wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, November 05, 2003
  • new 20 dollar bill

    Changing Times

    Arthur Gelb talks about City Room, his memoir of 45 years at the New York Times. (The 1945 airplane crash into the Empire State Building marked his professional reporting debut.) Then Felicia Wiggins and Ute Wartenberg take a look at the new $20 bills now in circulation. Photographer Elizabeth Gilbert on her four years with the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania. And Brian Morton shares his new novel, A Window Across the River.

Arthur Gelb

Arthur Gelb began working at The New York Times in 1944 as a night copyboy, and he retired 45 years later as the managing editor. He shares his memoir, City Room.

  • Music: Raymond Scott The Chesterfield Arrangements 1937-38
    “The Toy Trumpet” “Mexican Jumping Bean”
  • Events: Frank Rich interviews Arthur Gelb by on Thursday, Mov 20 at 6pm at Coliseum Books (42nd between 5th and 6th)
  • Felicia Wiggins and Ute Wartenberg

    Whether or not you like the new $20 bills, we’re going to explain them to you. Felicia Wiggins of the Federal Reserve Bank in New York and Ute Wartenberg, director of the American Numismatic Society, are here to talk about the history of currency and why periodic changes are necessary.

  • Music: Talk Radio Soundtrack composer Stewart Copeland
    Objects of Fantasy: The Music of Pink Floyd (David Palmer and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
  • Elizabeth Gilbert

    Broken spearsPhotographer Elizabeth Gilbert spent four years with the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania. She was allowed to photograph male and female circumcisions, weddings, and even the most dangerous of all Maasai rituals, a lion hunt. Her recent book is Broken Spears: A Maasai Journey.

  • Events:
    Elizabeth Gilbert will be speaking at The Explorers Club, 46 East 70th Street, Nov 17th at 6:30 pm
    Elizabeth Gilbert’s photography is exhibited at the June Bateman Gallery (560 Broadway, suite 309) through December 2nd. A reception will be held on November 6 from 6-8 pm(212-925-7951)
  • Music: Kronos Quartet Pieces of Africa
  • Brian Morton

    Brian Morton reunites a pair of star-crossed but self- asbsorbed New York lovers in his latest novel, A Window Across the River.

  • Music: The Guys Soundtrack composer Mychael Danna
  • Patrick Swayze

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Patrick Swayze mixed grace with athleticism in his movies – and rose to stardom with roles in “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost.” He died just recently after a battle with pancreatic cancer. And you can hear his interview with Leonard Lopate from July 16, 2002, when he came by to discuss appearing in the film, “Green Dragon.”

    The Silver Anniversary of the Silver Palate

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Sheila Lukins was one half of a partnership that helped popularize gourmet cooking throughout America – first, through their gourmet food shop in New York City and then with the cookbook, The Silver Palate, which remains one of the top-selling cookbooks of all time. She collaborated on 2 other cookbooks that simplified gourmet cooking for the home cook. She died recently from brain cancer at the age of 66, and you can listen to her 2007 conversation with Leonard Lopate and her business partner Julee Rosso about the 25th Anniversary of the publication of The Silver Palate.

    Dominick Dunne

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Dominick Dunne was a famous novelist and Hollywood producer. But he may be best remembered for covering trials of the rich and famous – from Claus von Bulow to O. J. Simpson. He died just recently at the age of 83. But you can still hear his interview with Leonard from November 23, 2001, when he was discussing crimes, trials, and punishments.

    Let’s Go Swimming!

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    According to the Centers for Disease Control, bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms found in recreational water in the United States sicken thousands of people every year, and even result in deaths. We’ll speak with chemist and industrial hygienist Monona Rossol about the protozoa, amoebas and other things that love to go swimming with us. Monona is also founder and President of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety.

    Frank McCourt

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Frank McCourt has been a guest many times on this show over the years, starting in 1996 for the memoir, Angela’s Ashes, that would earn him a Pulitzer Prize. Fame came to him late in life, after he’d retired at the age of 65 from teaching English and creative writing at public schools here in New York. He was a sweet, eloquent man who spoke with grace and humility; he just died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. You can hear him speaking with Leonard Lopate for his Survival Kit in 2000, and in 2005, for his memoir, Teacher Man.

    Science and Faith

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Earlier this week, Pres. Obama announced that he plans to nominate geneticist Dr. Francis Collins to lead the National Institutes of Health. You can listen to Leonard’s 2006 conversation with Dr. Collins about how he reconciles his personal faith with his professional scientific knowledge.

    FDA to Regulate Tobacco?

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    May 14, 2009
    Congress is getting ready to a vote on whether to make tobacco subject to FDA regulation. You can listen to a segment we did in May about the bill and what it would mean for the cigarette companies.

    Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.

    Leonard is on Facebook

    Now Leonard is on Facebook! We’re posting photos, status updates, links to notable interviews, and lots more. Check it out.

    Barack Obama, Circa 2004

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Listen to President-Elect Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.

    Guest Picks

    The Leonard Lopate Show

    Find out surprising facts about some recent guests on the Leonard Lopate Show. Check out our Guest Picks section! Did you know that football star Herschel Walker loves Judge Judy, Laurie Anderson is a big fan of agility training for dogs, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi likes Johnny Depp?