December 6: JAMES THURBER – The Soul of Wit
by JAMES THURBER: December 8, 1894 – November 2, 1961 The Ohio State University had a long history of important political cartoonists when I joined the …
December 5: LENNY BRUCE – The Terrifying Power of Words
LENNY BRUCE: Arrested at the Gate of Horn, Chicago, December 5, 1962 Watch your thoughts; they become words.Watch your words; they become actions.Watch your actions; …
December 4: JON STONE – Love and Magic
CHRISTMAS EVE ON SESAME STREET: Broadcast December 3, 1978 Sesame Street had only been on the air for three months when I was born. Like …
December 3: ELVIS PRESLEY’S ’68 COMEBACK SPECIAL – Finding Your Voice Again
Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special: Broadcast December 3, 1968 When Elvis was discharged from the Army in March of 1960, he made his way to …
December 2: FRANK TASHLIN – “Nasty Quacks” and a Life Out-Of-Step
LOONEY TUNES “NASTY QUACKS”: Released December 1, 1945 I was in my early twenties and had been invited to a dinner party. The hostess had …
December 1: RICHARD PRYOR – Hiding In Plain Sight
RICHARD PRYOR: December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005 I was born with a mimic’s ear. From an early age, I could imitate the characters …
November 30: DAVID MAMET – The Meaning in the Things We Don’t Say
DAVID MAMET: born November 30, 1947 I was 19 when I first discovered the power of American theater. Prior to that, my experience with stage …
November 29: ABBIE HOFFMAN – Becoming the Face of Change
ABBIE HOFFMAN: November 30, 1936 – April 12, 1989 If I had heard Abbie Hoffman speak prior to buying the 1990 “Sound Bites From The …
A Year of Gratitude
They say that the key to being a better writer is simple: write more. They say that the key to being a happier person is …
SHOOTER JENNINGS – The Fractal Nature of Art
I had the chance to speak to Shooter Jennings in the minutes before his September 6 show at Newport, Kentucky’s Southgate Revival House. I complimented …