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Author Archives: mediawally
The Untold Story of the “Untold Story” of the first Beatles recordings (by Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik)
Suppose, for the sake of a better story, you chose to deliberately ignore “inconvenient” facts and details that “got in the way”? In the case of the Beatles, that has happened repeatedly over the past fifty years. With professional pride, … Continue reading
Posted in Beatles, Harry Castleman as co-author, Media
Tagged Beatles, Decca Tapes, Harry Castleman, The Beatles Roundtable
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The Beatles on TV, Live in Your Living Room
The musical dam was already breaking when The Beatles stepped onto The Ed Sullivan Show stage on February 9, 1964. On Billboard’s charts, the group had the country’s top single (I Want To Hold Your Hand). A pair of albums … Continue reading
Something Bigger, Better, and Live: The Tonys
The television watching theatre lover in me took great delight in the 67th annual Tony Awards program on June 9, 2013. Live from Radio City Music Hall. In particular, for the opening number, producer Ricky Kirshner, director Glenn Weiss, and … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Review 2013, Television, Theatre
Tagged Glenn Weiss, Neil Patrick Harris, Radio City Music, Radio City Music Hall, Ricky Kirshner, Tony Awards
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Through the MBC Prism, Forward via the Past
In its first full year after cutting the ribbon to a new permanent home in downtown Chicago, the Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) hosted events and personalities from all slices of media history. Looking forward, through the prism of the … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Review 2013, Television
Tagged Chicago, downtown Chicago, George Wendt, MBC, Museum of Broadcast Communications, Stephen Parry
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The Marriage Bill Right Next Door at UIC
It was perfect timing. For the fall 2013 semester at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), I was teaching the course “Mass Media and Politics,” connecting the dots between campaigns, elections, and the push behind key contemporary issues. On … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Review 2013, Television
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Flashback to the 2013 Presidential Inauguration
After nearly a year of polarizing politics, it is easy to forget that 2013 started fresh with the second inauguration of President Barack Obama, beginning another four-year term. No matter the party, a Presidential Inauguration represents a rare convergence of … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Review 2013
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Buffalo Munch in North Dakota
“Crunch, munch, crunch, munch….” At the end of a 10 foot length of PVC pipe, a bull buffalo gobbled and licked the lion’s share of the tasty alfalfa pellets we poured down to the paddock he shared with his mate … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Review 2013
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The Charming and Delightful Larry Lujack
My college era encounter with Larry Lujack was everything I could have hoped for. Short. Caustic. Mocking. Authenic. It came in the visitor’s lobby of the studios of Chicago radio station WCFL. Two of us from Northwestern’s radio station were … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Review 2013
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Day 3 of 4 of JFK Coverage
The “Four Days” surrounding the Kennedy assassination marked the first time that the first draft of history was written as it happened, via live television, with everyone looking on. In the five decades since, there have been endless attempts to arrive … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Television
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An MST3K Reunion and Celebration @ the MBC
On Saturday November 16, at Noon, the Museum of Broadcast Communications marked the 25th anniversary of Mystery Science Theater 3000 with a cast reunion and live program celebrating all things MST3K. (Ticket information here.) The shorthand “MST3K” either brings an instant smile … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Television
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Walter "Wally" Podrazik 