It Was 20 Years Ago Today

Originally written and recorded for April 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago, one of the biggest selling authors was romance novelist Danielle Steel.  I offer a min-biography of Ms Steel, and share my own experience of trying to write a romance novel, which as it happens was also almost exactly twenty years ago.Today's episode music is from "Romantic II," by Victor Stellar.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the tiny community of Saragosa was destroyed by a tornado.  I talk about that tornado, a little about tornadoes in general, and my own -- thankfully very limited -- experience of natural disasters.Today's episode music is from "Muertos," by Gringo Motel.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Coventry City won the FA Cup in a 3-2 extra time match against Tottenham Hotspur.  I talk a little about that special day, and the story of how I became a soccer fan.My favorite football teams all have websites too:  Portland Timbers, Fulham, and Cardiff City.Today's episode music is from "Purple Flipflops," by DJ Topshelf.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Originally written and recorded for January 26, 2007.  Twenty years ago, "Square One TV" made its debut on PBS.  This show was intended to help grade school kids learn math, but many adults -- myself included -- found it very entertaining as well.Among other fan sites on the Internet, one of the biggest is Square One TV.org.  There's a Livejournal community for Square One TV, also.Today's episode music is from "6 Is Lucky," by Hayfield.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Originally written and recorded for January 5, 2007.  Twenty years ago, C-SPAN 2 began broadcasting coverage of the United States Senate and other events on a 24/7 basis.  I take a look at some of the history of the C-SPAN channels, the reasons I like watching them, and a few interesting statistics about the channels and their viewers.Today's episode music is from "The Edge of Illusion," by DJ Topshelf.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Sunday, May 13, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Connecticut ratified a measure that would become the 27th Amendment to the Constitution.  I recount the fascinating history of this law, which was originally proposed over 200 years ago, and the strange turns of history around it before (and since) it became law.Today's episode music is "Terraform," by Aged Machine.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Saturday, May 12, 2007.  The final episode of "Hill Street Blues" went out over the NBC network twenty years ago today.  I talk about what made the show so groundbreaking, and some of my special memories of watching it.Today's episode music is "Open Ended," by Jeff Shields.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.After several months of painfully long hours on the day job coupled with minor illnesses that sapped my energy -- and my voice! -- this show marks the beginning of a new and much more regular run of shows.  Thanks to all of you who have stuck with me.  This is a great time to spread the word about the show, too!

Friday, May 4, 2007.  Twenty years ago, Candy Maldonado of the San Francisco Giants achieved one of baseball's rarest feats -- hitting for the cycle.  I talk about the 1987 Giants and my own thoughts about baseball.The Baseball Almanac website was a big help in preparing this episode.  Anything you might want to know about baseball history or statistics can very likely be found there.Today's episode music was "The Wood Between the Worlds," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For April 19, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the last wild California condor -- designated AC9 -- was captured and placed in a captive breeding program.  I talk about the condors, the captive breeding program and its results over the past twenty years, and my own history of trying to help endangered animals.The picture at the right is of AC9 himself, who was released back into the wild in 2002.  It was taken in 2005 by nature photographer Dave Wyman, and is used with his permission.Today's episode music is "Taking You There," by Jeremiah Fleming.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

This episode was written and produced for March 19, 2007.  Twenty years ago from that day, radio storytelling great Arch Oboler died.  I talk about Oboler and his work -- including a pair of clips from his most famous program, Lights Out -- and talk about the differences in audiences -- and producers -- between the "golden age of radio" and today.The picture of Arch Oboler to the right was painted by portrait artist Michael Bennett, and is used here with his permission.Theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Sunday, April 1, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, a town in Illinois instituted a new system of "sin taxes."  I explain how the system worked and how it's changed over the years.Today's episode was inspired by one of the stories on this webpage.Today's episode music is "Butt Quake," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, March 23, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, "The Bold and the Beautiful" premiered on CBS.  It's a soap opera that's still on the air today.  I talk about soaps in the 1980s and my brief excursions as a soap watcher, one of which was my introduction to a famous British soap, twenty years ago.Today's episode music is from "Oh Manyo," by Father Rock.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Thursday, March 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago this week, TV preacher Jim Bakker left his PTL ministry in disgrace amid allegations of both sexual and financial misconduct.  I talk about how Bakker and his then wife, Tammy Faye (pictured at the left) in some ways epitomized the culture of excess that permeated the 1980s.  I also share some personal thoughts about TV preachers.Today's episode music is from "Celestial Voices," by Commander Yo.  Theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Another "lost episode," this one written and recorded for December 28, 2006.  Twenty years ago, author John D. MacDonald (pictured at the right) died.  He wrote hundreds of novels and short stories in just about every genre, but was best known for a series of mystery-thrillers featuring beach bum/detective Travis McGee.  I talk about MacDonald and his career, as well as offer a confession about when I really started reading the Travis McGee books.Today's episode music is "8 Track SupaStar," by KCentric.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007.  Twenty years ago today was a Friday the 13th; it was also the heyday of the movie series bearing that title.  I share some information about the history of Friday the 13th in folklore and superstition, and then talk about why I really don't like slasher flicks.Today's episode music is from "Weapons of Mass SIDuction," by DJ Topshelf.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Monday, March 12, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, "Les Miserables" opened on Broadway.  I talk about the history of the production and how it has become a staple of the musical theater scene, and follow that up with some assorted thoughts on musicals, show tunes, and a somewhat strange fan of a particular musical.Today's episode music is "Overpopulation," by Flopsy Music.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, March 2, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Apple Computer introduced their newest computer, the Mac II.  I talk about that particular machine, compare the relative expense of top-of-the-line home computers then and now, and muse about the way technology has gotten progressively more powerful, yet less expensive.Today's music is "Press YES To Start Demo," by Aaron Derington.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.There's also a promo for Yog-Sothoth.com, a gaming website devoted to Call of Cthulhu.  They also do a delightful podcast, Yog Radio.If you're a podcaster and would like to swap promos, please email me!

Thursday, March 1. 2007.  [Almost caught up now!]Twenty years ago today, Western Airlines and Delta Airlines announced they would merge, effective in a month.  It was the latest example of change that had become the norm for the airline industry in the nine years since deregulation.  I talk about the merger and the state of the airline industry during this time.Episode music:  "See You In Seattle," by the Scottish Guitar Quartet.Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Monday, February 26, 2007.  [Still playing catch-up, just a little.]For the 50th (!!) episode of "It Was 20 Years Ago Today," we return to a subject we've visited before, and will again -- the Iran-Contra scandal.  On this day, the Tower Commission submitted a report on its investigations into the scandal.  It would be the first of many, which shared a common trait of often being difficult for the average person to follow.George Santayana (1863-1952) was the person who said, "Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."Today's episode music is from "Cyndi 2nd Draft," by Jeff Shields.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Sunday, February 25, 2007.  [Yes, we're running a couple days late, but I thought these episodes were worth posting anyway.]Twenty years ago today, police in Peru got an archaeologist out of bed to protect a tomb from grave robbers.  That tomb, of an ancient warrior priest called the Lord of Sipan, is still being explored and its artifacts (such as the ornament pictured to the right) recovered to this day.I also talk a little about how I developed an interest in archaeology and the ancient cultures of Central and South America.Today's episode music is from "Forgotten Man," by David Henderson.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.