Olympic historian Michael Loynd details how swimming champion Charles Daniels "passed the torch" to Duke Kahanamoku, bringing the art of swimming to the world stage. Learn more about Charles Daniels in Loynd's book, "The Watermen: The Birth of American Swimming and One Young Man’s Fight ...
Theater critic David Cote explores the legacy of Joe Papp, the man who brought free Shakespeare to Central Park and nurtured new talent in the American theater. The visionary and benevolent tyrant Shakespeare would be shocked to learn that 400 years after he’d shuffled off ...
Joe Papp built a stage on a 35 foot portable truck so he could bring Shakespeare to other communities. "I found myself directing all the plays on the mobile unit, because I felt this was the thing I wanted to be closely identified with, to ...
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In his search for a home for new American theater, producer Joseph Papp saved a historic building in "ruins" from demolition. It was once the Astor Library, which became the first free public library in New York, and had been converted into a place for ...
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Jason Fine first convinced his boss at Rolling Stone to let him cover Brian Wilson's burgeoning solo career in 1997. Since then, Fine and Wilson have enjoyed a lasting friendship.
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In this outtake from "American Masters—Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road," Brian Wilson stops at Hawthorne High School, his alma mater, where the current principal helps right a wrong in his grades.
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On January 17, 2001, actress and dancer Baayork Lee discussed landing her first role on Broadway at age 5, working with Richard Rodgers and other Broadway greats, and her passion for choreography. Interview conducted for Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds (2001), directed by Roger Sherman. Chapters: ...
This archival footage from 1966 shows Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys working on "Good Vibrations" in the studio. "Back at that time, there's a lot of upbeat, up-tempo songs but Brian brought in this haunting harmony," said producer and songwriter Linda Perry.
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See musical genius Brian Wilson at work producing his song, "Honeycomb." "Start with a background track, then you do the background vocals, then you do the leads," said Wilson of his process.
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From 1954 until his death in 1991, Joe Papp brought more theater to more people than any other producer in history. In his eyes, art was for everyone, not just a privileged few. “We have public libraries,” he would argue, “Why not public theaters?” Papp ...
