KFAI's MinneCulture Presents

A Lonely Shortcut by Peter Bochan It's all about the going out, or staying in, having a party or having no friends. A  classic New Year celebration mix featuring  Cliff Arquette,  Ernest Borgnine, James Dean, Jim Backus, Popeye, Bluto and Olive Oil, Dabney Coleman, Joanne Cassidy, Molly Ringwald , Anthony Michael Hall,  Natalie Wood,  Doodles Weaver ,   John Cusack, Danny Aiello, Steve Martin, Charles Grodin, Mickey and Minnie Mouse,  Betsy Blair ,  Esther Minciotti, Jerry Paris, Joe Mantell, Jimmy Stewart, Simon Williams, Laraine Newman, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney, Ray Noble and His Orchestra, The Police, and Wang Chung -- of course.

To Have And Have Not by Ernest Hemingway  The story goes that Howard Hawks told Ernest Hemingway he could make a movie of the author's least work, and Hemingway gave him the rights to " To Have and Have Not ". We'll hear a special hour-long radio adaption of that script. It is the story is of a skipper for hire who reluctantly agrees to help the French Resistance while falling for a pretty petty thief. Our play was originally broadcast on Lux Radio theater in 1946 with Christmas-baby Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall reprising their screen roles.

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!   by Kenny Fairris Watching  A Charlie Brown Christmas  has become a yearly tradition for generations of viewers. We'll explore the history of this program, consider why it communicates so well, and hear about some of the spiritual and artistic influence it has had. Good Grief, Charlie Brown!   by Kaye Ballard & Arthur Siegel Several tracks from the 1962  Columbia Records'  " Good Grief, Charlie Brown! " -- an album based entirely on early strips written by Schulz. This recording marked the first time ever that the Peanuts characters were "brought to life." It was conceived by  Kaye Ballard   (as Lucy) with longtime creative partner  Arthur Siegel  (as Charlie) and  produced by the legendary  John Hammond . The "music" was created by  Fred Karlin . Karlin, an Oscar winner, put together a very odd orchestra of  childrens' musical instruments, household objects, and  real to...

Snoopycat: The Adventures of Marian Anderson's Cat Snoopy  by Marian Anderson We continue our celebration of Marian Anderson , who, 50 years ago, became one of the first recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom .  On December 6th, 1963 President Kennedy was scheduled to award the legendary contralto  our nation’s highest civilian honor;  LBJ presided over the ceremony in his absence. A round this very same time, Marian was also in the midst recording a  bizarre  yet  remarkable ode to her own  kitty-cat  for   Folkways Records . You've heard the flip side -- tune-in this week for the thrilling conclusion!

Snoopycat: The Adventures of Marian Anderson's Cat Snoopy by Marian Anderson Legendary contralto Marian Anderson repeatedly broke the race barrier in classical music, most notably when she performed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 after being refused a concert spot at Constitution Hall. But she also loved her cat . This is her cat Snoopy’s story, 14 tales written with Frida Sarsen-Bucky and narrated and sung by Anderson. Released in 1963 on  Folkways Records .