'Opera Is My Hobby' ends broadcasts after more than 59 years on KPR


Jim Seaver


More Information

LAWRENCE — One of the nation’s longest-running public radio programs is coming to an end after more than 59 years on the air.

Dr. Jim Seaver’s show “Opera Is My Hobby” – which has been on air weekly since Sept. 19, 1952 – will air its last episode 7-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, 2011. The final show will be about Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, which is often performed around New Year's Eve/Day.

Kansas Public Radio has been airing encore broadcasts of “Opera Is My Hobby” since March 2011, when Dr. Seaver passed away after a short illness. He was 92.

The Seaver family helped choose the encore episodes that have been broadcast since his death.

Seaver began his opera show just four days after KANU-FM (now Kansas Public Radio) signed on the air. “Opera Is My Hobby” isn’t just the longest-running program on Kansas Public Radio, it’s one of the longest continuously running programs in the history of radio. Until Seaver’s death, it was the second-longest-running public radio show with its original host.

In his academic career, Seaver taught Western Civilization and Ancient History at KU for decades. He retired in the late 1980s after 40 years of teaching and scholarship, and, until March, continued to produce his radio show weekly.

Seaver was posthumously inducted into the Kansas Broadcasters Hall of Fame this year.

KPR, licensed to the University of Kansas, broadcasts on 91.5 FM in Lawrence, 89.7 FM in Emporia, 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City, 89.9 FM in Atchison, 90.3 FM in Chanute, and 99.5 FM and 97.9 FM in Manhattan. KPR can be heard on the Internet here. KPR also operates KPR2, a news-talk channel on HD Radio. Those broadcasts can be heard on an HD receiver or on KPR’s website.

Wed, 12/21/2011

author

Phil Wilke

Media Contacts

Phil Wilke

Kansas Public Radio

785-864-5016