AMERICAN MASTERS

It's American Masters radio: the other AM, on the podcast dial. For this hour, 'Meet Carl Sandburg,' from NBC Radio's Biography in Sound series. This 1955 broadcast is a documentary in sound about the poet, author, musician, and historian, Carl Sandburg: all told through readings ...

Carl Sandburg's life was like a tall tale. Yes, Sandburg was only a man. But, his words were Paul Bunyan; his words were John Henry: impossibly real. For much of the 20th century, Sandburg was synonymous with the American experience, a spokesman and writer on ...

George Zimbel's photographs: Joe Dimaggio walking out on Marilyn Monroe. Zimbel was there on the street among several photographers to document what would become Monroe's most lasting image: a blowing white halter dress. More than the dress or the scene, Zimbel remembers a Joe Dimaggio ...

‘There is not one human problem that could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise.’ --- Gore Vidal, 1925-2012 BY TOM McNAMARA In 1960, there were buttons made that read: GORE VIDAL FOR CONGRESS. That kind of red and blue, postwar ...

Leif-Erik Nygards' one photograph of Marilyn Monroe. Nygards was an assistant to photographer Bert Stern. Following a shoot, Nygards asked for the privilege to take just one picture: he got more than he asked for.

Norman Mailer, author of 'Marilyn: A Biography,' reads an excerpt on identity. (Photos by Roy Schatt.)

Marilyn Monroe's relationship with playwright Arthur Miller in photos. (All photos by Sam Shaw.) Voices: Norman Mailer, Shaw family.

A silent short of Marilyn Monroe's 'Ballerina' outtakes. (Photos by Milton Greene.)

A silent short, developing a Marilyn Monroe photograph. (Photo by Roy Schatt.)

Sam Shaw's name isn't well known, but his photographs of Marilyn Monroe are. Here, Shaw's children reminisce about growing up around Monroe. Shaw was also the brainchild of the famous white halter dress shot from 'The Seven Year Itch.'