The Commentary Track

Host Frank Thompson talks with author and silent comedy expert Richard M. Roberts about his upcoming book on the Hal Roach Studio, the annual comedy film festival Slapsticon and the origins of his interest in film history. Go to the "links" page for the Slapsticon website.

episode 30 - Michael Mortilla

Host Frank Thompson talks with composer and musician Michael Mortilla about scoring silent films and about his  eventful career as a musician in the world of theater and dance. Please check the "Links" page for a link to his website.

Frank Thompson talks with film historian, author and filmmaker Anthony Slide about his youth in England, the birth of his interest in silent film and the writers and film historians who inspired him. Check the "Links" page for a link to his website.

Frank Thompson talks with archivist and film historian Steven Bingen about his book "M-G-M: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot." Bingen discusses the studio at the peak of its powers and tells sad tales of when the backlot was demolished and countless priceless sets and artifacts were lost.

Frank Thompson talks with film historian and filmmaker Hugh Munro Neely about his work with the Mary Pickford Foundation and making documentaries about significant women in Hollywood history including Louise Brooks, Mary Pickford, Marion Davies and many others.

Host Frank Thompson talks with David Kiehn, historian at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, California and author of "Broncho Billy and the Essanay Film Company." We talk about the history of the Essanay Co., and the stars of early cinema who made films there including Charlie Chaplin and Broncho Billy Anderson, the movies' first cowboy star.

In the second installment of a two-part interview, Frank Thompson continues his conversation with author, film historian and screenwriter Joseph McBride. Subjects range from American presidents to McBride's interview with John Ford to his friendship with Orson Welles.

Frank Thompson talks with author, film historian and screenwriter Joseph McBride about his books on Orson Welles, Frank Capra, Steven Spielberg, John Ford, Howard Hawks as well as his screenplays such as "Rock 'n' Roll High School."

Frank Thompson talks with animator and animation historian Darrell Van Citters about the production of "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol." The first animated TV Christmas special, "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" first aired fifty years ago this week, on December 18, 1962.

In the second installment of this two part interview, host Frank Thompson talks with actor and director L. Q. Jones about his work with directors Raoul Walsh, Sam Peckinpah and Budd Boetticher on classic films such as THE WILD BUNCH, THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE, RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, CASINO and scores of others. Jones also discusses the upcoming re-release of his film, A BOY AND HIS DOG (1975).

Host Frank Thompson talks with actor and director L. Q. Jones about his work with directors Raoul Walsh, Sam Peckinpah and Budd Boetticher on classic films such as THE WILD BUNCH, THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE, RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, CASINO and scores of others.

Host Frank Thompson talks with film historian Robert S. Birchard about his books on Tom Mix, Cecil B. DeMille and other aspects of cinema history.

Host Frank Thompson talks with film historian Joan Myers about the death of actress Virginia Rappe and the subsequent murder trials of film comedian Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle in 1921.

Episode 18 - Tracey Goessel