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 

Licia Albanese discusses her performance preparations, advice to young new opera singers, the conductor techniques from Fausto Cleva, and the late Arturo Toscanini.

Licia Albanese discusses her performance preparations, advice to young new opera singers, the conductor techniques from Fausto Cleva, and the late Arturo Toscanini.

Mr Regenstein and Studs discuss the book, "The Politics of Extinction". The book blows the whistle on those who are currently engaged in killing these animals for "sport," fashion, and profit. They talk about various endangered species and what that distinction means and the public officials with the power- and the responsibility - to protect wildlife, but who instead allow the destruction to continue.

Discussing the book "Money and Class in America: Notes and Observations on Our Civil Religion" (published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson) with author and editor and chief of Harper's magazine Lewis Lapham.

Discussing Maxwell Street with Lew Kreinberg and vendors German (Herman) Leyte, and Nate Duncan.

Discussing "Distortions of Negro History" and interviewing Lerone Bennett, Jr., John Hope Franklin and Hoyt Fuller.

Studs interviews Leonard Sorkin about his career as a violinist. They discuss his training, which began in early childhood and who he studied under. Sorkin plays a few short tunes to demonstrate his art, and one was his childhood favorite of "Allegro" by Joseph Fiocco. Sorkin names Jascha Heifetz as one who he admired all his life and shares the sounds and names of others who have influenced him. He explains to Studs how the Fine Arts Quartet members change to adapt to new players but the quartet sound remains the same.

Interviewing Len Matlovich, formerly a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, about the status of gay men in the armed forces and his expulsion from the Air Force after he publicly stated that he was gay.

Father Leonard Dubi and community advocates Denise Ponzetti and Mary Lou Wolff discuss the Citizen's Action Program and community activism in Chicago.

Dr. Benjamin Spock, Paul Robeson and Jimmy Hoffa are a few of Leonard Boudin's clients. Although some people were outraged Boudin welcomed Hoffa as a client, Boudin's belief had always remained that whether a person be good or bad, that person is, like all people, entitled to civil liberties and good representation. Boudin lastly explained he liked law students and that from what he witnessed, he was hopeful for their/our futures.