Friday, December 19, 2008
No – it’s not from that brewery.
Rather it’s from the hometown American owned St. Louis Brewery.
The beer is from Schafly Beer (yes, it’s connected distantly with Phyllis Schafly).
We speak with Dan Kopman, along with Mr. Schafly, a co-founder of the St. Louis Brewery, about his seasonal ale, about the history of his brewery, and just what it’s like to be the “other” brewery in the home of the “King of Beers”.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Craig Watters joins us to tell us the story of Santa at Santa’s Workshop, a theme park dating back to 1949.
It’s one of the earliest theme parks and it provided a template for Walt Disney’s efforts afew years later.
It remains in business these many years later and it is a special place – especially this time of year when letters pour into the North Pole, New York post office.
We speak with Mr. Watters about what it’s like at holiday time at the North Pole post office, Santa’s Workshop and the rest of the year at the theme park (i.e. What does Santa wear during the summer ?)
Friday, December 19, 2008
In hockey there are families of distinction; The Patricks, the Smythes, the Irvins, Conachers, Hewitts, Howes, Hulls, Plagers and Sutters are some that come to mind.
Another is the Stewarts.
Paul Stewart joins us. He is a former player with the World Hockey Association and the Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League. Stewart played with Mark Messier in Cincinnati for the Cincinnati Stingers and he was responsible for getting Messier his first beer.
His last season of professional hockey was 1979–80 with the Quebec Nordiques. After his playing days were finished, he had a lengthy career as an NHL referee. Stewart is currently Men’s League Supervisor of Officials for ECAC Hockey.
Paul Stewart comes from a hockey family as well. Most notable, Bill Stewart (September 20, 1984-February 14, 1964) was an American coach and sports official who was an hockey referee and coach, and also an umpire in baseball’s Major League. In his first season as head coach of the Chicago Black Hawks, he led the team to a Stanley Cup in 1938. Born in Firchburg, Massachusetts, he was the first American-trained head coach to win the Stanley Cup. He was also an umpire in the National League from 1933 to 1954, and officiated in four World Series (1937, 1943, 1948, 1953) and four All-Star Games (1936, 1940, 1948, 1954), calling balls and strikes for the last contest. He also was the home plate umpire for Johnny Vander Meer’s second consecutive no-hitter in 1938 and was the crew chief for the 1951 three-game pennant playoff between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Paul Stewart chats with us about his careers, his family and his battle (successful to date) against Cancer.
Friday, December 19, 2008
So say that it’s more French these days there than in Paris.
The place is the possession of St. Pierre & Miquelon, a French territory just off the coast of Newfoundland. The electric currents, the telephone and legal systems are French -as are the traditions.
We speak with Thierry Balse from St. Pierre about the islands, their Christmas and life uyear round in a place that at once looks to Paris, Canada and the States to the south.
A different take from a unique place.
Friday, December 19, 2008
International correspondent Jeremiah Tittle talks to Professor Bernie Higgins about the 10th annual Poetry Day festival. The international festival in
Friday, December 19, 2008
It’s now more than 40 years since the Philadelphia Flyers entered the National Hockey League.
Still best known for the Broad Street Bullies of the mid-1970′s, the Flyers’ first years before their two Stanley Cups were quite interesting.
We speak with columnist, Flyers’ historian and author Jay Greenberg (Full Spectrum: Philadelphia Flyers, Triumph Books) about those early years (1967-1972) that included the roof blowing off the Spectrum, the role of broadcaster Gene Hart in developing fans, and the Flyers’ efforts in creating an identity.
Bernie Parent, Andre Lacroix, Barry Ashbee, Kate Smith are some of the names recalled in this conversation.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Detroit has seen good times and not so good times. But in the midst of it all, there are some traditions that continue speak to and bond the community.
For example, the Thanksgiving Parade. It one time it was sponsored by the Hudson’s Department Store. Hudson’s is now long gone, but the parade and everything it stands for endures.
We speak with Parade Historian Romi Minor about the parade, the oldest of its kind in the U.S. and its place in Detroit history and popular culture.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Award winning author D’Arcy Jenish joins us to discuss his new book on the Montreal Canadiens – a history to mark the 100th anniversary of the franchise.
It is an entertaining and enlightening book. In it is the history you know – the legendary stuff of The Rocket, Jean Beliveau, Howie Morenz, George Vezina and Guy Lafleur. But there is so much more and it will give you a new perspective about Les Canadiens and the club’s place in Montreal, Quebec and Canada.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
More than a game, for a long time it was THE game. Still is to some.
It still is a unique event – that Army-Navy game.
We are joined by author and radio commentator John Feinstein to discuss the game, the many things it has represented to different folks, and way still matters.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Professor Robert Thompson joins us again for another periodic roundtable on topics relating to television and popular culture. ThompsonThompson is the Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture.
His areas of research are television history, Popular Culture, media criticism, and TV programming.
Among our topics are recalling the impact of Senator Joseph McCarthy (He would have been 100 this November), the passing of Studs Terkel and the tradition of holiday TV specials.
