuesday of the month at 1pm in Blackhawk Apartments with roughly 12 members attending. In addition to round table discussions, Steve Noble has presented information on closed circuit TVs, and a representative from the Bureau for the Blind brought in assistive devices.
If you are in Crawford County contact Ethelyn at 608-326-7729.
Vernon County VIP Support Group meets the last Wednesday of the month for lunch at Senior Meal Sites throughout the county. Their objective is outreach to outlying, more remote populations, with vision impairments. Aging Unit Director, Ellen Unseth, is coordinator of their group and provides van or minibus transportation to members. The group likes picnics, cookouts in the park, shopping, informational meetings and camaraderie.
This active group has a steering committee and puts out a calendar of events a year in advance. Contact Phoebe Sorensen for more information at 608-788-7027.
FAREWELL, STAN NELSON
By: Dick Pomo
In January of this year, we lost a friend and colleague. Stan Nelson, Executive Secretary of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind from 1972 to 1986, passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Stan was most proud of his involvement in establishing legislation that created the non-valid drivers license for identification purposes. He also was instrumental in establishing statewide legislation that prohibited discrimination against persons using dog guides when seeking housing.
As the current director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, I am so appreciative of the work that those before me have done to establish the Council as a viable voice for folks who are experiencing vision loss, or who are blind. Having had the opportunity to know Stan, I feel privileged to have shared in a small part of his life. Stan had a good sense of history and was often able to shed light on what had taken place in the past. He gave of his time and energy freely and even after his retirement continued to be a voice on behalf of the blind.
Stan attended the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped for a period of time after graduating from public school. He then made Janesville his home and began his career as a piano tuner.
Stan was active in the Lions and received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award - one of the highest awards international Lions present to any individual.
When the Council had its offices on Baldwin Street here in Madison, Stan developed a fondness for the Avenue Bar as a good place to have lunch. He also made many friends and could often be found playing a game or two of cribbage with other patrons.
Stan lived life to the fullest. The last time I saw him was when Dick and Karen Perzentka and I visited him at the hospice in Janesville. While this was just several weeks before his death, Stan made sure that we had cheese and crackers with our cocktail. He also made sure that his favorite cocktail remained a part of his day. During our visit we reminisced about the past, but Stan displayed his courage by openly talking about the little time he had left. He was not morbid about death, but simply resigned to its inevitability. A quote from Stan to his pastor sums up how he lived and can serve as a guide for many of us. “You know, Father, it’s not that I’m afraid of dying-I just like it here!”
COOKING WITH SENSES
By: David Ballman
My fiancée and I both love to cook and we spend a lot of time preparing food. We enjoy trying new recipes and hold ourselves to high standards in the kitchen. Both of us are totally blind, and we know many other blind and visually impaired people who also enjoy cooking. We also know people who have experienced vision loss, who were once good cooks, but who now no longer enjoy cooking due to their loss of vision. This is unfortunate, because nearly every dish that can be prepared by a sighted person, can be prepared as well by someone who is blind or visually impaired. However, some modifications of technique and equipment are needed.
People often ask me how I cook if I cannot see. I tell them I use my senses. I use my nose to tell me if a pizza or cookies are almost done. I use my ears to tell me if onions and garlic that I am sautéing are tender, by listening for the bubbling and hissing to quiet down. I use my sense of touch to tell me if a cake or bread is firm, indicating its doneness. And of course, I use my taste to tell me if I made my chili spicy enough, if a cookie is baked throughout or if pasta is al dente.
In addition to using my senses, I use other standard kitchen utensils. A few of them are modified or specialized devices. Specialized devices may include low-tech items such as a double spatula or a liquid level indicator.
When a person who has once enjoyed cooking decides to give it up due to vision loss, it is often because barriers are present. They may include the following: difficulty reading recipes, reading package directions or labels, difficulty setting oven temperature or using the stove top, difficulty measuring ingredients or inability to rely on vision for certain tasks.
Difficulty reading recipes can be dealt with in several ways, such as using large print recipes, magnifiers, braille or taped recipes.
Oven dials and microwave buttons may be marked with tactile dots, so that a person can accurately set the cooking temperature or time without the use of sight. Other appliances may be similarly marked so they can be used with no or low vision. Large print or talking timers are also very handy. Some people like to cook for themselves, but do not wish to use the stove anymore. In this case, microwave or slow cooker may be used. Many recipes can be made safely in a slow cooker or crock pot.
There are also effective techniques for measuring ingredients by touch. The best way for me is to use a set of graduated measuring cups and spoons. Measuring liquids may be a little more difficult, but with proper technique and practice, this can be done quite accurately with little spillage.
There are also special techniques for cutting and slicing food, transferring pans in and out of the oven, orienting oneself to the stovetop, kitchen organization, and so forth. I use many techniques in food preparation, such as baking, broiling, charcoal grilling, frying, slow cooking, microwave cooking and even canning and wine and **beer making. My fiancée and I also use just about every type of kitchen gadget, from a gas range to the microwave and toaster oven, mixers, food processor, bread machine, and many, many more.
I am eager to share my knowledge of cooking with senses with other visually impaired persons who would like to return to cooking, and want to learn some helpful techniques or who just want some encouragement. If interested, please call David Ballmann at the Wisconsin Council of the Blind. I can also be reached via E-mail at dave@wcblind.org.
NEW FACES AND GOODBYES
By: Bruce Parkinson
There have been changes in the Council office staff since the last issue of the “Courier.” Three employees have left and two new faces may greet you when you visit the Council offices in Madison.
Kathi Genin has been added to the staff since the first of the year. You may hear her pleasant voice if you call the Council office, since part of her responsibilities include phone duty in the afternoon. During the morning hours she works with Gary Goyke on Fund Development needs. Kathi is originally from Belleville, IL. She has an associate degree in Legal Secretarial Science from Belleville Area College. Before coming to Madison, she served as Administrative Secretary for the Greater St. Louis Girl Scout Council. For Kathi, coming to Madison is like coming home since her parents originally came from the area. When asked about her reaction to working for the Council, she said, “In the few months I’ve been with the Council, I’ve learned a lot about the services offered. It’s been a pleasure to get to know the staff, the Council members and the public we serve.”
Jan Wilson is another new staff member. You may meet Jan if you come into the store to make a purchase, since customer service is part of her responsibility. She is also shipping and receiving clerk.
Jan is originally from Madison. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UW-Platteville and a Master’s degree in Blind Rehabilitation and Orientation and Mobility from Western Michigan University. She has also taken graduate work in Rehab Training, braille, Activities of Daily Living and Adaptive Communication. Prior to coming to the Council, Jan spent six years in England as a missionary. Since Madison was her home, Jan, too, has come home. Her philosophy about working is wonderful. She said, “My heart motivation in this job and most jobs I’ve had is working with people to help them establish practical ways of living their lives.”
We must say good-bye to Tom Wolf, Isabelle Levinson and Kathy Lange-Novak.
Tom worked for the Council for nearly ten years as shipping clerk and customer service. Isabelle answered the phone and did clerical work in her five years as a part-time employee. She has chosen to retire. Kathy worked for the Council for about one year, assisting Gary with the Capacity Campaign.
NOTES FROM THE STORE
By: Sue Barker
We have been asked many times by customers and clients if our store is open other hours than 8-4:30. Since many people have a hard time coming in during the day, we have decided to try one evening a week to help this situation. Beginning Thursday, May 1, our store will be open 8am to 8 pm on Thursdays. We will try these hours through the end of December and then decide if they will continue.
A new item in our store is a talking “Atomic Clock.” This clock is never off more than one second and automatically corrects itself. It also has an alarm, volume control and calendar.
We also have a number of board games, both tactual and/or braille, including: Scrabble, Monopoly, Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Battleship, Connect Four and Chinese Checkers. Contact Jeff or Sue for more information.
MEET THE COUNCIL
By Becky Williams
Patty Slaby has just started her three-year term as a delegate-at-large on the Wisconsin Council of the Blind. Speaking with her is almost always an up-beat experience. Her positive, friendly attitude puts one at ease right away. She was born in Arcadia, Wisconsin and attended school at the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped. Her high school experience was filled with extracurricular activity which included cheerleading, Student Council, drama and music.
After graduation, Patty began college at Winona State University in Minnesota, where she planned to prepare to teach elementary school. Although she was not accepted into the school's College of Education there, she held on to her dreams and enrolled at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where she received her bachelor's degree in elementary education, with a minor in education of the visually handicapped.
Patty began her professional career at the academy for the Blind in Faribault, Minnesota, where she taught primary age students. After three years, she went to graduate school in East Lansing, obtaining her master's degree in education for the visually impaired from Michigan State University. She was then employed by the Luverne School District in Minnesota, where she taught early childhood classes, as well as those for visually impaired children. She moved to the Worthington School District in Minnesota, where she was an itinerant teacher for four school districts, holding that position for ten years.
While attending a professional meeting, Patty heard about an opening for a teacher with her skills in River Falls. Patty has been serving students in this area since 1992. She works with children from early childhood through transition to work.
Patty has an active life outside the job. She is very involved with her church and sings in the choir there. She is chairman of the Scholarship Committee of the American Council of the Blind and enjoys participating in the work of the National Association of Blind Teachers. She also serves on the Special Education Advisory Committee of River Falls. Patty loves spending time with her family, as well as the many friends she has made, and she always has some time for her Pomeranian, Reeba.
She is on the Advocacy Committee of the WCB. "I want to find out what's really out there educationally for blind and visually impaired kids," Patty said, "and I want to make sure they get what they need and are entitled to." We are proud to welcome this dedicated professional to the Wisconsin Council of the Blind.
ANOTHER ATKINS JOINS THE COUNCIL RANKS
By: Karen Heesen
Janis Sherman Atkins is a member of the graduating class of 1946 from the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped. Upon graduation she attended Eau Claire State Teachers' College, where she pursued a major in English and minors in both Spanish and Social Studies. However, as soon as she completed her degree, she married Jerry Atkins in 1950.
The couple settled in Janesville, where Janis began working for Colvin's Bakery (owned by Gardener's) as a packager on their assembly line. This employment continued until her first child was born. Her twin daughters were born five years later--"I managed that right, so Patsy was old enough to hold a bottle for one of them or push a cart," she quipped.
Once the twins were in school, Janis began volunteering in the reading program at Lincoln Elementary School. Soon she was offered a job, and worked there for two years. Then, upon the retirement of Helen McKeown as the WSVH's receptionist, Janis applied and got the job. She went to The Seeing Eye and received her first dog guide, Kimmy. With Kim, she was off and running.
Janis worked at the school for over twenty years until her retirement in the early nineties. Through the years, Janis has had three additional Seeing Eye dogs, Dixie, Emerald, and Holly.
In June of 1988, her husband Jerry passed away. Janis now lives just outside Janesville with her daughter, Patty, and six dogs. She enjoys baking, knitting (which she says is rather counter productive with two puppies around), reading, playing her keyboard, and spending time with her three daughters, two grandsons, and a granddaughter.
I am sure that Jerry, a former Council member, would be pleased to have another Atkins giving input to our organization. As for Janis, she said, "I am amazed to be on the Council." We welcome you, Jannie!
EAGER BEVER
By: Karen Heesen
During the last at-large election, one of the candidates who was eager to join the Council was Jerry Bever. A graduate of the Two Rivers High School, Jerry lost his vision just ten months after graduation. He attended summer school at the WSVH, where he learned braille.
Thinking that he might like the job of a medical transcriber, Jerry attended the Badger Business College in Green Bay. After finishing this program he was hired by St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was a transcriptionist for six years.
At this point, he decided to attend UW-Green Bay to pursue degrees in Urban Analysis, Sociology and Social Services. He continued to attend the WSVH during summer sessions. During the summer of 1970, he taught Orientation and Mobility. He also spent some time working in the dormitory.
In 1973 Jerry graduated from UW-Green Bay and began working as a rehab teacher for DVR. He remained in this job for the next 23 years, retiring in 1997.
Jerry's wife of 31 years passed away about 15 months ago. He has 4 stepchildren, 6 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Jerry stays active and involved by serving on the Area Agency on Aging, along with his recent appointment to the Council. We are pleased to welcome another member with a wealth of information in the area of rehabilitation.
BRAILLE REPAIR
The Telephone Pioneers will repair braille writers at no cost. Send your brailler to the Council office with a note explaining the problem. Turn around time is usually two weeks. If you are a Wisconsin resident please call WCB before you send it. Although there is no charge for repair, you need to send payment for insurance to return the brailler to you.
If you live in the Milwaukee area, contact the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired at 877-258-9200 for information regarding their repair service.
If you live in the Minneapolis area contact Alan Stombaugh at 612-724-4302. He will repair your brailler for $39.00 plus parts with turnaround time of 3 days. Shipping cost is $24.00. His web site address is www.braillerrepair.com.
STAY TUNED
Pictures with sound became movies, and about the same time, along came radio sound without pictures. Both forms of entertainment needed to attract an audience, and they both worked hard at improving the art. With many types of programming on the radio, it was easy to get people tuned in. Comedy could be understood and related to the forms of entertainment people already knew. For programs with a dramatic slant, the name of the program was designed to get people to listen.
The connotation of “theater” was just what the producers wanted. It called to mind culture and a special event. Putting "theater" in your title was a calling card that sponsors hoped would bring the audiences. One of the most famous and well-loved dramatic programs was The Lux Radio Theater. It started broadcasting from New York in 1934, and moved to Hollywood in 1936. From there it continued through the mid-1950s. The Hollywood move was necessary because in the mid-1930s, the sponsor and network folks realized that although "theater" meant class, it was increasingly connected with the movie industry and not the stages of New York.
In most of the country, if people were going to the theater, the theater was “movie” and not “stage actors.” Lux was the longest running dramatic program ever, and along with the rest of the drama shows, it learned and improved. However, for many listeners the period from 1936 to 1942 was the best. Week after week the program presented radio versions of their favorite movies, and usually they came with the voices of the nation’s screen idols. Bringing screen talent behind the microphone was a great move, and the host of the time, Cecil B. DeMille, was perfect for the task. He would end each show with an up-close-and-personal chat with the stars. It brought them right into your home and made you feel just a bit closer to them. His style was informal and easy, and it was part of what made the show so popular.
One cannot think of drama shows with “theater” in the title without thinking of the most famous of them all, Mercury Theater of the Air. Orson Welles, with his “War of the Worlds” broadcast, brought a whole new image to the drama show. He certainly helped elevate the status of shows with “theater” in their names. Mercury Theater was in many ways different from Lux. It wanted to project the image of being art. Movies weren't art, they were just simple entertainment for the masses. Welles took his show into the world’s great literature. In addition, he was obsessive about making sounds as real as possible. Sound effects were an important part of any show, and he wanted them to be perfect. One sound effects man remembered that Welles had a real problem with sounds, not only from the sound aspect, but also from the visual. He seemed to forget that the radio audience couldn't see the action and so even if the sound of a lawn mower could be created artificially, Welles thought a real mower should be used. If it didn't look like a mower, he figured the sound wouldn't work either.
Over the years, many shows tried for the same artistic heights that were set by Lux in movie adaptations and by Mercury Theater in literary drama in the 1930s. Academy Award Theater, Screen Guild Theater, and Screen Director's Playhouse come to mind for movie inspired programs. On the dramatic side, there were University Theater, Ford Theater and, even though they didn't have the word "theater’ in their titles, CBS Radio Workshop and Studio One could be considered in this category. The average listener might not have thought of these last two, but dramatic they were, and they explored the art of dramatic audio with innovation and experimentation. Still, for image, you just had to have "theater" in the name.
There was one more type of program that wanted to gain prestige by using "theater" in its name, which was the mystery drama program. Molle Mystery Theater comes to mind, and for you more modern readers, there was CBS Radio Mystery Theater. This later reincarnation of radio drama borrowed from all the great programs of the past. It used all of the lessons learned from Lux, Mercury Theater, and many more. Many regular cast members came from the radio programs of the 1950s and they had learned well. CBS Radio Mystery Theater outdid all the great shows of the past in one area, and that was sheer volume. In the end, the logs indicate they actually produced 1400 unique programs in nine years! Not even the long running Lux Radio Theater managed this many broadcasts.
Radio drama moved from the movie theater and the stage theater to the "theater of the mind". In the end, they all were in the ears and minds of the nation's radio listeners. On CD and tape they remain to entertain and thrill us and future generations. You can't underestimate the cache that "theater" lends to a program. Next time, I'll look at a few shows that wanted the status, set the mood, and fell badly flat.
Stay tuned.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 25
Age Related Eye Disorders Symposium
Computer Assistive Technology
Philanthropy Awards Luncheon
Wausau Elks Lodge
May 3
Badger Association for the Blind Meeting
Milwaukee
May 31
WCB Council Meeting
Madison
June 7
Badger Association Meeting
Milwaukee
June 13 - 15
Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped Reunion
Janesville
June 21
Midwest Association of the Blind Meeting
Janesville
August 2
Badger Association of the Blind Meeting
Milwaukee
August 9
Strategic Planning and Council Meeting
Madison
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