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Apr.16.2008
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The US Supreme today upheld a three-drug cocktail method for conducting lethal injections. Hear the story of Carol Weihrer, whose experience of awakening during an eye operation some say mirrors the possible risks of lethal injection as a form of capital punishment.
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Oct.15.2007
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We were saddened to hear of the passing of Rev. Robert Shields, author of the Worlds Longest Diary, on October 15, 2007. Rev. Shields stopped compiling his diary in 1997, after suffering a stroke, but never lost his humor or spark. He is survived by his wife Grace and three daughters. He was a beloved member of the Sound Portraits family, and we send our heartfelt condolences to the Shields family.
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Aug.22.2007
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Herta Freiberg, who along with her family, heroically hid Siegbert Freiberg from the Nazis during World War II, died quietly in her sleep last night. She was 96 years old and lived in New Jersey. Siegbert and Herta were the subjects of our Yiddish Radio Project program "Reunion." Siegbert passed away on April 20, 2002. Their courage, love and devotion will inspire us always.
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Jun.26.2007
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The famed Cyclone roller coaster turns 80 years
old today. Meet the the Cyclone's devoted repairman Walter Williams in the
radio documentary Coney Island.
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Mar.21.2007
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On March 21, Sound Portraits lost a dear friend with the passing of Bernie Barker—the world's Oldest Male Stripper. Bernie, a retired nuclear engineer, began performing as a strip-tease artist following a surgery for prostate cancer when he was 60.
In the years since his story ran, Bernie continued to dance professionally and compete in dance competitions. He also followed his dream of becoming an actor and appeared the big and small screen. Bernie wore many hats, but was always a gentleman and something of a philosopher. In his unpublished autobiography Bernie described his personal credo as follows: "I believe that anything is possible and good things sometimes happen to those that try hardest...I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon if I can. I seek opportunity not security...I want to take the calculated risk: to dream and to build to fail and to succeed. All this is what it means to be an American."
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Jul.27.2006
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Sophia Newman, Lloyd Newman's older sister who told her story in the documentary Ghetto Life 101 , died of a lung ailment this morning.
Sophia is survived by her sisters and brothers: Lloyd, Mike, Precious Lindell and Erica Newman and her two children George and Gelya. Sound Portraits mourns the loss of a warm, intelligent, brave and loving friend. Sophia was born wise beyond her years and valued her family above all else. She will be sorely missed. Cards can be sent to the Newman family care of Sound Portraits, 80 Hanson Place Brooklyn, NY 11217.
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Jul.02.2006
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July 2nd would have been Sylvia Rivera's 55th birthday. Sylvia (1951-2002) was the Rosa Parks of the gay rights movement, and a beloved member of the Sound Portraits family. Sylvia was featured in our 1989 documentary Remembering Stonewall.
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Jun.15.2006
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A recent Supreme Court decision left the door open for death row inmates to challenge the constitutionalty of lethal injection by arguing that the standard use of pancuronium bromide (which immobilizes but may not block consciousness) amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
That nightmare was the experience of Carol Weihrer who found herself conscious during eye surgery in 1998. You can hear Carol's story here.
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Mar.22.2006
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Matt Kennedy, born more than a century ago in Coney Island, Brooklyn, spent his childhood reveling in Coney Island's wonders, and his adulthood fighting against its decline. In 1990, Dave Isay interviewed Matt Kennedy for a short documentary. Mr. Kennedy died on March 22nd, having lived to see his efforts rewarded by Coney Island's current renaissance. Click here to listen.
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Feb.02.2006
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"Charlie's Story" is a rare first person look into life in a flophouse on New York City's Bowery. Charlie Geter, who worked on the project for nearly two years, would have been 59 on February 2nd. He passed away on January 7th, 2005.
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Dec.02.2005
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December 1st marked the 1,000th execution in the United States since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976. Listen to the Sound Portraits documentaries "The Execution Tapes" and "Witness to an Execution" for a personal perspective.
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Aug.05.2005
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Our latest piece, Kaleria Palchikoff Drago, Witness to the Atom Bomb, airs on NPR's All Things Considered.
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Jul.15.2005
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Our latest piece, Jack Aeby, Atom-Bomb Photographer, airs on NPR's All Things Considered.
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Jun.21.2005
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We're proud to announce the opening of the World Trade Center StoryBooth. See the press release for details.
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May.31.2005
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Our sister project, StoryCorps, is proud to announce its nationwide MobileBooth tour.
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May.01.2005
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Belmont Park celebrates its 100th anniversary. Listen to our story on the park's barbershop.
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Apr.15.2005
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April 15, 2005, marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp. Listen now to recordings made that day.
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Apr.14.2005
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Our piece Julius Howell, Civil War General airs on NPR's Morning Edition. Listen now.
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Apr.04.2005
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We've posted an update from Bernie Barker, the oldest male stripper.
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Mar.09.2005
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Happy birthday to Joe Franklin, born March 9, 1926, in the Bronx.
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Feb.14.2005
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Former Sound Portraits intern Brett Myers has a piece on NPR's All Things Considered. Listen now on NPR's site.
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Jan.16.2005
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After 44 years, Wilbert Rideau, narrator of Tossing Away the Keys, has been freed from prison. The Times-Picayune story has details.
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Jan.08.2005
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Charles Geter, the author and subject of the radio piece "Charlie's Story," has passed away.
Charles Geter passed away last night at the age of 57. Charlie was the author and subject of "Charlie's Story," our first feature about New York's Bowery. He also worked closely with us to produce The Sunshine Hotel. Charlie learned he had AIDS over the course of recording his documentary.
Soon after its completion, he began working as a maintenance man and moved into his own apartment, where he lived, drug free, for the rest of his life. He died of pneumonia at the Veterans Administration Hospital at 6:11 PM on January 7th, with his mother and siblings at his side.
Charlie was a deeply courageous man, a loving friend, and a beloved part of the Sound Portraits family. Our condolences to his mother Ruby, his siblings, his nieces and nephews -- and everyone who never had the privilege of being in the presence of this remarkable human being.
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Dec.15.2004
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We've posted our year-end letter. Read it for highlights of 2004 and upcoming projects for 2005.
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Dec.09.2004
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December 10th would have been Jeannie Reilly's 47th birthday. She is the author of the radio piece A Letter to Butchie.
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Dec.07.2004
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Our sister project, StoryCorps, is hiring facilitators for its StoryBooth. Read the job description for details.
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Dec.04.2004
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Our piece Red Mike's Band airs on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. Listen now.
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Oct.25.2004
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Our piece Barbers of Belmont airs on NPR's Morning Edition. Listen now.
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Oct.11.2004
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Sound Portraits has moved offices. See our contact info page for our new address and phone numbers.
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Sep.07.2004
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Our piece "Northlandz," about the creators of the world's largest model railroad, airs on NPR's Morning Edition. Listen now.
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Aug.05.2004
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WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show broadcasts more stories from the StoryCorps StoryBooth. Listen now (RealAudio file).
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Jul.27.2004
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"Parents at an Execution" wins a Thurgood Marshall Journalism Award. The press release has details.
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Jul.14.2004
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Sound Portraits needs your support. Read about our urgent need to move offices and find out what you can do to help.
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Jul.01.2004
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Our piece "George Stinney, Youngest Executed" airs on NPR's Day to Day. Listen now.
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Jun.19.2004
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Our piece "Paralyzed" airs on Weekend Edition Saturday. Listen now.
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Jun.18.2004
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NPR's Morning Edition features a StoryCorps interview with poet Billy Collins for Father's Day. Listen now.
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Jun.17.2004
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StoryCorps is currently seeking a Director. See the job description for details.
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Jun.03.2004
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StoryCorps will build its second StoryBooth at the site of the World Trade Center. See the NY Times article for more info.
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Jun.01.2004
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WNYC's "Brian Lehrer Show" features Father's Day stories from the StoryCorps StoryBooth. Listen now (RealAudio file).
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May.07.2004
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NPR's Morning Edition features Mother's Day stories from the StoryCorps StoryBooth. Listen now.
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Apr.13.2004
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More stories from the StoryCorps StoryBooth air on WNYC. Listen now (RealPlayer required).
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Mar.12.2004
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Our piece Remembering Kitty Genovese airs on on Weekend Edition Saturday. Listen now.
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Mar.11.2004
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Our piece Joe Vitacco, Freelance Embalmer airs on NPR's All Things Considered. Listen now.
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Feb.23.2004
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More stories from the StoryCorps StoryBooth air on the Brian Lehrer Show. Listen now (RealPlayer required).
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Feb.14.2004
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NPR broadcasts a special StoryCorps segment for Valentine's Day. Listen on the Weekend Edition Web site.
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Feb.11.2004
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StoryCorps has been shortlisted for inclusion in the World Trade Center Memorial. More »
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Jan.08.2004
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More stories from the StoryCorps StoryBooth air on the Brian Lehrer Show. Listen now (RealPlayer required).
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Jan.01.2004
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Got an MP3 player? Download your favorite Sound Portraits stories from Audible.com.
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Dec.19.2003
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Our condolences to the Jones family, of Ghetto Life 101, on the passing of the family's patriarch, Gus Lee Jones. Gus died of heart failure on December 18th. He was 77.
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Dec.16.2003
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The first StoryCorps segment airs on NPR's Morning Edition. See the Morning Edition site for details.
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Dec.10.2003
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Shopping for the holidays? Check out our holiday gift suggestions for Sound Portraits books and CDs.
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Dec.09.2003
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We've posted our year-end letter from executive producer Dave Isay is online. Read it now.
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Dec.02.2003
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WNYC's Brian Lehrer talks to oral historian Studs Terkel about StoryCorps. Listen to the interview on WNYC.org.
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Nov.25.2003
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New in our archive: Harold Cotton, Hatblocker, the story of a man and his hatblocking shop.
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Nov.19.2003
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This holiday season, why not give a Sound Portraits CD or book? Visit our store for great gift ideas. All proceeds help support Sound Portraits.
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Oct.22.2003
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Producer Dave Isay introduces StoryCorps on NBC's Today Show. See StoryCorps.net for more info on the project.
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Oct.01.2003
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Producer Dave Isay introduces StoryCorps on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show. Listen now (RealPlayer required).
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Sep.30.2003
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The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress announces it will house the StoryCorps Archive. Read the press release.
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Sep.07.2003
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Photographer Harvey Wang's exhibit Going Strong is now open in NYC.
The exhibit, which originated at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and has been touring the country for two years will be on display at 176 Grand Street, 3rd Floor, between Baxter and Mulberry, in New York City until Dec 18.
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Sep.06.2003
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Our latest piece, "The Last Elevator," is now online. Listen now.
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Sep.01.2003
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Sad news from the last orthodox temple in Mississippi: Ahavath rayim President Leslie Kornfeld has passed
away.
In lieu of flower, please send a donation to the Ahavath Rayim Cemetary Fund at 501 Howard St, Greenwood, MS, 38930, in memory of Leslie Kornfeld.
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Aug.25.2003
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The New York Times reviewed photographer Milton Rogovin's show at the New-York Historical Society. Read the review.
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Jul.29.2003
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The Aug 4 issue of Newsweek has an article on StoryCorps. Learn more about our latest project on the StoryCorps Web site.
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Jul.25.2003
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Photographer Mitlon Rogovin will be featured on the Today Show on Wed, July 30. See photos from Milton's latest book.
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Jul.24.2003
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Transcripts of Q&A's with the Sound Portraits staff are now available on Transom.org.
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Jul.16.2003
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The deadline for applications to be a StoryCorps facilitator is August 1. See the StoryCorps Web site for details.
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Jul.14.2003
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Want to interview your grandfather or get your best friend's story on tape? Reserve a pilot StoryCorps session now!
If you?ll be in NYC any time this summer you can be one of the first to participate in StoryCorps. We'll teach you how to conduct the interview and what questions to ask, and you'll walk away with a broadcast-quality CD -- for free! You?ll be helping us shape this project in the process. For more information, e-mail karen@soundportraits.org.
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Jul.07.2003
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A passionate teacher, writer, and activist -- and Milton Rogovin's inspiration and partner for more than 60 years -- Anne Rogovin has passed away at the age of 84.
Milton may have wielded the camera, but it was Anne's insistance and perseverance that convinced him to bring it out into Buffalo's streets -- and eventually around the world. Our hearts and prayers go out to Milton, to the entire Rogovin family, and to the countless subjects Anne touched so profoundly. She is greatly missed.
You can listen to Milton and Anne talking about the party where they first met.
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Jul.01.2003
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Our latest piece "Bernie Barker, Oldest Male Stripper" is now on-line. Listen now.
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Jun.19.2003
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We've posted excerpts from our new book, Milton Rogovin: The Forgotten Ones.
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Jun.11.2003
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The deadline for internship applications has been extended to July 1. See our internship page for more info.
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Jun.01.2003
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Missed the broadcast of our latest short, Clemency, on All Things Considered ? Listen now on-line.
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May.16.2003
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Sound Portraits is featured this month on Transom.org.
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May.15.2003
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We have a new initiative to help people collect each other's stories in sound. It's called StoryCorps. Learn more on the StoryCorps Web site.
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May.07.2003
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The May 7 issue of the New York Times has an article on StoryCorps.
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Apr.02.2003
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We are proud to announce that the Yiddish Radio Project has been awarded a Peabody. Read the press release for details.
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Apr.01.2003
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Check out archival photos of the Ida B. Wells Housing Projects, home of Ghetto Life reporters Lloyd Newman and LeAlan Jones.
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Mar.12.2003
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The Supreme Court has blocked the execution of Delma Banks, Jr. More ?
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Mar.11.2003
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Our latest piece, "Parents at an Execution," is now on-line.
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Feb.08.2003
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New from the archive: "Hula Ville," the story of a desert park and its billboard of a girl in a hula skirt.
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Jan.21.2003
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Photos by Sound Portraits collaborator Harvey Wang are now on display in Brooklyn, NY.
Wang's exhibit, Selected Works From Harvey Wang's America, is at the Popcorn Room until January 31. The Popcorn Room is located at 402 5th St, between 5th and 6th Avenues in Brooklyn. For more information, call (718) 369-3219 or visit popcornroom.com
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Jan.20.2003
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An exhibit on Horn and Hardart's Automat is on display at The Museum of the City of New York. Listen to our feature about the Automat's final hours.
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Dec.01.2002
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Learn how you can support Sound Portraits. Our year-end letter from producer Dave Isay is now on-line.
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Oct.15.2002
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The great Yiddish crooner Seymour Rexite has passed away.
Rexite's funeral will be on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 1:15 pm at the Riverside Chapel at 76th Street and Amsterdam in New York City. Read his obituary in the New York Times.
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Oct.08.2002
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Jim Searles, president of the Brooklyn Elite Checker Club, has passed away at the age of 90. Listen to Jim talk about his love for the game [RealAudio] and read his obituary in the NY Times.
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Oct.02.2002
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New from our archive: the story of Geneva Tisdale, the first African-American to be served at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, NC.
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Oct.01.2002
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Mac versions of Sound Portraits documentaries are now available from Audible. See Audible's Web site for more info.
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Sep.30.2002
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The Yiddish Radio Project series is now avaiable on CD and cassette. Order your copy from the NPR's on-line store.
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Sep.19.2002
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Producer David Isay will host the grand opening of the Bowery Poetry Club on Mon, Sept 23.
The event, a benefit for the Bowery Mission, starts at 7:45 pm and will feature residents of the few remaining Bowery flophouses telling their tales. Tickets, which are $10, will be on sale at the door. The Bowery Poetry Club is located at 308 Bowery, between Bleecker and Houston, in New York City. For more information, call (212) 614-0505.
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Sep.18.2002
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The film The Gods of Times Square, on which a Sound Portraits documentary is based, is playing in New York City on Sept 26.
The screening, which is free and open to the public, begins at 8 pm at DV Dojo, 310 Bowery, in New York City.
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Sep.13.2002
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Producer Dave Isay will speak at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, ME, on Sept 17.
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7 pm. The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies is located in Portland at 110 Exchange Street in the Old Port. For further information, please contact Teri Coviello at (207) 761-0660.
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Sep.02.2002
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Missed the broadcast of "Strates Carnival, May 1941" on NPR's Morning Edition? Listen now on-line.
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Aug.15.2002
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Photographer Colby Katz, who was photo assistant on our book Flophouse, has posted an amazing portfolio on her Web site: colbykatz.com.
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Jul.25.2002
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Don't miss the movie adaptation of our documentary Ghetto Life 101. See Showtime's Web site for info and airtimes.
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Jul.09.2002
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Sound Portraits has suffered a devastating loss: June Marie Jones, 1930-2002.
LeAlan Jones's grandmother and a matriarch of the Jones -- and Sound Portraits -- families, June passed away yesterday at the age of 72. She died suddenly of a heart attack in her life-long home on Chicago's South Side, surrounded by family.
Nearly a decade ago, June's blesing of her thirteen-year-old grandson's participation in Ghetto Life 101 made that project -- and all of the work that grew out of it -- possible. Believing that the stories of young people growing up in this country's ghettos needed to be heard, she took the courageous step of sharing her family's story with the nation and the world. June was a spectacular woman who lived an astonishingly rich life. In the last six weeks alone, she saw her grandson LeAlan graduate from college, her granddaughter Jeri graduate from high school, and her life celebrated in the movie version of Ghetto Life 101, which premiered in Chicago.
June's nurturing spirit, courage, unflappable will, faith in God, and fierce dedication to her family were an inspiration to anyone lucky enough be in her presence. Our condolences and love go out to the entire Jones family: her husband Gus and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Listen to June singing "One Day at a Time" from the conclusion of Ghetto Life 101.
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