© 2026
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Scam Advisory: We have been made aware that an online entity is posing as Joe Donahue to invite authors and other creatives onto our radio shows. The scammers then attempt to charge guests an appearance fee for exposure/publicity.
Please note: WAMC does not charge guests to appear on the station and any email about appearing on a WAMC program will come from a wamc.org email address.

900 Years Of Thrills And Spills In Stephen Silverman's History Of Amusement Parks

Book Cover for "The Amusement Park"

Stephen M. Silverman is a twenty-year veteran of Time Inc. and was the founding editor of People.com.

In his new book, "The Amusement Park: 900 Years of Thrills and Spills, and the Dreamers and Schemers Who Built Them," a never-before-told true story of amusement parks, from the middle ages to present day, and the colorful (and sometimes criminal) characters who are responsible for their enchanting charms.

Joe talks to people on the radio for a living. In addition to countless impressive human "gets" - he has talked to a lot of Muppets. Joe grew up in Philadelphia, has been on the area airwaves for more than 25 years and currently lives in Washington County, NY with his wife, Kelly, and their dog, Brady. And yes, he reads every single book.