Celebrate Creativity

Send us Fan Mail This episode is the first part of an two episodes dealing with the book Rot, Riot, abnd Rebellion Mr. Jefferson’s Struggle to Save the UniversityThat Changed America.  This books not only deals with the young Poe at the University of Virginia, but the rough initial days of UVA. 00:00 Intro 02:06 Entrance of the ghost of Mr. Poe 04:15 Poe and Miss Elmira Shelton 10:12 Introduction...

Send us Fan Mail This episode continues looking at Poe’s time at the University of Virginia and compares that period with his time at Fordham University.  This episode concentrates on  Poe’s final days at UVA - especially his debts. What  do Fordham University and the University of Virginia have in common in Poe’s life? Who was the librarian at the University? Which debts did John Allan REFUSE to...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 130  The Real Thing This episode deals with the actual experience of interpreting for an epic Shakespearean play - a combination of Richard III and hip-hop music in a fantastic production that (IMHO) is greater than the sum of its parts.  The Real Thing touches on the actual process of theatrical interpreting, the importance of preparation, and the joy of the human element...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 129 Advil Can Be Deadly This episode deals with what can be described as two detective stories - the first a true story that happened last month that could best be described as a medical detective story - that the “culprit” could not be found at first. The second is the generally viewed as the first literary detective story - Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgu...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deals with the three main dreams in Shakespeare’s Richard III - culminating with a “nightmare” the Richard experiences with the characters of twelve people who had killed who he felt were in his way.  Ranging from his brother to loyal servants - Richard begins to realize that he lost important human relationships in his ruthless obtain power.  This episode ends with a...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 127 This episode examines the process of interpreting a play by Shakespeare, using Richard III (and other plays) as examples.   George talks about such areas as the positioning of the interpreter, the advantages of ASL, the use of rhetorical devices, and the need for preparation. In conclusion, George describes how he began interpreting plays by Shakespeare, and now appear...

Send us Fan Mail This episode features a visit from the Ghost of Mr. Shakespeare as the Bard and George attend a rehearsal of Butler University’s rap version of Richard III - Ricky 3.  Mr. Shakespeare proves himself to be a most agreeable chap, and George and the Bard attend a full rehearsal of an unconventional Richard III that is both innovative and respectful of the original.  This is the final...

Send us Fan Mail This episode starts by briefly looking at some of accounts of dreams in world literature.  Then the episode specifically delves into Poe’s three major “Dream Poems” - A Dream, Dreamland, and the classic A Dream Within a Dream.  The ghost of Mr. Poe also takes a look at “Imitation” - a poem that is said to highly influence “A Dream Within A Dream." 00:00 Intro 01:16 Interpreti...

Send us Fan Mail This episode weaves an account of many of the basic concepts regarding the War of 1812 with the stories of two VERY different men - the kindly and aristocratic Francis Scott Key, and the rude, obnoxious, and arrogant John Randolph of Roanoke.  The episode is based on am earlier episode called The War pf 1812 - an episode which has had more downloads than any other episode. Some of...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is baed on a very personal letter sent by Bram Stoke (the author of Dracula) to Walt Whitman. Stoker express (in  almost homoerotic) tones his admiration for Whitman - and the episode points out that Walt Whitman has been suggested as a model for Dracula! Did Poe write any works about vampires or the undead? Explain.  What was Poe;s final complete poem? What was Stoke...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is about the many facets of America’s Poet - Walt Whitman.  George attempts to take a deep dive (as much as possible in a single podcast episode) into the personal life of Walt Whitman, fully knowing that millions of words have been written about him. Learn about the time that Whitman met Poe. Learn a VERY embarrassing (but hopefully enlightening) story about George....

Send us Fan Mail This episode is about a very popular writer from the 19th century who is little known today - Fitz-Greene Halleck.  This episode concentrates on his time in New York and relationship with the extremely handsome Joseph Rodham Drake. 00:00 Introduction 02:18 Early life   02:54 Discussion of Hearing Loss  07:02 Fitz-Greene goes to New York 11:17 Joseph Rodman Drake (and names) 13:22...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back!  George has been off for several weeks, and is back in the saddle with more of the complexities of Edgar Poe, his works, his times, and his influences. This episode is about Joseph and His Friend - generally agreed to be the first novel about a same-sex relationship in the United States.  Reactions to the novel are dealth with, as well as a section that borders on th...

Send us Fan Mail The first part of this episode is an examination of the courses that Poe took at the University of Virginia, and the unique qualities of the instructors.  This episode then deals specifically with the writer’s use of alcohol - especially at the University of Virginia. 00:01  Introduction 02:18  Similar courses at other universities 05:30 Classes at University of Virginia 06:25 Anc...

Send us Fan Mail Podcast: The Thomas Jefferson Hour Suggested online course (free!) at coursera from UVA - The Age of Jefferson Episode number 118 Jefferson’s Dream This episode of Celebrate Poe begins with a portion of a letter written by the aging Thomas Jefferson to John Adams about Jefferson’s dream - the establishment of what was to become the University of Virginia.  Then this episode takes...

Send us Fan Mail Episode number 116 Money, Part 2 The first part of this episode takes a deeper look into the portion of John Galt Sr.s estate that was left to John Allan.  The purchase of Moldavia is introduced, as well as some of the disagreements that the young Poe had with John Allan. The second part of this episode deals with the Molly of Moldavia - her life as a hostess to Federalists, openi...

Send us Fan Mail Episode number 116 Money, Part 1 The longer part of this episode repeats the basics of the first episodes about HOW the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe started this podcast - from Alderman Library to George’s apartment - the clincher for George is when he realized that Poe was reading George’s mind. 00:01  Introduction 00:12  Introduction to ghost of Poe 03:02 Encounter at the University...

Send us Fan Mail Episode number 115 - Is This Poe’s Greatest Work? This episode delves into 3 poems by Edgar Poe - His first surviving poem. Fanny To Helen (one of this greatest) What was Poe’s first surviving poem? What is Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 Hour Rule? How does it apply to the Beatles, Poe, or almost any artist? Who inspired the poem “Fanny”? Who inspired the poem “To Helen?” What did Jame...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deals with 2 more chapters of The Home Life of Poe - Schoolboy Love Affairs and Rosalie Poe.  Susan Archer Talley writes movingly about Poe’s first romantic attaction, its tragic conclusion, his sister Rosalie Poe, the strange effect of wine on both Edgar and Rosalie.  Finally George looks into some of the dynamics of Deafness - why Susan Archer Talley’s deafness may...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deals with 2 chapters of The Home Life of Poe - Poe’s Boyhood and Poe’s Boyhood.  In her unique style, Susan Archer Talley describes Poe’s life from the standpoint of an extremely intelligent and observant Deaf lady from Richmond who knew Poe and was of the aristocratic class. Why is Susan Archer Talley’s bio of Poe so unique? According to Talley, how did the young Po...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 112 Poe and Elton John This episode deals with the surprisingly combination of a deaf lady from Richmond and Edgar Allan Poe’s home life.  The difference between primary and secondary sources is discussed, as well as the importance of Susan Archer Talley.  Then George reads (with an occasional comment or two) the first two chapters of Susan Archer Talley’s classic “The Hom...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 111 Poe Encounters Lafayette Heart to Heart International MAP International Operation USA Catholic Relief Services Samaritan's Purse UNICEF USA Save the Children Matthew 25: Ministries Center for Disaster Philanthropy Water Mission Direct Relief Project HOPE GlobalGiving World Help Americares Mercy Corps International Medical Corps This episode begins with a series of...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 110 - Helping Ukraine Sources where you can help Ukraine GlobalGiving Heart to Heart International MAP International Operation USA Catholic Relief Services Samaritan's Purse UNICEF USA Save the Children Matthew 25: Ministries Center for Disaster Philanthropy Water Mission Direct Relief Project HOPE GlobalGiving World Help Americares Mercy Corps International Medical C...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 109 - Poe - the Long Distance Swimmer Poe - the Long Distance Swimmer focuses on Poe’s swim (when he was a teenager) at least 6 miles across the James River against the tide.  This episode also discusses George’s experiences with long-distance swimming, as well as those of Diana Niad’s 111 mile swim from Cuba to the United States.  The episode concludes with an assesment b...

Send us Fan Mail A Teenager in Richmond focuses on the time that Edgar Poe spent in Richmond after first returning from England - a fascinating period. What school did Poe attend when he returned from England? How was Poe as a student? Who were Poe’s best friends in his school? How long did it take for the Allan family to cross the Atlantic? Was Poe whipped a great deal at school in Richmond? 00:0...