Mr. Confidential is the story of the magazine that started a juicy gossip revolution in the media in the U.S.  Confidential Magazine was one of the most popular -- and most feared -- publications in the country during the 1950's and 60's.  Now, a new musical based on the precursor to TMZ is making its world premiere at the Studio Theatre in Carmel on May 5th.  With me on Morning Edition is the playwright, Samuel Garza Bernstein, and Don Farrell, the artistic director for the Actor's Theatre of Indiana.

Mr. Confidential, the musical: The World Premiere

May 8, 2023 is the 78th anniversary of VE Day, the end of the long war in Europe (WWII fighting would continue in the Pacific).  My friend Jimmy McDowell, longtime Indianapolis broadcaster, was a medic stationed in Europe During the War.  He happened to be in London's Piccadilly Circus when news of VE Day broke, so he and his friends joined in the celebration...and it included a very unexpected sight.  My favorite part of a conversation we had in 2015.  Mr. McDowell died in October 2021 at the age of 99.

Happy VE Day! Jimmy Mack Looks Back

A festival on the east side of Indianapolis puts the spotlight on Black-owned businesses, and yet the gathering is about much more than merch.  As heard on WFYI in Indy, Dominic Dorsey explains ahead of the annual Melanin In May festival.

Melanin In May; celebrating 'unapologetic Blackness'

My 93 WIBC report on the commissioner of the BMV asking a judge to reconsider his ruling that forced the BMV to reinstate its personalized license plate program.  The ACLU of Indiana had sued over what it said was the arbitrary methods BMV was using to approve and reject plates - a judge agreed with ACLU in that it violated the First Amendment.

Indiana BMV Personalized Plates ruling

It is not overstatement to say that Shirley Jones is one of the greatest entertainers ever in show business.  She was so much fun to talk to, whether it was about how Sinatra walked off the set of Carousel to the Partridge Family to her candid autobiography.  Shirley will be inducted into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame June 20-21 in Indianapolis and Carmel.

Shirley Jones

It's not every day you get to speak to an absolute legend, but this was one of those days for me.  George Wallace has been one of the funniest people on the planet for decades, and he isn't stopping any time soon.  George is appearing at Helium in Indianapolis June 23 and 24.

George Wallace - And Whatnot! Growing up, and "clean" comedy

My WIBC documentary looking at the Glenn Miller Orchestra, now - the band led by Nick Hilscher, and 70 years ago, when Major Glenn Miller disappeared over the English Channel during World War II.  Four months before that, Jimmy McDowell met Major Miller.

Salute To Glenn Miller - With Jimmy McDowell and Nick Hilscher

I have been friends with Time For Three for a decade now.  Love these guys like brothers, and am thrilled to get to call them Grammy winners.  Here is our full WFYI interview on them winning a Grammy, and coming back home to play with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - they were artists in residence with the ISO from 2009-2019. Enjoy!

Time For Three: Grammy winners, and coming home to Indy

Briah Golder is still very much an active performer, but she spends a lot of her time in Indy young people showcase their own talents through her BRAVE foundation.  Listen to learn more about her background, BRAVE and how she is performing at Daptoberfest in Indy on Saturday, October 14.

Briah Golder, AKA BreezGoldz

Story of the day: Harris Faulkner, the Fox News anchor, says she received "emotional damage"  because Hasbro introduced a member of their Littlest Pet Shop toy line: Harris Faulkner the hamster.  Yep.  They don't make the hamster any more, but that isn't stopping the outrage from the "uniquely named" (as she claims) Faulkner.

Will the real Harris Faulkner please stand up? Anchor or hamster? Or both?

A man from Indianapolis has been arrested in connection with the discovery of a dead woman near a nature preserve in Hancock County.


Man arrested for the death of a woman in New Palestine

Notre Dame says it will stop all coal-burning energy generation within five years, due in part to the Pope's call to action on climate change.  Will other Catholic institutions follow?

Notre Dame goes green. Greener than usual, as in energy

Congress may outlaw what critics call "pay for patriotism" celebrations at sports games, including some that have taken place at Indianapolis Colts games in the past.

Congress to vote on ban for "pay for patriotism" events at sports games

Terry is breaking into houses to tell people to get the shingles vaccine.  Only problem is that it costs so dang much, you may not be able to afford it.

Get the Shingles vaccine; just win the lottery first

As this year's World Series is just around the corner, we go back to the most controversial World Series of all time - 1919.  Charles Fountain's research tells as close to the true story of the Black Sox scandal as we can possibly tell, and proves that Eight Men Out was much more fiction than fact.

Charles Fountain: The real story of the Black Sox & the 1919 World Series

Sure, you could wait until the new IKEA in Fishers, Indiana is open to enjoy your Swedish meatballs at its restaurant.  But thanks to this reporter, you don't have to.

Swedish Meatballs - You don't have to wait for IKEA to get here

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann might be looking for a new job.

Ellspermann up for Ivy Tech president; disagreement w/Pence over LGBT issues?

For the second time this year, a fraternity at IU Bloomington is in trouble for bad behavior.

Another IU fraternity in trouble for hazing; Phi Kappa Psi this time

What a thrill for an old school wrestling fan to talk to the King of Old School.  Steve Corino remains "suspended" from commentary on Ring Of Honor TV, and he just had serious neck surgery which some thought would end his in-ring career.  Maybe not, as he explains.  We also go through the outstanding ROH roster, and you can see ROH in Indy Friday Jan. 15.

Steve Corino: "An evil man", Ring of Honor in Indy & will he wrestle again?

Less than a year-and-a-half after taking office, Ball State's president will step down.

Ball State president Paul Ferguson resigns

Could Amy Beverland Elementary School someday be Susan Jordan Elementary?

Susan Jordan Elementary School? There's a petition to rename Amy Beverland

For the first time, Michael Feinstein gets to feature one of his babies, The Songbook Academy, at one of the best know auditoriums in the world - New York's Carnegie Hall.  On stage with him will be the last four Songbook Academy winners, including Lucas DeBard from Lebanon, Indiana. (Stay 'til the end - there's a Lucas DeBard drum solo he doesn't know about)

Lucas DeBard - Singing with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall

The Colts missed the playoffs. And it will still cost you more to see them next season.

Despite missing playoffs, Colts season ticket prices go up

For the first time in almost a quarter century, Purdue will look for a new athletic director.

Morgan Burke will retire as Purdue's athletic director in 2017

Cross one name off of Ivy Tech's presidential candidate list.

Susan Brooks Will Not Be Ivy Tech's Next President

The Catholic Bishop of Gary isn't happy with what some have said was racism from students at a high school basketball game.

Catholic Bishop Blasts Racial Chants & Trump Sign At Basketball Game

Mr. Wolfe, 95 years old, heads to Washington next Saturday along with dozens of other WWII and Korean War veterans on the latest Indy Honor Flight, honoring those who saved the world to let them know they will never be forgotten.

Harry Wolfe: WWII veteran going on an Indy Honor Flight

The Oak Ridge Boys are back in town tonight (Saturday April 23) at The Center For The Performing Arts in Carmel, and that means Richard Sterben and his wonderful voice are back, too!

Richard Sterban: The Oak Ridge Boys at The Center For The Performing Arts!

Predictions for Tuesday night's primary from our master of politics, Dr. Laura Albright from the University of Indianapolis.

Laura Albright:  Trump, Cruz, Pence & the Indiana primary

This conversation began off the air as Mr. Davis was relating the belief of some people that wearing the stars & stripes on your clothes was an affront to the American flag.  Au contraire, IMO... 

The 10 At 10: Stars & Stripes on your clothing is offensive? And that Lee Greenwood song

More charges against the man caught with weapons outside the Los Angeles gay pride event.

New Charges Against James Howell; Child Molestation in Clark County

Indiana is one of the states affected by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on drunk driving laws.  

Supreme Court Ruling on DUI Tests Affects Indiana Law

CBS had a regularly scheduled news program, The World Today, that aired at 2:30pm Eastern on Sunday afternoons. This was minutes after the first word from Washington of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, which had happened just over an hour before.  Keep in mind how information moved at that time.

CBS The World Today: 2:30pm Eastern, Dec. 7, 1941

Courtesy of the BBC archive - with audio restored (!), the most scandalous story from the Royal Family in the 20th century, IMO.  Edward VIII abdicates the British throne so that he can marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.  Notice the door closing at the beginning after the announcer who introduces Edward leaves, and the clear nervousness of Edward.

It Happened Today: Dec. 11, 1936: Edward VIII Abdicates The Throne

Mae West was one of the biggest stars in the world by the time she appeared on the Chase & Sanborn Hour, hosted by Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy - the top rated radio show in the U.S. at the time.  She made two appearances - one as Eve in a creatively written Adam and Eve sketch, and this one - that was too scandalous for young ears, or so the Catholic Church and others said the next day.

It Happened Today: December 12, 1937; 4 Minutes that got Mae West Banned from NBC

The Shadow Intro

75 years ago, CBS Radio presented a special edition of its "I Was There" anthology on the death of the best war correspondent there was at the time, Ernie Pyle.

WWII Archive

The Story of Ernie Pyle: CBS Radio's "I Was There", April 29, 1945

Just months from disbanding his civilian band, Glenn's band is in Hollywood while they shoot the movie "Orchestra Wives", and your announcer is the quite famous Don Wilson (crossing networks, since he was an NBC guy on the Jack Benny program, and Miller aired on CBS). Glenn kicks this one off with one of his best... String of Pearls.

Glenn Miller Orchestra - Hollywood, California

Glenn Miller's 'Moonight Serenade', May 5, 1942

After covering so many bombings of the city over the previous six years, Edward R. Murrow of CBS Radio was on hand for the celebration that the War was finally over...May 8, 1945.

London Picadilly Circus Celebration after VE Day: World War II

Longtime media pro in Indianapolis. Currently the executive producer of Daybreak, the morning news program on WISH-TV. Hometown is Trenton, Georgia - and though I now live in the IndyCar capital city, pro wrestling, old jazz, science and baseball are my things.

Ray Steele

Pinned to spotlight

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