When Leon Edel set out to write a biography of Henry James, he thought it would take him three years. It ended up taking him twenty years.  Jean Strouse chose to focus on the life of the diarist Alice James, Henry's lesser-known younger sister.  Both books are considered to be definitive biographies.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The biographer discusses the early life of comedian Groucho Marx, his stage career, his brothers, and their mother/manager, all further described in the book, Hello, I Must be Going: Groucho & His Friends.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The theater scholar and biographer talks about some of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas staged at the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The American actress of stage, screen, and television talks about her one-woman show Gerty Gerty Gerty Stein is Back Back Back, her upbringing in Iowa, and her life as a member of the gay and lesbian community.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The American journalist and historian joins Studs to talk about political morality and the uses of power, as further described in his book, Cincinnatus: George Washington and The Enlightenment.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The cast members of The Devil's Disciple talk about George Bernard Shaw and his depiction of the American Revolutionary era. The program includes a recording of Shaw speaking.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The Irish theater actor discusses his performance as George Bernard Shaw in the one-man show, My Astonishing Life, at the St. Nicholas theater. This program also includes two excerpts from a 1937 BBC recording of Shaw.

The American film critic talks about how she attempts, through her writing, to evoke the feelings she experiences while watching movies. Studs asks about her latest collection, When the Lights Go Down: Film Writings, 1975-1980.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The film, television, and stage actor discusses his one-man show FDR at the Studebaker Theater. Includes clips of President Franklin D. Roosevelt speaking and dramatic readings by Vaughn.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The director and actor discuss their interpretation of O'Neill's Hughie, presented by the Academy Festival Theatre in Lake Forest. Program includes clips of Robards' performance.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The playwright, director, actress, and founder of the Black Ensemble Theater talks with Studs about her portrayal of singer and actress Ethel Waters in Sweet Mama Stringbean.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The author and editor joins Studs to discuss Love or Nothing: The Life and Times of Ellen Terry, his biography of the famed English actress. The program also includes recordings of George Bernard Shaw and clips of dramatic readings by actors Denys Hawthorne and Flora Robson.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Studs asks the actor how he researched and prepared for his portrayal of Edgar Allan Poe at Chicago's Theatre Building.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

While on her book tour, author Barbara Woodhouse discusses canine training and the book, No Bad Dogs: The Woodhouse Way. Ms. Woodhouse talks about using the three T's with dogs - Touch, Tone, and Telepathy. Her fundamental belief is that all animals and humans are good, and if a dog exhibits bad behavior, it's a learned behavior from humans.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The journalist, memoirist, and actor discusses her biography of the photographer Diane Arbus (the first American to have photographs displayed at the Venice Biennale).*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations