Life — June 19, 1931 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "How Radio Is Made" This article explains radio broadcasting production through a humorous anecdote. A writer describes how a simple 13-minute radio drama—featuring sound effects like thunder—requires extensive studio coordination. The joke centers on the gap between what listeners hear and the mechanical reality: a small mouse caused the "thunder" effect, which then had to be rewritten into the script as a plot element (the mouse becomes part of the story itself). The cartoon illustrates the behind-the-scenes chaos: a sound-effects technician manipulates props and devices while actors perform at microphones, showing the invisible labor that creates seamless radio broadcasts. The satire mocks how radio presents polished entertainment while hiding the improvisation and absurdity required to produce it.