Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
1991, English. Directed by Ken Burns.
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of Lee de Forest, a clergyman’s flamboyant son, who invented the audion tube; Edwin Howard Armstrong, a brilliant, withdrawn inventor who pioneered FM technology; and David Sarnoff, a hard-driving Russian immigrant who created the most powerful communications company on earth.
- Runtime
- 1h 53m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- G
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Where to watch Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 1 October 1991.
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Cast & crew
- Ken BurnsDirector
- Jason RobardsNarrator (voice)
- Red BarberSelf - Radio Announcer
- Erik BarnouwSelf - Historian
- Ken BilbySelf - Biographer of David Sarnoff
- Norman CorwinSelf - Writer
- Susan DouglasSelf - Historian
- Frank GüntherSelf - Engineer
- Jeanne HammondSelf - Niece of Edwin H. Armstrong
- Loren JonesSelf - Engineer
- Garrison KeillorSelf - Writer
- Helen KelleySelf - Radio Broadcaster
- Robert MorrisSelf - Engineer
Details
- Released
- 1 October 1991
- Country
- United States of America
- Written by
- Geoffrey C. Ward
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News & fan talk
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Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio: quick answers
Is Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio worth watching?
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio?
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio runs 113 minutes (1h 53m).
Does Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio is rated G in India. That rating means it is generally fine for children.
Which OTT platform is Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio on?
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 1 October 1991. (Checked 14 November 2026.)
What movies are like Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio?
If you liked Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio, try The Automat, Living in the Age of Airplanes, Trumbo.
Who directed Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio?
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (1991) was directed by Ken Burns and stars Jason Robards, Red Barber, Erik Barnouw.