Discussing past and present trends in American writing and interviewing distinguished American literary critic Malcolm Cowley.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Discussing the novel, Hot to Trot, and interviewing the author, John Lahr, also well-known as a drama critic.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Discussing the book "Smoke and Mirrors: Violence, Television and Other American Cultures" (published by The New Press) with the author, media critic John Leonard.

Writer and critic Walter Kerr discusses his book "The Silent Clowns," about the film era's greats including Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Raymond Griffith, and Harry Langdon. Studs begins by reading an excerpt from James Agee's "Death in the Family" with music in the background followed by Kerr reading from his book. They begin talking about how silent films affected the audience, lesser known stars Lloyd Hamilton and Charley Chase, and then analyze several famous Charlie Chaplin scenes to assess the complex nature of his characters.

In schools, reading, writing and speech are all on the decline because there are too many visual images from the TV, according to Neil Postman’s book, “Teaching as a Conserving Activity”. Postman criticized “Sesame Street” for its instantaneity. There are no short cuts in teaching, said Postman. He believed the worst thing a teacher could do was to make teaching entertaining for their students.

A conversation with the drama critic about his book, Notes On a Cowardly Lion - a biography about his father, the actor Bert Lahr.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

A conversation with the drama critic about his book, Notes On a Cowardly Lion - a biography about his father, the actor Bert Lahr.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations