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Roberta Flack
Discover how a piano teacher became one of the most influential singers in American music.
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LISTEN John Waters on the Fine Art of Bad Taste
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FULL EPISODE Groucho & Cavett
Discover the enduring friendship between legendary comedians Dick Cavett and Groucho Marx. -
FULL EPISODE The Adventures of Saul Bellow
Explore Nobel Prize winner Saul Bellow's impact on American literature. -
How The Marx Brothers got famous in Hollywood
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LISTEN How Buffy Sainte-Marie Made Her Most Triumphant Song Yet
In this special episode of "American Masters: Creative Spark," Buffy Sainte-Marie talks about her song, "Carry It On." -
WATCH VIDEO Ernest Hemingway versus Saul Bellow
Philip Roth talks about Hemingway's simple, declarative sentences versus Bellow's descriptive style. -
WATCH VIDEO The origin of Roberta Flack’s hit “Killing Me Softly With His Song”
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WATCH VIDEO Dick Cavett’s early days of standup comedy
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WATCH VIDEO How Buffy Sainte-Marie won an Oscar for "Up Where We Belong"
The song "took on a life of its own." -
WATCH VIDEO When Groucho Marx hosted “The Tonight Show”
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10 Saul Bellow quotes about life
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9 storytellers influenced by "The Twilight Zone"
Created by Rod Serling, "The Twilight Zone" continues to influence contemporary artists, from Jordan Peele to Mel Brooks. -
John Carpenter on his composing process, including the score to "Halloween"
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Why Richard Rodgers matters
Dive into the career of the legendary composer whose artistry still influences American culture today. -
Buffy Sainte-Marie is what the world needs right now
Madison Thomas shares her thoughts on directing an American Masters documentary. -
Brian Wilson and I - Mark Vonnegut challenges the myth of "creative genius"
Mark Vonnegut draws parallels to Brian Wilson and challenges the stigmas of mental illness in this personal essay, reflecting on the label of "creative genius" that was assigned to both Wilson and his own father, author Kurt Vonnegut. -
10 photos from Shakespeare in the Park’s incredible history
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13 nearly forgotten Hollywood films that feature Duke Kahanamoku
Though Duke Kahanamoku was never able to escape typecasting or achieve Hollywood stardom, you can still spot him in these films. -
WATCH VIDEO Meet Elsa Sjunneson: DeafBlind fencer, hiker, published author
This short film is an extended look at some of the themes explored in American Masters - Becoming Helen Keller. -
Seven facts to learn about Duke Ellington
Did you know Duke Ellington was a "jazz ambassador"? -
7 ways Buffy Sainte-Marie was ahead of her time
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Saul Bellow wanted Jewish stories to be seen as American stories
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American Masters films that are streaming right now
This month, we are releasing a selection of films for you to stream and enjoy. -
WATCH VIDEO Roberta Flack was a child piano prodigy
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FULL EPISODE Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On
See the story of the Indigenous singer-songwriter, social activist, educator and artist. -
Why does the American dream persist?
How the American dream is depicted in the novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gish Gen, Saul Bellow and others. -
Dick Cavett writes about his friendship with Groucho Marx
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Buffy Sainte-Marie’s unique activism changed perceptions of Indigenous people
How the musician's activism championed Indigenous rights. -
When Cab Calloway was Betty Boop's co-star
Calloway's appearances in "Minnie the Moocher" and "The Old Man of the Mountain" helped promote his music. -
WATCH VIDEO A classic Saul Bellow rant about Chicago
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WATCH VIDEO What made Groucho Marx a great writer
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The essential Buffy Sainte-Marie playlist
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Martin Scorsese on the films of John Ford
The prolific director explains how John Ford's films influenced his career. -
8 essential destinations in Southern California for every Brian Wilson fan
From the memories of childhood to the places he still loves to visit. -
Eight masters who were ahead of their time
How were the works of these American figures rediscovered over time? -
"The Carol Burnett Show" revealed the joyous side of Hollywood
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A hard act to follow - my time as Joe Papp's intern in 1989
What it was like interning in 1989 under the infamous and indomitable Joe Papp -
WATCH VIDEO Buffy Sainte-Marie brought Indigenous representation to TV
Find out how Sainte-Marie sparked a revolutionary conversation about representation while on set for "The Virginian." -
Mel Brooks' comedy is a resistance against the mundane
Written as part of the American Masters Digital Archive project, this essay draws on original interviews conducted for “Mel Brooks: Make a Noise.” -
5 facts about horror icon Lon Chaney, Sr.
Discover how the actor pushed the limitations of his body with prosthetics. -
Norman Lear's daughter shares his secret to longevity on his 100th birthday
Arts advocate and writer Kate Lear celebrates the wit and wisdom of her father. -
Baked salmon with sautéed endive
Pépin's take on a simple baked salmon includes a sauce of ketchup, sesame oil and hot sauce. -
Six musicians who influenced Elvis Presley
Featuring Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Little Richard and more. -
Tracey Ullman on Mel Brooks' intrinsically American comedy
"He's just a wonderful, funny presence," said Ullman on Brooks. -
9 masterworks that almost never happened
From literature to music, these iconic American masterworks were almost never made.