Thanks to an Archiving and Preservation Grant (2007) from the GRAMMY Foundation, the Pacifica Radio Archives has preserved and digitized 300 reel-to-reel masters of historic Pacifica Radio station broadcasts of exceptional cultural, social and artistic value. The 27 programs below were selected to be made freely available by stream and podcast. Clicking the "Donate" link next to any of these recordings allows you to make a tax-deductible donation to the Pacifica Radio Archives which will be acknowledged with an audio CD copy of the program you choose.
View the list of all 308 radio programs restored by this GRAMMY Foundation grant.
1958-59. Esquire Writers Symposium: 1958-1959
Archives # BB0755. Listen to part 1. Listen to part 2.
Two of a three-part series of highlights from Esquire Magazine Writers' Conference, held at Columbia University (NYC) and the University of Iowa, 1958-1959. Prominent authors address & contend the role and responsibility of the writer in contemporary society. Speakers include Dorothy Parker, Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison.
1960. Renoir Seminar: A Rehearsal
Archives # BB0754. Listen.
Filmmaker Jean Renoir conducts a seminar for actors using his play "Carola" as the exercise. "Carola" is a moving tale of forbidden love in the midst of Nazi-occupied France.
1963. Pauline Kael: Last Broadcast
Archives # AZ1285. Listen.
The witty and acerbic film critic was a longtime commentator on KPFA. In her last broadcast she reads an essay, answers listener mail, and excoriates the Berkeley radio station's management. Kael's broadcast is followed by KPFA's answer, "Report to the subscriber" by Trevor Thomas. 1963.
1964. William Shakespeare: This Was a Man
Archives # BB5057. Listen to part 1. Listen to part 2. Listen to part 3. Listen to part 4. Listen to part 5.
An original dramatized radio documentary on the life of William Shakespeare. Written, researched, produced and performed by Pacifica Radio / KPFK - Los Angeles. 1964.
1965. William Saroyan Talks to English Teachers
Archives # BB0914. Listen.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Saroyan reveals to an audience of teachers of language and literature, that he had a hard time learning to read and write. He communicates a profoundly personal view of the process of education. 1965.
1966. Yevgeny Yevtushenko
Archives # BB1954. Listen to part 1. Listen to part 2.
Russian poet and free speech advocate reads selections from his works at the University of California, Berkeley in 1966.
1969. Diane Di Prima Reads Her Poetry
Archives # AZ1333. Listen.
A premier woman Beat poet reads from her poems "Blessed are the Meek, Baby"; "Zip Code"; and "Canticle of St. Joan" at St. John the Divine in Greenwich Village. Presented by Radio Free People
1971. Underground Poetry Festival: Diane Di Prima
Archives # AZ1334. Listen.
Poet Diane Di Prima reads "Calculus of Variations".
1972. Notes from Underground: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Archives # BC1302. Listen to part 1. Listen to part 2. Listen to part 3. Listen to part 4.
Fyodor Dostoevsky's great novel "Notes from Underground" read by Morris Carnovsky and Stacey Keach for the third annual literary reading on WBAI in New York City in 1972.
1976. Tennessee Williams Meets with the San Francisco Press
Archives # AZ1184. Listen.
American Playwright Tennessee Williams fields questions in San Francisco at Press conference about upcoming world premiere of This Is (An Entertainment) at ACT (American Conservatory Theatre). Williams answers questions regarding his previous work and the new play. 1976
1977. Malvina Reynolds Benefit for the Women's Library Workers
Archives # AZ1343. Listen.
Singer / Songwriter Malvina Reynolds and Composer / Performer Margie Adam perform at a benefit for the Women's Library Workers.
1978. Alberta Hunter: A Very Special Woman
Archives # AZ1321. Listen.
The great African-American blues & jazz singer, Alberta Hunter, interviewed at The Cookery in NYC, in 1978, she was in her 70s and still singing strong.
1980. Margie Adam Live at KPFK
Archives # AZ1328. Listen.
Margie Adam, singer/songwriter and composer of women's music performs live at KPFK on the grand piano during her 1980 tour for National Coalition of Women's Voters. She talks between songs about the women's movement and her upcoming concert at Beverly Hills High School.
1982. Ntozake Shange: Sassafras, Cypress & Indigo
Archives # AZ1340. Listen.
The African American playwright, author of the Obie award winning play, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Isn't Enuf" reads from her novel: "Sassafras, Cypress and Indigo" at Cody's bookstore in Berkeley, CA. Includes additional interviews by Ginny Z. Berson at KPFA. 1982.
1986. June Jordan interviewed by Paris Williams
Archives # AZ1325. Listen.
June Jordan, African American feminist poet and essayist, interviewed on International Women's Day at KPFA in 1986. She speaks about defining women's issues, and political activists including Winnie Mandela and Rigoberta Menchu Tum. She talks about her book "On Call: New Political Essays" and reads recent political poems.
1992. John Cage at Stanford - 80th Birthday
Archives # AZ1256. Listen.
American musician John Cage died shortly before his 80th birthday (August 12, 1992). Earlier that year he gave an address at Stanford University entitled "Here Comes Everybody: Overpopulation and Art." He is introduced by Herbert Lindenberger of the Stanford Humanities Center. Also speaking was Norman O. Brown, then a professor at University of California, Santa Cruz. Brown's presentation is titled "Dionysius in 1992."
Allen Ginsberg chants at KPFA
Archives # AZ1327. Listen.
Allen Ginsberg plays the harmonium and chants at Pacifica station KPFA, sings "Spring" by Blake. Staff favorite sound bite: "Merrily, merrily we welcome the Apocalypse."
Flor del Pueblo at La Pena
Archives # AZ1313. Listen.
Live performance by Latino Americano nuevo cancion musical groups of the 1970's Flor del Pueblo at La Pena in Berkeley, CA.
top
PRA metadata view
Introduction