ONCE MORE TO THE BEACH

One last weekend, one last summer -- remembered.

WONDERS, WondersThe AtticAugust 30, 2024Labor Day, Summer, Beach summer, Parenthood, Kids at the beach Comments

GRACIE FOR PRESIDENT

Before Hillary, before Kamala, the zany Gracie Allen threw her hat in the ring.

WITSThe AtticAugust 23, 2024Gracie Allen, Burns and Allen, George Burns, old radio shows, old radio, vaudeville, comedy, American comedy Comment

SPEAKING TRUTH TO TEXAS

Bold, brash and just so funny, Molly Ivins taught us to laugh at the powers that be.

WITSThe AtticAugust 15, 2024Molly Ivins, American politicws, American satire, Newspaper columnists, Molly Ivins' Comments

THE MAN WHO GREENED AMERICA

Central Park. Prospect Park. The Capitol grounds. Emerald necklaces. . . Frederick Law Olmsted spread greenery coast-to-coast.

HEROES, BUILDERSThe AtticAugust 8, 2024Frederick Law Olmsted, Central Park, New York City, Landscape architecture, environmental movement Comments

ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT BY ME

Near Vermont’s mountain of granite, quarrymen carved their dreams into stone.

BUILDERS, WONDERSThe AtticAugust 1, 2024Hope Cemetery, Barre, Barre vermont, Cemeteries, Italian immigrants Comment

THE MAPLE LEAF RAG

Nearly forgotten, Scott Joplin’s ragtime captured an era with its magical syncopation.

ART-ISH, COMEBACKSThe AtticJuly 26, 2024Scott Joplin, Ragtime music, Ragtime, Maple Leaf Rag, The Sting Comments

1969 -- DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR. . .

With “truth” up for grabs, one year responded with hoaxes, clever and convincing.

BATTLING THE B.S., WITSThe AtticJuly 19, 2024Naked Came the Stranger, The Masked Marauders, 1969, The Sixties, Hoaxes Comments

THE HYSTERICAL HISTORIAN

Historians are a dour lot, but Sarah Vowell looks at America with dark amusement. And that voice!

WITSThe AtticJuly 12, 2024Sarah Vowell, American history, Assassination vacation, NPR, This American Life, Ira Glass, American humor Comments

THE OTHER OPPENHEIMER AND HIS PALACE OF WONDER

One Oppenheimer brother fell but the other rose to spark a world of wonder.

TEACHERS, teachersThe AtticJuly 5, 2024Frank Oppenheimer, The Exploratorium, Science museums, Trinity test, J. Robert Oppenheimer Comments

WHEN THE TALL SHIPS SAILED

The Bicentennial was a bust — until the Tall Ships saved the day.

WONDERS, WondersThe AtticJune 26, 2024Tall Ships, Bicentennial, 1976, America's BIcentennial Comment

THE JEWEL OF THE SUMMER -- FREEDOM SCHOOLS

In a savage and sizzling summer, Mississippi’s Freedom Schools were beacons of hope.

TEACHERS, teachers & healers, TEACHERS & HEALERS, teachersThe AtticJune 21, 2024Freedom Schools, Freedom Summer, 1964, Mississippi, Civil Rights Movement Comments

MISSISSIPPI'S MOSES

As Freedom Summer’s 60th approaches, its architect stirs memories and awe.

HEROESThe AtticJune 12, 2024Bob Moses, Civil Rights Movement, Freedom Summer, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, Mississippi, Goodman, Schwerner and Chaney Comments

A BICYCLE BUILT FOR HER

During the 1890s, when bicycles were all the rage, women rode free. Not even a Victorian backlash could stop them.

WONDERSThe AtticJune 5, 2024bicycles, bicycle boom, 1890s bicycle boom, Amelia bloomer, women's history Comments

THE REAL RHIANNON

Part folkie, part music scholar, Rhiannon Giddens is a walking American songbook.

FOLKIESThe AtticMay 30, 2024Rhiannon Giddens, Carolina Chocolate Drops, American folk music, Folk music, banjo, banjo history Comments

THE MONUMENT TO HOPE

In the Massachusetts 54th, democracy and racial equality found new champions and a startling memorial.

HEROESThe AtticMay 23, 2024Shaw memorial, 54th Massachusetts, Memorial Day, Decoration Day, Shaw 54th memorial Comments

THE SIGNS, THE RAVE -- BURMA SHAVE!

Through Depression and war, America got a lift from a little shaving company and its roadside verse.

WITSThe AtticMay 17, 2024Burma-Shave, Advertising, Americana Comments