WEBN’s Marathon Audio Collage for U.S. Bicentennial Largely Forgotten
A Cincinnati radio station, WEBN, created a marathon audio collage for the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976. The extensive project took over 72 hours of work by three staff members and resulted in a piece that was broadcast only once at…
Cincinnati, OH, August 27, 2026 — In 1976, Cincinnati radio station WEBN undertook an ambitious project to commemorate the U.S. Bicentennial: a marathon audio collage. The creation of this extensive sonic piece required over 72 hours of dedicated work from three staff members.
The resulting audio collage was a significant undertaking, reflecting the station’s efforts to contribute to the national celebration. Despite the considerable time and effort invested, the broadcast of this special program was limited to a single airing.
WEBN aired the audio collage precisely at midnight on July 4th, 1976, the historic date of the nation’s bicentennial. Following this one-time broadcast, the recording has largely faded from public memory, becoming a forgotten artifact of radio history from that era.
The specific details regarding the staff members involved and the precise nature of the audio collage’s content were not provided in the available information. Similarly, the current whereabouts or preservation status of the recording remain undisclosed, contributing to its status as a largely lost piece of broadcast history.
The project stands as an example of the creative endeavors undertaken by radio stations during significant historical moments, though its singular broadcast means it escaped widespread recognition and subsequent preservation efforts.
Story summarized from the original created by Helena Hennessy on www.cincinnatimagazine.com, see more information here.
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