Posted on January 30th, 2012

KLRU-Q offers fascinating science programs each Tuesday on 18.3 in February.

February 7th:
8:50 PM Blood & Guts: A History of Surgery – “Into The Brain”
Throughout its history, surgery has been brutal, bloody and very dangerous – and in no area of the body has it been more frightening than the brain. Just over 100 years ago, cutting into the brain was a terrifying prospect for both patient and surgeon; they could expect the result to be the surgeon bloodied and defeated, the patient dead. From freak accidents involving crowbars through the skull to notorious lobotomies with ice-picks, this programme reveals how, through mishap and misadventure, brain surgery has become the life-saving discipline it is today.

February 14th:
8:00 PM Human Senses – “Smell/Taste”
This sensory romp around the globe goes in search of the biological roots of our senses to uncover the reasons why particular sights, sounds, smells and tastes have such powerful effects on us. How do we manage to block out intense pain? How does our sense of balance keep working under the most extreme conditions? Live action combined with special effects creates incredible imagery to convey the ‘feeling’ of how our senses work. As an alarm bell goes off, we ’see’ the noise, slowed down thousands of times. Ripples of sound roll towards us; we spin around and follow a sound wave as it travels into the dark outer ear canal. This epiosde goes in search of the most disgusting and the most attractive smells, and examines why humans eat such a range of diverse tasting dishes.

8:50 PM Blood & Guts: A History of Surgery – “Bleeding Hearts”
The development of heart surgery produced some of the most reckless, experiments in the whole history of surgery. With a family history of heart problems, Michael Mosley takes a personal interest in these surgical pioneers who teetered on the scalpel-edge between saviour and executioner. Michael has a go at heart surgery, meets a man with no heartbeat and witnesses the latest breathtaking operation – where the patient is cooled until their brain stops and has all of their blood sucked out.

February 21st:
8:00 PM Human Senses – “Hearing/Balance”
8:50 PM Blood & Guts: A History of Surgery – “Spare Parts”
These days transplant surgery saves thousands of lives every year and almost everything can be replaced: your heart, your lungs, your liver, your eyes, even your hands and face. But in the beginning transplants didn’t cure, they killed, because surgeons didn’t understand that they were taking on one of the most efficient killing systems we know of – the human immune system. This episode traces the story of transplant surgery from a 19th-century neo-Nazi to the latest miraculous life- and limb-saving operations.

February 28th:
8:00 PM Human Senses – “Touch/Vision”
8:50 PM Blood & Guts: A History of Surgery – “Fixing Faces”
Plastic surgery is not a modern phenomenon. It started over 400 years ago with a spate of botched nose jobs, so badly engineered that the nose would fall off if the wind blew too hard. Since then, surgeons have been entranced with the idea that not only could they fix the body, but now they could even fix our sense of self-esteem. From DIY face-lifts to heroic wartime reconstructive surgery, Michael Mosely undergoes 16th-century bondage and 21st-century botox in his journey to trace the bizarre history of plastic surgery.

Posted on December 30th, 2011

Had a bit too much holiday cheer? Take a break before the work week begins by snuggling up in front of KLRU Q for a night of prohibition. First is all three parts of Ken Burns’ Prohibition series starting at 6 pm. That’s followed by a documentary on the flapper era.

A NATION OF DRUNKARDS
Episode: #101
Since the early years of the American Republic, alcohol has been embedded in the fabric of American culture. But by 1830, the average American over 15 years old consumes nearly seven gallons of pure alcohol a year, three times as much as we drink today. Alcohol abuse wreaks havoc on the lives of many families. As a wave of spiritual fervor for reform sweeps the country, many women and men begin to see alcohol as a scourge. After the Civil War, the country’s population swells with immigrants, who bring their drinking customs with them from Ireland, Germany, Italy and other European countries. The temperance campaign ignites, spearheaded by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Carrie Nation and her Home Defenders Army bring publicity by attacking Kansas bars with stones and hatchets, and the Anti-Saloon League (ASL) forms to push for an amendment to the Constitution outlawing alcohol nationally. Most politicians dare not defy the ASL, and in 1917 the 18th Amendment sails through both Houses of Congress; it is ratified by the states in just 13 months. When the Amendment is signed into law, Prohibitionists rejoice that America has become officially dry. But Americans are about to discover that making Prohibition the law of the land has been one thing; enforcing it will be another.

A NATION OF SCOFFLAWS
Episode: #102
In 1920, Prohibition goes into effect, making it illegal to manufacture, transport or sell intoxicating liquor. This episode examines the problems of enforcement, as millions of law-abiding Americans become lawbreakers overnight. While a significant portion of the country is willing to adapt to the new law, others are shocked at how inconsistent the Volstead Act actually is. As weaknesses in the law and its enforcement become clear, millions find ways to exploit it. Drys had hoped Prohibition would make the country a safer place, but the law has many victims. Honest policemen are killed on the job, unlucky drinkers are poisoned by adulterated liquor and overzealous federal agents violate civil rights just to make a bust. Alcoholism still exists, and may even be increasing, as women begin to drink in the speakeasies that replace the male-only saloon. Despite the growing discontent with Prohibition and its consequences, few politicians dare to speak out against the law, fearful of its powerful protector, the Anti-Saloon League.

A NATION OF HYPOCRITES
Episode: #103
Support for Prohibition diminishes in the mid-1920s as the playfulness of sneaking around for a drink gives way to disenchantment with its glaring unintended consequences. By criminalizing one of the nation’s largest industries, the law has given savvy gangsters a way to make huge profits, and as they grow in power, rival outfits wreak havoc in cities across the country. The burgeoning tabloid newspaper industry fans the frenzy with sensational headlines and front-page photographs of murder scenes, while Al Capone holds press conferences and signs autographs. The wealthy Pauline Sabin begins publicly decrying that Prohibition has divided the nation into “wets, drys, and hypocrites.” Nearly a century before, women had hoped Prohibition would make the country a safer place for their children. But by the late 1920s many American women believe that the “Noble Experiment” has failed. Sabin unifies women of all classes, refuting the notion that all women support Prohibition and denouncing the law itself as the greatest threat to their families. Sabin and others argue that repeal will bring in tax revenue and provide desperately needed jobs. After the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, Congress easily passes the 21st Amendment, which repeals the 18th, and the states quickly ratify it. In December of 1933, Americans can legally buy a drink for the first time in 13 years.

Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture
The 1920s shut the door on Victorian values and marked the beginning of an enormous cultural shift. FLAPPERS, SPEAKEASIES, AND THE BIRTH OF MODERN CULTURE explores that tumultuous period in history and how the concept of “the modern woman” emerged from that time. Women were entering the workforce in large numbers during this post-war decade, and even choosing to live on their own outside their parents’ homes. It was the dawn of the age of mass media and advertising. It was the Jazz Age. The documentary brings back this time of social change and upheaval through evocative archival footage and interviews with historians, film experts and fashion editors. It’s an eye-opening yet fun glimpse into a colorful, flamboyant and unforgettable era.

Posted on December 29th, 2011

Learn about the history of television with KLRU Q’s New Year’s Eve Pioneers of Television marathon. We’ve got four episodes back-to-back starting at 8 pm Saturday, Dec. 31st.

Sitcoms at 8
This episode focuses on five key sitcoms: “I Love Lucy,” “The Honeymooners,” “Make Room for Daddy,” “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” The last remaining Honeymooner, Joyce Randolph, offers surprising insights into the mind of Jackie Gleason. Similarly, Marlo Thomas speaks candidly about her father, Danny. Andy Griffith offers forceful opinions about the people and techniques that made his show work. In a rare occurrence, both Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke recount their years on “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” Hundreds of episodes were culled for the most entertaining clips – including one particularly side-splitting bit by Don Knotts.

Variety at 9
This episode begins with Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town” and Milton Berle’s “Texaco Star Theater” and progresses through “The Carol Burnett Show,” “Smothers Brothers” and “Laugh-in,” among others. Tim Conway and Jonathan Winters tell hilarious stories about their variety show years. Conversely, Pat Boone offers chilling insight into early TV’s unspoken racism, and Tommy Smothers details the compelling behind-the-scenes story of his landmark show. Tony Orlando wraps up the era with especially insightful comments about the genre. Additionally, the episode includes fresh bites from PIONEERS’ earlier interviews with Milton Berle, Red Skelton and Sid Caesar. There’s no shortage of great clips for this episode. Standouts include Jerry Stiller’s first appearance on Ed Sullivan – with reflections from a June 2007 interview with Stiller.

Game Shows at 10
This episode traces one of broadcasting’s strongest genres – from its beginnings in radio through its heyday in the late 60s. Bob Barker talks about his earliest work and Merv Griffin details his creation of “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy.” Monty Hall recounts his compelling rags-to-riches story and Betty White remembers her role as the first female emcee. Clips for this episode are wide-ranging and include Phyllis Diller’s very first TV appearance – as a painfully shy contestant on Groucho Marx’s “You Bet Your Life.”

Late Night at 11
The stories of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson headline this episode about the formative years of late-night television. Merv Griffin also emerges as a key player on the late-night scene. (His interview for PIONEERS was his last before passing away.) Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late-night sidekick (to Joey Bishop). Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall also discuss their years in the mix, and Sigourney Weaver offers personal details about her father, Pat – the inventor of “Tonight.” The episode is peppered with dozens of never-before-seen clips, including Johnny Carson performing in his early 20s.

Posted on November 30th, 2011

KLRU Q Night at the Movies spotlights a classic film each Saturday night at 8 p.m. This month our feature films will be:

December 3: The Train
A railroad boss (Burt Lancaster) helps the Resistance stop a Nazi colonel (Paul Scofield) from smuggling French art. Cast: Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau.

December 17 (at 7:30 PM): The Nun’s Story
The daughter of a Belgian surgeon (Audrey Hepburn) enters a convent in hopes of serving God as a nursing nun in the Congo. Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Edith Evans.

December 24: Annie Get Your Gun
Sharpshooter Annie Oakley (Betty Hutton) joins Buffalo Bill’s (Louis Calhern) Wild West Show and aims to win her man (Howard Keel). Cast: Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern.

Posted on November 8th, 2011

KLRU Q presents a night of Sci-Fi on Tuesday, November 15th.

8:00 PM – On Story: The Austin Film Festival Presents  “Creating Fantastical Worlds”
The challenges of creating fantastical worlds and getting the audience to suspend their disbelief are discussed by the creative minds behind Star Trek, Transformers, El Mariachi, and The Watchmen. Featuring David Hayter, Roberto Orci, Damon Lindelof, and Robert Rodriguez. Film: Tadpoles by Miguel Alvarez.

8:30 PM – Pioneers of Television: “Science Fiction”
Storytellers Gene Roddenberry, Irwin Allen and Rod Serling created the storylines and characters behind the best-loved futuristic television of their time. But as Roddenberry’s “Star Trek” competed for ratings with Allen’s “Lost in Space,” each show’s creator aimed for a very different direction. This episode explores how Roddenberry and Serling (of “The Twilight Zone”) used the future as a stage for modern morality plays, and William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols and other science-fiction stars describe how they prepared to interact on-camera with a malevolent alien force … or, perhaps, a giant radish.

9:30 PM – Science Trek
This out-of-this-world program explores the intersection of science fiction and science fact. Combining clips from Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation with interviews with some of the leading scientists and researchers from around the country, the program is an entertaining guide to the astonishing scientific advances being made in laboratories and universities around the country. PBS and Star Trek icon LeVar Burton hosts.

10:30 PM – Four Days at Dragon*Con
Every Labor Day weekend, tens of thousands descend upon Atlanta for the largest convention of pop-culture fandom in the Southeast. From science fiction celebrities and their obsessive fans to colorfully costumed characters engaged in mock combat, FOUR DAYS AT DRAGON*CON explores the “Woodstock for nerds” known as Dragon*Con. What draws these 35,000 people together? Dragon*Con’s inclusive multi-genre, multi-platform approach – combining science fiction, fantasy literature, role-playing, science, history, video games and more – gives attendees the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. Others, especially the costume designers and creators, seem to gravitate most to the element of escapism. Featuring interviews with fans, staff, performers, artists, and would-be superheroes, the documentary examines the sense of community and acceptance that forms among this often ridiculed and marginalized subculture. FOUR DAYS AT DRAGON*CON captures the heart and soul of this quirky and fascinating annual event with footage of the Dragon*Con parade and a stirring climax centered around an ambitious attempt to break the world record for dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

The evening ends with a Dr. Who episode at 11:30 PM

Posted on October 31st, 2011

KLRU Q Night at the Movies spotlights a classic film each Saturday night at 8 p.m. This month our feature films will be:

November 5th: Dress to Kill
A psychiatrist (Michael Caine), a prostitute (Nancy Allen) and the son of a slain woman (Angie Dickinson) try to track down the dead woman’s killer. Cast: Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen.

November 12th: Kiss Me Deadly
Mickey Spillane’s private eye Mike Hammer is pulled by a doomed female hitchhiker into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue. Cast: Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart.

November 19th: Four Weddings and a Funeral
The intermittent romance between a charming Englishman (Hugh Grant) and a beautiful American woman (Andie MacDowell) who always seem to run into each other at weddings. Cast: Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas.

November 26th: Moonstruck
An Italian-American widow (Cher) engaged to a reticent suitor (Danny Aiello) falls in love with his brother (Nicolas Cage). Cast: Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello.

Posted on September 29th, 2011

KLRU Q Night at the Movies spotlights a classic film each Saturday night at 8 p.m. This month our feature films will be:

October 1st: The Nun’s Story
The daughter of a Belgian surgeon (Audrey Hepburn) enters a convent in hopes of serving God as a nursing nun in the Congo. Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Edith Evans.

October 8th: The Thin Man
Sophisticated Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell, Myrna Loy) solve a murder mystery with their wire-haired terrier, Asta. Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O’Sullivan.

October 15th: The Thin Man Returns
Nick and Nora’s friend Selma is accused of having murdered her fiancee and the couple, aided by their dog Asta, investigate. Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy.

October 22nd: A Shot in the Dark
Clumsy Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) visits a nudist camp to prove a French maid (Elke Sommer) innocent of murder. Cast: Peter Sellers, Elke Sommer, George Sanders.

October 29th: The Dirty Dozen
A U.S. Army major selects and trains 12 hard-core criminals for a daring raid on an impregnable Nazi chateau.

Posted on September 1st, 2011

KLRU Q Night at the Movies now spotlights a classic film each Saturday night at 8 p.m. This month our feature films will be:

September 3: Fiddler On The Roof
A poor Jewish milkman (Topol) and his wife (Norma Crane) try to marry off their five daughters while antisemitic forces threaten their home in pre-revolutionary Russia.

September 10: The Madness of King George
The 18th-century British monarch (Nigel Hawthorne) loves his devoted queen (Helen Mirren) but illness dramatically affects his mind and eventually his position of power.

September 17: Never on Sunday
An American intellectual (Jules Dassin) tries to reform a happy prostitute (Melina Mercouri) with whom he is infatuated in Greece.

September 24: Thelma & Louise
An Arkansas waitress (Susan Sarandon) and a housewife (Geena Davis) shoot a rapist and take off in a ‘66 Thunderbird in an escape from their troubled and caged lives.

Posted on July 1st, 2011

KLRU-Q marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with a special theme night of programming on July 3 starting at 7 pm.
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Posted on June 30th, 2011

KLRU Q Night at the Movies now spotlights a classic film each Saturday night at 8 p.m. This month our feature films will be:

July 2 Run Silent, Run Deep
A submarine commander (Clark Gable) hunts the Japanese destroyer that sank his last sub.

July 9 Razor’s Edge
An idealistic war veteran embarks on a quest for the meaning of life. Based on a tale by W. Somerset Maugham.

July 16 All About Eve
A Broadway star (Bette Davis) takes a young and seemingly naive aspiring actress (Anne Baxter) under her wing.

July 23 Mississippi Burning
Two FBI agents face racism while investigating the disappearance of three civil rights activists in 1964 Mississippi.

July 30 Gorky Park
A Moscow detective’s investigation of a bizarre triple murder leads him to run-ins with the KGB and an American tycoon.