Writing
When Cab Calloway was Betty Boop's co-star
In this odd pairing, legendary singer, dancer and bandleader Cab Calloway starred in these surreal Betty Boop cartoons to promote his music, “Minnie the Moocher” and “The Old Man of the Mountain.”
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In the 1970s, a style of music emerged in popularity on the late-night radio airwaves – one which celebrated slow tempos, punctuated with soulful, intimate vocals.
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5 facts about horror icon Lon Chaney, Sr.
His characters mark some of the earliest experiments in body horror on-screen, and his surreal, yet human monsters live on in our visual storytelling today.
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Buster Keaton’s “Sunset Boulevard” cameo arrived at a moment of Hollywood reckoning
This small role reflected a life’s moment of poignant humility.
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The story of the first openly gay judge in America
In this Q&A, Stephen M. Lachs looks back at his historic appointment and the profound change it had on his life.
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Interview with Adolphus Hailstork
Hailstork discusses his creative process, collaboration with J’Nai Bridges and his visions for the future of classical music.
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5 ways “I Love Lucy” transformed television
​One of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, “I Love Lucy” changed the history of television forever.
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Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein’s unexpected friendship
Opera signer Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein formed a long-lasting friendship.
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Seven facts to learn about Duke Ellington
For over 50 years, Duke Ellington toured the world as a composer, bandleader and pianist. From pop melodies to long-form compositions, Ellington saw his music as an evolving expression beyond categorization.
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Andy Warhol’s lifelong obsession with Capote
A fascination for the thin line between reality and fiction drew Andy Warhol and author Truman Capote together.
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5 Rita Moreno roles you may have forgotten
Well-known for her Oscar-winning portrayal of Anita in “West Side Story” (1961), Rita Moreno had her “big break” in the golden-age musical “Singin’ in the Rain.”
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3 ways Kitty O’Neil defied death with record-breaking stunts
A trailblazer in the entertainment industry, she made history with her death-defying speeds, leaps and courage.
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9 storytellers influenced by “The Twilight Zone”
When “The Twilight Zone” first premiered on CBS in 1959, audiences were not yet accustomed to cerebral and mature science fiction.
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5 firsts that made Marian Anderson famous
Best known for her concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, opera singer and civil rights pioneer Marian Anderson made history with these five groundbreaking achievements.
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The collective valued experimentation at its core and pushed the boundaries of acceptability – dismantling pretensions of the traditional art world and its institutions through derision, humor and destructiveness.
Filmmaker Ben Shapiro dives into Max Roach’s musical legacy
In this interview, Shapiro discusses how this film – 30 years in the making – came to fruition, and the unique talent and legacy of Max Roach.