Fishko Files

In 1976, Garrett Brown became an inventor and, as WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us, changed the face of movies. He and his invention, the Steadicam, are being honored at a film series starting tomorrow. More in this edition of Fishko Files…

The Film Society of Lincoln Center series "Going Steadi: 40 Years of Steadicam" starts tomorrow at the Walter Reade Theater. For tickets and more information, visit filmLINC.org.

With the new film Jackie now in theaters, we offer this Fishko Files, documenting the 1962 Valentine’s Day broadcast of the then-First Lady’s White House Tour. As WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells us, a stunning number of Americans tuned in to the program - and gained a greater interest in both Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy and the Presidential residence. (Produced in 2012)

WNYC’s series Dear President: What You Need to Know About Race has invited contributions from others at WNYC. In this edition of Fishko Files, Sara Fishko and guests consider the impact of what we say, and how we say it.

Greg Howard and other guests join host Rebecca Carroll tonight for Dear President: What You Need to Know About Race live in the Greene Space.  For details, visit Dear President at WNYC.org.

In the days following September 11th, television united Americans as it had few times before. In this special edition for On the Media, WNYC's Sara Fishko takes us back to November 22nd, 1963 - the Friday before Thanksgiving, when the medium was feeling its way, for the first time, through a devastating tragedy. (Produced in 2001)

Ten years ago, musician-turned-manager John Levy was named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts. As a bassist he jammed, played and recorded with Ben Webster, George Shearing, Billie Holiday, Art Tatum and many other greats. But later, Levy took his love of jazz and applied it to the business side of music: he became the first African-American jazz artist manager.

Levy's work as a musician gave him an “insider’s” understanding of the music business, as WNYC's Sara Fishko tells us in this edition of Fishko Files. (Produced in 2006)

In the face of the election news, we offer a piece about great music - the 32 piano sonatas by Beethoven. Mitsuko Uchida says one remarkable “draw” of Beethoven’s music was its spirit, and the "unbelievably optimistic spirituality" it possessed.

"When you are stuck in hell, you look up," she says. "He makes you look up."

More in this edition of Fishko Files. (Produced in 2006)

110 years after the birth of movie director Billy Wilder, his memorable film moments live on in popular culture. Ace in the Hole, Wilder's dark 1951 film about a journalist exploiting a tragedy to benefit his own career, was a major flop in its time - but its bitter, cynical themes may be more relevant than ever in today's entertainment landscape. (Produced in 2006)

Since this edition of Fishko Files originally aired, Ace in the Hole has been made available for rental and purchase via the Criterion Collection, Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and VUDU.

Sometimes, music you hear in your youth has a special power. For pianist Angela Hewitt, it was Bach. WNYC’s Sara Fishko looks at that fruitful connection between pianist and composer, in this edition of Fishko Files. (Produced in 2002)

Angela Hewitt begins Bach Odyssey, a four-season-long exploration of Bach's keyboard works, tonight at 92Y. For tickets and more information, visit www.92Y.org.

Whether it's drama (Masters of Sex, Mad Men) or comedy (Silicon Valley, The Office), the workplace regularly pops up as a setting on television. It's less common, however, to see our working lives on the silver screen.

WNYC's Sara Fishko examines how this part of daily existence is portrayed on film, in this edition of Fishko Files. (Produced in 2006)

Just over 60 years ago, a now-famous classical concert turned into a musical battleground - with very instructive results. WNYC’s Sara Fishko tells the story in this edition of Fishko Files. (Produced in 2006)