This richly detailed examination of two branches of American entertainment focuses on the various ways that radio stations and air personalities have been depicted in motion pictures, from 1926's The Radio Detective to more recent films like 2006's A Prairie Home Companion. Covered are cinematic portrayals of various aspects of radio, including disc jockeys, sports broadcasts, religious programs, and the talk-radio format. Such films as The Big Broadcast (1932), Reveille with Beverly (1943), Mister Rock and Roll (1957), WUSA (1970), Radio Days (1987) and Private Parts (1997) not only provide fascinating insights into the times in which they were produced, but also into the historical eras that some of these films have endeavored to recreate.