Biography in Sound
Ethel Barrymore
by
Biography in Sound presents radio portraits of notable figures, using narration, archival recordings, and dramatic scenes to trace the lives and work of its subjects. This program focuses on Ethel Barrymore, the celebrated stage and screen actress whose career made her one of the best-known members of the Barrymore theatrical family.
The series blends biographical storytelling with the sounds of its subject’s world, bringing together spoken narration and performance excerpts to create an audio account rather than a conventional interview. Its portrait of Barrymore offers a way to encounter her public career and the theatrical tradition she represented through radio’s intimate, voice-centered form.
The result is a reflective documentary experience, shaped by the contrast between a narrator’s account and the presence of recorded voices. Listeners interested in theater history, classic performers, and the craft of radio biography will find a focused portrait of a distinctive American actress.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.