NEW ORLEANS ON THE AIR




BROADCAST ARTS MUSEUM OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS

Updated February 8, 2004

This is the first page of our new Virtual Museum to honor broadcasters, past and present who have worked in the New Orleans area "on air" or as engineers and producer/directors. This will be a continuous work in progress as we acquire photos, memorabilia, etc.

This is a project of New Orleans Radio Theatre, Inc. We would like to hear from anyone interested in joining us or donating time, artifacts or funds.

Mission Statement:

New Orleans has a broadcasting heritage which is too extensive to present here. Over the years there has been much discussion and some action toward establishing a Radio & Television Museum here, such as exists in many other cities and some small towns.

What we envision would be an historical journey through time, having an emphasis on LOCAL radio extending into early television, but which would also include other areas and even foreign countries. This would be a work in progress, with no limit as to what might be covered as the project grows. This would let new generations explore a unique art form that is rare and view a technology that is generally no longer used. It would also show them that radio has been a medium which exercised the imagination. Radio can be much more of an entertainment medium and help when catastrophe strikes, than it has become today.

There would be displays of old radio sets, turntables, tape machines. microphones, teletypes, control boards and various other broadcast equipment, some in working condition and some just for display. Scripts and sound bites from old shows, news reports, and commercials as well as complete shows will be available in public archives.

As the museum grows, facilities will include a control room and studio to seat 100 people for viewing "live" or "recorded for broadcast" shows. A gift shop will be a major fund-raising source, offering various items for sale such as cassettes and CDs and books on broadcast history, collection and restoration. Tours can be conducted for a small fee and donations will always be welcomed.

Future plans would include state of the art equipment, special galleries and exhibition rooms, and a research center tied in (by Internet) with similar museums and collections.

Such a broadcast museum, with many interactive exhibits, should attract a diverse group of visitors, ranging from students doing research to senior citizens reminiscing about great moments in their lives which may have been influenced by the broadcast media.

Areas will be set aside to honor well known broadcasting personalities and those who have contributed to the medium.

Email Charlie Matkin or Paul Yacich at radiotheatre@neworleans.com.


Visit our new NORT web site

Due to a lack of funding and general interest on the part of out-of-state owners of New Orleans broadcast facilities, we have had to shelve plans for an actual museum and have opted for this INTERNET MUSEUM until interest and support is generated for a REAL museum to house the many artifacts and pieces of equipment which have been collected.Most of the collection was in eminent danger of being junked by local broadcast facilities. The collection is temporarily housed in a building now owned by U. N. O. We may lose that location at any time! At that time, we will also lose the collection. That will be a terrible loss to the city and to those who would engage in research into the broadcasting history of New Orleans.

Please visit our online exhibits. We will be adding more info and pictures in the near future. Also please visit our web page(s) at:

NORT

They are dated, but will give you an idea of our past endeavours.

Charlie Matkin
President, NORT



ONLINE EXHIBITS

WDSU AM-FM-TV GREAT RADIO AND LOUISIANA'S FIRST TELEVISION STATION


WWL AM-FM-TV FIRST RADIO STATION IN NEW ORLEANS
50,000 WATTS OF SOUTHERN POWER


NEW ORLEANS AREA RADIO AND TELEVISION FREELANCE TALENT



For more New Orleans radio and television memories:
GO TO "NEW ORLEANS RADIO AND TV SHRINE"