Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio

Top 10 Billed Cast

Jason Robards
Jason Robards

Narrator (voice)

Red Barber
Red Barber

Self - Radio Announcer

Erik Barnouw
Erik Barnouw

Self - Historian

Ken Bilby
Ken Bilby

Self - Biographer of David Sarnoff

Norman Corwin
Norman Corwin

Self - Writer

Susan Douglas
Susan Douglas

Self - Historian

Frank Günther
Frank Günther

Self - Engineer

Jeanne Hammond
Jeanne Hammond

Self - Niece of Edwin H. Armstrong

Loren Jones
Loren Jones

Self - Engineer

Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor

Self - Writer

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