This surprising presentation will show how the same man who introduced private jets to famous singers in 1965 also made it possible for their followers to hear their latest albums while tooling down the road. That’s when aviation’s tireless inventor Bill Lear unleashed his legendary Learjet and the 8-track tape player.
Music and media author Amy Skjerseth will talk about Lear and his music machine described by Ford’s VP in 1965 with, “We may have the most popular product option since the advent of air-conditioning.” The presentation will also include materials from the Museum's extensive Lear collection.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
This program is FREE for Museum Members and included in the cost of General Admission.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Amy Skjerseth is Assistant Professor of Popular Music at the University of California, Riverside. Her scholarship focuses on intersections of music, media, material culture, and technology. She has two books coming out this year: the edited volume Routledge Companion to Voice and Identity in June 2026, and the monograph Preprogrammed: How Electronic Presets Changed Music and Media, which will be published open-access with University of California Press in September 2026.
Her work has appeared in multiple music, film and media publications and she has directed several public-facing conferences and academic organizations.
From the Collection:
This program will feature materials from the William P. and Moya Olsen Lear Papers, which focus on the extensive and varied career of inventor and businessman William P. Lear, as well as the philanthropic and business activities of Moya Olsen Lear. This collection was donated to The Museum of Flight by Moya Lear in 2000.
Learn More About This Collection
Sign Up For Reminders and Updates About Planes, 8-Tracks, and Automobiles
You will not receive other emails unless already subscribed.
