Tomlin talks in depth about the characters she has created and played (Trudy the Bag Lady, Kate, Agnus Angst, Chrissy, Lynn, Marie, ) in the play "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe" by Jane Wagner. Tomlin talks in detail about each character and inspirations and influences behind each, especially Trudy.

Tribute to Lillian Hellman

Actress Lillian Gish joins Studs Terkel to talk about her role in the play “Passage to India.” Gish connects the play based on a book by E. M. Forster to “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and discusses the relevance and importance of historical works like those mentioned. Studs asks Gish about working with D. W. Griffith, and the two praise Griffith’s impact on the world of film; Gish comments on her experience with working with Charles Laughton too.

Lilli Palmer, actress and writer, discusses her life and her book, "The Red Raven." She talks about growing up in Germany, some of her film and play work, and her personal life.

Although she came from a family with a musical background, Lila Kedrova went into acting. A friend of her father, Feodor Chaliapin, played a part in influencing Kedrova into performing. Kedrova said she's been acting since she was eight. After her role as Madame Hortense, Kedrova said she wanted to explore other types of roles.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Interviewing actor Larry Gelman.

Theater director Larry Arrick and actors Tom Earhart and James Patterson discuss the one-act play Zoo Story written by Tony award-winning playwright Edward Albee.

Musical theater and television actress/comedienne Kaye Ballard discusses her role as Helen in the 1954 American opera The Golden Apple, musician and writer John La Touche, her family, her accompanist Arthur Siegel and their mutual love for the Peanuts comic strip, the parakeet sketch she wrote with Mel Brooks, her background in burlesque and vaudeville, and her comic and musical inspirations.

In preparation to play Emily Dickinson in, "The Belle of Amherst" Julie Harris read both the letters and the poems written by Dickinson. Harris said she had become fascinated by Dickinson's persona. This interview includes two excerpts: "Because I could not stop for Death," and "Before I got my eye put out."

Self-proclaimed Love Goddess, Judy Tenuta, was also known as the Aphrodite of the Accordion, to her fans. Tenuta talks about how she saw Elvis in her Cheese Whiz and he told her to start her own religion, which is known as Judyism. Calling herself the Love Goddess came to be after her brothers literally kissed her hands and feet when she asked them to. This is a very short conversation that ends abruptly.

When asked what she thought of Dame Sybil Thorndike, British actress Joyce Grenfell said Dame Sybil has a great sense of discovery. The Grand Dame of the British Theatre, Dame Sybil Thorndike said the greatest thing that ever happened to her was George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan". Thorndike also spoke of her politics and of being anti-war. Frances Cucka said working with Dame Sybil Thorndike was an extraordinary experience. Cucka, voted one of the most promising actresses of the west, said she also learned to sing and to dance for future roles.

Jonathan Miller discusses English society and class post WW2 and his TV movie Alice in Wonderland; part 2.

Jonathan Miller discusses English society and class post WW2 and his TV movie Alice in Wonderland; part 1.

Interviewing Shakespearean actor and director John Neville. Program includes an excerpt of a 1958 interview with Neville (T2299).

Studs Terkel discusses the upcoming new play "Of Mice and Men", based on the novel written by John Steinbeck with the starring actors, John Malkovich (Lennie) and Gary Sinise (George). The program begins with the opening excerpt from the play "Of Mice and Men" featuring Terkel (George) and Win Stracke (Lennie) from 1952, which then leads into Malkovich and Sinise's interpretation of the rest of the scene. Folk singer Utah Phillips song "On the Goodnight Loving Trail" is presented as a comparison to themes expressed in "Of Mice and Men".