John F. Sears, author of "Sacred Places: American Tourist Attractions in the Nineteenth Century." Sears went back to magazines, fiction and painting of the 19th century to find out when and why tourism developed in this country. He says that natural wonders like Niagara Falls and Yellowstone were a substitute for the cathedrals of Europe, and that tourism gave Americans a way to shape their national identity. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)
Television critic David Bianculli reviews Part 2 of "Eyes on the Prize," the award-winning documentary series on the civil rights movement in America. Part 2 picks up in 1964 where Part 1 left off.
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a reissue of a 1957 album by bassist Wilbur Ware. Kevin says that year was the highlight of Ware's career--he recorded with Sonny Rollins and Thelonius Monk as well as recording his only album as a leader.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and biographer Ted Morgan. His latest book is "An Uncertain Hour: The French, the Germans, the Jews, the Klaus Barbie Trial, and the City of Lyon, 1940-1945." It's an account of the recent trial in France of fugitive war criminal Klaus Barbie. But the story has personal significance to Ted Morgan as well. He was born in France and lived there as a child when the Germans invaded. His father, a pilot with the Free French forces, was killed while on a bombing mission. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)
Polish born film director Jerzy Skolimowski (YER-zee skul-ah-MOSS-skee). His films include "The Shout" with John Hurt, and "Moonlighting" with Jeremy Irons. His most recent film is "Torrents of Spring" based on the novel by Ivan Turgenev and starring Timothy Hutton, Nastassja Kinski, and Valerie Golino. The film opens nationwide January 26. Skolimowski has also acted. He played the evil KGB agent in the movie "White Nights." (Interview by Sedge Thomson)
World Music Commentator Milo Miles reviews the music of Yugoslavian Jova "Besir" Stojiljkovic (YO-va BEE-sheer stoya-KOL-vich) and his brass orchestra.
Police artist Douglas P. Hinkle. Hinkle spent seven years as a forensic artist with the Athens, Ohio police department. He's written a book, called "Faces of Crime," about his experiences, and about the inexact science of obtaining criminal descriptions. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)
Reporter John Barry. He's the author of "The Ambition and the Power," the new book about the political downfall of House Speaker Jim Wright. Wright gave Barry access to his private meetings and closed door wheeling and dealing. Barry's book reveals those events, and examines the day to day workings of Congress.
Rock critic Ken Tucker checks out some of the albums getting heavy airplay on college radio. Ken says college radio used to be hip, but these days it's just as formulaic as Top 40.
Author Linda P. Brown is co-author of "Birthbond: Reunions between Birthparents and Adoptees--What happens After." In the 1960's BROWN gave up her own daughter for adoption. The book is based on interviews with 30 birthmothers -- from a variety of backgrounds -- who were reunited with their adult children. And it looks at the challenges these mothers face after the reunion. "Birthbond" is published by New Horizon Press, Far Hills, N.J. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)
Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. In his first-ever film, "Roger & Me," Moore returns to his home town of Flint, Michigan to document what happened when General Motors laid of 35,000 workers there. And he begins a Quixote-like quest to meet with GM Chairman Roger Smith, following him to Detroit, and New York.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz pays tribute to the late mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani (DEE-guy-tahny). DeGaetani died last September; Lloyd reviews her last album, just released by Bridge records. It contains works by Berlioz and Mahler.
Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg reviews a new book called "Doublespeak" by William Lutz, chairman of the Committee on Public Doublespeak of the National Council of Teachers of English. Lutz has been keeping files with examples of doublespeak used in politics and advertising and has compiled some of them in his book.
Novelist Anne Lamott. Her latest novel, "All New People", is an account of growing up in a Northern California railroad town in the midst of the cultural dislocations of the 1960's. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)
Author Daniel Callahan. He is an expert on medical ethics whose latest book is "What Kind of Life: The Limits of Medical Progress." The book questions the assumption that everyone should receive the most life sustaining medical care available. According to Callahan, we need to change our thinking about health and illness and focus on the quality of life rather than the extension of life. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)
Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the Lovin' Spoonful, who came out of the Greenwich Village folk music scene, but who owed more to Chuck Berry than to Appalachian ballad-singers.
