Dinner with Dan

Tonight's dinner was bittersweet as we said good bye to Diya, Wroe Avenue's exchange student as she heads back home to India. Diya has been a great addition to the gang, joining us regularly to discuss our weekly movie. It was a hot one tonight on this July 4th eve and the discussion rambunctious as Dan got frustrated with his table mates for side comments! That didn't stop us from...

This week on the podcast Dan was joined by regulars Kate, Paul and Diya along with guests Jim and Ann Rougier. A very special guest came from Witchita Falls, Texas--Jean Butterbaugh.  You may have heard a lot about Jean on the podcast before--she was Dan's college sweetheart. They had not talked for many years but picked up their friendship last year.  The Gang was so excited to finally meet...

The Gang had a great dinner, taping on a Friday night, which made the libations flow a little freer!  Diya made the Gang a special Indian meal to celebrate 1956 Best Picture winner Around the World in 80 Days. The table was glad to add table guests Ann Charles Watts and Jason Hilliard--from what we affectionately call the Ann Charles Watts experience located at the end of Wroe Avenue. Dan continue...

The pod is back after one week off to talk about Marty--the 1955 Best Picture.  And as a special guest we were glad to have Marty Gehres back at the dinner table to discuss the movie.  All at the table liked this movie and the conversation was one of the more thoughtful ones! Plus, Nan's lasagna is declared redeemed tonight as dinner consists of Italian food and Pabst Blue Ribbon. So, open a...

On this beautiful May evening, the gang welcomes special guests Tom and Kate Archdeacon to discuss 1954 best picture On the Waterfront. There wasn't much disagreement this week on how great this movie performed. Brando's performance was spectacular as were many other actor's efforts in this worthy film. A summer meal of hot dogs and cheeseburgers was yummy but the company made the e...

Tonight on Dinner with Dan, the gang has a Hawaiian Feast made by Kate to celebrate From Here to Eternity. From roasted pork to pineapple upside down cake to spam as an appetizer--we never seem to let a theme go to waste on Sunday evening.   Poor Dan has to defend the movie again under some scrutiny from his dinner guests. But all enjoyed discussing 1953's Best Picture From Here to Eternity....

The Gang celebrated Mother's Day together by eating circus food and discussing 1952 Best Picture winner the Greatest Show on Earth.  While Dan loved the movie the rest of the table had some choice words about this three ring circus! So grab some popcorn, sit back and listen to your friends enjoy each other's company talk about clowns, elephants and if there is anything redeemable about C...

We come in all color with the 1951 Best Picture An American In Paris.  The gang enjoys a yummy French meal while discussing Gershwin's musical.  Dan regales us with some great movie history and everyone seems to agree this movie did new things we had yet to see in film.  Before the show, Sam and Diya even get to take a ride up Dan's new elevator--something we hope makes Dan's life o...

As spring settles into Wroe Avenue, the gang really enjoyed talking about the 1950 best picture All About Eve.  There was great acting with a terrific story--and most of the table had not seen this Academy Award winning picture. Many at the table were ready to fight for Sunset Boulevard's honor--but that was before they watched Bette Davis as Margo Channing.  A great movie and excellent conve...

The Gang enjoyed some gumbo and enjoyed discussing the political rise to power saga of 1949 Best Picture All the King's Men.  Dan thoroughly enjoyed this picture that is loosely adapted on Louisiana's Huey Long--even though no one will publicly say that is what it is based on. Some of the table question the cinematic value to this picture, but none can disagree that we all weren't t...

We all did our best to get through Hamlet--and we all did it!  But what a chore.  Luckily we had each other's good company to discuss the 21st Oscar winning best picture 1948's Hamlet. Sir Laurence Olivier does it all and something is rotten in the State of Denmark and in this show.  We discuss. Kate makes some great hamburgers and we enjoy a yummy spring cookout as we hear about Diya&ap...

The whole gang is back for Dinner with Dan to enjoy some yummy Chinese food and to celebrate Kate and Diya's birthday and to watch our twentieth (!!) best picture movie, A Gentleman's Agreement. The 1947 winner tackles the issues of antisemitism and makes us ask the question if we are standing up to racism and bigotry in the tables we are sitting around every day. We will be taking next...

A special weekly Dinner with Dan has special guests Ann and Jim Rougier, our neighbors from Squirrel Avenue joins Dan, Kate, Paul, Eddie, Sam and Diya.  The Gang discusses their weekly events, travel woes, prom dresses, and of course the movie--1946 Best Picture: The Best Year of our Lives. An added bonus was Ann Rougier's amazing chicken and noodles.  While you can't taste the delicious...

In this explicit free episode (it is clear Sam and Nan were gone) the gang has some Marian's Pizza and Paul and Kate lead the discussion of a new era of acclaimed films--The Lost Weekend, the 1945 best picture.  A tough movie, the conversation is thoughtful. Brutal and difficult are the words to describe this movie.   Diya helps with the technical capabilities of the Podcast!  Enjoy a good co...

Tonight at the dinner table we celebrate Dan's 73rd birthday--with some not so great Lasagna.  Our friend Kate is back at the dinner table where we discuss 1944 Best Picture Winner Going My Way.  A wholesome discussion ensues--except when the table loses it over Back Door Dan. The gang on Wroe Avenue enjoyed this film and are glad to be back together celebrating Dan.  Join us! #DinnerwithDan

Tonight on Dinner with Dan we discuss what many at the table is their favorite movie of all time--Casablanca.  Special guest Crystal King flies in from Washington DC to join Dan and the gang to share why this movie is so very special.  The famous lines abound: we will always have Paris; Here's looking at you kid; Of all the gin joints... the list goes on and on.  The 1943 best Oscar picture l...

We have a lighter table today with Nan, Sam, Diya and Eddie joining Dan for Dinner tonight.  The conversation is robust!  1942 best picture winner epitomizes why this project is so special--watching movies we would otherwise skip over that are well made, timely and makes us think.   Without Kate's cooking skills Nan and Sam whip up breakfast for dinner, or Brinner because as Mr. Miniver says...

Not even technical difficulties can stop Dinner with Dan.  Kate makes a great Shephard Pie, and Nan has challenges with our recording efforts, but no worry listeners--we did the podcast twice so we could talk about 1941 best picture movie, How Green Was My Valley.  Is it better than Citizen Kane which was also nominated in 1941?  Listen and see what the table thinks! #DinnerwithDan

The gang get together on a snowy Saturday (a day early so everyone can take in the 60th Super Bowl) to discuss the 1940 winner Rebecca.  Hitchcock, the master of suspense wins his only Best Picture author and the Dinner with Dan is all ready to discuss this art. We are excited to be joined by Lily Gehres--all the way from Portland Oregon.  Kate makes a new dessert--a Basque cake--and we have some...

Dinner with Dan is back this week after a two week break to have a heated discussion about 1939 Best Picture Winner Gone with the Wind.  The Gang catches up on all the happenings after 15 inches of snow has fallen on Wroe Avenue, some of us being trapped in paradise of Belize to celebrate Nan's 50th. The conversation gets heated in the discussion of Gone With the Wind. Is it a great movie? Or...

This week's Dinner with Dan discusses 1938's Frank Capra's Best Picture Winner You Can't Take It With You.  The gang has it usual characters and welcomes neighbor Marty Gehres as a special guest.  Kate brings a delicious hearty winter soup and homemade bread.  The dinner table has the same feel as the table folks gather around in the movie of the simple reminder the title gives...

2026 is rung in on Wroe Avenue at the dinner table with some great French cooking and discussion of "The Life of Emile Zola"--1937 Best Picture.  Dan comes to his podcast with all kinds of goodies he received this Christmas to enhance his podcasting prowess. Nan and Kate, cook up a French feast. Paul, Sam, Eddie fight over the French and their military strength and Dan gives us just the...

Tonight after a full Christmas holiday, we enjoy a discussion about the the 1936 Best Picture The Great Ziegfeld--with so many famous people in the show you could lose count.  The gang discusses their Christmas happenings all while enjoying some delicious Marian's Piazza. Also, the appearance of the Oh Fudge Jar makes its way to the dinner table--to encourage a cleaner version of the podcast....

The Gang takes a holiday break from discussing Oscar's Best Picture to have a vote of our own for best Christmas Movie of all time.  Listen as Dan tallies the votes from our loyal listeners and the table discusses our favorite Christmas Movies while enjoying some Chinese Food in homage to A Christmas Story.  This Dinner with Dan is sure to get you in the Christmas Spirit. #DinnerwithDan

Tonight on Dinner with Dan, the gang enjoys a delicious Polynesian meal made by the great cook Kate.  They are excited to have special guest Frank Gehres who actually lived on a boat and has some great insight on the movie 1935 Best Picture Mutiny on. the Bounty.  And a robust discussion ensues about Dan running the Dinner Table like Captain Bligh.  Will mutiny occur on Dinner with Dan?  Join us a...