Presenting "Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression" Chapter 1: A Fairy Tale. Montage of young voices that talk about their parents' stories of surviving the Depression. The March: Jimmy Sheridan explains the origins of the Bonus March and what life was like on the rails. The Song: Edgar Yipsel (Yip) Harburg talks about writing "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" while a version by the Weavers plays. Born Losers: Ed Paulsen discusses traveling the country to find work, march riots in San Francisco, and the relief felt as WPA projects and money began to lift burdens.
Presenting "Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression" Chapter 3: Big Business & A Portrait of Two Women. William Benton credits Pepsodent's survival of the Great Depression to Amos 'n Andy. Arthur Robertson talks about the initial aftermath of the 1929 crash as a Wall Street businessman. Sidney Weinberg discusses the confusion on Wall Street after the crash and praises FDR's programs. Jimmy McPartland talks about the importance of working and the success of WPA to boost morale.
Presenting "Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression" Chapter 9: God Bless the Child. In this section, interviewees are children that grew up during the Great Depression they talk about their experiences. Jane Yoder and her son Tom Yoder discuss the shame that can accompany poverty and the importance of warmth and food over all else. Bob Leary is a cab driver that talks about his father's lack of self-confidence even when able to find work. Daisy Singer remembers the need to keep up appearances.
Presenting an award-winning summary program of "Hard Times: an oral history of the great depression" series 1971-72: "A gathering of survivors" (part two) with Jim Sheridan, Pauline Kael, Emma Tiller, Frank Czerwonka, Cesar Chavez, William Benton, Sidney Weinberg. Chapter 12.
Soprano Teresa Stich-Randall said she spent the last 12 years on tour, mostly on the European continent. Stich-Randall said her mother prayed for a baby girl could become an opera singer. Her piano teacher guided Teresa until she was 10 years old and then she entered into the conservatory of music
Anna Deavere Smith discusses and demonstrates her unique character portrayals from her works "Fires in the Mirror" and "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992."
Ursula Oppens and Studs discuss contemporary avant-garde piano. Oppens performs pieces from contemporary composers.
Interview with Jim Bolle and young musicians Cheryl Griffin, Clyde Jennings, Lotilda Hudson, Joseph Johnson, Stephen Graham.
Marian Anderson talks about her singing career, including her singing in Sunday School and her first singing experience in 4th grade. She shares how she interprets the songs she sings. Includes Studs reading the poem "Gertrude" by Gwendolyn Brooks. The interview takes place in Anderson's suite in the Sheraton Blackstone in Chicago.
Discussing the book "The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America" and interviewing the author Professor Daniel Boorstin.