Re-Imagined Radio Honors Women’s History Month With “Mae West Jewel Robbery” - 03/03/26

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Re-Imagined Radio celebrates Women’s History Month with episode #95, “Mae West Jewel Robbery,” premiering at 1 p.m. March 16. The episode pays tribute to Mae West—performer, playwright and cultural icon—whose unapologetic wit and bold persona challenged censorship and redefined expectations for women on stage, screen and radio.

Outspoken and controversial, West built her career through vaudeville acts, Broadway stage plays and motion pictures known for their steamy settings and sly, double-entendre dialogue. Her work and public persona championed female equality and independence at a time when the status quo dictated how women should behave. Attempts to censor and silence her only elevated her profile, securing her place as an international icon who made scandal stylish.

“Mae West Jewel Robbery” samples West’s early stage and screen career, presents a dramatized jewel heist inspired by her larger-than-life reputation, and features two rare network radio appearances from 1937 – 1950. Together, the selections highlight West’s inimitable voice, sharp comic timing, and fearless approach to sexuality and self-expression.

The episode also includes excerpts from “The Mae West Jewel Robbery” installment of the classic radio crime series “Calling All Cars,” which sidestepped controversy by employing a popular Mae West impersonator rather than the star herself. John F. Barber, producer of Re-Imagined Radio and faculty member in the Digital Technology and Culture program at Washington State University Vancouver, notes that unease over 1930s radio censorship limited West’s opportunities on the air, making her surviving broadcasts especially significant.

Throughout her career, West defied double standards and claimed ownership of her sexuality—an audacious stance that unsettled critics but resonated with audiences. Her influence can be seen in generations of performers who embraced assertive, self-defined sensuality, including Jean Harlow, Cher, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter.

When her film career waned, West continued performing on stage in Las Vegas and the United Kingdom, appeared on radio and television programs, recorded rock and roll albums, and remained a formidable cultural presence well into the later decades of her life.

“This is an episode about influence as much as performance,” said Barber. “Mae West understood the power of persona and language. Even when denied access to certain platforms, she found ways to command attention and assert her voice. Her legacy continues to shape conversations about gender, celebrity and creative freedom.”

Listeners are invited to tune in to “Mae West Jewel Robbery” on March 16 and rediscover one of the most provocative and enduring figures in American entertainment history.

About Re-Imagined Radio

Created in 2013 by Barber, Re-Imagined Radio explores sound-based storytelling across genres including drama, comedy, documentary and sound art. Through performances, broadcasts, streaming, podcasts and social media, the program reimagines radio storytelling for contemporary audiences.

New episodes premiere on the third Monday of each month. Re-Imagined Radio episodes air on KXRW-FM (99.9) in Vancouver, KXRY-FM (91.1 and 107.1) in Portland, and KNOM-AM (780) in Nome, Alaska. Listening links and an archive of past episodes are available at reimaginedradio.fm, which also features Re-Imagined Radio EXTRA, offering additional sound-based storytelling between monthly episodes.

About WSU Vancouver

WSU Vancouver is one of six campuses of Washington State University and the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington. The campus offers undergraduate and graduate programs that support workforce development, innovation and economic growth through strong partnerships with businesses, industries and community organizations.

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WSU Vancouver Launches “DocArts” Spring Series Featuring Films, Artists And Public Intellectuals - 02/13/26

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver will launch a new weekly “DocArts” series next week, bringing together film and video screenings, artist talks and community conversations throughut the spring term.

The series features a diverse group of multimedia artists, activists and public intellectuals—from community organizers whose lives are deeply documented to poets, songwriters and hip-hop performers working across media. Events are free and open to the public.

The series opens during Black History Month with Kent Ford, co-founder of the Portland, Oregon, chapter of the Black Panther Party. His talk will start at noon Feb. 18 in the Firstenburg Student Commons, Room 101. Through his leadership in the Panthers’ Free Breakfast for School Children Program in Portland, Ford helped feed thousands of children in Northeast Portland. Nationally, the Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast program helped spur the development of free meal programs in public schools across the country. Lunch will follow the talk at 12:30 p.m.

Ford also volunteered for years in supportive roles with the Panthers’ free medical and dental clinics in Portland. He currently leads Black Panther Legacy Tours in Portland’s Albina neighborhood and is the subject of the solo play “Walking through Portland with a Panther: The Life of Mr. Kent Ford,” written by Don Wilson Glenn and directed by Demaris Webb.

On Feb. 19, the series continues with a screening of “A Thousand Pines” and a talk with director Noam Osband, sponsored by the School of the Environment and the College of Arts and Sciences Speakers Fund and the Collective for Social and Environmental Justice. The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Engineering and Computer Science Building, Room 105. The documentary follows a crew of guest workers from Oaxaca, Mexico, over the course of a season planting trees across the United States. The film explores the physical demands and isolation of the work, as well as the workers’ efforts to remain connected to their families back home. Over time, the crew forms a tight-knit community, cooking and caring for one another as they endure the challenges of the season. Reception to follow.

On Feb. 25, the series will feature a screening of “Silent Voices” from 11 a.m. to noon in the Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110, followed by a talk from noon to 1 p.m. by playwright and activist Donna Hayes. Director and photographer Kendall will also share reflections. A reception will follow.

Hayes lost her grandson to police violence and has yet to see institutional accountability. “Silent Voices” tells not only her grandson’s story but also six other true stories of police violence. The project was developed through an emergent, collaborative writing process with surviving family members of those killed by Portland-area police and was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic by a volunteer production team.

The DocArts Initiative is a joint Project of the Collective for Social and Environmental Justice and Native American Programs. For more information about DocArts events, email van.csej@wsu.edu.

About WSU Vancouver

WSU Vancouver is one of six campuses of Washington State University and the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington. The campus offers undergraduate and graduate programs that support workforce development, innovation and economic growth through strong partnerships with businesses, industries and community organizations.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. in Vancouver and is accessible via I-5, I-205 and C-TRAN bus service.

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WSU Vancouver Offers Public Workshop On How To Pay For College - 02/12/26

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver will host four online A – Z of Paying for College Workshops this spring.

Prospective students and their families will learn how to make college more affordable through grants, scholarships, savings, work and loans. Presenters will explain which types of funding do not need to be repaid, which do, and how to complete required forms and meet key deadlines. Attendees will also receive strategies for applying for financial aid and scholarships, including information about the different types of scholarships available.

The free, one-hour workshops will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom as follows:

• Tuesday, Feb. 24
• Wednesday, March 25
• Thursday, April 23
• Wednesday, May 20

Register at vancouver.wsu.edu/a-z to receive the Zoom link.

If you have questions, contact Student Financial Services at 360-546-WSUV (9788) or van.finaid@wsu.edu. For event accommodations, call 360-546-9739 or email van.accomodations@wsu.edu.

About WSU Vancouver

WSU Vancouver is one of six campuses of Washington State University and the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington. The campus offers undergraduate and graduate programs that support workforce development, innovation and economic growth through strong partnerships with businesses, industries and community organizations.

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Re-Imagined Radio Celebrates Valentine’s Day With Two Classic Madcap Romantic Comedies (Photo) - 02/03/26

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Re-Imagined Radio invites listeners to fall in love with radio romance this February with a special episode sampling two of Hollywood’s most beloved madcap romantic comedies: “It Happened One Night” and “The Philadelphia Story.” The episode premieres Monday, Feb. 16—just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Witty, sophisticated and sparkling with fast-paced dialogue, both stories are adapted from award-winning motion pictures and feature unforgettable performances by some of the greatest stars of the Golden Age. Together, they offer laughter, romance and subtle social commentary—perfect listening for the season of love.

The episode opens with “It Happened One Night,” adapted from the March 20, 1939 broadcast of “Lux Radio Theatre.” Originally released in 1934 and directed by Frank Capra, the film starred Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable and became the first motion picture to win all five major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. Re-Imagined Radio samples the adaptation, with Colbert and Cary Grant reprising their motion picture roles as a runaway socialite and the cynical reporter who becomes entangled in her journey home.

Fast-talking, charming and endlessly inventive, “It Happened One Night” is widely regarded as one of the greatest motion pictures ever made and a foundational example of the screwball comedy genre.

The program continues with “The Philadelphia Story,” drawn from a March 17, 1947 adaptation for “The Screen Guild Theater.” The story began as Philip Barry’s 1939 Broadway hit starring Katharine Hepburn and was soon adapted into a celebrated motion picture featuring Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart. Nominated for six Academy Awards, the film remains one of the finest examples of the “comedy of remarriage,” a popular genre of the 1930s and 1940s that cleverly navigated social taboos and the restrictions of the Motion Picture Production Code.

Beyond romance and humor, “The Philadelphia Story” reflects a growing cultural tension of its era, contrasting established upper-class privilege with an emerging middle class striving for opportunity and change.

“Listeners told us they wanted more romance,” said John. F. Barber, Re-Imagined Radio producer and faculty member in the Digital Technology and Culture program at Washington State University Vancouver. “So we went looking for radio stories many people may not have heard—or may not even know existed. These two adaptations, drawn from some of the most successful films of all time, create vivid images through exceptional writing and superb voice acting. We’re delighted to offer them, with love, for Valentine’s Day.”

About Re-Imagined Radio

Re-Imagined Radio explores classic and contemporary audio drama, reexamining radio’s rich storytelling traditions and reintroducing listeners to forgotten or overlooked works that continue to resonate today.

About WSU Vancouver

WSU Vancouver is one of six campuses of Washington State University and the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington. The campus offers undergraduate and graduate programs that support workforce development, innovation and economic growth through strong partnerships with businesses, industries and community organizations.

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