John Henry Faulk old radio interview

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John Henry Faulk old radio interview

Postby harry ashburn » Mon Dec 26, 2011 1:39 pm

http://www.thomhartmann.com/forum/2011/ ... t-make-fun

12/23/2011 06:21 PM

Famous Austinite transcends time via radio program


By: Dan Robertson

John Henry Faulk recorded his Christmas story for National Public Radio after being blacklisted from network stations during the red scare of the 1950s. That program has become a tradition during the holiday season, with some even calling Faulk the reason for Austin's overall kind nature.



When families gather for the holidays, watching certain movies or television programs often becomes tradition. Here in Austin, a popular Christmas tradition is listening to John Henry Faulk’s Christmas tale, first recorded for National Public Radio in 1974.

In the 1950, Faulk was one of the most popular voices on the radio and possibly the most well known Austinite of the era. Called a “folk humorist,” Faulk was a keen social commentator, taking on issues including racial inequality and economic injustice years before the start of the Civil Rights movement.

"He wasn't a guy that stood up, necessarily, with a giant sign in his hand. He worked in a much more subtle and long-lasting fashion," writer and filmmaker Turk Pipken said.

His ability to afflict the comfortable got him blacklisted in the McCarthy era, ending his network career.

It was then that he took his voice to National Public Radio, recording his now-classic Christmas story.

"It's just a story about a white family inviting a black family to Christmas," Pipken said. “Ultimately, his message of forgiveness and understanding and acceptance of other people is a lot of what did build Austin. We're a very caring city and I think a lot of it came from John Henry.
A skeleton walks into a bar. Orders a beer, and a mop. -anon
harry ashburn
 
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