WNYC's Fishko Files

  1. Vast Wasteland2021/05/07
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  2. Empire State: Going Up2021/04/30

    Tomorrow, May 1st, marks the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Empire State Building . As WNYC's Sara Fishko tells us, the building's rise to its 102-story height is only one of the ways it towered over all the rest. More, in this episode of Fishko Files.

  3. Stanwyck & Co.2021/04/23

    In honor of this weekend's Oscars: WNYC's Sara Fishko with this Fishko Files from the archive, filled with the award-winning voices of some of the great women of Hollywood's Golden Age. (Produced in 2013)

  4. Poets' Voices2021/04/16

    In honor of April, National Poetry Month , WNYC's Sara Fishko asks the question: what's the connection between poets' speaking voices, and the poems they create? (Produced in 2012)

  5. Peter and the Wolf2021/04/09

    The celebrated children's tale with music, Peter and the Wolf - as WNYC's Sara Fishko tells us - was first heard in Moscow in the spring of 1936, an ominous time in the Soviet Union. Everywhere it went after that, it thrilled a listenership of kids. More, in this episode of Fishko Files .

  6. Bernstein, Made for TV2021/04/02
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  7. Sibling Harmony2021/03/26

    The tradition of siblings singing together is as old as song. WNYC’s Sara Fishko looks at brothers, sisters, and sibling harmony in this edition of Fishko Files . (Produced in 2001)

  8. Changes2021/03/19

    A hundred years ago, as WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us, a popular song appeared at a time similar to our own - when people desperately wanted to 'move on' from crisis. In this episode of Fishko Files , the unsentimental resolve of the song "There’ll Be Some Changes Made."

  9. Michael Rabin2021/03/12

    Michael Rabin , who lived from 1936 to 1972, was a midcentury, classical music phenomenon - a genuine violin prodigy, concertizing as a teenager and, later, stumbling in his career and his life. In this archival Fishko Files , WNYC's Sara Fishko talks to Itzhak Perlman to sort out Rabin's tragic story and his phenomenal playing. (Produced in 1999)

  10. James M. Cain2021/03/05

    James M. Cain 's novel The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934) was adapted for the movies seven times. The most celebrated version was released 75 years ago, when Cain was on a roll - with three film adaptations made from his books in quick succession in the mid 1940s. WNYC's Sara Fishko and guests investigate the appeal of Cain's film noir-friendly style. (Produced in 2011)

  11. A Samuel Barber Classic2021/02/26
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  12. The Chopin Paradox2021/02/19

    The composer Frédéric Chopin , whose first published music appeared about two hundred years ago in the 1820s, eventually wrote hundreds of piano pieces, many of them memorable and popular. The musical influences that struck him along the way are considered by WNYC's Sara Fishko and guests in this edition of Fishko Files . (Produced in 2017)

  13. Jacqueline Kennedy's White House2021/02/12

    On Valentine's Day 1962, in the simpler days of television, all three networks aired a now-celebrated tour of the White House led by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy . A stunning number of Americans tuned in and took notice, as WNYC's Sara Fishko tells us in this archival Fishko Files . (Produced in 2012)

  14. Message Pictures2021/02/05
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  15. Alex North (1910-1991)2021/01/29

    Composer Alex North was best known for his sharp and observant film scores, including the iconic music for "A Streetcar Named Desire" - but his music always spoke for itself. 30 years after his death, WNYC's Sara Fishko looks at one of Hollywood's most modest citizens. (Produced in 2012)

    Our interviewee and North's good friend, composer and teacher George Burt, died in 2015.

  16. Chayefsky2021/01/22

    It's 45 years since the film Network had its premiere. It seemed pretty far out in its time - but now seems remarkably prescient, thanks to the writing by Paddy Chayefsky , the subject of this archival Fishko Files . (Produced in 2006)

  17. MLK: 2 Films2021/01/15

    Today, the new documentary film MLK/FBI is available to screen. As WNYC's Sara Fishko tells us, it's a dark and revealing update to civil rights movement history. That, and an older Dr. King film, are the subjects of this edition of Fishko Files .

    MLK/FBI is out today in select theatres and on VOD. King: A Filmed Record...Montgomery to Memphis is available to rent or buy.

  18. Man with a Movie Camera2021/01/08

    It's 125 years since the birth of Dziga Vertov , the Russian documentary film and newsreel director. That's a good excuse, says WNYC's Sara Fishko, to look at his remarkable and pioneering 1920s film Man with a Movie Camera , the subject of this Fishko Files . (Produced in 2011)

    Man with a Movie Camera is streaming on Kanopy and Vudu and available to rent or buy on Amazon .

  19. Life of the Party2021/01/01

    In this last gasp of 2020, we face a New Year's without parties - unless you count the ones in this Fishko Files episode, composed of party scenes from movies over the last many decades. (Produced in 2016)

  20. Ida Lupino2020/12/25

    The actress, director, and film business pioneer Ida Lupino 's 1950 film "Outrage" has been added to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry. To celebrate, we bring you this Fishko Files meditation on her life and work. (Produced in 2010)

  21. Fantasia at 802020/12/18

    80 years ago, in the dark fall of 1940, just before World War II, Walt Disney’s classical music film Fantasia opened across America. WNYC’s Sara Fishko and guests explore its ups, downs, and in-betweens in this episode of Fishko Files .

    Fantasia is now streaming on Disney Plus .

  22. Film Noir2020/12/11

    Any time the nights get long, cold, and a little ominous, film noir comes to mind. Here's this Fishko Files with WNYC's Sara Fishko and the "Tsar of Noir" Eddie Muller. (Produced in 2004)

  23. An Hour with Dave Brubeck (Centenary)2020/12/04

    This Sunday is the Dave Brubeck centenary - the late, celebrated jazz player was born December 6th, 1920. WNYC's Sara Fishko had a memorable time talking with Brubeck back in 2004, resulting in this program, "An Hour with Dave Brubeck," filled with his reflections and recordings.

  24. Stuff Smith2020/11/27

    Violinist Stuff Smith : Once you hear his fabulous, swing-era playing, it's hard to forget. WNYC's Sara Fishko and guests celebrate Smith in this Fishko Files. (Produced in 2017)

  25. JFK and TV (2020)2020/11/20

    In the last many months, television has been our WFH window into a disastrous pandemic as well as a deeply divisive presidency. In this special edition for On the Media , WNYC's Sara Fishko takes us back to November 22nd, 1963 - the Friday before Thanksgiving, when the medium was feeling its way, for the first time, through a devastating tragedy. (Produced in 2001)

  26. Andre!2020/11/13
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  27. Shrinks on Screen (2020)2020/11/06

    In this fraught time, when truth and reality are warped beyond recognition, we could all use someone to talk to. WNYC's Sara Fishko has more in this Fishko Files . (Produced in 2002)

    The Criterion Channel serves up a bevy of films about therapists and patients this month in their series Frame of Mind: Psychiatry on Screen .

  28. Scary Music2020/10/29

    In our unsettled moment, people will find ways to mark an unusual Halloween this weekend. It's a time when music - scar y music - comes to mind, as WNYC's Sara Fishko tells us in this episode of Fishko Files .

    Psycho is streaming on Amazon Prime, and Rosemary's Baby airs on Showtime on Monday, November 2. Get Out is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime.

  29. An Hour with Ned Rorem2020/10/23

    Composer Ned Rorem turns 97 today. In this hour from the archives, Rorem and Fishko share a long, winding conversation illustrated with plenty of his music, as well as some by those he admires - and those he doesn't. (Produced in 2002)

    For a feast of Fishko programs on music and culture, visit Fishko Hours .

  30. Two American Dramas2020/10/16

    Two dramas start streaming today, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and What the Constitution Means to Me . Looking at both, WNYC's Sara Fishko finds connections and commonality, in this episode of Fishko Files .

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix) and What the Constitution Means to Me (Amazon Prime) are now streaming.

  31. Two Pianists and a Painter2020/10/09

    Thelonious Monk was born October 10, 1917. WNYC's Sara Fishko looks at Monk, Glenn Gould, and Vincent van Gogh - and how their brilliant gifts mixed with their personal myths and mysteries. (Produced in 2017)

  32. Pre-Dean Teens2020/10/02

    This week marks 65 years since the death of James Dean , film's "first American teenager." WNYC's Sara Fishko digs up the roots of the teen in movies in this archival Fishko Files . (Produced in 2005)

  33. Concert Piece2020/09/25

    In this time of empty concert halls and virtual performances, WNYC's Sara Fishko is turning her attention to music with an audience, in this episode of Fishko Files .

  34. Frank Stella2020/09/18

    Sometimes artists, seeking inspiration, find it in the very thing that challenges and haunts them most. Here, WNYC’s Sara Fishko talks with visual artist Frank Stella about some very productive pain. (Produced in 2011)

  35. Three Critics2020/09/11

    A few years ago, a rash of books written by arts and entertainment critics inspired WNYC's Sara Fishko to talk to some of the critics/authors about the critical impulse. (Produced in 2006)

  36. Guthrie Archive2020/09/04

    The Woody Guthrie archive is filled with riches, including some related to "This Land is Your Land," written 80 years ago. WNYC's Sara Fishko visited Woody's daughter, Nora, for a journey through a bit of Guthrie history in this archival Fishko Files , produced for his centenary in 2012.

  37. Hill of Beans, Etc.2020/08/28
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  38. The 'Indoor Man' and His Playmates2020/08/21
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  39. The Personal and the Political (2020)2020/08/14
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  40. Hazel Scott As Herself2020/08/07

    Pianist and singer Hazel Scott was born in Trinidad a century ago, in the summer of 1920. Scott is well-remembered for her sparkling piano technique, as well as her style - but her biography reveals a powerful character with a rich and layered life behind the glamour. More in this archival Fishko Files. (Produced in 2009)

  41. The Great de Havilland2020/07/30
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  42. Jon Hendricks (2020)2020/07/24

    Annie Ross , the singer and actress who died t his week at 89, was one-third of the phenomenally successful jazz vocal group Lambert Hendricks and Ross . Its heady days of success, as well as Ross herself, were recalled by the late Jon Hendricks - who spoke with WNYC's Sara Fishko in this archival edition of Fishko Files . (Produced in 2011)

  43. Harlem Renaissance2020/07/17
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  44. Jazz Soundtrack (2020)2020/07/10

    Composer and arranger Johnny Mandel died last Monday at the age of 94. In the sixty years prior, he gave us standards such as “Emily” and “The Shadow of Your Smile,” and ushered in an era of jazz-inflected movies with his 1958 score for the film “I Want to Live.” WNYC’s Sara Fishko spoke to him about that period in this archival Fishko Files , produced in 2008.

  45. John Levy, Jazz Master2020/07/03

    This archival Fishko Files was produced in 2006 - the year musician and manager John Levy was given the prestigious title of "Jazz Master" by the National Endowment for the Arts. His profound impact on music could be seen in many forms, and for many decades. Levy died in January 2012, just three months shy of his 100th birthday.

  46. Three Jazz Works2020/06/26
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  47. Capturing Cohn2020/06/18
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  48. Miss Lonelyhearts2020/06/11
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  49. Strange Fruit2020/06/05

    20 years ago, a book by David Margolick reminded us of the power of a historic song about lynching, Strange Fruit - made famous by the great Billie Holiday. As Americans march against systemic racism , this archival Fishko Files with Lena Horne and others on the song that some say changed the world. (Produced in 2000)

  50. See For Yourself2020/05/29

    After the opening of the September 11th Memorial and Museum, record-breaking crowds traveled to Ground Zero, to the exact spot where the tragedy happened. In this archival edition of Fishko Files , WNYC's Sara Fishko asks - why?

Fishko Files
https://www.wnyc.org/shows/fishko
From WNYC, New York Public Radio, join WNYC's cultural attaché Sara Fishko for her personal radio essays on music, art, culture and media.