Terry Gross

Loesser, daughter of composer Frank Loesser, takes us behind the scenes during the golden age of the Broadway musical. Her father wrote the score for Guys and Dolls as well as the classic songs "Heart and Soul" and "Baby It's Cold Outside." Loesser's 1993 memoir of her father is "A Most Happy Fella."

The grandson of singer-songwriter Jimmy McHugh, he and his family manage the estate of the legendary artist. Songwriter Jimmy McHugh was famous in the 40s and 50s for songs like "The Sunny Side of the Street." McHugh talks about the resurgence of interest in his grandfather's jazz standards.

Hammerstein, who died in January of 1999, was the son of the great Broadway lyricist Oscar Hammerstein, whose many hits include The Sound of Music, The King and I and Oklahoma! The younger Hammerstein was a producer, director and stage manager for many productions.

Since the 1950's Cook has been in countless Broadway musicals — Oklahoma, The King and I, and Leonard Bernstein's Candide to name a few. She's been called a "no nonsense singer... able to thrust with gentility of tone." She won a Tony Award for her part as "Marian the librarian" which she originated in The Music Man.

He co-wrote the songs for many Broadway hits, including Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me and The Apple Tree. His collaborator on these projects was Jerry Bock. Their partnership broke up in the 1970s and Harnick worked on translating operettas into English.

We present two interviews from the archives: a 1987 concert featuring ballads and popular songs, and a 1988 Christmas concert performed by the jazz vocalist. She considered Billie Holliday her main influence. McCorkle died in May of 2001, of an apparent suicide.

He's written the scores for several Broadway shows, including Finian's Rainbow and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Lane died in November of 1997.

Before The Onion, Weekend Update and The Daily Show, Sahl's shtick satirized the news of the day. It's the 50th anniversary of the comedian's first appearance at the "Hungry I" nightclub in San Francisco. Before Sahl, tuxedo-clad borscht belt comedians made tame jokes about your mother in law. After Sahl came the dark, satirical wit of comedians like Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen and Bill Cosby.

His first novel, recently published, is Old School. Wolff is best known for his memoir This Boy's Life and short stories, including The Barracks Thief.

John Sifton serves as Afghanistan researcher with Human Rights Watch. His articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine and the International Herald Tribune. Since 2001, he has made nine trips to Afghanistan. Sifton is also an attorney.