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The Next Big Thing
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Omnibus set (Roy Stevens)Omnibus
According to the dictionary, an "omnibus" is "a usually automotive public vehicle designed to carry a large number of passengers." It was the name of a 1950s variety television program hosted by Alistair Cooke, who died this past week. In tribute to him, and to that ground-breaking program, we invite you to board our latter-day omnibus, where you will encounter circus missionaries, crossword puzzle fanatics, a very young entrepreneur, Paris-based artist Sophie Calle, and, of course, the voice of Alistair Cooke himself. Also this week, actor and playwright Wallace Shawn reads an award-winning entry from this year’s PEN Prison Writing Contest.
Early Apprentice
Donald Trump drives a hard bargain – but apparently not as hard as Fitz Tabas Tepper. The ten-year-old, who manages an animal and magic act, landed a deal at Trump’s Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He explains his technique to Dean. Produced by Jamie York.
Joining the Flock
» Click here for a larger picture
Words to Remember
All kinds of statements have been attributed to P.T. Barnum, maker of great spectacles. Here, we stick to what we know – or think we know – he said, in this early Edison recording from London.
Greetings from Coney Island
In the late 1950s, the Riverside label released an album that used the sounds of Coney Island to showcase the wonders of new stereophonic technology. According to The Next Big Thing’s Julie Subrin, half a century later, the record offers us a different kind of wonder.
Living Fiction
| Photo by J. B. Mondino |
» More on Sophie Calle
In Good Company
A gripping but also disturbing story by G. T. Carrillo, read by writer and actor Wallace Shawn. The piece was awarded Second Prize for memoir in this year’s PEN Prison Writing Contest. Carrillo wrote it while in the psychiatric ward of the Atascadero State Prison in California. Produced by Emily Botein.
Puzzler
Here's a puzzle for you: why do people do puzzles? We'll give you five clues, provided by puzzle master Will Shortz, and elaborated upon by five puzzle fanatics who, along with Dean Olsher, attended this year’s annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Produced by Jill Krauss.
» Puzzle on Weekend Edition
Farewell to Alistair Cooke
In his last years he was best known for his radio "Letters from America," and for his role as host of Masterpiece Theater. But Alistair Cooke, who died earlier this week at the age of 95, was also host of "Omnibus," a ground-breaking 1950s variety television show which served as a model for this very radio program. Produced by Emily Botein.
» More on "Omnibus" on The Museum of Broadcast Communications website
