2,374 stories by "Terry Teachout"
I started writing newspaper and magazine profiles, mostly of musicians, some thirty-odd years ago. I only gave it up when my duties as a peripatetic drama critic grew too demanding. It would…
A very rare kinescope of Bob Fosse and Carol Haney performing Irving Berlin's "I Love a Piano" on Toast of the Town, hosted by Ed Sullivan. The routine was choreographed by Fosse. This episo…
"'Try to do some really good work.' "'Oh I want to, heaven knows!' "'Well, you can't do it without sacrifices"don't believe that for a moment,' the Master said. 'I've made none. I've had eve…
In today's Wall Street Journal I review an off-Broadway revival of Horton Foote's The Roads to Home and the Broadway premiere of Simon Stephens' Heisenberg. Here's an excerpt. * * * It's no …
Bob Dylan sings "Man of Constant Sorrow" on Folk Songs and More Folk Songs, a Westinghouse special taped on March 3, 1963. This was Dylan's national TV debut: (This is the latest in a series…
"How extraordinary it is that one feels most guilt about the sins one is unable to commit." V.S. Pritchett, Midnight Oil
"Most comic writers like to think they could play it straight if only their public would let them." V.S. Pritchett, "Evelyn Waugh: Club and Country"
One last reminder: John Douglas Thompson and I are speaking at the Drama Book Shop tonight. We'll be discussing, taking questions about, and signing copies of the published version of Satchm…
Paul Draper improvises a jazz dance on Rainbow Quest, a TV series hosted by Pete Seeger. This episode was taped in 1965: (This is the latest in a series of arts-related videos that appear in…
"On one plane, the very great writers and the popular romancers of the lower order always meet. They use all of themselves, helplessly, unselectively. They are above the primness and good ta…
From 2006: I loathe biographers who nudge you in the ribs every few pages, sticking in pointed little reminders that the deeply suppressed sadomasochistic tendencies (or whatever) of Flanner…
"Like many popular best-sellers, he was a very sad and solemn man who took himself too seriously and his art not seriously enough." V.S. Pritchett, "Rider Haggard: Still Riding"
As I approach the far shore of middle age, I can now say without exaggeration that I remember a fair number of things that happened a half-century ago. It feels more than a little bit strang…
Glenn Gould plays Beethoven's E Major Piano Sonata, Op. 109, on the CBC in 1964: (This is the latest in a series of arts-related videos that appear in this space each Monday, Wednesday, and …
"One recalls how much the creative impulse of the best-sellers depends upon self-pity. It is an emotion of great dramatic potential." V.S. Pritchett, "Rider Haggard: Still Riding"
"The gentlemanliness of our statesmen is no secondary excellence. It was said by Burke of a great nobleman of the last century that 'His virtues were his means'; that he accomplished by a ge…
A quick reminder: John Douglas Thompson and I are coming to the Drama Book Shop next Wednesday. We'll be discussing, taking questions about, and signing copies of the published version of Sa…
In today's Wall Street Journal I review a Chicago revival of Leonard Bernstein's Wonderful Town and the Broadway premiere of a new stage version of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn. Here's an exc…
A rare kinescope of a complete TV performance of Wonderful Town, originally broadcast live by CBS on November 30, 1958. Rosalind Russell stars as Ruth Sherwood, the role she created in the 1…
"Life is an illness we must enjoy." V.S. Pritchett, "Boswell's London"
In today's Wall Street Journal "Sightings" column I speak out in support of shorter theatrical performances"and cutting the classics. Here's an excerpt. * * * The Metropolitan Opera will be …
"I get outa that bed every day, see? I make a good salary and my horn still sounds good. And I feel good. So I don't think nobody in the world any richer than I am. Musicians don't retire. T…
Joni Mitchell sings "California" on The Johnny Cash Show. This episode was originally telecast by ABC in 1969: (This is the latest in a series of arts-related videos that appear in this spac…
"Ah! the books that one will never read again. They gave delight, perchance something more; they left a perfume in the memory; but life has passed them by for ever. I have but to muse, and o…
Mrs. T and I opted last Monday to watch a William Powell comedy, My Man Godfrey, instead of subjecting ourselves to the first presidential debate. When I tweeted about our decision, these re…
