According to Barry Commoner's book, "Making Peace with the Planet," we, as the human species, are in and are witnessing a war between the ecosphere and the technosphere. Commoner explains that today's cars emit a lot of smog into the big cities. Trucks move consumer goods from place to place, using four times more fuel than trains. Everyone should ask themselves what is their interest in the quality of the environment and that of nature.
Architect Barry Byrne talks about Chicago architecture and urban planning, including past architects Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wrigh. Byrne discusses how "form follows function," is no longer important to architects and warns that fashion should not be followed, because buildings are forever.
Barry Byrne, architect, recalls his life and how architecture has changed in his lifetime. He discusses his childhood, the death of his father, the Prairie School, and his time working under Frank Lloyd Wright. Byrne also touches on how Chicago's cityscape has changed such as the disappearance of small neighborhoods.
Barrett Deems discusses his upbringing where he began drumming at age 4 and recalls touring with Louis Armstrong and other musicians. He also talks about meeting drummers in Africa. Music is played throughout: "Flip"- Joe Venuti, "Shine"- Barrett Deems Hottet, "Now You Has Jazz"- Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong (from "High Society"), "Muskrat Ramble"- Louis Armstrong, "Struttin' with Some Barbecue"- Louis Armstrong, "Slipped Disc"- Benny Goodman, "Stompin' at the Savoy"- Louis Armstrong. Music has been removed from this recording for copyright reasons.
Bard Lindeman and Dr. Quentin Young discuss medical care, medical reform, medical insurance, and pharmaceutical companies. Includes a clip of an elderly woman talking about the price of drugs.
Discussing "Jesse Jackson, the Man, the Movement, the Myth" and interviewing the author Barbara Reynolds.
Academy Award winning documentarian Barbara Kopple talks with Studs about her documentary "American Dream" and the battle fought and lost by union workers in Austin, Minnesota during the mid-80s. They set the backdrop in the small, tight-knit community that Hormel Foods had such a profound impact on, how the UFCW international union declined to support the local union, the gripping dynamics between family members who crossed picket lines, and the healing that occurred when the film was screened in the town several years later.
Since no men were allowed to picket against the Phelps Dodge Corp., Mexican American women showed up and according to Kingsolver’s book, “Holding the Line,” the picket lines were a brand new experience for the women. Some of the women had to get their husbands’ permission to picket. The group of women found their lives transformed not only with their cause but with new bonds of friendship from the other women.
British actress Barbara Jefford of the Royal Shakespeare Company discusses her current roles of Lady Macbeth and St. Joan and her reflection of the female roles she portrayed over the years. Jefford was the youngest recipient of the Order of the British Empire for her services in theater and was best known for her role as Molly Bloom in the 1967 film Ulysses.
Barbara Hendricks discusses her career, music education, and opera. Includes a clip of Jennie Tourel's voice.
Discussing a production of the play "Pericles," with Barbara Gaines, Director of the Shakespeare Repertory theater. Program includes an excerpt of a November 1962 interview with French actor, director and producer Jean Louis Barrault.
Discussing the book "Fear of Falling: The Inner Life of the Middle Class" (published by Pantheon) with the author, political essayist Barbara Ehrenreich.
Interviewing soprano Barbara Daniels.
Studs interviews Barbara Cook about her work in musical theater from Broadway to opera. Cook speaks about the composers and writers she has worked with. She explains some of her songs such as “Ice Cream” and “Grass Harp” and describes her first Carnegie concert. Studs quotes Leonard Bernstein, who speaks to Cook’s talent. Cook describes how she went from Broadway to opera and shares how she chooses the songs that she performs. She discusses the art of her talent. The musical pieces are removed from this edited version of the original recording.