OLLI MEMBER INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING BACK WV MUSICAL PICTURES

On June 28, 2015 the Charleston Gazette published an article promoting MusicalPictures.org. Ed Johnson, an OLLI at WVU member, founded this organization to preserve a very dear part of West Virginia heritage.

The website states that during the 1950’s and early 1960’s, the Junior League of Charleston (WV) and WCHS Radio 580, in cooperation with Kanawha County (WV) Schools, created three series of 12-15 minute audio programs to be broadcast during the school year:  Musical Pictures,  Know Your State/Exploring Your State/Your State and Our Musical Heritage.  Many students from the time period have fond memories of listening to these in the classroom. Now you can once again be transported to a simpler time and listen to these recordings at http://www.musicalpictures.org.

Following is a small excerpt from the Gazette article.

Long before televisions hung on school walls, a more understated medium held center stage in the classroom: the radio. Ed Johnson, now in his 60s, can still remember sitting in his desk at Ford Elementary in Dunbar with the lights dimmed listening as the classroom’s radio played the local program “Musical Pictures.”

Sitting snug in his seat, he would be transported to a working farm or take a trip to the rodeo. He would listen to classical music by famous composers such as Tchaikovsky as the program’s narrator, Ned Skaff, helped to create mental images of snow falling or lightning strikes.

The program’s “A Summer Storm” episode prompted the students to “Close your eyes and see if you can feel the heat of a summer day. There is the fresh smell of newly cut grass, and the air is filled with the buzzing and whining noises of the bees and flies in search of water — it hasn’t rained in a week.”

Through the use of narration and classical music, “Musical Pictures” covered a topic, or set a scene or retold a classic story to elementary students in Kanawha County classrooms every week.

Read the full story at http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20150628/GZ05/150629377/1117