More from David Greenberger
Hard Times
(00:01:03)
From: David Greenberger
A mix of voices from senior centers in East L.A looking back on what were undeniably hard times growing up during the depression with a degree of nostalgia.
From Mexico to the Dodgers
(00:03:16)
From: David Greenberger
Nelly Castillo tells the story of her son?s dream of becoming a major league pitcher.
Cooking For Sinatra
(00:01:45)
From: David Greenberger
Francisco Mena recounts his experiences as a private chef in Vegas
Mothers
(00:01:57)
From: David Greenberger
A mix of voices from senior centers in East L.A. revealing that more than just memories, mothers are an inner presence.
Music In East L.A.
(00:01:26)
From: David Greenberger
A mix of voices from senior centers in East L.A talking about their preferences for music from Mexican music to rock and roll.
Teapot Lids
(00:02:09)
From: David Greenberger
Nonagenarian Mimi Hunt recalls playing as a child in the LA River
We Need More Teachers Like This
(00:02:44)
From: David Greenberger
David Orosco left school after third grade to work supporting his family. Here he recalls the importance of his elementary school teacher.
Walk Three Times
(00:01:04)
From: David Greenberger
Relearning how to walk can be the hardest thing to do as an adult.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
Growing Old in East L.A. is an hour-long radio piece that takes its shape from the print and performance pieces of David Greenberger?s Duplex Planet. For more than a quarter century Greenberger has been talking with old people in nursing homes, mealsites and senior centers, collecting conversations and stories. He has been publishing The Duplex Planet since 1979 and has released more than a dozen CDs of monologues with music performances audio verit? documentaries and a range of other books and audio works. Growing Old In East L.A. begins with David?s introduction to his work, mixing with the voices of the people he met visiting senior centers in East Los Angeles as part of the California Council for the Humanities, California Stories Documentary Project. East L.A. natives David Hidalgo and Louie Perez who are both known for their band Los Lobos, created the music. Over time, as is the case in friendships, individuals return to tell more of their stories, and we come to feel as though we know the speakers. Small details empower their stories about the ways we live our lives, the things in which we believe. In the end the stories grow more tender and intimate, reflecting on the end of life, lasting hopes and hard-won wisdom. The rich variety of voices reveals unexpected diversity and common bonds found in East L.A. As listeners, we meet individuals; we grow to understand that diverse communities can connect with each other ? the collective threads are the universal themes: identity, reflection in old age, and the dignity of the individual. LENGTH: Newscast compatible- 52:31, including 1:00 station break. Audio promo is 0:30.
Broadcast History
WCAI/WNAN scheduled for 7/16/06
Transcript
full transcript of the piece is available at
www.growingoldineastla.com
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
One minute bilboard, with space for 5 minute newscast.
60 sec break at 22:46 (with music)
End at 52:31 (extra voices and music in last 30 seconds)
Suggested Host introduction:
In Growing Old In East L.A. the story of California is told by unheralded people through quiet moments that usually go unnoticed. Culturally they may have one foot in another homeland, but America is where they have they have built their lives.
In the debates and discussions about immigration reform, we may focus on ?otherness,? and what it means to be an illegal alien. Ultimately, we are all thinking about is what makes us Americans. Listening to Growing Old In East L.A., what becomes clear is that what we share, what we have in common far outweighs the real and imagined differences. A sense of home, of place, and pride are among the shared qualities that join the community of East L.A. with the rest of America.
Here is David Greenberger with Growing Old in East L.A.
Musical Works
All original music composed for Growing Old In East L.A. by David Hidalgo and Loiuse Perez (2006)
Additional Files
- Growing Old In East LA composite photo (goela.jpg)
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Dheera Sujan
Posted on July 17, 2006 at 05:21 AM | Permalink
Review of Growing Old In East L.A.
The elderly have been largely marginalized in our western societies which are ever increasingly involved in the cult of youth. So it?s a relief to hear a programme unashamedly dedicated to hearing the voices and thoughts of old people. In this collection, David Greenberger wants to give us a taste of the long lifetimes of interesting experiences by a very particular largely ethnic community.
There are some charming moments here. ?I thought the world would be better by this time, says one old man wistfully ?after all the wars we?ve gone through, I thought this world would be a better place, but it?s not really.? That?s a life lesson in itself ? history must keep repeating itself and experience has to be accumulated by each generation anew.
Sometimes I would have liked some of the questions to go deeper ? the narrator tells us that he asks questions, sometimes banal, sometimes unexpected, to hear how they respond rather than their actual answers, but occasionally that didn?t seem quite enough.
Technical quality varies here ? some of the questions off mic are so distant that they clash with the studio narration that comes in loud and clear just moments later. And the music though gentle and original sometimes just simply has no place ? fading in and out so arbitrarily that it distracts from rather than enhances what people are saying.
But all in all, this is a gentle piece, giving us a chance to re-connect with a part of society who are now gathered into senior citizen homes, and no longer sitting around in the village square available for chat and advice. And for that experience alone, it?s a worth listen.