Cartoonist Dan Perkins, otherwise known as "Tom Tomorrow," the creator of the comic strip, "This Modern World." This social/political strip appears regularly in a number of alternative papers and magazines such as the Utne Reader, Whole Earth, and Z. It's just recently began running in the San Francisco Examiner. The strip uses the collage imagery from 40s and 50s advertising and features Sparky the Wonder Penguin who has been known to call George Bush a "Wanker."
First, novelist E.L. Doctorow reads from his novel, "Billy Bathgate." (First broadcast March 14, 1989) Then, film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Billy Bathgate," the film adaptation of E. L. Doctorow's best-selling novel. It stars Dustin Hoffman and Bruce Willis.
We remember theater impresario Joe Papp. He was responsible for bringing out such hits as "A Chorus Line" and "Hair," and for staging many memorable performances at the New York Shakespeare Festival. He died yesterday at age 70. We'll listen to a Fresh Air interview with Papp from 1987.
Basketball great Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain has a new memoir of his career on the court, and his sometimes controversial life off the court. It's called "A View From Above."
Television critic David Bianculli reviews a four-hour miniseries starting this weekend on NBC starring country singer Kenny Rodgers in his role as "The Gambler."
Reporter Scott Armstrong. Jones has an article in the current issue of "Mother Jones" magazine, describing the long history of secret military agreements between the governments of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Armstrong contends the military deals, which cost more than 150 billion dollars, violate the Constitution.
Writer William Least Heat Moon. His 1983 chronicle of traveling the back roads of America, "Blue Highways," became a literary classic and a huge best-seller. In his new book, "PrairyErth," Least Heat Moon looks at the geography, geology, and history of one county in Kansas. (The book's published by Houghton Mifflin, and "PrairyErth" is the correct spelling. There's no second "a").
Terry talks with Roger Fisher, the head of the Harvard Negotiation Project, and author of the bestseller, "Getting To Yes." He'll discuss how to make the Mideast Peace Conference a success.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Nigel Kennedy performing the Brahms Violin Concerto. (It's on the Angel/E.M.I. label).
Terry talks with journalist James Reston. Since 1940, he's worked at the New York Times, as a reporter, Washington bureau chief, executive editor, and columnist. He's just written a new memoir, called "Deadline." (It's published by Random House).
Saxophonist and clarinetist Willem Breuker {as in GROW: Brow-ker), leader of the Dutch jazz band, The Willem Breuker Kollektief. They are known for their stage performances which draw heavily from street theatre and vaudeville. Their releases include "Bob's Gallery," (on the BVHAAST label from West Germany, distributed by North Country Distributors, Calif. 315-287-2852) and "Baal Brecht Breuker Handke," on the BVHAAST label, phone # 020-23 97 99.
Pakistani writer Bapsi Sidhwa (Bop-see SEED-wah). Her new novel is "Cracking India," which tells the story of the Partition of India through the eyes of an eight-year-old girl named Lenny. Sidhwa has written other novels as well, "The Bride," and "Ice-Candy-Man," both stories told through female characters. She'll talk with Terry about her books and women's rights in Pakistan.
We remember rock impresario Bill Graham, who died this weekend in a helicopter crash. Terry Gross talked with Graham on May 17 of 1989. We'll play back part of that interview.
Book critic John Leonard reviews Martin Amis' new novel, "Time's Arrow." It's the story of a former Nazi doctor who looks back on the horror he committed during the Holocaust.
Philadelphia Inquirer reporters Donald Barlett and James Steele. For the past 9 days, the Inquirer has run a series of scathing front page articles by Barlett and Steele titled "America: What Went Wrong?" In it, they examine how government policies as diverse as changes in the bankruptcy laws and the sanctioning of political action committees have worked to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
Singer Lesley Gore. In 1963, when she was only 16, Leslie Gore recorded one of the greatest songs in rock and roll history, "It's My Party, and I'll Cry If I Want To." Gore has stayed in the business since the 60s, and she's currently appearing at the New York City club, "Rainbow and Stars." Also, Rhino records has recently released a two record retrospective of her greatest hits.
