Episode 63: Charles Atlas vs. Art Instruction Schools
In this episode, we discuss two educational products that were found in the pages of comic books for, literally, decades. It’s Charles Atlas and his Dynamic Tension versus the guidance of Art Instruction Schools. Grab a drink. We’re all about to learn a thing or two…
Episode 62: Ant Farm vs. Sea Monkeys
In this episode, we discuss two educational products that were found in the pages of comic books for, literally, decades. It’s Sea Monkeys versus the Ant Farm. Buckle up. We’re all about to learn a thing or two…
Episode 61: Andy Warhol: When The Factory Meets Studio 54
Andy Warhol once said, “The key of the success of Studio 54 is that it's a dictatorship at the door and a democracy on the dance floor.” We begin this episode with Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager on the evening of April 26, 1977 as they open the doors to Studio 54, smack-dab in the middle of the glitter and grime in and around Midtown Manhattan.
Episode 60: Andy Warhol: Movies Emerge from the Underground - Part 2
In this episode we continue with the second half of our conversation about Warhol’s anti-films. We talk about lonesome cowboys, sexploitation, screen tests, and how the Factory scene was ripped off for a much more mainstream Oscar-winning movie — which didn’t make Andy very happy.
Episode 59: Andy Warhol: Movies Emerge from the Underground - Part 1
The Factory scene produced all sorts of art, including films. We start with Warhol’s anti-film Sleep and dive into underground movies from the period and The Factory’s influence on them.
Episode 58: Andy Warhol: Album Covers Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Part 2
Andy Warhol elevated music album art to a new level. Building on our last episode, we talk about Andy’s influence on other "special" treatments of albums that make having the real thing worth the effort. The Rolling Stones make an appearance.
Episode 57: Andy Warhol: Album Covers Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Part 1
Beginning with the backstory of one of the most iconic albums of all time, 1967’s “The Velvet Underground and Nico,” we return to The Factory scene as it was becoming commercially successful—but no less of a sideshow—as musicians come calling for new ideas or simply hipster art cred.
Bonus Episode: Nostalgia and Marketing: A Conversation with Kate Christensen
We reached out to Kate Christensen after reading an article she wrote about marketing and nostalgia. We talk toys, food and childhood memories among many, many topics. So grab your favorite feel-good drink and join us in the bar.
Episode 56: Andy Warhol: The Silver Wears Off The Factory - Part 2
This episode wraps-up the chronicle of The Factory’s downward slide. Drella has made the scene at The Factory and there has been some fallout. A script entitled “Up Your Ass” led to Andy Warhol barely cheating death at the hands of its author, Valarie Solanas.
Episode 55: Andy Warhol: The Silver Wears Off The Factory - Part 1
This episode begins the chronicle of The Factory’s downward slide. If you work with and entertain people living on society’s fringes, things happen…some good, some not so good.
Episode 54: Andy Warhol: New York and Rise of The Silver Factory - Part 2
We wrap-up the second of our two episodes by talking about just how high (pun intended) the Silver Factory could get.
Episode 53: Andy Warhol: New York and Rise of The Silver Factory - Part 1
We begin with the first of two episodes talking about the rapid and unprecedented success of Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory. It was part studio, part party palace and part crash pad for tripping pop stars, street gurus and suicidal Superstars.
Episode 52: Andy Warhol: Andy Becomes the Center of Pop Life
Easily New York’s most successful commercial illustrator, Ambitious Andy wanted to be accepted in the hoity-toity fine art world. Unfortunately, he found that would take a little time and the right moment.
Episode 51: Andy Warhol: The 1960s Scene and the Emergence of Pop
We begin our fourth season with an introduction to the cultural chaos of the mid-1960s, when Warhol found himself in the right place at the right time.
Episode 50: The Pepsi (Logo) Challenge
Pepsi announced it’s moving forward by moving backwards (sort of), returning to more of a traditional look for their logo and cans. But as they kick their last logo to the curb, we go back in time to discuss how they became saddled with this burdensome brand look in the first place.
Episode 49: Listener Mail
In this episode we take a step back from our typical subject matter to answer questions submitted by you, our listeners.
Episode 48 1/2: Frank Sinatra and His Golden…Arm? (Bonus!)
Turns out we’re not quite ready to let The Beats go! Sticking with our topic of separating myth from reality, we wrap-up our dive into mainstream interpretations with a quick conversation about the Sinatra movie The Man with the Golden Arm.
Episode 48: The Beat Era: Beats, Beatniks and Myth vs. Reality
For our final episode about The Beats, we touch on the TV debut of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and the introduction of a character named Maynard G. Krebs.
Episode 47: The Beat Era: Illustration and Artwork Styles with Jim Flora
For our final illustration episode, we wrap-up our jazz album conversation by sharing the story and work of Jim Flora.
Episode 46: The Beat Era: Illustration and Artwork Styles with S. Neil Fujita
Building on our last episode, we continue talking illustrators and jazz albums by sharing the story of S. Neil Fujita.