The Bob Edwards Show, May 14-18, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012: In the fall, the Dance Theatre Of Harlem (DTH) will begin its first professional tour since it lost funding in 2004. Bob talks to the company’s Artistic Director, Virginia Johnson, about the past and future of the predominantly black ballet company. Then, Misty Copeland began ballet classes at age 13, ten years later than most aspiring ballerinas. Today, at the acme of her career, Copeland is 29 years old and the first black woman in the American Ballet Theatre. Bob talks to Copeland about being a prima ballerina and her sixteen years in the world of swans.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012: Bill Veeck was born into baseball. His sportswriter father became president of the Chicago Cubs, and Bill later worked for owner Phil Wrigley, rebuilding Wrigley Field to achieve the famed ambience that exists today. In his late twenties, he bought into his first team, the American Association Milwaukee Brewers. He later bought the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns and the Chicago White Sox. In 1947, Veeck signed Larry Doby, the American League’s first black player. A year later, he signed the legendary black pitcher Satchel Paige, who helped win the 1948 World Series—Cleveland’s last championship to this day. Bob talks to Paul Dickson about his book Bill Veeck: Baseball’s Greatest Maverick.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012: Today would have been Studs Terkel’s 100th Birthday. We bring back Bob’s interview with Terkel to honor his centenary. Bob reminisces with Terkel about his career as a writer, broadcaster, oral historian and story teller.
Thursday, May 17, 2012: “Criss-crossing the continent, renowned geneticist Bryan Sykes provides a groundbreaking examination of America through its DNA.” Then, in Tucson, Mexican American high school students are very likely to drop out before they graduate. But, students enrolled in the Mexican American Studies Program don’t just graduate – they go on to attend college. A new film in the PBS series Independent Lens follows several students in that program. Precious Knowledge tells the stories of these teenagers against the backdrop of new anti-immigration laws in Arizona and other states. Eren Isabel McGinnis directed Precious Knowledge, which features Alanna Castro, among other students.
Friday, May 18, 2012: Doyle McManus, Washington columnist for the Los Angeles Times joins Bob to discuss the latest political news. Next, Mitch Ryder was the leader of the rock group Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, and had hits including “Devil with a Blue Dress On” and “Sock It to Me Baby.” After achieving pop success he descended into addiction and bankruptcy – and lived to tell about it. He has a new memoir out, as well as an album called The Promise. Then, in this week’s installment of our ongoing series This I Believe, we hear the essay of Jessica Paris. Summer is fast approaching – the season of taking a break, cutting yourself some slack, and indulging in a little R-and-R. Paris says we should just say no to those impulses. She says she is not a puritan or a miser, but in a world of bounty, choices have to be made. Paris doesn’t believe we satiate our desire by feeding it any more than we do by depriving it. And sometimes deprivation leads to greater satisfaction than indulgence.