2008 Third Coast ShortDocs: Radio Ephemera

Series produced by Third Coast International Audio Festival

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Short audio works inspired by five books carefully selected from the San Francisco-based Prelinger Library's extensive and treasured collection of printed ephemera.

For the 2008 ShortDocs Challenge: Radio Ephemera, the Third Coast Festival joined forces with the Prelinger Library, a veritable temple of printed ephemera based in San Francisco, CA. With the help of PL founders Rick and Megan Prelinger, we chose five books from their mighty collection and invited any and everyone to produce short audio works inspired by TWO of the books, and including the voice of a stranger. The books were:

- Trees As Good Citizens, by Charles Lathrop Pack, 1922
- The Facts of Life for Teenagers, by Lois Pemberton, 1948
- Trailer Ahoy!, by Charles Edgard Nash, 1937
- The Big Strike, by Mike Quin, 1949
- Control of Body and Mind, by France Gulick Jewett, 1908

In the end, 72 stories were submitted from 11 different countries. Four were chosen as the official 2008 ShortDocs, and were presented, with producers on-hand, at the opening session of the 2008 Third Coast Conference. Hide full description

For the 2008 ShortDocs Challenge: Radio Ephemera, the Third Coast Festival joined forces with the Prelinger Library, a veritable temple of printed ephemera based in San Francisco, CA. With the help of PL founders Rick and Megan Prelinger, we chose five books from their mighty collection and invited any and everyone to produce short audio works inspired by TWO of the books, and including the voice of a stranger. The books were: - Trees As Good Citizens, by Charles Lathrop Pack, 1922 - The Facts of Life for Teenagers, by Lois Pemberton, 1948 - Trailer Ahoy!, by Charles Edgard Nash, 1937 - The Big Strike, by Mike Quin, 1949 - Control of Body and Mind, by France Gulick Jewett, 1908 In the end, 72 stories were submitted from 11 different countries. Four were chosen as the official 2008... Show full description


10 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Whether it's societal progress or a squiggly 11-pound miracle, getting there isn't always pretty.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 1
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A cultural detective searches out a singing stranger and in the process finds out how prayer affects a young man's life.

Bought by KALW, PRX Remix, and KUOW


  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 3
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A motorcyclist hits the only tree standing in an otherwise empty field.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 1
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The authors of "Trailer Ahoy!" and "Trees as Good Citizens" enjoy a written correspondence relating to their books' proximity in the library.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 1
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As Tom recovers from a traumatic brain injury, he and his wife welcome newborn twins into the world.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 1
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Growing up isn't easy - when you feel as if your mind is one gender, and your body another.

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KUOW, KGNU Community Radio, and PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 03:03
  • Purchases: 4
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A guy muses on the fears associated with a loved one's body.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 03:02
  • Purchases: 1
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Where do lost stories go? Potato pancakes are involved.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 03:06
  • Purchases: 1

  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 1
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An audio doodle about this phrase: "Humankind is preceded by forest, and followed by desert." Forest versus city / tree versus car / then versus now.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 25, 2011
  • Length: 02:35
  • Purchases: 1