Ross in his prime. You wouldn't think a guy with hair like that would be such a cultural icon. In the 1920s, only one American city was the center of art and commerce: New York. And in that city, only one magazine kept track of it all: "The New Yorker." And in that magazine, only one person mattered: founder and editor Harold Ross. Ross was born November 6, 1892, in Aspen, Colorado, and soon developed printer's ink in his blood. By 13, he had dropped out of school to work at the Denver Post, and by 25 he had worked for six other newspapers, from San Francisco to Atlanta. During World War I, Ross' talents got him a job in Paris, editing the Army newspaper, "Stars and Stripes." His fellow staff members included drama critic Alexander Woollcott and New York columnist Franklin P. Adams -- both of whom would go on to play roles in Ross' plans. After the war, he settled in Manhattan, where he worked on those plans -- to create a weekly magazine that would analyze, comment on, and play a role in the cultural life of the city. It would not, Ross insisted, be a magazine for "the old lady in Dubuque." It would be sophisticated and urbane -- but not snobby. It had standards, but if a reader was witty or informed enough, he or she would be a member of the club. In the depths of the winter of 1925, the first issue of "The New Yorker" rolled off the presses. Despite some glitches, such as a joke ("Pop: A man who thinks he can make it in par. Johnny: What's an optimist, Pop?") that ran with the set-up and punchline reversed -- a error reprinted in every anniversary issue for years -- the magazine was an instant hit. In the decades since, it has come to be considered the gold standard of American magazines. That respect is due almost entirely to Ross. He personally edited virtually every word that appeared in every issue until his death in 1951, and, despite his own poor spelling, his meticulousness for precise grammar, clarity, and good writing attracted such notables as Vladimir Nabokov, John Updike, Ernest Hemingway, John Hersey, Ann Beattie, John Cheever, Roald Dahl, Alice Munro, John O'Hara, Philip Roth, J.D. Salinger, Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker, Irwin Shaw, Woody Allen, James Thurber, E.B. White (whose own prose style was crucial in setting the magazine’s voice and tone), and even Marlon Brando. But the literary aspect of "The New Yorker" was only part of the package. Each issue was filled with cartoons by artists like Charles Addams, Peter Arno, George Booth, Roz Chast, George Price, Saul Steinberg, William Steig, and Thurber again. So good were (and are) the cartoons, that many readers never get past them and are still satisfied they got their money’s worth. Despite Woollcott describing him as looking like "a dishonest Abe Lincoln," Ross' contributions to the culture of Manhattan and America are impossible to calculate. His sensibilities shaped the ways plays were written, movies received, and books were published, and it's almost impossible to imagine American -- and world -- culture without him. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Harold Ross - overview of Ross' life and career. The New Yorker - bringing the world to New York -- and vice versa -- since 1925. The New Yorker Cartoon Bank - pretty near every cartoon ever seen in the magazine, yours for the asking. Harold Wallace Ross - biography of The New Yorker's founder. Harold Ross: The History - the BBC takes a look at Ross and his magazine.

Directory categories: Harold Ross, The New Yorker, E.B. White, Magazines, Manhattan

Archived under: 1920s, Authors, Biographies, Birthdays, Cartoons, Journalism, Literature, Magazines, Media, New York, Society and Culture, The New Yorker

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npr.org I used to think that National Public Radio was something akin to that leafy green vegetable known as kale: a nutritional powerhouse, but bitter and to be avoided at all costs. And believe me, I’m a girl who loves her vegetables -- everything from beets to Bok Choy. It wasn't until one fateful, gridlocked morning that I stumbled across the lower end of the radio dial and discovered the magical world that is known as NPR, with its news stories that started with, "A hurricane hit the coast of Nicaragua today," and didn't immediately end, "In other news ..." There's "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered," and of course, the BBC World Service, where your news is spoon-fed to you by radio broadcasters with soothing British and Irish accents. NPR (which turns 38 this weekend) is also the only media outlet I'm aware of that runs "War of the Worlds"-type features on topics like "What if Marijuana Were Legal?" But even a news junkie can get tired of listening to the hundredth story about Bo Obama, so thankfully NPR has a sense of humor. There's NPR veteran Terry Gross, who interviews celebrities like "I Love You, Man's" Jason Segel about his love for puppets, or the feature "In Character," where "South Park's" Eric Cartman can give his answers to the Proust Questionnaire. But my personal favorite is Peter Sagal's playful banter on "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me!," where he asks well-known athletes, celebrities, and politicians questions about obscure topics. There's a lot to love about National Public Radio: the odd names, the passionate yet slightly-off fans, the way they treat pop culture with the same reverence that they deal with potential global pandemics. So go ahead and give it a try. You might be surprised to find you like it. But I'm still not eating kale. Suggested Sites... NPR News - get your news fix here -– no commercials! NPR Podcast Directory - podcast-a-palooza! Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me! - weekly news quiz program where you can guess the answers alongside the guests. Radio Sweethearts - blog for radio fans. Public Radio Fan.com - search for programs by name, station, or time.

Directory categories: National Public Radio, Radio News Programs, Talk Radio, NPR Programs

Archived under: Anniversaries, Birthdays, Entertainment, Game Shows, Humor, In Character, Internet Radio, Journalism, Journalists, Media, NPR, News, Podcasts, Radio

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Capone's vault was underneath his HQ, here, at the Lexington Hotel In 1986, television reporter Geraldo Rivera was a little down on his luck. The year before, he'd been fired by ABC for criticizing the network's decision to not air a story describing the romantic relationship between Marilyn Monroe and both Robert and John Kennedy. He was a respected reporter at this point, but his career was in a lull. Then Geraldo embarked on an opportunity that would dramatically alter the course of his career -- for better and for worse. On April 14th of that year, Rivera hosted a television special called "The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault." The program was based around the rumors that former mobster Al Capone had stashed a great treasure within the extensive catacombs beneath his Chicago headquarters at the Lexington Hotel. Geraldo planned on opening the long-sealed vault on live television and, along with his audience, discovering the hidden treasure held within. However, at the end of the two-hour special, the vault was opened to reveal nothing but dust and debris. An embarrassed Rivera awkwardly ended the show, and the special that had gathered so much hype went out with a whimper. Despite the anti-climactic ending, the special drew a huge audience and subsequently launched Geraldo into the stratosphere as the King of Trash Television. He would go on to host his outlandish eponymous talk show, "Geraldo," and later return to journalism (of a sort), bringing audiences all the melodrama of that particular brand of from-the-heart reporting that makes Geraldo "Geraldo." Suggested Sites... Geraldo.com - Geraldo's official site. Geraldo at Large - Geraldo's current show on Fox News. Al Capone Museum - photos, articles, and other stuff about Al Capone.

Directory categories: Geraldo Rivera, Al Capone, Real-Life Mystery, Talk Show Hosts, Journalism

Archived under: 1980s, Al Capone, Anniversaries, Archaeology, Celebrities, Chicago, Criminals, Entertainment, Flops, Hoaxes, Journalism, Journalists, Media, Mustaches, Mysteries, News, Organized Crime, Reality TV, Reporters, Scams, Secrets, TV, Talk Show Hosts, Treasure

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Tim Russert on "Meet the Press" (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) In a week of impressive and historic political news, it would be remiss of us if we didn't take note of two other notable political milestones. On this date in 1947, political talk show "Meet the Press" aired its first broadcast, which makes it the longest-running television show in history. But that happy anniversary is marred by the memory that, earlier this year, the program suffered a tragedy when longtime host, political junkie extraordinaire, and icon Tim Russert died of a heart attack at the age of 58. With its round-table discussion format and popular Sunday morning pundit placement, "Meet the Press" has for generations been a staple for any politician or public figure looking to make it on the national playing field. The 2008 Presidential campaign proved no different, as candidates of all stripes reaffirmed that taking their policies or platforms to the show's audience brings automatic awareness and credibility. With veteran newsman Tom Brokaw now at the temporary helm of the chatfest, the show exhibits its relevance (but not its age) every week; as recently as October, Brokaw's interview with Colin Powell garnered the show its highest ratings since 2004 (when George W. Bush visited during his bid for re-election), handily beating its weekend rivals, ABC's "This Week" and CBS's "Face the Nation" -- proof that the legacy of Lawrence E. Spivak and Russert is still vital. Buffalo's favorite son may no longer pursue his weekly quest for truth and answers, but the tradition -- and the tough questions to the people who matter -- lives on. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Meet the Press - a complete history of the show. Appreciation: Tim Russert - Time Magazine's memorial to the journalist and anchor. Meet the Press Video - video archive of interviews from the show. IMDb: Meet the Press - production information about the Sunday morning institution. Remembering Tim Russert - tribute to the late "Meet the Press" host from colleagues and admirers.

Directory categories: Tim Russert, Meet the Press, Political News Shows, News and Politics

Archived under: Anniversaries, History, Journalism, Journalists, News, Politics, Reporters, TV

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Will Rogers, 1879-1935 Today is Election Day (as you just might have heard somewhere). While the snarky thing might be to write about election screw-ups of the past, we couldn't help but notice that it's also the birthday of two of the most influential voices of the 20th century on American politics: Will Rogers and Walter Cronkite. From our 21st century vantage point, it may be hard to remember just how important these men were in their heydays. Rogers was born in 1879, and by 1902 had begun a show business career, which took him from rodeos to vaudeville to starring in the Ziegfeld Follies, From there, he branched into Hollywood (becoming the country's number-one box office draw), the most popular newspaper column in America, and radio, where his weekly show was the nation's top-rated program. Rogers's act consisted mostly of ad-libbed comments about the day's political events, and led to his 1928 mock campaign for president (though he might well have won a serious race). In 1935, at the peak of his popularity, he was killed in a plane crash, throwing the world into mourning. Cronkite may not have been as beloved as Rogers, but for decades, he was considered the "most trusted man in America." He closed his newscasts with "And that's the way it is ...," a statement that might have seemed presumptuous coming from another reporter, but given his background, avuncularity, and nonpartisanship, was the opposite of hyperbole. He led America through some of its greatest crises and triumphs, and through it all, his calm authority was so powerful that Lyndon Johnson declared that if he had "lost Cronkite" on Vietnam, he had lost middle America. So on this day that celebrates democracy, we salute two men who represent the best of what Americans can be. Suggested Sites... Will rogers.org - Will's official site, wuth biography, quotes. and information. Wikipedia: Walter Cronkite - biography of the former CBS anchorman. Walter Cronklite School of Journalism and Mass Communication - training the next generation of journalists. Yahoo! News: 2008 Presidential Election - follow the news and results. Vote 411.org - learn about the candidates' positions, find your polling place, and exercise your right to vote.

Directory categories: Will Rogers, Walter Cronkite, 2008 Presidential Election, United States Elections, Television Journalists

Archived under: Actors, American History, Biographies, Birthdays, Celebrities, Coincidence, Comedians, Cowboys and Cowgirls, Elections, Entertainment, Humor, Journalism, Journalists, Movies, News, Presidential Candidates, Reporters, TV, U.S. Elections, Walter Cronkite, Will Rogers

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