I thought I had heard this before. It seems to be of a type with lots of profiles presented on NPR. They are a feature I do like. It would have been interesting to a little more about the actual job. There must be some downsides to it. I wonder about the weather in Maine? And how could people in a car hear his music. Maybe it is quiet up there, but at the toll stations around here in Chicago, I have trouble even hearing what the toll-taker says when he is speaking.
It's a pleasure to hear profiles of working-people's lives... when you can get past the obvious, avoid the drudgery, and reveal the beautiful things that show humanity. This story does a nice job of that, personifying the toll-booth money collector - a person who we usually hardly even glance at in our rush from here to there.
The producer uses sound nicely - my favorite parts are hearing the jazz interspersed with the voices of people driving up and then by in their cars. The sounds is excellent, and it's fun to hear it from the other side of the rolled-down window.
The story doesn't seem to go much beyond that to me - it doesn't get into wistfulness or what-might-have-been's or problems or anything like that. Just a mention near the end of how other people deal with issues in their everyday lives, and this guy tries to just help them along - albeit in five second intervals. As such, I think I would have been more satisfied if the story were shorter.
"You're as much coming into their world as they are coming into yours." When people drive through Tom Nunes's toll booth, they are in the presence of an empathetic, intelligent man who is a good example of the saying, "Bloom where you are planted." I have a feeling Tom Nunes would be happy anywhere, doing anything. Love this piece - the man, the music, the story. It would be perfect for drive-time news magazine shows. Excellent.
I've always loved this piece, since the first time I heard it! It starts right off and immediately captures my attention with the Andy Rooney story. Tom, the tollbooth collector is really insightful, and he has so many interesting things to say! I think a large part of the draw of this piece for me is that it takes a seemingly simple and uninteresting topic-- tollbooth collecting-- and looks into it really deeply. The music really moves the piece along in a very flowing, lyrical way. I highly recommend this!
[redacted]
Posted on February 15, 2004 at 11:27 AM
| Permalink
Comments for Roadway Renaissance Man
Produced by Carla Neufeldt
Other pieces by Salt Institute for Documentary Studies
Rating Summary
5 comments
Allan Wolff
Posted on December 07, 2005 at 10:15 AM | Permalink
Review of Roadway Renaissance Man
I thought I had heard this before. It seems to be of a type with lots of profiles presented on NPR. They are a feature I do like. It would have been interesting to a little more about the actual job. There must be some downsides to it. I wonder about the weather in Maine? And how could people in a car hear his music. Maybe it is quiet up there, but at the toll stations around here in Chicago, I have trouble even hearing what the toll-taker says when he is speaking.
Ben Trefny
Posted on December 07, 2005 at 08:01 AM | Permalink
Review of Roadway Renaissance Man
It's a pleasure to hear profiles of working-people's lives... when you can get past the obvious, avoid the drudgery, and reveal the beautiful things that show humanity. This story does a nice job of that, personifying the toll-booth money collector - a person who we usually hardly even glance at in our rush from here to there.
The producer uses sound nicely - my favorite parts are hearing the jazz interspersed with the voices of people driving up and then by in their cars. The sounds is excellent, and it's fun to hear it from the other side of the rolled-down window.
The story doesn't seem to go much beyond that to me - it doesn't get into wistfulness or what-might-have-been's or problems or anything like that. Just a mention near the end of how other people deal with issues in their everyday lives, and this guy tries to just help them along - albeit in five second intervals. As such, I think I would have been more satisfied if the story were shorter.
Overall, I really enjoyed listening to it.
Deborah Astley
Posted on July 06, 2005 at 07:09 AM | Permalink
Review of Roadway Renaissance Man
"You're as much coming into their world as they are coming into yours." When people drive through Tom Nunes's toll booth, they are in the presence of an empathetic, intelligent man who is a good example of the saying, "Bloom where you are planted." I have a feeling Tom Nunes would be happy anywhere, doing anything. Love this piece - the man, the music, the story. It would be perfect for drive-time news magazine shows. Excellent.
Scott Gurian
Posted on July 17, 2004 at 12:05 PM | Permalink
Review of Roadway Renaissance Man
I've always loved this piece, since the first time I heard it! It starts right off and immediately captures my attention with the Andy Rooney story. Tom, the tollbooth collector is really insightful, and he has so many interesting things to say! I think a large part of the draw of this piece for me is that it takes a seemingly simple and uninteresting topic-- tollbooth collecting-- and looks into it really deeply. The music really moves the piece along in a very flowing, lyrical way. I highly recommend this!
[redacted]
Posted on February 15, 2004 at 11:27 AM | Permalink
Review of Roadway Renaissance Man
thanks for finding this guy and presenting his slice of his life. i hope the next time i head north i get his tollbooth.