Jules Feiffer discusses and reads from his children's graphic novel, "The Man in the Ceiling." The book has a central theme of overcoming failure and is slightly autobiographical in nature, with a comic book artist as its main character and author. Studs plays "Golliwog's Cakewalk" - Claude Debussy (1906-1908).
Jules Feiffer discusses his book “Jules Feiffer’s America: From Eisenhower to Reagan”, a retrospective that chronicles his years as a social and political cartoonist. Studs and Feiffer read through several of Feiffer’s cartoons featured in this book, working their way through the book in “eras” which are categorized based on the U.S. President of that particular time frame. Studs plays “Sh-Boom” - The Crew Cuts (1954), “Big Bad John” - Jimmy Dean (1961). “Yellow Submarine” - The Beatles (1966), and “Happy Days Are Here Again” - Casa Loma Orchestra.
Studs interviews educator Jaime Escalante about his successful work as a mathematics teacher at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, which is represented in the film “Stand and Deliver.” Includes an interview with Edward James Olmos.
With this first part of the interview, William Hoffman, Jr. gives some background into his childhood and growing up, as well as some reasons why he felt the need to be successful at gambling.
Studs Terkel has a conversation with Easley Blackwood, and Ralph Shapey, composers and Paul Fromm philanthropist and patron of the music arts. They discuss contemporary music, composing music, composers and the passion of creating music.
Daniel Ellsberg, political activist, discusses the creation and use of the atomic and hydrogen bombs. He discusses his family including how his son helped him leak the Pentagon Papers and has since protested with him, including being jailed. He also talks about his father who quit his job over the creation of the hydrogen bomb and how his father's choice helped him to decide to release the Pentagon Papers.
Reverend Theo Kotze and Helen Kotze discuss race relations, religion, and their lives in South Africa. Includes an interview with Albert Luthuli. Includes a 35 second testing tone.
Discussing the relocation act of 1974 with three Navajo Elders, Theodore Bendoney, Tom Bendoney and Mary Rosa Bendoney. The land they live on now is Mother Earth to them. Ten to 15,000 Navajos must move because the government wants to strip mine the oil, gas, coal and uranium that's underneath the land.
Professor John Nef explained that Marc Chagall came from an environment of nothing. From his dreams, Chagall created joy in his pieces of art. Nef lets the audience know that Chagall said he still has a lot of unfinished artwork to complete. The 3rd and last part of this program is a colloquy. Again, through another translator, Chagall’s words are translated. Marc and Valentina Chagall speak French.
A master at playing the sitar, Ravi Shankar, also composed the music for the soundtrack of "Gandi". According to Shankar, there are 72 scales in Indian music and when he plays music, 90% of it is improvisation. Younger people became interested in playing the instrument after Shankar announced he was teaching George Harrison of the Beatles how to play the sitar. There is an excerpt of an interview with Shankar from 22 years ago, to the date of this program.