Where Have You Gone?

In 1980, Howard Rodman was honored with the prestigious Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement by the Writer’s Guild of America. Writing for radio, television, and film, Rodman spanned the late days of the Golden Age of Radio, through the infancy of television, to the early age of the TV showrunners. His fine writing impacted shows from Naked City and Route 66 to Harry O. His passion is reflected in his writing and much of it can still be enjoyed today.

Featuring Adam Rodman, an award-winning screenwriter and Howard’s son.

Even if you don't know of Jack Webb, you will likely recognize the iconic four notes (dum, da dum dum) that begin the theme of his most famous creation, Dragnet. From its radio premiere in 1949 to television to film, Dragnet has been with us and remains with us today. But there is much more to Jack Webb than Dragnet and his character, Sgt. Joe Friday. His other work may not be as easily recognized as Dragnet, but fortunately it is still largely available to us today.

Featuring Dan Moyer, author of Just the Facts, Ma'am

During the second half of the 20th century, Jack Warden evolved into an award-winning actor and made his mark on stage, television, and film. An Emmy Award winner and twice nominated for an Academy Award, Warden worked with great writers and directors, in particular Rod Serling and Sidney Lumet. In portrayals from Juror #7 in 12 Angry Men to Luke and Roy L. Fuchs in Used Cars, Warden had a career worth remembering.

Featuring Academy Award nominated screenwriter and producer Bob Gale, co-writer of Used Cars and the Back to the Future trilogy.

The five-tool player is usually applied to a baseball player who can hit, hit for power, run, field, and throw, but National Public Radio has applied the term to the legendary entertainer Nat King Cole. Mary McCann wrote that Cole was originator of the guitar/bass/piano trio format, an influential pianist, a barrier-breaker between jazz and popular music, and a multimedia superstar. Songs such as “Straighten Up and Fly Right”, “Nature Boy”, “Get Your Kicks on Route 66,” “Unforgettable” and “The Christmas Song” are the tip-top of a musical legacy we can still enjoy today on CDs, albums, and YouTube. Cole has also been called the Jackie Robinson of television. He has been gone over 50 years, but his music and other accomplishments can still entertain and inspire us today.

Featuring Nick Vega, curator of This is Nat King Cole, a Grammy Museum Exhibition

From June 30, 1909 to June 28, 1970, Forbes Field was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it was much more than a baseball place. There was football, boxing, and religion. It was the key location for President Dwight D. Eisenhower's favorite film. Today, decades after the park was demolished, it remains a popular destination and historic on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Join us for a trip to Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood to ask, where have you gone, Forbes Field.

Featuring Greg Brown, Play-By-Play Announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates

The series of novels written by Mark Harris, featuring Henry Wiggen, has been called "the greatest achievement in the canon of baseball fiction." His masterpiece, Bang the Drum Slowly, has been adapted for television, film, stage, and audio theater. The baseball writings of Mark Harris are but one aspect of a varied career as a decidedly liberal, literary voice. Henry Wiggen is immortal, but where has the rest of the work of Mark Harris gone?

In 1956, Simon & Schuster published The Fireside Book of Baseball, edited by Charles Einstein. With subsequent volumes published in 1958 and 1968, the "Fireside" books became among the most indispensable of any baseball library, long before the fourth volume was published in 1987. Between the third and fourth volumes, Einstein wrote Willie's Time, a memoir far more than a baseball book and a Pulitzer Prize finalist. He wrote for radio, TV, and film. His novel, The Bloody Spur, is the source for the film noir classic While the City Sleeps. Son of a vaudeville comedian, and half-brother of Albert Brooks & Bob Einstein (aka Super Dave Osborne, Charles Einstein is gone, but not forgotten.

Featuring Wallace Stroby, author of the crime novel Some Die Nameless

Rod Serling is gone, but not forgotten by anyone who watches The Twilight Zone on television, DVD, or streaming media. But The Twilight Zone is just one aspect of his brilliant career. Less well known is Serling's work in the Golden Age of Television and his notable work after The Twilight Zone. Learn about these aspects of Serling's career and how they can be enjoyed today.

Featuring Nick Parisi, author of Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination

Featuring Paul Bonesteel, writer and director of The Day Carl Sandburg Died

When Carl Sandburg died in 1967, Norman Corwin said Sandburg had as much chance of being forgotten as Lincoln. In fact, his legacy suffered and he has been far too much forgotten. But, Sandburg and his words are still used in the 21st Century, from the World Series to the Wall Street Journal. Learn why Sandburg is still important and how his work can be enjoyed today.