“Saturday was cleaning day. And while grandma and I did that together, we listened to 'The Make-Believe Ballroom' on the radio.”

Isabel Beaton tells her daughter, Mary, about growing up in Bronx.

Recorded in New York, NY.

“We used to go to the Savoy Ballroom every Saturday and stay there until Monday morning.”

Harold Slappy tells his friend Monica about visiting Harlem's Savoy Ballroom as a youth.

Recorded in New York, NY.

“I'm Anne Bleckman, and I'm married to this handsome man sitting across from me.”

Newlyweds Anne and George Bleckman remember how they met.

Recorded in New York, NY.

“Should we do a quick song? You want to sing one of your songs?”

Seoud Matta sings an Egyptian pop song while his son, Adam, beatboxes.

Recorded in New York, NY.

“The one that made me sick was called 'hot dog.' I couldn't believe people eat the dogs.”

Gerbail Krishnamurthy tells his daughter, Kalpana, about his first meal in America.

Recorded in New York, NY.

“If the world today would be like Coney Island was at that time, it would be no trouble.”

Ninety-year-old Albert Kahn tells his wife, Doris, about Coney Island's movie houses.

Recorded in New York, NY.

“I remember going to the movies with him, my dear, and he put his arm around me...”

Beverly Shakin tells her son, David, about her first romantic encounter.

Recorded in New York, NY.

“He looked up at me and said, 'Hamzah,' and then grabbed hold of me and gave me this tight hug and wouldn't let me go.”

Homeless New Yorker Larry Chamberlain tells his friend Tobias about his many names.

Recorded in New York, NY.

“Poppy used to say, 'Don't ever let me find out that you took one rubber band from the five-and-dime.”

Rita Giordano tells her daughter, Teresa, how she would like to be remembered.

Recorded in New York, NY.

StoryCorps Sampler: Volume 1

StoryCorps founder Dave Isay shares stories that helped inspire the project, as well as pilot interviews recorded prior to the project's launch in October 2003.

Released May 2003. Produced by David Miller