This week, your host Joe Weber has compiled some of his favorite comedy bits from AM1690, The Voice of the Arts in Atlanta. Comedy was always an essential glue that held together the blend of music, short stories, poetry, and other facets of culture that the station explored. This first edition of our Comedy Roundup features readings, clips from some timeless comedy bits and performers, and a first taste of the kind of original sketches and faux-commercials that were created specifically for the station, with some wonderful music choices to tie them all together. Enjoy!

This week’s episode finds your host, Joe Weber, ruminating on the realities of aging, and features a reading of Flannery O’Connor’s “A Late Encounter with the Enemy”. Written in 1953 and published in 1955 in her short story collection “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, this is O’Connor’s only story dealing with the American Civil War. Enjoy!

On this episode of “The Voice of the Arts,” host Joe Weber offers listeners a reading of Frank O’Connor’s short story “First Confession.” Originally published in 1950, this story uses humor and playfulness to tell the story of a young boy’s fears over going to give his first ever confession at Church. Along with this story, we have a couple other surprises in store this week. We hope you enjoy!

The second episode of “The Voice of the Arts” features a reading of Flannery O’Connor’s “Everything That Rises Must Converge.” Originally published in 1961, it won the O’Henry award in 1963. Please enjoy!

The first episode of The Voice of the Arts is a reading of Frank O’Connor’s “The Babes in the Wood,” originally published in The New Yorker in 1947 and later included in his short story collection “The Common Chord.”

Enjoy!