Loading Page
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio(1991)
Status: Released
Date: 1991-10-01
75%
8 Votes
Time: 1h 53m
Overview:
For 50 years radio dominated the airwaves and the American consciousness as the first “mass medium.” In Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio, Ken Burns examines the lives of three extraordinary men who shared the primary responsibility for this invention and its early success, and whose genius, friendship, rivalry and enmity interacted in tragic ways. This is the story of Lee de Forest, a clergyman’s flamboyant son, who invented the audion tube; Edwin Howard Armstrong, a brilliant, withdrawn inventor who pioneered FM technology; and David Sarnoff, a hard-driving Russian immigrant who created the most powerful communications company on earth.
Languages: English.
Countries:
United States of America
ProductionCompanies: 
Movie: Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
Top 10 Billed Cast
Jason Robards
Narrator (voice)
Susan Douglas
Self - Historian
Garrison Keillor
Self - Writer
Loading Photos
Photo Type :Total items
Recommendations Movies
82%
The Untold History Of The United States(en)
2012-11-12
Oliver Stone charts the history of the United States from the Second World War to the present.
70%
The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin(en)
2014-10-03
A documentary about the development and spread of the virtual currency called Bitcoin.
68%
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound(en)
2019-10-25
The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.
65%
Downloaded(en)
2013-06-20
A documentary that explores the downloading revolution; the kids that created it, the bands and the businesses that were affected by it, and its impact on the world at large.
68%
The Unknown Known(en)
2013-08-29
Former United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, discusses his career in Washington D.C. from his days as a congressman in the early 1960s to planning the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
74%
Above Majestic(en)
2018-10-30
A look at the origins, history and conspiracies behind the "Majestic 12", a clandestine group of military and corporate figureheads charged with reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology.
74%
Red Army(en)
2015-01-23
A documentary highlighting the Soviet Union's legendary and enigmatic hockey training culture and world-dominating team through the eyes of the team's Captain Slava Fetisov, following his shift from hockey star and celebrated national hero to political enemy.
70%
What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine(en)
2018-10-12
A documentary exploring the legacy of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the reasons it went from the black sheep of Star Trek to a beloved mainstay of the franchise, and a brainstorm with the original writers on what a theoretical eighth season of the show could look like.
76%
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones(en)
2003-01-19
A years-in-the-making documentary on the legendary punk band the Ramones. Through a mixture of archival footage, archival and new interviews with all members of the band's various lineups, and new interviews with a number of their contemporaries, the film traces the peaks and valleys the band experienced over the course of its 20-plus year career before disbanding in 1995.
66%
Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron(en)
2017-11-26
For the 20th anniversary of "Titanic," James Cameron reopens the file on the disaster.
68%
9/11: Inside the President's War Room(en)
2021-08-31
Experience the events of September 11, 2001 through the eyes of President Bush and his closest advisors as they personally detail the crucial hours and key decisions from that historic day.
74%
I Am Heath Ledger(en)
2017-04-23
The life and career of an actor, artist, and icon. His own journey through his own camera.
74%
For the Love of Spock(en)
2016-09-09
The life of Mr. Spock, as well as that of Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played him for almost fifty years, written and directed by his son: Adam.
75%
Lemmy(en)
2010-03-15
Over four decades, Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister has registered an immeasurable impact on music history. Nearly 65, he remains the living embodiment of the rock and roll lifestyle, and this feature-length documentary tells his story, one of a hard-living rock icon who continues to enjoy the life of a man half his age.
76%
The Last Waltz(en)
1978-04-26
Martin Scorsese's documentary intertwines footage from The Band's incredible farewell tour with probing backstage interviews and featured performances by Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, and other rock legends.
73%
The Wrecking Crew(en)
2008-03-11
A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew." a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, and Bing Crosby.
64%
Why We Fight: Prelude to War(en)
1942-05-27
Prelude to War was the first film of Frank Capra's Why We Fight propaganda film series, commissioned by the Pentagon and George C. Marshall. It was made to convince American troops of the necessity of combating the Axis Powers during World War II. This film examines the differences between democratic and fascist states.
64%
The Captains(en)
2011-07-22
The Captains is a feature-length documentary film written and directed by William Shatner. The film follows Shatner as he interviews the other actors who have portrayed starship captains in the Star Trek franchise.
61%
Naqoyqatsi(en)
2002-09-02
A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.
61%
Seduced and Abandoned(en)
2013-05-20
SEDUCED AND ABANDONED combines acting legend Alec Baldwin with director James Toback as they lead us on a troublesome and often hilarious journey of raising financing for their next feature film. Moving from director to financier to star actor, the two players provide us with a unique look behind the curtain at the world's biggest and most glamourous film festival, shining a light on the bitter-sweet relationship filmmakers have with Cannes and the film business. Featuring insights from directors Martin Scorsese, 'Bernando Bertolucci' and Roman Polanski; actors Ryan Gosling and Jessica Chastain and a host of film distribution luminaries.
Similar Movies
67%
Jakob the Liar(en)
1999-09-16
In 1944 Poland, a Jewish shop keeper named Jakob is summoned to ghetto headquarters after being caught out after curfew. While waiting for the German Kommondant, Jakob overhears a German radio broadcast about Russian troop movements. Returned to the ghetto, the shopkeeper shares his information with a friend and then rumors fly that there is a secret radio within the ghetto.
77%
The King's Speech(en)
2010-11-26
The King's Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country into war.
90%
Jack Benny: Comedy in Bloom(en)
1992-10-05
Co-stars and celebrity admirers go through Benny's entire career
72%
A People’s Radio – Ballads from a Wooded Country(fi)
2021-03-10
A People’s Radio – Ballads from a Wooded Country is a carnivalesque portrayal of the Finnish landscape of the soul and abode. The short film is based on the iconic YLE programme “People’s Radio”, and its visual material has been created by the road movie method of driving across summery Finland. The film paints a panorama of what Finland looks like today. Its narration progresses through humour into civic anarchy, ultimately also towards the longing for human connection.
0%
Pirates of the Airwaves(en)
2014-07-27
In 1966 a group of determined young men defied the New Zealand government and launched a pirate radio station aboard a ship in the Hauraki Gulf.
60%
Glorious 39(en)
2009-11-20
A mysterious tale set around a traditional British family on the eve of World War Two. Oblivious to the looming shadow of World War II, the wealthy Keyes maintain a confident façade in the British countryside until daughter Anne becomes an unexpected pawn. Her accidental discovery of secret recordings creates a rift in the family.
67%
Kick Out the Jams: The Story of XFM(en)
2022-08-31
Titled after the first-ever song to play on their airwaves, Kick Out the Jams follows the development of XFM from its rebellious pirate radio roots in the early 90’s, through to its official FM radio launch in 1997 as a major platform for launching alternative talent into the mainstream. The doc deep-dives into the struggles and influence of the station which gave rise to the likes of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, whose global hits The Office and The Ricky Gervais Show were originally developed while working at the radio station.
0%
Behind Your Radio Dial(en)
1949-01-09
Familiar radio voice Ben Grauer leads the viewer on a behind the scenes tour of the National Broadcasting Company studios -- both radio and television -- in Rockefeller Center and Hollywood. The original 25-minute film previewed by network execs and affiliates in the fall of 1948 was cut down to 20 minutes before its first broadcast, reportedly to excise high-profile stars and programs such as Amos 'n' Andy, Jack Benny, and Edgar Bergen that had since left NBC for other networks.
80%
Carbone 14, le film(fr)
1983-05-11
Supernana, David Grossexe, Simone Cuisse d'Acier, Jean-Yves Lafesse occupy during three nights of summer 82, with their guests, Radio Carbone locals, one of those numerous « free radio » created in France at this period.
72%
Restrepo(en)
2010-06-25
Directors Hetherington and Junger spend a year with the 2nd Battalion of the United States Army located in one of Afghanistan's most dangerous valleys. The documentary provides insight and empathy on how to win the battle through hard work, deadly gunfights and mutual friendships while the unit must push back the Taliban.
59%
End of the World(pl)
2015-04-26
The Mayan doomsday prophecy looms over a dark night in Poland. A late-night radio host takes in calls from citizens expressing their concerns, predictions and speculations on what may happen when—or even if—the sun comes up. Simultaneously, a crisis centre dispatcher fields panicked calls from people experiencing real-life traumatic situations in need of immediate attention. The voices of these callers are interwoven with an intimate therapy session and a wandering taxicab to build a profile of a place where citizens want to be heard. Never showing the callers on the other end of the line, the film creates an aural overview of a darkened city. As the night progresses, the calls continue coming in, revealing the various struggles people are experiencing in dealing with conceptual fears and current woes—all in a world that soon may be over.
76%
Radio Unnameable(en)
2012-09-19
The story of legendary New York City disc jockey Bob Fass who pioneered free expression on the airwaves with his long running FM program 'Radio Unnameable'.
58%
Yellow Caesar(en)
1941-05-24
Using edited archive footage, mockery is made of Italy's dictator Benito Mussolini.
0%
The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story(en)
2023-05-21
A nostalgic tribute to Dick Biondi, the fast-talking DJ who turned radio into a rock & roll revolution when Top 40 was king. This heartfelt documentary celebrates the man who helped define a musical era and set the bar for every DJ who followed.
0%
40 Watts from Nowhere(en)
2025-02-22
Frustrated by commercial radio in the ’90s, a music-loving legal secretary builds one from scratch and runs it out of her LA apartment.
60%
Sex and Broadcasting(en)
2014-11-15
SEX AND BROADCASTING is a feature length documentary about New Jersey's WFMU, the world's strangest and most unique radio station, and one man's attempt to keep it alive in the face of recession, the persistent threat of commercial media, and the challenges that come with keeping a rebellious group of outsiders together.
80%
CFNY: The Spirit of Radio(en)
2026-01-05
In 1976, CFNY launched in a small suburban house just north of Toronto and went on to become one of the most influential punk, new wave and alternative radio stations in the world. This is the story of their mission to bring the most exciting music in the world to the masses. It's also a story of the personalities, lawsuits, bankruptcies, concerts, and listener protests that went along with it.
0%
Annie Nightingale: Bird on the Wireless(en)
2011-06-03
Radio 1's longest-serving broadcaster Annie Nightingale takes us on a counter-cultural journey through the events, people and sounds that have inspired her illustrious career.