On The Record

Did you know there was a 1902 Broadway production of "The Wizard of Oz." It was a smash hit and contributed to the 1939 classic movie. But as Record entertainment writer Jim Beckerman explains - the show had very little resemblance to the movie. In this episode of On the Record, Jim plays some of the songs from the musical, which had its roots in vaudeville.

Montclair author and journalist Jonathan Alter talks about the new HBO documentary he and two other film makers made on the life and careers of New York City columnist Pete Hamill and Jimmy Breslin. The film, "Breslin and Hamill - Deadline Artists" debuts on Jan. 28. Photo by Brian Hamill/Courtesy HBO.

Former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has been elected unanimously to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is the first player to be chosen unanimously in 75 years of balloting. In this episode of On the Record, Pete Caldera, who covers the Yankees for The Record, talks about why voting for Mariano was an easy choice. Record file photo by Tyson Trish.

Record entertainment reporter Jim Beckerman discusses this year's Oscar nominations in this episode of On the Record. Jim notes that the nominations present a mixed picture for women in film. The two films that scored the most nominations - The Favourite and Roma - both feature strong roles for women. But women directors did not fare as well. AP Photo.

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we replay this episode of On the Record that first aired in March 2018. King made his last public appearance in New Jersey when he gave a speech on March 27, 1968 at the Community Baptist Church in Paterson just days before he was assassinated in Memphis. In this episode, Record photojournalist Kevin R. Wexler talks with several Paterson residents who were there that day.

The Miracle on the Hudson, a 1963 Paterson school shooting and efforts to revive New Jersey's hard cider industry are all part of this week's "The Best of On the Record." The episodes includes conversations with Record reporters Ricardo Kaulessar, Catherine Carrera and Chris Maag plus an excerpt from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's State of the State speech.

This week marked five years since the death of Bergen County track star Madison Holleran. This seemed an appropriate time to re-issue an On the Record episode from January 2018 when ESPN writer Kate Fagan spoke to more than 500 people at the Ramsey High School auditorium. Fagan talked about her book "What Made Maddie Run". and the topic of teen anxiety. We also hear from Record sports columnist Darren Cooper. Record photo by Mitsu Yasukawa.

Record columnist Chris Maag talks about a May 1963 shooting at a Paterson School playground that drew a very different reaction that it would have today.

Record reporter Catherine Carrera talks about how a Rutgers University researcher is helping grow the apples needs for orchards to produce hard cider. In this episode of On the Record, we also talk with John Melick, one of the largest apple growers in New Jersey, whose family has been farming here for 300 years. Record photo by Chris Pedota.

Gov. Phil Murphy used his first State of the State speech to talk about a recent report that found problems with an economic development tax incentive program. In this episode of On the Record, political columnist Charles Stile offers his analysis of the speech. Record photo by Chris Pedota.