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AADL Talks to Jack Stubbs
In this candid interview, Jack Stubbs, veteran Ann Arbor News photographer (1968-1996), paints a colorful portrait of the life of a newspaper photographer during the pre-digital era of journalism. He discusses tricks of his trade and recalls the creative ways he got the shot. Jack talks about the work of his fellow "shooters" during this period, and about some of the other News photographers he admired, notably Eck Stanger. Stubbs' assignments ranged from city and college sports to crime scenes and weather disasters, and he covered most of Washtenaw County's major events of the era, including Ann Arbor's June 1968 flood; the marches and protests at the end of the 1960s; the Coed murders and trial of John Norman Collins.
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AADL Talks To Heritage Business Owner David Vogel of Vogel's Lock & Safe
Four generations of Vogels have been giving Ann Arbor what they want and need since 1913, changing the business with the tastes and tempo of life in the town. We talked to David Vogel, the 3rd generation of Vogel's Lock & Safe, who retired and handed over the business to the 4th generation, Rob and Denise Vogel, some years back. Dave has done a lot of research on the family's coming to Ann Arbor area over a hundred years ago and has collected a trove of documents, photos and family stories and shares them with us in this podcast.
The Vogel's began fixing, building and re-building "anything and everything mechanical" that farmers and businesses brought to the shop. Dave gave us a tour of the building's back rooms that house some of the equipment used back then and we've put a selection of those images up with the podcast. The business eventually changed to safes and locks and Dave talks about the "dividing line" in the 1960s, when the townspeople and students at the University of Michigan began asking for locks and deadbolts instead of sporting goods and bicycles. Dave has some interesting stories to tell about raids with the FBI and opening safes with the U.S. military.
The family is one of the older Ann Arbor "townies" and Dave keeps up with the other families that built the businesses, homes and neighborhood that define Ann Arbor. Dave talks about hunting where Pioneer High School now sits, living through World War II in Ann Arbor and the way local heritage businesses still depend on each other for support and growth.
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AADL Talks To Veteran Ann Arbor News Reporter Bill Treml
Bill Treml spent forty years at the Ann Arbor News working the police beat--"chasing cops and robbers," as he puts it. In that time he saw and reported on many of the stories we remember: the Coed Murders of John Norman Collins, UFO sightings, a bank robbery in Ypsilanti that left one police officer dead. Much of what we remember we remember from what he wrote. We got a chance to talk to Bill about some of those stories and what kept him at it through all those years. Treml's self-effacing manner cannot hide the fact that he went places most of us have never gone and witnessed things most of us never want to see. He stood in mud in his pajamas at murder scenes. He chased down paddy wagons. He took a front row seat to riots. He sat across the table from one of the worst serial killers in Michigan's history. Treml shared his stories of years as a reporter and told us what it takes to be a great reporter in any age of news reporting.
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AADL Productions Podcast: Lois Lowry, Literary Giant
During a recent visit to Ann Arbor, author Lois Lowry sat down with us for a brief discussion of her work. She's written over 35 books for children and young adults, amassing countless awards and recognitions along the way. She's twice been awarded prestigious Newbery Medals for the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children, in 1990 for Number the Stars and in 1994 for The Giver. Ms. Lowry discusses her long-standing connection with Ann Arbor, answers questions submitted via Facebook about her writing, and gives us a jaw-dropping sneak peek into her upcoming project.
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AADL Productions Podcast: Donald Harrison on the 49th Ann Arbor Film Festival
In this episode, Donald Harrison, then executive director of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, talks about the 49th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival. Donald highlights several programs, including some of the free public events, family events, special programs and opening night celebrations. Donald also talks about the jury process and gives a preview of the 50th anniversary, which took place the following year in 2012.
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AADL Productions Podcast: Brian Wecht of The Story Collider
Brian Wecht is a postdoctoral researcher in theoretical particle physics as the University of Michigan. He is also, along with particle physicist-turned-storyteller Ben Lillie, the creator of The Story Collider, a project that aims to get people telling stories about science in their everyday lives. These stories--sometimes funny, sometimes serious--are presented live at storytelling events, through the Story Collider podcast, and on video at the Story Collider Vimeo channel. Brian shares with us where the idea for this project first came from and the plans as the Story Collider becomes larger and continues to draw people from all walks of life to share and listen.
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AADL Productions Podcast: Brian Vander Ark and Donny Brown of The Verve Pipe
Popular American rock band The Verve Pipe recently performed two concerts at The Ark, one show targeted for a younger family audience, and one intended for adults. After their performances, we hung out in the green room with lead singer Brian Vander Ark and drummer Donny Brown. They discussed their foray into music for children and young families with A Family Album, music production, cover art, and future projects for the young ones.
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AADL Productions Podcast: Mary McDonagh Murphy
Author and journalist Mary McDonagh Murphy talked with us about her lifelong passion for To Kill a Mockingbird, which culminated during this year's 50th anniversary of the book's publication with McDonagh's own tribute, Scout, Atticus and Boo: A Celebration of 50 Years of To Kill a Mockingbird--a companion book to the soon-to-be-released documentary, Hey, Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird. The book gathers together various celebrities' first memories of and favorite passages from the book, along with discussions of the novel's value to society both then and now. We spoke with Mary about the enduring appeal of Mockingbird's characters; its place in the canon of American literature; its enigmatic author, Harper Lee; and the wonderful Hollywood adaptation.
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AADL Productions Podcast: Michael Erlewine
Michael Erlewine, author, archivist, and founder of the All Music Guide spoke with AADL staff about his new book with photographer Stanley Livingston, Blues in Black & White: The Landmark Ann Arbor Blues Festivals. In this interview prior to the public talk, Ann Arbor's old music clubs and coffee shops come alive as Michael takes us on a personal journey of the Ann Arbor music scene circa 1962-1972. He covers a range of musical topics, including the early folk era, when he hitch-hiked with Bob Dylan; the influence of pre-hippie culture on Iggy Pop; the influence of John Sinclair on Ann Arbor culture; and his personal passion for Chicago city blues, which led to the Ann Arbor blues festivals and inspired the formation of his band, The Prime Movers Blues Band, shown below playing at the Schwabin Inn. You can listen to the interview below. You can also view Michael's public talk at the Library.
Media
AADL Productions Podcast: Kris Carr
As soon as she was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer (Stage IV, with metastases to the lungs), Kris Carr turned on the video camera and started a video journal, documenting her visits to doctors, her occasional emotional breakdowns, and her no-holds-barred commitment to researching and changing what she could--her attitude, her diet and her lifestyle. The result is the funny, candid and helpful 2007 video, Crazy Sexy Cancer, followed by two books, Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips and Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor: More Rebellion and Fire for your Healing Journey. In our interview, Kris talks about her experience making the film, the people she's met and the lessons she's learned since her diagnosis, and the healing power of Oprah's hugs.