Jewish Blues

From The Joe Frank Wiki
Series
WBAI And NPR Playhouse
Original Broadcast Date
1978
Cast
Arthur Miller, Eric Sears, Tim Jerome, Larry Block, Joe Frank
Format
Telephone, Live, Panel Discussion 58 minutes
Chronology
Followed by: Laughing Back - A Movie For Radio
Purchase

"Well I visited Bellevue once, and ah, I saw him..."

Jewish Blues is a program Joe Frank produced as part of the series WBAI And NPR Playhouse. It was originally broadcast in 1978.

Synopsis

Segment of a live WBAI call-in show with a studio panel: sound effects calls, someone asks for directions, aggressive women, a Texan describes Star Wars, the Constitution.

28:46: Interview with a Jewish blues guitarist, broken with scenes from his life. The origin of the blues in Jewish mythology, the unleavened 5th and 7th. The singer looks for work in night clubs. His son converts to Christianity. He tells his wife about it. He goes to a rabbi who has lost his faith. He gets a job working in a nightclub frequented by rowdy, cynical religious leaders.

Music

Shared material

Miscellanea

This program is apparently a compilation of two segments from different eras:

  • WBAI call-in show "In The Dark" (1976-78)
  • Studio recording with 1980s ensemble cast

Larry Block appears between 32:07 and 34:32, and there are additional uncredited cast members.