Writer Alec Wilkinson remembers his friend and mentor William Maxwell who died Monday at the age of 91. Wilkinson is a staff writer for the New Yorker, and has been there since 1980. His book, “Midnights: A Year With the Wellfleet Police” (Hungry Mind Press) was recently released in paperback.
Writer Alec Wilkinson remembers his friend and mentor William Maxwell who died Monday at the age of 91. Wilkinson is a staff writer for the New Yorker, and has been there since 1980. His book, “Midnights: A Year With the Wellfleet Police” (Hungry Mind Press) was recently released in paperback.
We listen to rebroadcast of a 1995 interview with William Maxwell. Maxwell was fiction editor of the New Yorker from 1936-1976 and worked with such authors as J.D. Salinger, John Cheever, John Updike, Eudora Welty and scores of others. Maxwell was the author of a number of novels, including "Time Will Darken It," and "So Long, See You Tomorrow," as well as several short story collections.
Guest film critic Henry Sheehan reviews “Space Cowboys,” directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. It’s about three aging air force pilots who want to go into space.
In light of the news that Republican V-P candidate Dick Cheney’s daughter is a lesbian, we speak to two people close to the issue. First, Reverend Louis Sheldon, Chairman and Founder of the Coalition for Traditional Values ( HYPERLINK "http://www.traditionalvalues.org" www.traditionalvalues.org). The Coalition for Traditional Values is the largest non-denominational grassroots church lobby in America, founded in 1980.
Actor Christopher Walken. He got his start in the business as a tap-dancing kid and went on to play some of the most menacingly evil characters around. His films include “At Close Range,” “The Comfort of Strangers,” “King of New York,” “The Dead Zone,” and “Annie Hall” (in which he played Annie’s creepy brother who had an impulse to drive his car into oncoming traffic.) His new film is “The Opportunists.”
National Correspondent for The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof. He’s written a series of biographical articles on George W. Bush, focusing on his early years. Kristof is former Tokyo Bureau Chief for The Times, and was co-recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting for his coverage of Tianamen Square. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW)
Satirist Harry Shearer, the host of “Le Show,” and the voice behind several characters on "The Simpsons". Shearer is also the author of "It's the Stupidity, Stupid: Why (Some) People hate Clinton and Why the Rest of Us Have to Watch." This week he is in Philadelphia as part of the “Shadow Convention” an alternative to the Republican and Democratic conventions, which covers the issues it says the other conventions won’t touch like campaign finance reform, poverty in the midst of prosperity, and the drug war. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE END OF THE SHOW).
Filmmaker John Waters. His latest film is “Cecil B. Demented” about an underground filmmaker and his cult following who declare war on bad cinema by kidnapping a starlet and forcing her to star in their own film. Waters other movies include, "Pecker" about a young amateur photographer who becomes the darling of the New York art world; "Cry Baby," a juvenile delinquent love story set in the 1950's, which brought together such performers as Patty Hearst, Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake, David Nelson, and Polly Bergen.
Biographer Howard Pollack is the author of “Aaron Copland: The Life and Work of an Uncommon Man” (University of Illinois Press). This year marks the 100th anniversary of Copland’s birth. Though Copland was Jewish, gay, and raised in Brooklyn, his work came to personify the American West, with such well known compositions as “Billy the Kid” and “Rodeo.” Copland also wrote “Appalachian Spring,” and “Fanfare for the Common Man.” Copland also wrote the film scores for “The Red Pony,” and “The Heiress.” Pollack is professor of music history and literature at the University of Houston.
Reporter Dave Davies talks about Philadelphia and next week’s Republican National Convention. He’ll talk about what the city did to get the convention, what image the city is trying to project, and what the city is doing to prepare for the delegates, the protestors, and the media. Davies will also talk about the current controversy surrounding the Philadelphia police. Davies is a long time reporter in the Philadelphia area. He covers City Hall and city politics for the Philadelphia Daily News.
Protestor Michael Morill is the organizer of Unity 2000 a coalition of groups which is staging a rally on Sunday, July 31st, to cover a range of issues. Morill and his organization sued the city to obtain a permit to protest. Also Amy Kwasnicki is a member of the Philadelphia Direct Action Group which is coordinating three days of protests and civil disobedience during the convention. The group was not given a permit to protest.
Music critic Milo MIiles reviews new albums by two Latin artists: “Make Up for Lost Time” (High tone) by Little Willie G. and “Nava” (Ryko latin label) the debut album by Nava.
Staff writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer Thomas Ginsberg. He’s been covering how the city is preparing for the advent of protests during the Republican National Convention.
The Republican National Convention convenes in Philadelphia in a week. A talk with Frank Punzo, Sales Manager for Verizon Communications which is the official local telecommunications provider for the convention. Punzo is responsible for providing the infrastructure that supports telephone service, video conferencing, internet access and video streaming.
The 1957 musical “The Music Man” by Meredith Wilson is currently being revived on Broadway. A talk with two of the stars: Craig Bierko who plays the lead role of traveling salesman and conman Harold Hill originated by Robert Preston. This is Bierko’s first Broadway show. Also co-star Rebecca Luker who plays Marian the Librarian, the role originated by Barbara Cook. This is LUKER’s fourth Broadway role.
