By Gabrielle Harradine
Special to the Daily Press

DOWNTOWN For those who missed out in 2006, the chance to tell a story for the ages has come circling ‘round again.

Near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Third Street, the mobile StoryBooth — an unassuming classic American silver Airstream trailer — is back in Santa Monica documenting the nation’s history.

Just outside, a table is topped with information about the project and a listening station offers passersby a taste of what’s going on inside.

“I think it’s great,” said a woman from Silverlake, familiar with the project after hearing excerpts on NPR. “I’m going to take my mom.”

The StoryCorps project is the largest oral history project of its kind. Founded in 2003 by Dave Isay, workers have already recorded almost 30,000 life stories, with conversations being archived for generations to come at the Library of Congress.

“Our mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening,” said Isay.

The trailer will be stationed on the 1200 block of Third Street Promenade through Dec. 8.

While people can share whatever they want, StoryCorps facilitator Hilary Marshall suggests that participants “don’t come with a script.”

“Spontaneity is what human life is all about,” Marshall said.

The interviews take place in a cozy setting, a mini-sound studio with a table and two bench seats, all of which has been built into the sleek, silver Airstream. The participants, generally two — one interviewer and one interviewee — sit across from each other in what could be an intimate, noiseless café and get 40 minutes to talk about anything they like.

StoryCorps helps people get the most out of their interview by offering some suggested questions to get to the heart of the matter. For instance, “What are the most important lessons that you’ve learned in life?” and “Are there any words of wisdom you’d like to share with me?”

In the case of a person not having an interviewer available, Marshall said that the project maintains the interview format by having one of the facilitators take the role of interviewer.

Before an interview begins, a StoryCorps facilitator gives participants an introduction of the process and, most importantly, makes sure they’re comfortable.

Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to take home and share, and is archived for the Library of Congress.

Steffanie Cohen and her father, Carl Cohen, both residents of Los Angeles, participated in an interview on Saturday. They both radiated a glow as they stepped out of the trailer. Father and daughter agreed the venture was well worth the time invested.

“What’s nice is to see that your kid really loves you,” remarked Carl Cohen.

The StoryBooth is located just west of Barnes & Noble Bookstore on the promenade and will be recording interviews from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends. Call (800) 850 - 4406 to make an appointment.

During StoryCorps’ stay in Santa Monica, KCRW will air a selection of the local stories collected on Mondays at 4:44 p.m. Selected segments may also air nationally on NPR’s “Morning Edition.”

A $10 donation is suggested for participants.

news@smdp.com