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of Lee de Forest, a clergyman’s flamboyant son, who invented the audion tube; Edwin Howard Armstrong, a brilliant, withdrawn inventor who pioneered FM technology; and David Sarnoff, a hard-driving Russian immigrant who created the most powerful communications company on earth.
Top Cast
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Jason Robards
Narrator (voice)
Red Barber
Self - Radio Announcer
Erik Barnouw
Self - Historian
Ken Bilby
Self - Biographer of David Sarnoff
Norman Corwin
Self - Writer
Susan Douglas
Self - Historian
Frank Günther
Self - Engineer
Jeanne Hammond
Self - Niece of Edwin H. Armstrong
Loren Jones
Self - Engineer
Garrison Keillor
Self - Writer
Helen Kelley
Self - Radio Broadcaster
Robert Morris
Self - Engineer
Dana Raymond
Self - Friend of Edwin H. Armstrong
Gertrude Tyne
Self - Engineer
Fred Allen
Self - Predicts Demise of Radio (archive footage)
Gene Autry
Self - Sings (archive sound)
John Barrymore
Hamlet (archive sound)
Winston Churchill
Self - Finest Hour Speech (archive sound)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 1, 1991
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ken Burns
- Screenplay & Story
- Geoffrey C. Ward, Tom Lewis
- Original Title
- Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 53m
- Production Studios
- Florentine Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ken Burns
Geoffrey C. Ward, Tom Lewis
Allen Moore, Buddy Squires, Ken Burns
Paul Barnes
Tom Lewis, Ken Burns, Morgan Wesson
Department Leadership Roster
Tom Lewis
Producer
Ken Burns
Producer
Morgan Wesson
Producer
Ken Burns
Director
Geoffrey C. Ward
Writer
Paul Barnes
Editor
Allen Moore
Director of Photography
Buddy Squires
Director of Photography
Ken Burns
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio about?
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.
Who directed Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio?
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio was directed by Ken Burns.
Who stars in Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio?
The principal cast of Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio includes Jason Robards, Red Barber, Erik Barnouw, Ken Bilby, Norman Corwin.
When was Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio released and how long is it?
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio was released in 1991 with a total runtime of 1h 53m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio?
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio holds official age classifications: US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).