The Radio Reader
Encyclopedia
The Radio Reader is a daily half-hour radio program heard on 100 public radio stations in the United States. It has been hosted and produced by Dick Estell
since 1964 and claims an audience of 1.5 million listeners. Since Estell's retirement from Michigan State University
in 1986, the show has been recorded and produced in his home studio in Haslett, Michigan
, near East Lansing.
The program actually dates back to 1934 and was initially called The Radio Reading Circle at WKAR
, Michigan State's public radio station. Broadcasts were 15 minutes and had no regular reader. Robert Coleman became the first regular reader and changed the name to its current one. Larry Frymire became the regular reader in 1944, and continued until he retired and was succeeded by Estell. Until the Estell era, it was heard only in Michigan markets and read an array of books ranging from classics such as Pride and Prejudice
to modern works.
Estell only reads recently released books, often selecting best-sellers. The shows begin with a very minimal introduction and brief summary of the book so far and the previous day's reading, transitioning into the direct reading of a portion of the book. As of May 2006, he had read over 500 books over the air. About 12 books are read each year.
The show was first recorded on an Ampex
601
, a practice that continued into the 1980s. The recordings were mailed by WKAR in Michigan to other stations for broadcast. In 1979 NPR stations became connected by satellite, and the show began to be distributed that way. Until the mid-1990s the show was recorded onto reel-to-reel tape, but as that became obsolete the switch was made to Digital Audio Tape
and then Mini-Discs.
In 2006 the recordings began to be distributed by FTP and e-mail.
Dick Estell
Dick Estell is the host and producer of The Radio Reader, a serial public radio program in which the host reads aloud from contemporary novels...
since 1964 and claims an audience of 1.5 million listeners. Since Estell's retirement from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1986, the show has been recorded and produced in his home studio in Haslett, Michigan
Haslett, Michigan
Haslett is an unincorporated community in Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place used for statistical purposes. The population was 11,283 at the 2000 census. Though it has its own school district and post office , Haslett is administered by Meridian Charter...
, near East Lansing.
The program actually dates back to 1934 and was initially called The Radio Reading Circle at WKAR
WKAR (AM)
WKAR is a National Public Radio member station in East Lansing, Michigan; broadcasting at 870 kHz. It is owned by Michigan State University, and carries news and talk shows from NPR. It is part of MSU's Broadcasting Services Division, and is a sister station to the FM radio and television...
, Michigan State's public radio station. Broadcasts were 15 minutes and had no regular reader. Robert Coleman became the first regular reader and changed the name to its current one. Larry Frymire became the regular reader in 1944, and continued until he retired and was succeeded by Estell. Until the Estell era, it was heard only in Michigan markets and read an array of books ranging from classics such as Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of early 19th-century England...
to modern works.
Estell only reads recently released books, often selecting best-sellers. The shows begin with a very minimal introduction and brief summary of the book so far and the previous day's reading, transitioning into the direct reading of a portion of the book. As of May 2006, he had read over 500 books over the air. About 12 books are read each year.
The show was first recorded on an Ampex
Ampex
Ampex is an American electronics company founded in 1944 by Alexander M. Poniatoff. The name AMPEX is an acronym, created by its founder, which stands for Alexander M. Poniatoff Excellence...
601
Ampex 601
The Ampex 601 was a portable analog reel-to-reel tape recorder produced by from the late 1950s through the 1960s. Ampex manufactured a singe-channel model and dual-channel version . The suitcase-sized, 26lb unit was designed for the professional recording applications...
, a practice that continued into the 1980s. The recordings were mailed by WKAR in Michigan to other stations for broadcast. In 1979 NPR stations became connected by satellite, and the show began to be distributed that way. Until the mid-1990s the show was recorded onto reel-to-reel tape, but as that became obsolete the switch was made to Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As...
and then Mini-Discs.
In 2006 the recordings began to be distributed by FTP and e-mail.