Audio Maverick
Audio Maverick

Audio Maverick

CUNY TV

Overview
Episodes

Details

The history of radio crackles to life with Audio Maverick, a 9-part documentary about one of the most visionary figures in radio, Himan Brown. Explore the Golden Age of radio through Brown's life, as we travel from the birth of audio drama to the programs that brought millions of families into their living rooms every night. CUNY TV and the Himan Brown Archive assemble the story of how radio became an entertainment medium through archival audio of some of the most famous audio dramas, contemporary interviews with media scholars, and discussions with a new generation of audio mavericks that he inspired. New episodes monthly.

Recent Episodes

Episode 10: Himan Brown’s Life
JUN 5, 2025
Episode 10: Himan Brown’s Life
<p>In this bonus episode of Audio Maverick, we feature The Life of Himan Brown, a video tribute created by some of Brown’s CBS Radio Mystery Theater actors: Patricia Elliott, Paul Hecht, Russell Horton, Bob Kaliban, Roberta Maxwell, Tony Roberts, and Jada Rowland. The work was written by Jerome Coopersmith, who authored a number of the plays featured on the CBS series; directed by Paul Hecht, and produced by Brown’s granddaughter Melina Brown and CUNY TV’s then-Executive Director Robert Isaacson.</p> <p>Credits:</p> <p>- Executive Producers: Melina Brown, Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Executive Director, CUNY TV: Chiqui Cartagena</p> <p>- Director of Production, CUNY TV: Susan Iger</p> <p>- Producer/Director: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Narrator: Margot Avery</p> <p>- Concept and Script: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Associate Producer: Corinne Wallace</p> <p>- Audio Production intern: Lucia Funaro</p> <p>- Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Lisa Gosselin </p> <p>- Senior Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Richard Kim</p> <p>- Mixing: Lisa Gosselin</p> <p>- Sound design and final mixing: John DeLore and Bart Warshaw</p> <p>- Staff photographer, CUNY TV: Laura Fuchs </p> <p>- Script editor: Allison Behringer</p> <p>- - Composer: Allison Leyton-Brown</p> <p>- Archivists, CUNY TV: David Rice, Catriona Schlosser</p> <p>-Closed Caption Coordinator: Amy Monte </p> <p>- Branding and Graphic Design: Shae McMullin</p> <p>- Publicity & Marketing: Multitude</p> <p>Excerpts from the Himan Brown Oral History courtesy of Directors Guild of America, Inc. www.dga.org. All rights reserved.</p> <p>- Audio Maverick was produced at THE HIMAN BROWN TV AND RADIO STUDIOS at CUNY TV, and made possible by the Radio Drama Network</p> <p>About Us</p> <p>The history of radio crackles to life with Audio Maverick, a 9-part documentary about one of the most visionary figures in radio, Himan Brown. Explore the Golden Age of radio through Brown's life, as we travel from the birth of audio drama to the programs that brought millions of families into their living rooms every night.</p> <p>CUNY TV and the Himan Brown Archive assemble the story of how radio became an entertainment medium through archival audio of some of the most famous audio dramas, contemporary interviews with media scholars, and discussions with a new generation of audio mavericks that he inspired. New episodes monthly.</p>
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38 MIN
Episode 9: Everything Old is New Again
MAY 1, 2025
Episode 9: Everything Old is New Again
<p>Radio drama resurfaced during the early days of public radio, and a generation of producers began to reinvent the form, working with actors, theatre companies, and become creative laboratories for adventurous, sonically complex productions. The advent of podcasting has re-invigorated the audio drama form even more, and today’s “audio mavericks” include producers of contemporary drama, science fiction and fantasy, and works like the popular series Welcome to Night Vale that are beyond category. This episode includes comments from Night Vale’s Jeffrey Cranor; Lauren Shippen of The Bright Sessions; Kaitlin Prest of The Heart and others who are helping to keep Himan Brown’s legacy fresh and regenerative.</p> <p>Credits:</p> <p>- Executive Producers: Melina Brown, Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Executive Director, CUNY TV: Chiqui Cartagena</p> <p>- Director of Production, CUNY TV: Susan Iger</p> <p>- Producer/Director: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Narrator: Margot Avery</p> <p>- Concept and Script: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Associate Producer: Corinne Wallace</p> <p>- Audio Production intern: Lucia Funaro</p> <p>- Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Lisa Gosselin </p> <p>- Senior Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Richard Kim</p> <p>- Mixing: Lisa Gosselin</p> <p>- Sound design and final mixing: John DeLore and Bart Warshaw</p> <p>- Staff photographer, CUNY TV: Laura Fuchs </p> <p>- Script editor: Allison Behringer</p> <p>- - Composer: Allison Leyton-Brown</p> <p>- Archivists, CUNY TV: David Rice, Catriona Schlosser</p> <p>-Closed Caption Coordinator: Amy Monte </p> <p>- Branding and Graphic Design: Shae McMullin</p> <p>- Publicity & Marketing: Multitude</p> <p>Excerpts from the Himan Brown Oral History courtesy of Directors Guild of America, Inc. www.dga.org. All rights reserved.</p> <p>- Audio Maverick was produced at THE HIMAN BROWN TV AND RADIO STUDIOS at CUNY TV, and made possible by the Radio Drama Network</p> <p>About Us</p> <p>The history of radio crackles to life with Audio Maverick, a 9-part documentary about one of the most visionary figures in radio, Himan Brown. Explore the Golden Age of radio through Brown's life, as we travel from the birth of audio drama to the programs that brought millions of families into their living rooms every night.</p> <p>CUNY TV and the Himan Brown Archive assemble the story of how radio became an entertainment medium through archival audio of some of the most famous audio dramas, contemporary interviews with media scholars, and discussions with a new generation of audio mavericks that he inspired. New episodes monthly.</p>
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43 MIN
Episode 8: The Family Brown
APR 3, 2025
Episode 8: The Family Brown
<p>This very public man also had a private side, and Brown’s granddaughter Melina Brown and his grandson Zach Sansted share their recollections of Brown, his homes in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut and his important art collection. We get to know him as a presence at family birthday parties; a thrifty clothes horse; and a workaholic who edited scripts even on country walks. </p> <p>Credits</p> <p>- Executive Producers: Melina Brown, Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Executive Director, CUNY TV: Chiqui Cartagena</p> <p>- Director of Production, CUNY TV: Susan Iger</p> <p>- Producer/Director: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Narrator: Margot Avery</p> <p>- Concept and Script: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Associate Producer: Corinne Wallace</p> <p>- Audio Production intern: Lucia Funaro</p> <p>- Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Lisa Gosselin </p> <p>- Senior Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Richard Kim</p> <p>- Mixing: Lisa Gosselin</p> <p>- Sound design and final mixing: John DeLore and Bart Warshaw</p> <p>- Staff photographer, CUNY TV: Laura Fuchs </p> <p>- Script editor: Allison Behringer</p> <p>- Composer: Allison Leyton-Brown</p> <p>- Archivists, CUNY TV: David Rice, Catriona Schlosser</p> <p>-Closed Caption Coordinator: Amy Monte </p> <p>- Branding and Graphic Design: Shae McMullin</p> <p>- Publicity & Marketing: Multitude</p> <p>Excerpts from the Himan Brown Oral History courtesy of Directors Guild of America, Inc. www.dga.org. All rights reserved.</p> <p>- Audio Maverick was produced at THE HIMAN BROWN TV AND RADIO STUDIOS at CUNY TV, and made possible by the Radio Drama Network</p> <p>About Us</p> <p>The history of radio crackles to life with Audio Maverick, a 9-part documentary about one of the most visionary figures in radio, Himan Brown. Explore the Golden Age of radio through Brown's life, as we travel from the birth of audio drama to the programs that brought millions of families into their living rooms every night.</p> <p>CUNY TV and the Himan Brown Archive assemble the story of how radio became an entertainment medium through archival audio of some of the most famous audio dramas, contemporary interviews with media scholars, and discussions with a new generation of audio mavericks that he inspired. New episodes monthly.</p>
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24 MIN
Episode 7: The Golden Torch Keeps Burning
MAR 6, 2025
Episode 7: The Golden Torch Keeps Burning
<p>Himan Brown was a busy philanthropist and producer during the two decades following the end of Golden Age broadcast radio, creating over 100 films in support of causes he believed in, and a concert series in Madison Square Garden among other projects. He also opened a production studio in Chelsea.  But Brown was finally able to return radio drama to the air with the CBS Mystery Theater, which he established in 1974. It was a fully realized artistic vision, with Brown acting as producer, director, and script editor.  He brought a new generation of actors to the medium, including Marian Seldes, Tammy Grimes, Paul Hecht, Tony Roberts, and EG Marshall, as well as continuing to work with stars of the Golden Age like Agnes Moorehead.  In this episode we’ll hear from some of them, and from Brown himself on how he assessed actors, cast them, and worked with them, as well as visiting his former studios. </p> <p>Credits</p> <p>- Executive Producers: Melina Brown, Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Executive Director, CUNY TV: Chiqui Cartagena</p> <p>- Director of Production, CUNY TV: Susan Iger</p> <p>- Producer/Director: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Narrator: Margot Avery</p> <p>- Concept and Script: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Associate Producer: Corinne Wallace</p> <p>- Audio Production intern: Lucia Funaro</p> <p>- Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Lisa Gosselin </p> <p>- Senior Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Richard Kim</p> <p>- Mixing: Lisa Gosselin</p> <p>- Sound design and final mixing: John DeLore and Bart Warshaw</p> <p>- Staff photographer, CUNY TV: Laura Fuchs  </p> <p>- Script editor: Allison Behringer</p> <p>- - Composer: Allison Leyton-Brown</p> <p>- Archivists, CUNY TV: David Rice, Catriona Schlosser</p> <p>-Closed Caption Coordinator: Amy Monte </p> <p>- Branding and Graphic Design: Shae McMullin</p> <p>- Publicity & Marketing: Multitude</p> <p>Excerpts from the Himan Brown Oral History courtesy of Directors Guild of America, Inc. www.dga.org. All rights reserved.</p> <p>- Audio Maverick was produced at THE HIMAN BROWN TV AND RADIO STUDIOS at CUNY TV, and made possible by the Radio Drama Network</p> <p>About Us</p> <p>The history of radio crackles to life with Audio Maverick, a 9-part documentary about one of the most visionary figures in radio, Himan Brown. Explore the Golden Age of radio through Brown's life, as we travel from the birth of audio drama to the programs that brought millions of families into their living rooms every night.</p> <p>CUNY TV and the Himan Brown Archive assemble the story of how radio became an entertainment medium through archival audio of some of the most famous audio dramas, contemporary interviews with media scholars, and discussions with a new generation of audio mavericks that he inspired. New episodes monthly.</p>
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33 MIN
Episode 6: Pay Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain
FEB 6, 2025
Episode 6: Pay Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain
<p>Brown was a prolific and inventive producer and packager, but he was also, as he said, “a sound guy” who shaped the sound of his shows, both in the Golden Age, and when he established CBS Mystery Theater in 1974s. This episode will explore his influence on sound design, and the distinctive “signatures” of his shows. It will also explore what sound effects and sound design contribute to a drama, and Audio Maverick’s own sound designers will share some of their secrets.</p> <p>Credits</p> <p>- Executive Producers: Melina Brown, Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Executive Director, CUNY TV: Chiqui Cartagena</p> <p>- Director of Production, CUNY TV: Susan Iger</p> <p>- Producer/Director: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Narrator: Margot Avery</p> <p>- Concept and Script: Sarah Montague</p> <p>- Associate Producer: Corinne Wallace</p> <p>- Audio Production intern: Lucia Funaro</p> <p>- Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Lisa Gosselin </p> <p>- Senior Audio Engineer, CUNY TV: Richard Kim</p> <p>- Mixing: Lisa Gosselin</p> <p>- Sound design and final mixing: John DeLore and Bart Warshaw</p> <p>- Staff photographer, CUNY TV: Laura Fuchs </p> <p>- Script editor: Allison Behringer</p> <p>- - Composer: Allison Leyton-Brown</p> <p>- Archivists, CUNY TV: David Rice, Catriona Schlosser</p> <p>- Closed Caption Coordinator: Amy Monte </p> <p>- Branding and Graphic Design: Shae McMullin</p> <p>- Publicity & Marketing: Multitude</p> <p>Excerpts from the Himan Brown Oral History courtesy of Directors Guild of America, Inc. www.dga.org. All rights reserved.</p> <p>- Audio Maverick was produced at THE HIMAN BROWN TV AND RADIO STUDIOS at CUNY TV, and made possible by the Radio Drama Network</p> <p>About Us</p> <p>The history of radio crackles to life with Audio Maverick, a 9-part documentary about one of the most visionary figures in radio, Himan Brown. Explore the Golden Age of radio through Brown's life, as we travel from the birth of audio drama to the programs that brought millions of families into their living rooms every night.</p> <p>CUNY TV and the Himan Brown Archive assemble the story of how radio became an entertainment medium through archival audio of some of the most famous audio dramas, contemporary interviews with media scholars, and discussions with a new generation of audio mavericks that he inspired. New episodes monthly.</p>
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22 MIN