HEARING VOICES

STORIES TOLD BY THOSE WHO LIVED THEM

Curated by

John F. Barber

Copyright (c)

Final Draft

Broadcast 21 November 2022

Hearing Voices: Stories told by those who lived them
Season 10, Episode 10 of Re-Imagined Radio
Curated by John F. Barber

Broadcast 21 November 2022

Synopsis
Re-Imagined Radio features three recorded stories from the Clark County Historical Museum. Together they provide interesting oral histories about living in Southwest Washington.

The first, "Living with Chief Joseph," is told by Erskin Wood. In 1893 he lived with Chief Joseph in Nespelem Valley, Washington.

The second is an account of experiences working for the Seattle-Portland-Spokane Railroad, 1950s-1994, told by Harry Hendricks.

In our third story, Leverett Richards, a reporter for the Clark County Sun newspaper recalls the surprise landing of a single-engine airplane at Vancouver's Pearson Airfield piloted by three Russian airmen in 1937. They had flown non-stop from Moscow, over the North Pole. Low fuel forced them to land in Vancouver.

We sample from these recorded oral histories to explore radio storytelling in a new form. By focusing on historical insights into Southwest Washington, by the people who lived these experiences, we present a compelling documentary form of radio storytelling.

References
"The First Ever Non-Stop Flight Moscow-North Pole-Vancouver Took Off." The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library. https://www.prlib.ru/en/history/619324

"A Red Bolt from the Blue: Valery Chkalov and the World's First Transpolar Flight." National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/articles/aredboltfromtheblue.htm

Oral Histories from Clark County Historical Museum
cchmuseum.org

COLD OPEN
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RIR ANNOUNCER
Welcome to Re-Imagined Radio, a program about radio storytelling. I’m Jack Armstrong. With each episode we combine dialogue, sound effects, and music to engage your listening imagination. This episode is no different, and here to tell you about it is John Barber, producer and host.
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HOST ANCHOR INTRO
HOST
Thank you Jack . . . hello everyone . . . welcome to Re-Imagined Radio! 
This episode is called "Hearing Voices" and it's brought to you by KXRW-FM, Vancouver, Washington, and KXRY-FM, Portland, Oregon. We thank them for their support.
"Hearing Voices" is not an episode about hallucinations. About hearing voices no one else acknowledges.
Instead, the voices we will hear are sampled from the Oral History Collection in the Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver, Washington.
Oral histories are stories about significant events told by people who experienced those events first hand. We've picked three very interesting oral histories for this episode. The first is about a young boy who lived several months with Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce people.
The second recounts working for a regional railroad from the 1950s to the 1990s and being part of the transition from steam to diesel technologies.
The third recounts the surprise arrival of a Russian airplane at Vancouver's Pearson Airfield in 1937.
These stories provide a sense of presence and immediacy. They place us, the listeners in the scene, at the moment when the event happened. By sampling these recorded oral histories we present a compelling documentary form of radio storytelling that relies primarily on voice.
We'll share them in just a moment. But first, here's the voice of Bradley Richardson, Director of the Clark County Historical Museum . . .
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RICHARDSON
This is Brad Richardson. A lot of people think all we do is exhibits. That's part of what we do, but really, the bigger picture is that we tell stories about Clark County and Southwest Washington.

These stories you will hear in this episode of Re-Imagined Radio come from our Oral History Collection. This collection is deep and rich with stories, each told in the voices of those who lived the experiences their stories describe. They are true stories. The dialogue is unscripted, unpolished, and absolutely compelling.

We're pleased to partner with Re-Imagined Radio to share these oral histories with you. Thank you for listening. And thank you for your support of the Clark County Historical Museum.
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HOST
For the first act of our Re-Imagined Radio episode, "Hearing Voices," we present Erskin Wood. Mr. Wood tells how, in 1893, at the age of 13, he lived with Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce people in the Nespelem Valley, just north of present day Grand Coulee Dam in Washington state.
Wood recounts his interesting connection to Chief Joseph, everyday life in his teepee, and his job wrangling the Chief's herd of horses. He tells about the games the young people played, and about the community singing and dancing in which he participated.
Let's listen now to "Living with Chief Joseph," an oral history by Erskin Wood.
ACT 1: LIVING WITH CHIEF JOSEPH
SFX: ACTUALITY. RECORDED ORAL HISTORY, "LIVING WITH CHIEF JOSEPH" AS TOLD BY ERSKIN WOOD.

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BREAK 1--THE FUSEBOX BREAK
HOST
You're listening to Re-Imagined Radio. This is John Barber, producer and host. You'll hear more of our "Hearing Voices" oral history episode in just a moment. But first I want to tell you about The Fusebox Show . . . A different kind of radio storytelling that includes oral histrionics. Here's a sample . . .
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HOST
As you heard, The Fusebox Show is a unique radio storytelling experience. the cast is colorful . . . I want them at my next birthday party. The sound design and voice acting shows real talents at work doing things the rest of us mortals dream about. And the way Fusebox responds to the things that supposedly smart people do that are anything but . . . Well, when Fusebox broadcasts you can reach out your hands and feel the power coming through your radio. Learn more at The Fusebox Show website, www dot thefuseboxshow dot com.
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HOST
Welcome back to Re-Imagined Radio. The episode is "Hearing Voices." We're sampling from the Oral History Collection housed at the Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver, Washington.
Our next story was recorded in 2006 as told by Harry W. Hendricks a retired conductor for the Seattle-Portland-Spokane Railroad.
Mr. Hendricks worked his way through the ranks of the Spokane-Portland-Seattle Railroad for more than 40 years. He tells his story as a person who enjoyed every minute of the experience. He details the duties of a railroad brakeman and conductor, positions he held with the S-P-S. Based first in Wishram, Washington, and then in Vancouver, Mr. Hendricks recounts the pleasure of traveling by rail through the Columbia River Gorge several times a week. He takes pride in his hard work and success. Let's listen to "Working on the Railroad" by Harry Hendricks . . .

ACT 2: WORKING ON THE RAILROAD

SFX: ACTUALITY. RECORDED ORAL HISTORY, "WORKING ON THE RAILROAD" AS TOLD BY HARRY HENDRICKS.
MUSIC: RIR BREAK THEME
BREAK #2--THE RE-IMAGINED RADIO BREAK
HOST
You're listening to Re-Imagined Radio's "Hearing Voices" episode. I'm John Barber. Producer and Host.
Radio storytelling combines voices, sound effects, and music to spark your imagination. Or, like with this episode, we can focus on just voices. People sharing stories about their lived experiences, in their own voices. That's the most effective storytelling we think. Are we hitting the mark? Please let us know. Contact us through Facebook or Twitter with your thoughts and comments. Or contact your community radio station directly and tell them you want more. Speaking of more . . . let me tell you what's ahead . . .
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As we approach the end of this season, and the holidays, listen for our upcoming "Cajun Christmas" with its focus on the Cajun French culture of Southern Louisiana. Join us for interesting radio storytelling and "Laissez les bons temps rouler."
MUSIC: RIR BREAK THEME
HOST
This is Re-Imagined Radio. Our episode is "Hearing Voices." The voices are sampled from the Oral History Collection at the Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver, Washington.
So far, Erskin Wood has told us about his experiences living with Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce people. Harry Hendricks narrated his experiences working for the Spokane-Portland-Seattle Railroad.
Next, we'll hear from Leverett Richards, a reporter for the Clark County Sun newspaper. He tells how, on June 20, 1937, a single-engine airplane with long bright red glider-like wings and the call sign "ANT-25," landed at Vancouver's Pearson Airfield.
Two days earlier, June 18, the plane had taken off from an airport outside Moscow, Russia, headed for Oakland, California.
The Soviet airplane had a crew of three. Valery Chkalov, pilot. Georgi BAY-da-kov (Baidukov), relief pilot. And Alexander BEL-ya-kov, navigator and radio operator.
Their planned route was over the roof of the world. If successful, this would be the first non-stop flight from the USSR to the United States over the North Pole.
Stormy weather and cold temperatures drained the plane's fuel faster than planned. Near Eugene, Oregon, Chkalov ordered the plane to turn around and seek a landing field.
After 63 hours flying non-stop . . . 5,288 miles into its journey . . . June 20 . . . Sunday morning, the plane with its crew of three, landed safely in Vancouver, Washington.
News of the Soviets' arrival spread quickly throughout the community. People gathered at Pearson Air Field. They witnessed the plane drop below the rain clouds, dip its red wings and turn for its final approach. And then they ran toward the airplane cheering the Russian aviators as heroes.
Let's listen as Richards describes what happened during the surprise visit by the three Soviet airmen to Vancouver . . .
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ACT 3: RUSSIANS LAND AT PEARSON AIRFIELD
SFX: ACTUALITY. RECORDED ORAL HISTORY, "RUSSIANS HAVE LANDED" AS TOLD BY LEVERETT RICHARDS.
MUSIC: RIR THEME, TRANSITION
 BREAK 3 -- THE SUPPORT BREAK
HOST 
Hello everyone. John Barber here to encourage your support of community radio. Re-Imagined Radio is brought to you by KXRW-FM, Vancouver, Washington, and KXRY-FM, Portland, Oregon. Both are community radio stations. The thought provoking programs heard on these stations are made possible by your support. And when you support community radio your investment stays local. It WORKS for your community. It BUILDS something that benefits everyone. If you already support community radio thank you for your generosity. If not, please contact your community radio station and learn how to support their efforts. Your support is vital, benefits your community, and may be tax deductible. Thank you for your support.
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SFX: ACTUALITY. RECORDED ORAL HISTORY, "RUSSIANS HAVE LANDED" AS TOLD BY LEVERETT RICHARDS.
MUSIC: RIR THEME, ESTABLISH THEN FADE UNDER AND OUT
HOST CONCLUSION
HOST
This is Re-Imagined Radio. Our episode is "Hearing Voices." We sampled from the the Oral History Collection at the Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver, Washington, to present three stories about interesting life experiences, told by the people who lived those experiences.
You heard "Living with Chief Joseph," an oral history told by Erskin Wood about his experiences living with Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce people.
In "Working on the Railroad" Harry Hendricks described some of his experiences working for the Spokane-Portland-Seattle Railroad from the 1950s to the 1990s.
And Leverett Richards, a reporter for the Clark County Sun newspaper, recalled the surprise landing of a single-engine airplane at Vancouver's Pearson Airfield piloted by three Russian airmen in 1937. This landing marked the first non-stop flight from Moscow, Russia, to the United States by a single engine plane over the North Pole.

Listening to these experiences told in the voices of those who lived them, we listeners gain a sense of presence and immediacy. We are there. In the scene. At the moment when the event happened. 
Effective radio storytelling builds on voice, other sounds, and music. By focusing on oral histories, lived experiences, we present a compelling documentary form of radio storytelling that relies primarily on voice.
I hope you enjoyed this Re-Imagined Radio episode "Hearing Voices." Please visit our website and learn more, www [DOT] reimaginedradio [DOT] net.
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HOST CREDIT ROLL
HOST
Content curation and script by John Barber.
Sound design and post-production by Marc Rose.
Our presence on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram is coordinated by Regina Carol Social Media Management.
Graphic design by Kathryn Klaus.
Our announcer is Jack Armstrong.
This is John Barber, producer and host. In addition to our website, look for Re-Imagined Radio on SoundCloud, and the Internet Archive. Thanks again for listening. 
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ANNOUNCER
This is a production of Re-Imagined Radio. Our radio broadcasts are heard on local, regional, and international community radio stations.
For on demand streaming, point your browsers to our website, reimaginedradio (all one word, no punctuation) DOT net. While there, subscribe to our snappy email Program Guide.
Thank you so much for listening, and please, join us again for another episode of Re-Imagined Radio where we will continue our exploration of radio storytelling.
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