Study Of History Has Declined Sharply. What’s The Consequence?

IDEAS Posted: February 4, 2019 2:03 pm

“A nation whose citizens have no knowledge of history is asking to be led by quacks, charlatans, and jingos.” – The New Yorker

From the Mint, another gem

In today’s Wall Street Journal, I review a webcast of the Mint Theater Company’ 2018 revival of Miles Malleson’s Conflict. Here’s an excerpt. * * * The thing I miss most about live theater is seeing shows in small houses, sitting in the midst of happy audiences who know they’re watching something special. For... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-23
Replay: Langston Hughes reads “The Weary Blues”

Langston Hughes reads his poem “The Weary Blues” on the CBC in 1958, accompanied by a jazz combo: (This is the latest in a series of arts- and history-related videos that appear in this space each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) Continue reading Replay: Langston Hughes reads “The Weary Blues” at... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-23
Almanac: G.K. Chesterton on evil

“Men may keep a sort of level of good, but no man has ever been able to keep on one level of evil.” G.K. Chesterton, “The Flying Stars” Continue reading Almanac: G.K. Chesterton on evil at About Last Night.... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-23
Digital tourism and the snowball effect

A new episode of Three on the Aisle, the podcast in which Peter Marks, Elisabeth Vincentelli, and I talk about theater in America, is now available on line for listening or downloading. Here’s American Theatre’s “official” summary of the proceedings: This week the critics discuss the recent Tony Awards announcement and surrounding controversy, and the imminent... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-22
Almanac: G.K. Chesterton on intellectuals

“She hasn’t got any intellect to speak of; but you don’t need any intellect to be an intellectual.” G.K. Chesterton, “The Scandal of Father Brown” Continue reading Almanac: G.K. Chesterton on intellectuals at About Last Night.... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-22
Bye-bye, Bye Bye Birdie

In today’s Wall Street Journal “Sightings” column, I take a look at a little-known survey that sheds light on the future of theater in America. Here’s an excerpt. * * * As theater lovers wait restlessly for Broadway to resume performances after the coronavirus pandemic has been brought under control, the revival of “The... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-21
Snapshot: Shirley Horn sings “Here’s to Life”

Shirley Horn sings “Here’s to Life” with John Williams and the Boston Pops in 1993. The arrangement is by Johnny Mandel: (This is the latest in a series of arts- and history-related videos that appear in this space each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) Continue reading Snapshot: Shirley Horn sings “Here’s... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-21
Almanac: G.K. Chesterton on rights

“To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.” G.K. Chesterton, A Short History of England Continue reading Almanac: G.K. Chesterton on rights at About Last Night.... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-21
“Central to the Museum’s Collection”: Arnold Lehman Blasts the Baltimore Deaccessions

This is the full text of a letter that was sent today by Arnold Lehman, former director of the Baltimore Museum, to Maryland’s Attorney General and Secretary of State [emphasis is his]: Dear General Frosh and Secretary Wobensmith: My name is Arnold Lehman and I was the director of the... Read more

Source: CultureGrrl Published on: 2020-10-20
Lookback: the veil of the past

From 2016: I remember quite a lot about my ten-year-old self and the town in which I lived—but not much about the rest of the world. Just the other day I looked up Wikipedia’s timeline of events in 1966, thinking that I might find a bit of fodder for a Wall... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-20
Almanac: Anthony Powell on fortune-tellers

“To have one’s fortune told gratifies, after all, most of the superficial demands of egotism. There is no mystery about the eternal popularity of divination.” Anthony Powell, The Acceptance World Continue reading Almanac: Anthony Powell on fortune-tellers at About Last Night.... Read more

Source: About Last Night Published on: 2020-10-20
Baltimore Museum Gets a Formal Letter Calling for a Halt to Planned Sales; Ex-Director Lehman Piles On

The list of opponents to the Baltimore Museum of Art’s (BMA’s) deplorable deaccessions keeps growing (now some 150 strong). One particularly notable addition is very well known to CultureGrrl readers—Arnold Lehman, former director of the BMA and, subsequently, of the Brooklyn Museum. Here’s his recent photo, as found on the... Read more

Source: CultureGrrl Published on: 2020-10-19
When Emmett Williams Squared the Alphabet . . .

In 1956, his color scheme was as bright as day. In the plague year of 2020 a color inversion is like the night.... Read more

Source: Straight|Up Published on: 2020-10-19
Hedda Hopper Could Have Used This Item

Dina Shore was arrested Tuesday under suspicion of getting bored with George Montgomery. She is alleged to have told Shirley MacLaine that George is as dull as a Dutch air base.... Read more

Source: Straight|Up Published on: 2020-10-14