59 min

186: Prom This American Life

    • Sociedad y cultura

While the seniors danced at Prom Night 2001 in Hoisington, Kansas—a town of about 3,000—a tornado hit the town, destroying about a third of it. When they emerged from the dance, they discovered what had happened, and in the weeks that followed, they tried to explain to themselves why the tornado hit where it did. Plus other stories that happen on Prom Night.


Prologue: A high school boy explains how prom is the culmination of his effort to get in with a cool group of people. (5 minutes)

Act One: Susan Burton reports on Prom Night 2001 in Hoisington, Kansas, a town of about 3,000. While the seniors danced, a tornado hit the town, destroying about a third of it. When they emerged from the dance, they discovered what had happened, and in the weeks that followed, they tried to explain to themselves why the tornado hit where it did. (25 minutes)

Act Two: Host Ira Glass talks with Francine Pascal, who's written or invented the plot lines for over 700 books for teenagers in the various Sweet Valley High series....Sweet Valley Kids, Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley University, Sweet Valley Senior Year. She explains why a prom story is a must for teen movies and TV shows. (6 minutes)

Act Three: For a more typical view of prom night, we hear prom night at Chicago's Taft High School. (9 minutes)

Act Four: In this act, we argue that the epicenter of prom genius—the place where America's prom future is being born—is the town of Racine, Wisconsin. In Racine, they've added one ingredient to prom that takes it to a whole new level of intensity. Reported by Wendy Dorr. (10 minutes)

While the seniors danced at Prom Night 2001 in Hoisington, Kansas—a town of about 3,000—a tornado hit the town, destroying about a third of it. When they emerged from the dance, they discovered what had happened, and in the weeks that followed, they tried to explain to themselves why the tornado hit where it did. Plus other stories that happen on Prom Night.


Prologue: A high school boy explains how prom is the culmination of his effort to get in with a cool group of people. (5 minutes)

Act One: Susan Burton reports on Prom Night 2001 in Hoisington, Kansas, a town of about 3,000. While the seniors danced, a tornado hit the town, destroying about a third of it. When they emerged from the dance, they discovered what had happened, and in the weeks that followed, they tried to explain to themselves why the tornado hit where it did. (25 minutes)

Act Two: Host Ira Glass talks with Francine Pascal, who's written or invented the plot lines for over 700 books for teenagers in the various Sweet Valley High series....Sweet Valley Kids, Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley University, Sweet Valley Senior Year. She explains why a prom story is a must for teen movies and TV shows. (6 minutes)

Act Three: For a more typical view of prom night, we hear prom night at Chicago's Taft High School. (9 minutes)

Act Four: In this act, we argue that the epicenter of prom genius—the place where America's prom future is being born—is the town of Racine, Wisconsin. In Racine, they've added one ingredient to prom that takes it to a whole new level of intensity. Reported by Wendy Dorr. (10 minutes)

59 min

Top podcasts en Sociedad y cultura

Se Regalan Dudas
Dudas Media
Seminario Fenix | Brian Tracy
matiasmartinez16
The Wild Project
Jordi Wild
Despertando
Dudas Media
Seis de Copas
Seis De Copas
La Verdad Sin Filtro
Jessica Lorc

Más de WBEZ

Serial
Serial Productions & The New York Times
This American Life
This American Life
S-Town
Serial Productions
The Pie: An Economics Podcast
Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago
Art of Power
WBEZ
The COVID Report from WBEZ
WBEZ Chicago