It's September, my birthday month. I just wanted to let you know that I'll be taking a break to relax but also to work on new content for the podcast. I'm currently planning to return the first week on October though I might return a week or two earlier. Until then, take care.Von Natasha Nicolo

Send us a text In 1939, one of the greatest years in film history, Robert Donat upset some formidable competitors (Gable! Stewart! Olivier!) to win an Oscar for portraying a kindly teacher in GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS. This week I look at Donat's life and career, and give some reasons that he is not as well-remembered as he should be.…

Guest Georg Balandran returns with a ton of French Hawaiian records under his arms for all of us to enjoy. Part 2 of 2 SONGS: • Intro: Road to Hana / Mark Riddle / Lahaina Sunset • Song of the Islands / Danny Stewart / Song of the Islands • Swamp Fire / Tiki Paradise / Mysterious Safari of Tropical Melodies • Hawaii Nous Appelle / Gino Bordin / Le …

Guest Georg Balandran returns with a ton of French Hawaiian records under his arms for all of us to enjoy. Part 2 of 2 SONGS: • Intro: Road to Hana / Mark Riddle / Lahaina Sunset • Song of the Islands / Danny Stewart / Song of the Islands • Swamp Fire / Tiki Paradise / Mysterious Safari of Tropical Melodies • Hawaii Nous Appelle / Gino Bordin / Le …

Guest Georg Balandran returns with a ton of French Hawaiian records under his arms for all of us to enjoy. Part 1 of 2 SONGS: Intro: Road To Hana / Mark Riddle / Lahaina Sunset • Kona Love / Ida Brun / En Passant Par Hawaii • Une Hirondelle / Stephan Kubiak Et Są Guitare Hawaiienne / Aloha Oe • La Playa / Jan Marnia et sa Guitar Hawaiienne / Jan Ma…

Guest Georg Balandran returns with a ton of French Hawaiian records under his arms for all of us to enjoy. Part 1 of 2 SONGS: Intro: Road To Hana / Mark Riddle / Lahaina Sunset • Kona Love / Ida Brun / En Passant Par Hawaii • Une Hirondelle / Stephan Kubiak Et Są Guitare Hawaiienne / Aloha Oe • La Playa / Jan Marnia et sa Guitar Hawaiienne / Jan Ma…

Interested in learning about the artist, educator, and arts organizer who helped establish the South Side Community Art Center, Lake Meadows Art Fair, and DuSable Museum of African American History? Then my Margaret Burroughs Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources are available at https://medianoire.com/blog/margaret-burroug…

Send us a text This week The Best Actors explores the life and career of Spencer Tracy, who was the first lead actor win back-to-back Academy Awards for his performances in CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS and BOYS TOWN. You'll learn about his films, his struggles with many personal demons, his love affair with Katherine Hepburn, and his subtle acting style.…

Interested in learning about the poet and politician who helped establish the Négritude Movement, a philosophy of letting go of colonial-imposed self-hatred to take pride in the cultural and physical aspects of African heritage? Then my Aimé Césaire Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.co…

Send us a text THE BEST ACTORS explores the life and career of Paul Muni, one of the 1930's most respected performers. A veteran of the Yiddish theater, Muni disappears into his characters, including his Oscar-winning role in THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR. But is that a good thing? Let's discuss!Von Chuck Latovich

Interested in learning about the Black educator and activist who also worked to preserve buildings that are important to Black history? Then my Elizabeth Carter Brooks Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/elizabeth-carter-brooks. VISIT MY WEBSITE https://medianoire.com FOLLOW ME …

Send us a text Victor McLaglen, a member of John Ford's stock company, won his Oscar for his performance in the memorable movie, THE INFORMER. In this episode, I speak about McLaglen's globe-trotting life and career, which includes time as a muscleman and crossing paths with some historical personages.…

Interested in learning about the first Black American to win an Olympic gold medal? Then my John Baxter Taylor, Jr. Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/john-baxter-taylor-jr. VISIT MY WEBSITE https://medianoire.com FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m…

Send us a text Clark Gable's Oscar win for IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT made him the biggest male movie star of the 1930's. An avatar of masculinity, he showed a warmer, funnier side of his personality in the movie, which became a huge, word-of-mouth hit. In this episode, we'll hear about Gable's life and career and the women who helped him and loved him …

Interested in learning about the athlete who used losses and criticism as motivation to be herself and train harder, ultimately setting 100m and 200m records that still stand as of July 2024, making her the world's fastest woman 30+ years later? Then my Florence “Flo Jo” Griffith-Joyner Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources…

Send us a text In Oscar's sixth year, the Best Actor award went to a brilliant over-actor, Charles Laughton for the surprisingly comic THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII. Despite struggles with self-esteem and his sexual orientation, Laughton worked for decades for directors like Lean, Kubrick, and Hitchcock. And he may be best remembered for a movie t…

Interested in learning about the cowboy and amateur archaeologist who discovered the Folsom Archaeological site which contained extinct ice age bison fossils and spear points that showed Native Americans had been present in North America about 7,000 years earlier than previously believed? Then my George McJunkin Black History Facts profile is for y…

New Exotica from Mr Moai & the Tiki Heads, The Tiki Delights, Ixtahuele and yours truly. Plug mug release news and some great vintage tracks.Von DigiTiki

New Exotica from Mr Moai & the Tiki Heads, The Tiki Delights, Ixtahuele and yours truly. Plug mug release news and some great vintage tracks.Von DigiTIki

Send us a text At the fifth Academy Awards, a tie occurred in the Best Actor category for the first and only time. In this episode, we hear about Wallace Beery as THE CHAMP and his miserable disposition, and Fredric March's watershed performance in the DR. JECKYLL AND MR. HYDE.Von Chuck Latovich

Interested in learning about the activist who took on the New York City School system and was later branded a fugitive by the FBI and wrongfully convicted of kidnapping? Then my Mae Mallory Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/mae-mallory. VISIT MY WEBSITE https://medianoire.com …

Send us a text The fourth Best Actor winner was Lionel Barrymore, a member of an acting dynasty that extends from the early 19th century to the present. Barrymore won for his work in A FREE SOUL. In this episode, I look at Barrymore's performance and career, as well as the year's contest and why it's connected to peanut butter.…

Interested in learning about slavery in Lower Manhattan and its first slave market which was located on Wall Street? Then my New York City’s Slave Trading Past Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources are available at https://medianoire.com/blog/new-york-city-slave-trading-past. VISIT MY WEBSITE https://medianoire.com FOLLOW M…

Send us a text George Arliss, who acted in the grand tradition of 19th century theater, won an Oscar for DISRAELI. Arliss's victory was marked by a number of firsts. We'll discuss his performance, his competition, and many other aspects of his career.Von Chuck Latovich

I had a scheduling conflict and was unable to finish this week's episode on time. Combined with the holiday, I've decided to push back it's release to next week instead of delaying it a day. I'll be back next week (07/11/24) with a new episode. Until then, take care.Von Natasha Nicolo

Send us a text Warner Baxter donned a sombrero and Latino accent to portray the Cisco Kid, the role that won him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The performance has not aged well. In this episode, we'll explore a film industry in transition to sound, whom Baxter competed against, and other facets of his career.…

Interested in learning about "the Father of Rock and Roll" whose 1955 hit single “Maybellene” is regarded by many as being the first official rock ‘n’ roll song? Then my Chuck Berry Black History Facts profile is for you. Show notes and sources are available at http://medianoire.com/blog/chuck-berry. VISIT MY WEBSITE https://medianoire.com FOLLOW M…

Send us a text In this episode, we examine the career and Academy Award win of Emil Jannings, who won the first Best Actor Oscar for his work in THE LAST COMMAND and THE WAY OF ALL FLESH.Von Chuck