Andy Clyde starred in the second-longest series of shorts at Columbia Pictures (after the Three Stooges), with nearly 80 productions from 1934–1956. This film-by-film analysis of Clyde’s Columbia shor
The conclusion of the Sandy Koufax Era was a roller coaster ride for the LA Dodgers. Overly dependent on the fragile left arm of their Hall of Fame left-hander, they played dismally in 1964—their wors
In 1963, British inventor Alex Moulton (1920–2012) introduced an innovative compact bicycle. Architectural Review editor Reyner Banham predicted it would give rise to “a new class of cyclists,” young
This collection of new interviews—conducted by the author—recounts some of the pivotal moments in the careers of professional baseball players and in American history. Negro League players Leon Day,
? Offering the best in original research and analysis, Base Ball is an annually published book series that promotes the study of baseball’s early history, from its protoball roots to 1920, and its r
In the final year of Word War I, Germany made its first attempt to wage submarine warfare against faraway shores. Large, long-range U-boats (short for unterseeboot or "undersea boat" in German) torped
Two events in 1976 had enduring effects on American culture—the debut of Saturday Night Live and the presidential election pitting Gerald Ford against Jimmy Carter. With its mix of sketch comedy and m
Vampire narratives are generally thought of as adult or young adult fare yet there is a long history of their appearance in books, film and other media meant for children. They emerge as expressions o
After four years travelling through Europe and a yearlong romance with Giulia Persiani in Rome, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow returned home in 1829 and fell in love again, this time with Mary Storer Pott
In 1883, 12-year old Canowicakte boarded a train on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, beginning a journey his friends said would end at the edge of the world. Raised as a traditional Lakota, he found Ca
In September 1972, Rodney Milburn of Opelousas, Louisiana, won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 110-meter high hurdles. Raised amid segregation and poverty in the 1950s and 60s, Milburn honed his s
Who was most responsible for the Vietnam War? Did President Lyndon Johnson simply continue the policies of his predecessors, Eisenhower and Kennedy, or was he the principal architect? What responsibil
German director Frank Wisbar (1899–1967) had the misfortune of achieving success as a filmmaker just as Hitler came to power. While critics praised his work, Nazi cultural watchdogs were scornful of h
During the Chickamauga Campaign, General David Stanley’s two Union cavalry divisions battled Nathan Bedford Forrest’s and Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry corps in some of the most difficult terrain for mount
Who are the most significant gay icons and how did they develop? What influence do they have on gay individuals and communities? This book focuses on the superstars, divas and femmes fatales of the ga
Three quarters of Gadsden County’s student body are black and considered economically disadvantaged—the highest percentage of any school district in Florida. Fewer percent than 15 percent perform at g
The Academy Awards—that yearly Hollywood bash that brings together the glamour and glitz of the international film industry—is highly revered yet has been minimally explored beyond the category of Bes
Established in 1883, the Olympic Club catered to the booming immigrant population in New Orleans’ Third Ward. By 1893, there were 1100 members engaging in a variety of pursuits from target shooting to
“Orioles Magic” is a phrase fans still associate with the 1979–1983 seasons, Baltimore’s last championship era, when they played excellent, exciting ball with a penchant for late-inning heroics. This
The Italian Gothic horror genre underwent many changes in the 1980s, with masters such as Mario Bava and Riccardo Freda either dying or retiring and young filmmakers such as Lamberto Bava (Macabro, De
