Search results for

James Avery is best known as Philip Banks, the wealthy uncle of Will Smith's character in the 1990s TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. But his work encompasses a broader range, from movies to voicing animation to his latest role in a California stage production of William Shakespeare's Othello.

"Boogie Blues" contains two minutes and one second of wonderful boogie-woogie, sung by a great jazz singer at a 1963 concert and never heard on record until now. Anita O'Day's Tokyo performance aired live on Japanese TV, then languished in the vaults.

Gene Wilder made his film debut as a kidnap victim in the 1967 Bonnie and Clyde. He is known for his work with Mel Brooks, in addition to the classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Wilder has written a new memoir, Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art.

In order to control what the Russian public knows about invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that imposes stiff sentences on journalists who air "false information."

On November 14, 1965 they were together at the site of the first and bloodiest major land battle of the Vietnam War, Ia Drang. Moore was in command of the 1st battalion of the 7th Cavalry, and Galloway, then a UPI reporter, accompanied them. Moore and Galloway wrote a book about their experiences in the Ia Drang valley, We Were Soldiers Once... And Young.(Random House) Its been made into a movie, We Were Soldiers, starring Mel Gibson. Galloway has a small part in the film. This interview originally aired on Nov. 11, 1992.

Imam Fawaz Damra was one of Cleveland's most respected religious leaders, building Ohio's largest mosque for a congregation of 5,000. But revelations about Damra's alleged ties to Islamic radical causes have raised doubts about him in the community. NPR's Juan Williams reports for Morning Edition. (8:22) (Please note the following correction to this report aired on Morning Edition on Jan. 30, 2002: "The leader of the Islamic Center of Greater Cleveland, Imam Fawaz Damra, wrote to clarify a story about him. Senior Correspondent Juan Williams indicated that Damra thought the Jewish community gave the media a videotape of Damra making anti-Semitic remarks. Damra writes that his criticism was not of the Jewish community overall, but rather of the Jewish Defense League. Damra also writes that he did not work closely with one of his critics in the story, Reverend Ken Chalker of the United Methodist Church. The story said that he had.").

Scientists have developed a new type of refrigeration system for Ben and Jerry's. It chills ice cream using sound waves, rather than with gases that may contribute to climate change. The "thermo-acoustic" chiller is a pricey prototype, but its creators hope the device can be produced for the commercial market. NPR's Robert Smith reports.

James Tobin is the author of a biography of World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle who was beloved by the public, the G.I.s and the generals alike. He witnessed the great American campaigns of the war -- North Africa, Sicily, Italy, D-Day, Normandy, the liberation of Paris, and Okinawa. Eleanor Roosevelt was a fan of his work, saying "I would not miss that column any day if I could possibly help it." Pyle was killed in Okinawa just three weeks short of the war's end. Tobin's book is Ernie Pyle's War: America's Eyewitness to World War II (published in 1988). Tobin's newest book, To Conquer the Air: The Wright Brothers and the Great Race for Flight has just been released in paperback. (Original airdate: 4/07/03) (This interview continues into the second half of the show.)

After more than 40 years, one of the most beloved and acclaimed children's stories is coming to the small screen. Madeleine L'Engle's Newbery Award-winning book A Wrinkle in Time is part science fiction, part coming-of-age novel. And it's been made into a TV movie which airs on ABC Monday night. NPR's Susan Stone reports.

Move over, Marshall Dillon and Miss Kitty: Homer and Marge are about to take over. The Simpsons will air for at least another two seasons, giving it 22 seasons on television. This means the animated satire will trump the record for longest-running prime-time series once held by the Western drama Gunsmoke.