AADL Talks To | Ann Arbor District Library

Frank Uhle came to the University of Michigan as an art student, joined the campus film society Cinema II, and has worked for several decades as a University of Michigan and Michigan Theater film projectionist. He also hosts a radio program at the local U-M independent radio station WCBN, and enjoys researching regional music history. In 2023, Frank penned the book Cinema Ann Arbor, which takes a...

In May 2023, AADL talked to Mark Hodesh. Mark told us about growing up in Ann Arbor, his many jobs in town including Red’s Rite Spot, Fleetwood Diner, and Downtown Home and Garden. Mark reflected on his life in Ann Arbor, and shared stories from his many years owning the Hertler Brothers building, including a set of gold teeth, and the cats Ann Arborites have known and loved.

Dallas Kenny currently runs a global education consulting business. But back in the 1970s, he was committed to Ann Arbor's cinema culture. Kenny helped found the non-profit New World Media Project, the umbrella organization for the New World Film Cooperative, which showed film on and around the University of Michigan campus. It oversaw Venus Productions, its printing and promotional arm, and the M...

Phil Hallman's lengthy relationship with Ann Arbor film culture began with trips to Ann Arbor during high school in nearby Plymouth and includes his involvement with the Ann Arbor Film Cooperative and city-wide film festivals through the 1980s and 1990s. Since then, Phil has been curator for the Mavericks and Makers collections housed at the U-M Library’s Special Collections Research Center; the D...

Bill Lynn is a musician who lived in Ann Arbor during the late 1960s and 1970s, where he was part of the popular Mojo Boogie Band. Bill recalls living in Ann Arbor during the heyday of the counterculture movement. He reminisces about friends, band members, anti-war protests, draft dodging techniques, the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival, favorite local venues, the changing national music scene, and...

Scott Morgan is the former frontman and founding member of The Rationals, a popular Ann Arbor-based rock band that saw success in the mid-1960s and early 1970s with "Guitar Army," "I Need You," and their cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect." The Rationals played regional and national venues with groups like The Yardbirds, The Who, and Jimi Hendrix. After the group disbanded in the early 1970s, Scott...

Jim King is the owner of King's Keyboard House, which was established in 1961 by his father, Richard. Jim grew up surrounded by music, which led to him performing at iconic venues including Bimbo's On The Hill and The Second Chance with his bands. He shares stories of maintaining a longstanding local business and the legendary performers they've supplied.

Gregory Sipp is a retired Ann Arbor Public School teacher with a 35-year career teaching at both the elementary and middle school levels, first at Bryant Elementary, then Allen Elementary, and finally Tappan Junior High (now Tappan Middle School). In his 50s, Greg discovered a passion for mosaic art and dedicated himself to studying the medium and creating portraits, which he still does today. In...

Robert and Patty Creal, married 63 years this summer, are both board members for the Washtenaw County Historical Society with deep family roots in the Ann Arbor area. In this wide-ranging interview, Bob, a retired lawyer, and Patty, a former teacher, talk about their parents' and grandparents' Ann Arbor. They also paint a vivid portrait of Ann Arbor during the 1940s and 1950s with stories of growi...

Paul is an award-winning jazz saxophonist, flutist, and vocalist who got his start in Ann Arbor in 1972 as an accompanist at the University of Michigan Dance Department. Over the past four decades, Paul has played in numerous configurations and venues worldwide. He talks with us about the jazz scene in Ann Arbor in the early years, some of his favorite local venues -- past and present, reminisces...

In this episode AADL Talks to Vicki Honeyman. A woman of many talents and interests, Vicki spent 15 years as director of the Ann Arbor Film Festival after years of involvement in the University of Michigan’s film societies. She owned the store Heavenly Metal for 18 years, and continues her decades-long career cutting hair. Vicki tells us about balancing all of her roles and interests, fueled by he...

Tommy York, owner of the popular eatery York Food and Drink, started his career with Espresso Royale, eventually transitioning to Zingerman’s community of businesses. After several years, he joined partner Matt Morgan to open Morgan and York. Tommy talks with us about his background in social work and how it shaped the evolution of his business; some of the many personal and professional challenge...

In this wide-ranging conversation, local radio personality and cultural historian, arwulf, recalls the many Ann Arbor institutions, icons, and events that shaped his life. He discusses the impact of Ann Arbor’s counterculture during his youth in the late 1960s, from an early introduction to 1950s-1960s blues, rock, and jazz; psychedelia in its many forms; and Ann Arbor's anti-war movement, to his...

Dick Siegel is an Ann Arbor singer-songwriter and musician who has written and performed regionally and nationally for over 40 years. In this episode, Dick talks with us about his musical influences and how a cross-country road trip and open mic nights at the Ark inspired him to start writing his own songs. Dick also sings some of his favorite lyrics for us and discusses how they were inspired by...

Hiawatha Bailey lived in one of the legendary Hill Street houses at 1510 and 1520 Hill Street where he was a member of the Trans-Love Commune, the White Panther Party, and later the Rainbow People’s Party. In this episode, Hiawatha traces his political awakening and community activism in Ann Arbor’s countercultural heyday during the late 1960s and shares stories of living and working in the commun...

Dale Leslie was born in the nearby hamlet of Dixboro and moved to Ann Arbor as a child. He worked in radio and broadcasting for a while and then took over his family’s business, Leslie Office Supply. All the while, he was also an avid local history enthusiast. Dale talks with us about how Ann Arbor has changed over the years and shares some of his favorite local history interests, including the hi...

Martin Bandyke studied radio and broadcasting at the University of Michigan, started broadcasting at WDET-FM in Detroit, and eventually capped his long career in Ann Arbor as the morning drive host for 107one. In this interview, Martin takes a personal look back at his career, recalling many of the local community and business partners who helped and supported him along the way and sharing memorie...

In this episode, AADL Talks to Sylvia Nolasco-Rivers. Sylvia tells us about her early experiences in Ann Arbor, and how she convinced her entire family to move here. She shares stories of her work as a caterer and eventual restaurant owner, and tells us about fundraising efforts in the early 2000s, which led to the creation of her nonprofit Pilar’s Foundation in 2019.

In this episode David Friedo, Mary Bleyaert, Paul Wiener, Mary Dolan, and Barbara Torretti talk about the 1970s magazine Art Fare. The group discusses David's initial inspiration for the magazine, which was first published in 1973, how it came about, and its reception from the public. Each recount their roles in the production of the magazine, and reflect on the changes in the Ann Arbor art commun...

Geoff Larcom was born and raised in Ann Arbor. He followed in his parents’ footsteps to pursue a career in journalism, working for his high school yearbook, then the Michigan Daily while a student at the University of Michigan. He then spent 25 years working for The Ann Arbor News, initially as a copy editor, then, after three years in sports at The Detroit News, he served for 12 years as Ann Arbo...

Deb Polich has been involved in Ann Arbor and regional arts development and management for decades. She was the director of the pioneering and award-winning ArtTrain Inc. and is currently president and CEO of Creative Washtenaw where she’s been involved from its inception as Arts Alliance. She’s also served on the board of several arts and culture institutions and nonprofits. Deb talks with us abo...

Russ Collins grew up in Ann Arbor and received a Masters degree in Arts Administration from the University of Michigan just before becoming Manager of the Michigan Theater in November 1982. Russ walks us through the evolution of the Michigan Theater over its near-100-year history, from the vaudeville and silent film eras through the ups and downs of the celluloid and digital eras. He also takes us...

In this episode AADL Talks To Christine Reising. Chris talks to us about designing Avant-garde costumes and sets for multiple local theaters, her involvement in the Bookfest from its iteration, and her work as an artist in a range of mediums.

Judith DeWoskin is an award-winning teacher of English literature and creative writing from Ann Arbor's Community High School, where she taught for most of her career before retiring in 2021. Judith talks with us about her teaching style, including some of the unique assignments and classes she created, and she reminisces about her favorite books and authors. She also recalls some memorable moment...

In this episode, AADL talks to John Gutoskey. John talks to us about his career as a visual artist from his early years in costume design to his work in massage therapy and eventually owning a printmaking studio. John recalls the galleries he has shown at, the theatrical and dance companies he collaborated with, how his career path has followed his varied interests, and reflects on the changes in...