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The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, August 11, 2006
  • American Movie Critics
    American Movie Critics

    Critical Perspectives

    On today's show, Leonard's brother Phillip Lopate pays tribute to the art of American film criticism. Later on, Francine Prose tells us about the disturbing 1929 novel A High Wind in Jamaica, on our summer Underappreciated Literature series. Then, we’ll look back to the heyday of Schrafft’s restaurants. And General Anthony Zinni argues that everything the U.S. military learned in the past 40 years has been ignored in Iraq.

The Art of Film Criticism

Since the early 20th century, movies have captured the imaginations of many Americans…especially writers. Phillip Lopate pays tribute to the new art form they created--film criticism--in American Movie Critics.

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A High Wind in Jamaica

Underappreciated Literature: Richard Hughes

The 1929 Richard Hughes novel A High Wind in Jamaica has all the trappings of a summer blockbuster: earthquakes, hurricanes, murder, and pirates. It’s also great literature—a book about five British children, and what their misadventures reveal about human nature. Francine Prose, who wrote the introduction for an edition of the book published by the New York Review of Books, joins us on today’s edition of our summer Underappreciated Literature series.

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When Everybody Ate at Schrafft’s

Joan Kanel Slomanson reminisces about a favorite New York institution: Schrafft’s restaurants. Her new book is When Everybody Ate at Schrafft’s.

Available for purchase at amazon.com

Military Lessons from a Military Man

General Tony Zinni, the former head of US Central Command, argues that the military ignored the lessons of the past when the US invaded Iraq. In The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America's Power and Purpose, he explains why he believes Donald Rumsfeld should be held accountable.

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Tributes: Jeanne-Claude

The Leonard Lopate Show

Jeanne-Claude created environmental works of art with her husband and fellow-conspirator/collaborator Christo. Together, they wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf in Paris, and created The Gates, with billowy orange drapes, in Central Park. Jeanne-Claude just died at the age of 74. You can hear Leonard Lopate’s last interview with them both, from July 19, 1999.

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.