Bob Barry's Unearthed Interviews

Today we step back in time to an era of sock hops, chrome diners, and the golden age of variety shows….and meet the man who made the accordion the coolest instrument in America. Dick Contino burst onto the scene in the late 40s and 50s with lightning-fast fingers, movie-star looks, and a charisma that sent audiences swooning coast to coast. Whether it was on the "Ed Sullivan Show," in a packed the...

Welcome to today's podcast. Thanks for being here. Today we shine the spotlight on one of the key figures in music history, Joan Deary. If you know anything about Elvis Presley's music after his passing, chances are Joan had something to do with it. She was at RCA Records for years making sure Elvis' legacy stayed alive through reissues, box sets, and all those projects that kept his music front a...

He's the man whose one-liners have probably made your dad laugh, your uncle steal a joke, and a few presidents sound just a bit cleverer than they really were. And many DJs have used his books, including this podcaster. Writer, humorist, political speech whisperer, the incomparable Bob Orben is on today's podcast. From stand-up-stages to the White House, Bob's career has been a masterclass in maki...

You might not remember the name Constance Towers, but you may have seen her alongside John Wayne in "The Horse Soldiers," and maybe saw her turning heads in "Shock Corridor." And if you are a "General Hospital" fan, you know that when Helena Cassadine walks into the room someone's either getting a sinister warning or mysteriously disappearing. Constance also starred, on stage, in "Showboat" and "T...

You know her, and love her, whether it's from her unforgettable role, playing Kristin Shepard, the woman who shook television history in Dallas, or as a member of one of the most legendary showbiz families of all time. That's right, today we're joined by the one who shot J.R. on the hit TV series, "Dallas." And the lady who is the only daughter of the legendary crooner, Bing Crosby.  

Welcome to another Bob Barry Unearthed Interviews Podcast, the only podcast that still thinks bell-bottoms were a good idea and believes every family should travel across the country in a psychedelic school bus. Today we're dialing the nostalgia meter all the way to plaid. Joining us are two unforgettable faces and personalities from the grooviest sitcom this side of 1970: The Partridge Family. Th...

This is the most "off the wall" podcast that you'll hear. I was backstage at the Milwaukee Auditorium with Paul Revere and the Raiders, asking questions and getting some promos for the WOKY announcers and for a great organization, Junior Achievement. The Raiders were known for their wild antics and revolutionary war outfits. This session will reflect the chaos of a band that never took itself too...

Grab your pearls, straighten your bow ties, and get ready for a conversation as dazzling as a Broadway marquee! Today we welcome a legend, an actress, a singer, a style icon and the undisputed queen of panel shows. You've seen her on the silver screen, you've watched her on "What's My Line" and saw her charm contestants on "To Tell the Truth." And you may have even caught her live on stage, maybe...

Today we mark the anniversary of one of cinema's most iconic journeys beyond the stars. Stephen Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" was released this week in 1977. A film that didn't just entertain, it inspired. It made us look up at the night sky a little differently, and wonder what, or who, might be out there. But for some, the encounter wasn't just on the big screen. Our guest tod...

On today's podcast you'll hear from a Hollywood icon and a woman who's been carried off the set, after a Clark Gable kiss. She was very young when she saw "Gone With the Wind," and fell in love with Gable. She said he was an old man then, but she was head over heals in love with him, even though she was married. Carroll Baker was the star of "Baby Doll" and "Giant," and turned down the role in "Re...

Welcome to the podcast. Thanks for listening. If you're enjoying these memories, please subscribe to our channel or Google the Wisconsin Broadcast Association Museum. Today we're stepping into the glittering world of 1960s Hollywood with a guest who lit up both the Silver Screen and the international stage. Born in Germany and discovered while vacationing in Italy, Elke Sommer became one of the mo...

For fight fans and lovers of greatness we have the man who floated like a butterfly, stung like a bee and shook up the world, Muhammad Ali. In his career he won 56 fights and only lost five. On Oct. 29, 1960, he made his fight debut, the same year he threw his Olympic medal into the Ohio River after being refused service at a restaurant. On this day we caught up with the champ while he was in the...

You probably don't recognize her name but you might remember her as the spunky scene-stealing Tina Molinari from the TV show "Rhoda" or from "Taxi" or "Young Doctors in Love."  Nancy lane has worked alongside some of the biggest names in television, bringing humor and heart to every role she's played. At the time she was starring with Jim Carrey in a comedy called "The Duck Factory." If you'd like...

Welcome to today's podcast. Our guest is a master of the well-timed….pause, the raised eyebrow, and the story that sneaks up on you with a punchline you didn't see coming. He's a man who could tell a joke so good you'd swear you'd heard it in your own family, but somehow, it's funnier when he tells it. From the Catskills to the "Ed Sullivan Show," he entertained America with wit, warmth and a knac...

Today's guest is someone who's been at the center of baseball for decades, not just a fan of the game, but as someone who helped shape the way we know it today. We're talking about the former Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig. He led the league for more than 20 years, through some of the biggest changes and challenges the sport has ever seen. Things like the wild card and expanded playoffs, inte...

On today's podcast we're joined by someone who really needs no introduction, Ron Howard. You know him from the "Andy Griffith Show," "Happy Days," and of course his incredible directing career with films like "Apollo 13" and "A Beautiful Mind." But today, we're talking about a project that's especially meaningful during disability awareness month, his 1980 film "Skyward," which can be watched on Y...

Today we go behind the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." We'll talk with Lula Parker Betenson, sister of the legendary outlaw Butch Cassidy. Now, before you picture tumbleweeds and shootouts, let me tell you, Lula has her own incredible stories to share, from growing up around one of the most famous names in the wild west to befriending Robert Redford. She'll also reveal some fascinating...

Grab your coconut radios and set sail for a nostalgia-packed adventure. Today we have a legend of the small screen, the woman who made the girl next door an island icon…Dawn Wells. We're talking about "Gilligan's Island," and her character Mary Ann. We'll dive into her incredible career and her love for theater. So, kick off your shoes, pour yourself a drink with the umbrella in it, and let's get...

Thanks for listening to Bob Barry's Unearthed Interviews. Today we step back into the golden age of Hollywood with a true screen legend. He was the epitome of charm, the king of the silver screen, and the man who made romance look effortless. We're talking about the one and only Rock Hudson. We'll go behind the scenes for the love and laugh-out-loud moments and hear about his latest film, which wa...

Today we have an absolute legend joining us on the podcast. She was a trailblazer, sports broadcaster, former Miss America and businesswoman extraordinaire. Phyllis George made history as one of the first women in sports broadcasting, became the First Lady of Kentucky through her marriage to Governor John Brown. And if that weren't impressive enough, she's also the proud mother of businesswoman an...

Welcome to another episode of Bob Barry's Unearthed Interviews. Thanks for joining us. Today we have a truly special guest joining us. You know her as the iconic Valene Ewing from the classic series "Knots Landing." She was a beloved face in film and television for decades. She's not just a talented actress, but also a vibrant spirit with a wealth of very different experiences to share. We'll unco...

On today's podcast we go inside the dome, literally, with the man who made R2D2 beep, boop, and sass his way into cinematic history. We're talking about Kenny Baker - actor, icon and the only guy in Hollywood who could say "I am the droid you're lookin' for," and actually mean it. He survived the deserts of Tunisia, arguments with C-3PO and probably more sand than Anakin Skywalker could emotionall...

Today's podcast features an incredibly talented and always delightful Catherine Hicks. You might remember her as the loving Annie Camden from "7th Heaven," the brilliant Dr. Gillian Taylor who taught Captain Kirk a thing or two about whales in "Star Trek IV" and of course, the woman who had the unfortunate luck of buying a doll possessed by a serial killer in "Child's Play." But then, we've all ma...

Today is National Gossip Day. Everybody likes gossip. And there are people who make their living reporting on the juiciest tales from Hollywood. Marilyn Beck was the queen of Tinseltown Tidbits and the insider who had seen it all. She knew things she couldn't print. Our conversation pulled back the velvet rope with star studded stories, behind the scenes gossip and maybe a few Hollywood secrets yo...

Our guest today is a founding member and the original bass guitarist of one of the most beloved bands of that era. The group that gave us; "I'm Into Something Good," "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," and "Henry the Eighth." Herman's Hermits from Manchester, England. Karl Green was there when Herman's Hermits became international stars, charming the world with cheeky humor, unforgettable...