After Hours with Rick Kogan

Rick Kogan visits with Tom Crane, author of Pat’s Tavern, a collection of essays, poems and stories based on his memories of growing up in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood in the 1930’s and ’40’s.  Crane talks about finding the inspiration to start writing these stories and studying composition under legendary director Sheldon Patinkin; he also recounts stories featuring Sam Giancana, Robert Conrad and more.  

Author Marcus Sakey stops by After Hours for a talk on his latest book Written in Fire, the last installment in his Brilliance series.  He discusses the challenge of telling (and closing out) a story over three parts, his long career and standalone works, transitioning from advertising to creative writing and Chicago as a creative backdrop for his work.  

Rick Kogan visits with Peter Garino, Charles Stransky, Kendall Zwillman and Ashley Wickett of the Shakespeare Project of Chicago; they discuss the project’s latest production of “Cymbeline” starting February 26 at the Niles Public Library and their collective passion that drives them to keep Shakespeare’s work relevant; they also set the mood for Valentine’s night with readings of a few of the playwright’s romantic sonnets.  

Chinese Fine Arts Society president Julie Ma joins Rick Kogan to preview this year’s Chinese New Year celebration events.  She talks about the effort from the mayor’s office to make Chicago’s Chinese New Years events the biggest in the country, welcoming Jackie Chan’s hand-picked troupe of martial artists, what to expect from the Year of the Monkey, and more. Chinese Fine Arts’ Young Artist Award-winning cellist Jack Boettcher also provides some live music, and explains why Chinese music resonates with […]

Rick Kogan talks with veteran writer John Schulian about his latest project, his first novel, A Better Goodbye, a tale of suspense set in seedy modern-day Los Angeles.  They also discuss his long career covering boxing and football, Schulian’s thoughts on Mike Ditka 30 years after Super Bowl XX, and his foray into screenwriting courtesy of Steven Bochco.    

WFMT Radio Network Director of Syndication Tony Macaluso joins Rick Kogan to talk about his crowdfunding campaign for the Studs Terkel Radio Archive, with the goal of making over 45 years of Terkel’s radio interviews and discussions available to the public.  Macaluso talks about the benefits of having this material readily accessible, the importance of hearing history as opposed to reading it, some of Studs’ memorable conversations, and more.

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Chris Vallillo joins Rick Kogan to talk about his latest album Oh Freedom!: Songs of the Civil Rights Movement.  They discuss music as a tool for social change, how Vallillo first got turned on to civil rights issues, the stories behind some of the songs on the album, and more.  

Rick Kogan leads a discussion on the 1993 classic “Groundhog Day” with some insight from Woodstock native and crowd-scene extra Rick Bellairs; groundhog handler Mark Szafran of Animal Rentals shares some facts on the creature’s behavior; “Ned Ryerson” himself Stephen Tobolowsky talks about his memories of the film and casting process and late director Harold Ramis shares a few words on the film’s reach. For more info on Woodstock’s Groundhog Days event, visit WoodstockGroundhog.org.  

Rick Kogan spends the last After Hours of 2015 with some philosophical thoughts on the bittersweet nature of ending the year and beginning a new one, courtesy of songs and poems from Dylan Thomas, Ella Fitzgerald, Fred Holstein, Mary Oliver, Nina Simone, The Roche Sisters, and Danny Kaye.  

Rick Kogan welcomes founder/publisher Victor David Giron and editor-in-chief Naomi Huffman of Curbside Splendor Publishing, one of Chicago’s leading independent book publishers.  They discuss the label’s beginnings as a punk rock outfit Giron played with in college, the challenges and rewards of hands-on, local publishing and some of the notable works published under the Curbside banner.