EXPLORE THE ATTIC

THE WONDERFUL WORDSMITH OF OZ

From Oz to the moon, Yip Harburg’s lyrics captured America’s hopes and dreams.

WITS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIES, ATTICATTHEMOVIESThe AtticOctober 12, 2023Yip Harburg, E.L. Yip Harburg, Wizard of Oz, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Finian's Rainbow Comments

MOWING STRAIGHT ACROSS IOWA

When his brother had a stroke, Alvin Straight headed across the Plains to see him. On a lawnmower. (As seen in “The Straight Story.”)

WONDERS, ATTICATTHEMOVIES, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticSeptember 29, 2023The Straight Story, Alvin Straight, Iowa, Great Plains, David Lynch Comments

MUSIC'S MASTER TEACHER

Classical was a bore until Leonard Bernstein aired his “Young People’s Concerts.” (As seen in “Maestro.”)

TEACHERS & HEALERS, teachers, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticApril 13, 2023Leonard Bernstein, Young People's Concerts, New York Philharmonic, classical music Comments

THE TYCOONS VS. THE NEWSBOYS

Hearst and Pulitzer refused to play fair, so the Newsies walked off the job. And won America’s hearts. (As seen in “The Newsies.”)

REBELS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESBruce WatsonMarch 1, 2023Newsies, The Newsies, Newsboys strike of 1899, Child Labor, American child labor, American labor Comment

THE STEAMER, "THE SHINING," AND THE STANLEY HOTEL

F.O. Stanley needed a place to die. Stephen King needed a plot. Together they haunt the Stanley Hotel. (As seen in “The Shining.”)

American Places, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticAugust 18, 2022Stanley Hotel, Steven King, Stephen King, The Shining, Colorado Comments

MOTHER OF THE BLUES

Ma Rainey sang, lived, and became the blues. But there was more to her than that “Slow, Drivin’ Moan.” (As seen in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”)

REBELS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticFebruary 24, 2022Ma Rainey, Gertrude "ma" Rainey, Blues music, 1920s, Black women, African-American history Comment

VIVIAN MAIER -- THE MYSTERY WOMAN WITH THE CAMERA EYE

It took years of detective work, to “find” Vivian Maier. What we found was the eye of a master. (As seen in “Finding Vivian Maier.”)

ART-ISH, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticOctober 28, 2021Vivian Maier, Photography, Street photogrphy, "Finding Vivian Maier" Comments

ALEX HALEY AND THE "ROOTS" REVOLUTION

It was another night in prime time, 1977, and then “Roots” broke the bonds of denial. (As seen in “Roots.”)

REBELS, BOOK-ISH, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticAugust 5, 2021Alex Haley, "Roots", "Roots" mini-series, slavery, history of slavery, "Roots: The Saga of an American Family", ABC Comment

"LUCKIEST MAN" -- THE GRACE OF LOU GEHRIG

When the “bad break” ended his career — and soon his life — he stepped up to the plate and showed true class. (As seen in “The Pride of the Yankees.”)

HEROES, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticJuly 2, 2021ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig, "Luckiest Man", New York Yankees, Baseball, Baseball lore Comments

WALKING NYC -- EVERY LAST INCH

Coast-to-coast? Done that. So Matt Green set out to walk New York. Every borough. Every street. Every pier and park. Eight years and 8,000 miles later. . . (As seen in “The World Beneath My Feet.”)

DREAMERS, WALKING AMERICA, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticMay 13, 2021Matt Green, The World Before Your Feet, Walking, NYC Comments

"NETWORK" -- STILL MAD AS HELL

“Network" did not predict populist anger -- it foresaw a network using anger to boost ratings. Sound familiar?

WITS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticApril 2, 2021Humor, Movies, Satire, TV Comments

JAIME ESCALANTE AND THE CALCULUS OF HOPE

Students called Jaime Escalante “Kimo.” He called them his “burros.” But the key to his success was ganas — the drive to succeed. (As seen in “Stand and Deliver.”)

teachers, TEACHERS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticFebruary 18, 2021Jaime Escalante, Teaching, Stand and Deliver Comments

THE LITTLE TRAMP AND HIS MASTERPIECE

Silent film was dead. Scandal tainted his career. His mother died. The Depression began. And Charlie Chaplin made “City Lights.”

WITS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticMarch 13, 2020Charlie Chaplin, Chaplin, "City Lights", 1920s, Silent movies Comments

M*A*S*H* -- THE MOVIE THAT SPOKE TRUTH TO WAR

A half century ago, Hollywood was still fighting World War II. Then came M*A*S*H.

REBELS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticFebruary 11, 2020M*A*S*H, Robert Altman, Vietnam War, 1970s moviesComment

HOW HARRY AND SALLY REVIVED ROMANCE

Divorce was in high season when two divorcees, director and screenwriter, took a chance on love — onscreen. Thirty years later, “When Harry Met Sally” remains “the greatest romcom of all time.”

ROMANCE, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticNovember 21, 2019"When Harry Met Sally", When Harry Met Sally, Rob Reiner, Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Nora Ephron, Romcoms, Romantic comedies Comment

HELEN KELLER'S MOMENT

Deaf, dumb, and blind, she lived “at sea in a dense fog.” And then her teacher came. (As seen in “The Miracle Worker.”)

Women, teachers, TEACHERS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticNovember 29, 2018Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, Deaf, Blind, Story of my life, The Miracle Worker Comments