The Hirschfeld Century Podcast

Happy 250th Birthday America! David & Katherine take a journey through the history of the United States of America through productions on Broadway and in Hollywood as drawn by Al Hirschfeld. From the baptism of Virginia Dare in The Lost Colony to Hirschfeld’s last TV Guide cover of the American Flag in the post 9/11 world, Hirschfeld’s works cover over 200 years of American history...

Join us for a special look behind the pages of the new book Hirschfeld’s Icons: A Poster Book! David & Katherine share exciting stories about the process of creating the book including how we narrowed down to 25 icons for the book! You can watch David and Katherine in the visual companion of the podcast only on our YouTube Channel ! Hirschfeld’s Icons: A Poster Book is out now! You...

We’re back with a brand-new year of the Hirschfeld Century Podcast! In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating one of the greatest women in American Theatre, Julie Harris, in our new online exhibition The Belle of Broadway: Hirschfeld Draws Julie Harris. The exhibition is curated by Alan Pally and is available to view now at www. AlHirschfeldFoundation.org/exhibitions ....

Seasons Greetings from the Hirschfeld Century Podcast! Join David & Katherine as they discuss Al Hirschfeld’s drawings of the holiday season, and discuss one of Hirschfeld’s holiday traditions. Plus we have a special announcement during the episode! Thank you everyone for a great 2025 and we look forward to more fun in the world of Hirschfeld in 2026! Watch the YouTube visual compa...

David and Katherine take a deep dive at our new book Hirschfeld’s Sondheim! A deluxe oversized poster book, Hirschfeld’s Sondheim features 25 removable poster pages of Al Hirschfeld’s drawings of Stephen Sondheim productions. On the back of every poster you will find information about each drawing and production. For the first time ever, you can watch David and Katherine talk on...

Katherine sits down with astrologer Kathy Biehl in the latest episode of the Hirschfeld Century Podcast to take a look at Al Hirschfeld’s birth chart! Follow along as Kathy Biehl reads the astrology charts in the visual companion of this episode . The visual companion also features never-before-seen images of Al Hirschfeld, his friends, and family from our archives! You can find Kathy Biehl...

David and Katherine time travel 50 years ago to 1975 in our first Hirschfeld Century Podcast episode of 2025! In a year where Hirschfeld received little work from the New York Times, find out what he was doing throughout the year in films, books, and television, plus a special trip to Japan! For the first time ever, we’re simultaneously releasing the Visual Companion to the Hirschfeld Centur...

Today David talks to author Nicholas van Hoogstraten about his brand-new book Broadway Poster Art: 1945-1969 which chronicles the evolution of Broadway posters including many by Al Hirschfeld. David and Nicholas discuss the making of the book, how certain posters got selected, and the stories of some of the many Al Hirschfeld posters featured in the book. Order the book now at BroadwayPosters.com...

David and Katherine celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Al Hirschfeld Theatre, formerly the Martin Beck Theatre. Plus, David interviews artist Justin “Squigs” Robertson about his special project celebrating the theatre’s centennial. Rededicated to Al Hirschfeld on what would have been his 100th birthday in 2003, this is the only Broadway Theatre to ever be named after an artis...

David sits down with Emily McGill, the author of the new Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot deck, to discuss their collaboration on this one-of-a-kind Hirschfeld experience. The Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot Deck is available now online and where most books are sold.  Order here!  Follow along with the show notes to view the works and cards mentioned in this episode. Pippin, 1972 Dot from  Sunday in the Park w...

We’re celebrating the 50th episode of the Hirschfeld Century Podcast in style with a look back at your favorite episodes. Plus, David and Katherine answer your burning Hirschfeld questions and a few surprises are revealed! Thank you to everyone for listening for the last 50 episodes. We couldn’t do it without your support and we look forward to telling more stories from the world of Hi...

David and Katherine take a look at the friendship between Al Hirschfeld and satirist S.J. Perelman including their Broadway-bound flop  Sweet Bye and Bye,  and their subsequent adventures chronicled in the book  Westward Ha! or Around the World in 80 Clichés.  Thank you Frank Ferrante for recording Groucho Marx’ farewell speech to Hirschfeld and Perelman. More on Frank Ferrante here: Evening...

David Leopold interviews actor, writer, cabaret performer, and drag legend Charles Busch on his vivid career and his work on the online exhibition Hirschfeld’s Drag Show, celebrating 74 years of performers in drag across 15 drawings by Al Hirschfeld. Hirschfeld’s Drag Show is available to view now at  alhirschfeldfoundation.org/exhibitions Recorded at The Algonquin Hotel in New York. C...

David and Katherine celebrate MGM’s centennial with a look back at Hirschfeld’s 40+ years working for the studio on many of their iconic films including the Marx Brothers films, Royal Wedding, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Wizard of Oz, and many more! Follow along with the show notes to view the works mentioned in this episode: All MGM Images On Ze Boulevard, 1927 The Green Ghost (Released...

David sits down with guest curator Alan Pally, a trustee of the Noël Coward Foundation, to discuss our new online exhibition Men About Town: Hirschfeld Draws Noël Coward, now available to view at alhirschfeldfoundation.org/exhibitions Recorded at The Algonquin Hotel in New York, David and Alan look back at Coward’s extraordinary career and the many figures he worked with through Hirschfeld&#...

David and Katherine look back 60 years ago to a year that was full of exciting works from Al Hirschfeld: 1964! Fiddler on the Roof, Hello Dolly!, Funny Girl and more premiered on Broadway; My Fair Lady and The Best Man hit the big screen; and Hirschfeld introduces two new series of drawings: “Famous Feuds” and “Unlikely Casting”. Follow along with the show notes to view the...

The Al Hirschfeld Foundation team celebrates Disney’s 100th anniversary through Al Hirschfeld’s unique relationship with the company including Hirschfeld’s critical reviews of early Disney films, his depictions of their characters, and Disney Animation’s tributes to Hirschfeld in the films Aladdin and Fantasia 2000! Follow along with the show notes to view the works mention...

David & Katherine celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of The Lively Years, a collaboration by Al Hirschfeld and his friend, theater critic Brooks Atkinson, featuring over 80 old and new drawings by Hirschfeld looking back at over 50 years of American theatre. Follow along with the show notes to view the works mentioned in this episode: Brooks Atkinson Our Town The Visit, 1958 R.U.R., 1973  Wait...

David & Katherine celebrate the 100th anniversary of Warner Brothers by looking at Hirschfeld’s work for the studio and the many films he drew from their prestigious library! Follow along with the show notes to view the works mentioned in this episode: Miguel Covarrubias Rin-Tin-Tin George Bonte, Warner Brothers Art Dept., 1925 Set of Borders from Warner Brother Campaign Book, 1925 Selzn...

At long last, our long-teased prints podcast episode is here! David & Katherine discuss Hirschfeld’s long, exciting history with prints, and answer your burning print questions. Learn more about the Harlem, Rhythm, and Kabuki series, plus many more works! Follow along with the show notes to see the works mentioned in this episode! Lithograph Example: Bob Hope (1988) Etching Example: Barbra Str...

Join Al Hirschfeld Foundation Creative Director David Leopold and Archives Manager Katherine Eastman as they take a look at Hirschfeld’s works in the 21st Century in honor of his 120th birthday on June 21st. From Friends on TV, to Academy Award nominees, to Reba on Broadway and more; hear about the final works in Al Hirschfeld’s career and how his legacy lives on today. The Royal Tenen...

Join Al Hirschfeld Foundation Creative Director David Leopold and Archive Manager Katherine Eastman as they discuss various Hirschfeld murals from the year 1958 including a World’s Fair mural caught in the backdrop of the Cold War! Mural at American Pavilion at Brussels World’s Fair (1958) The Visit (1958) The First Born (1958) Playwrights Mural for the Playbill Room at the Hotel Manha...

Join Al Hirschfeld Foundation Creative Director David Leopold and Archives Manager Katherine Eastman as they recall Hirschfeld’s pivotal trip to Bali that changed his career forever! _________________________ Sydney Chaplin, Man on the Box  (1925) On Ze Boulevard (1927) Fred Allen George Kaufman Marx Brothers Tahiti Miquel Covarrubias Bali Charlie Chaplin Sydney Chaplin Al & Flo’s...

Join Al Hirschfeld Foundation Creative Director David Leopold and Archives Manager Katherine Eastman as they pursue the new book The American Theatre as seen by Hirschfeld 1962-2002 . We guarantee you’ll see something you’ve never seen before! _________________________ Comedians of 1963 (page 24) Jennifer West in Diamond Orchid (page 51) Eartha Kitt in Timbuktu (page 84) Dancin’...

Join Al Hirschfeld Foundation Creative Director David Leopold and author Debby Applegate as they tour the newest online exhibition “Call Her Madam: Sex, Crime, and Fun in Polly Adler’s New York”. Follow along during the episode by viewing the exhibition here. Call Her Madam Online Exhibition Merch Buy the Call Her Madam (book) here _________________________ Visit our website Like...