Identity elements
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Focus: America radio talk show audio recordings
Date(s)
- 1975-1976 (Creation)
Extent
2.5 linear feet (5 document cases)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Arenstein, the Host and the Executive Producer of "Focus: America," was a junior when he started producing the radio talk show. He majored in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Miami and graduated in 1976.
He is a native of Richmond, VA and he still resides there. He is married and has two daughters. He is the president of Arenstein and Associates, a real estate development and investment company.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
"Focus: America" radio talk show was created by Richard (Ric) Arenstein and Larry Wallenstein, both juniors in the Communications Department, University of Miami in 1975. The show originally started as a local program "Focus: Miami" and was produced at the UM's campus radio station WVUM-FM where Arenstein interviewed local personalities and celebrities visiting Miami.
After the successful first season, the tapes of the talk show were mailed to more than 70 college stations across the country under the name "Focus: America." In his senior year, Arenstein and his new associate, Chuck Bortunick, traveled under a grant from the Burger King Corp. to tape interviews of celebrities in other parts of the country. The show ended because of Arenstein's graduation.
System of arrangement
The original tapes 1 - 22 are arranged according to production or air dates in 1975. Tapes 23 - 32 are only dated as Spring 1976, number 1 to 10. Tapes 33 to 43 do not have dates and are numbered 1 - 11. We assume they were produced in fall 1976.
There are 43 DVDs that hold mp3 and WAV versions of the original content, which were all professionally remastered and digitized.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
This collection is open for research.
Physical access
This collection is kept in an off-campus storage facility. Please contact the University Archivist, Nick Iwanicki, at ngi5@miami.edu with the boxes you are interested in prior to your visit, and allow up to 1 week for delivery of materials.
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Requests to reproduce or publish materials from this collection should be directed to ngi5@miami.edu.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
The original open reel tapes were donated by Richard Arentein.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Archivist's note
Processed by Archives Technician, Marcia Heath; finding aid created by Processing Archivist, Yvette Yurubi, 01-09-23.