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Terry Gross at her microphone in 2018

Terry Gross

Terry Gross is the host and an executive producer of Fresh Air, the daily program of interviews and reviews. It is produced at WHYY in Philadelphia, where Gross began hosting the show in 1975, when it was broadcast only locally. She was awarded a National Humanities Medal from President Obama in 2016. Fresh Air with Terry Gross received a Peabody Award in 1994 for its “probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insight.” America Women in Radio and Television presented her with a Gracie Award in 1999 in the category of National Network Radio Personality. In 2003, she received the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Edward R. Murrow Award for her “outstanding contributions to public radio” and for advancing the “growth, quality and positive image of radio.” Gross is the author of All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians and Artists, published by Hyperion in 2004. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and received a bachelor’s degree in English and M.Ed. in communications from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She began her radio career in 1973 at public radio station WBFO in Buffalo, NY.

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16:45

How Some Doctors Saw Prisoners as "Acres of Skin" for Medical Testing

Allen Hornblum is an expert in criminal justice and is the author of the book, "Acres of Skin: Human Experiments at Holmesburg Prison" (Routledge). The book is about the use of prisoners as guinea pigs in the 1950s thru the mid 1970s at the Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia. The prisoners were used to test products like facial creams, skin moisturizers, perfumes, detergents and anti-rash treatments. But they were also the subjects of experiments using more hazardous substances. The experiments were carried out by doctors at the University of Pennsylvania.

Interview
41:44

Loudon Wainwright III on Being a "Grown Man"

A the songwriter performs songs from his 1996 album "Grown Man." released on Virgin Records. His newest CD is "Little Ship" also on Virgin but features him working with Grammy award-winning producer John Leventhal for the first time. Interview conducted by Rock Critic Ken Tucker. Originally aired 1/30/96.

Interview
32:37

Screenwriter and Director Don Roos

Roos talks about his new film "The Opposite of Sex." He wrote and directed the film which features an ensemble of stars including Lisa Kudrow from the sitcom Friends. He also wrote the screenplays for "Love Field," "Single White Female," and "Boys on the Side.

Interview
19:07

Sculptor and Painter George Segal

Segal talks about his work which is being featured through October at The Jewish Museum in New York City. It is his first major exhibition in North America in 20 years. He is best known for his free standing sculptures depicting everyday people in urban settings.

Interview
34:15

Stephen Schiff on How "Lolita" Explores the "Beastly and the Beautiful"

Fresh Air's former film critic returns to discuss writing the screenplay for the controversial film adaptation of Nabokov's "Lolita." The $58 million film inspired such controversy that distribution in the U.S. was delayed. "Lolita," directed by Adrian Lyne (Flashdance, 9 1/2 Weeks) will premiere on the Showtime cable channel August 2nd. It's just been announced that the film will be released in movie houses in September. Schiff's screenplay, "Lolita: The Book of the Film" (Applause books), will be published next month.

Interview
38:03

Dr. Robert Stataloff on Caring for the Voice

Sataloff discusses the physiology of how we talk and sing. He is author of "Professional Voice: The Science and Art of Clinical Care." (1997 Singular Publishing Group) Sataloff is a Professor of Otolaryngology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is part of a emergency clinic there for singers who experience vocal problems. He has treated many famous singers. Sataloff himself is also a performer. He sings professionally and is the University's choir conductor.

41:35

The "Country Crusoe" Comes Back From Career-Stopping Vocal Ailment

Honky-tonk singer Johnny Bush. He hails from Texas and began his career in the 1950s. Later he went on to such best-selling singles as "Sound of a Heartache," "You Ought to Hear Me Cry," "What a Way to Live" and "You Gave Me a Mountain." He wrote the song ""Whiskey River" for his friend Willie Nelson, and later had a hit with that too. This singer with the melancoly songs never became a household name, and in the late 70s an voice ailment curtailed his career.

Interview
10:17

Horror Legend George Romero

Romero made his first film, "Night of the Living Dead," on a shoestring budget on the weekends. The film, about a cadre of flesh eating zombies, became a cult classic and a copy is now in the archives of the New York Museum of Modern Art. Romero's subsequent successes included "Dawn of the Dead," "Day of the Dead," "Martin""Creepshow," and "Monkey Shines." Four of his movies have just been reissued on video. Originally aired 7/18/88.

Interview

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