Neon has nocturnally splashed the "American dream" across the USA since it first arrived in Los Angeles in the 1920s. It's had grand premieres and x-rated moments, but is this blazing light that graces the exteriors of buildings a piece of kitsch or a flash of inspiration from a bygone age? Ian Peacock journeys from LA to New York and traces neon's extraordinary history, which culminates in the animated "spectaculars" of Times Square and as a surprising tool for urban renewal.

Tripping the Light Fantastic 11.00am R4
Prepare to suspend your disbelief when I tell you that this is a dazzling, colourful programme about the history of neon light in America... on the radio. Ian Peacock paints a perfectly clear picture of the glassbenders who draw with light, the bright glows of phosphorescent powders in a palette of 150 colours and the greatest neon-fest of them all - Times Square. Get ready to hear the light! (Jane Anderson)