NOTE: Times and content listed are for full in-person programs. Virtual versions of every program are available, but can (and probably should) be shorter; a running time under an hour is recommended.
I offer fast-paced, pop-culture programs that combine video, PowerPoint and humor to entertain and educate audiences. These programs have been presented across the country at dozens of libraries, universities, museums and conventions, and are appropriate for all ages.
NEW! BEHIND THE HOLIDAY HITS
You know all the big holiday hits by heart, but do you know the fun, often wild stories of how they were created? You’ll hear the songs of the season in a whole new way with BEHIND THE HOLIDAY HITS! Find out why “Jingle Bells” is really a drag-racing song…from the 1800s! Discover the Beatles’ secret Christmas song—and get to hear it! Find out what movie cowboy wrote a holiday standard, learn how to play the holiday music survival game “Whamageddon,” hear how inventing “Rudolph” saved its writer’s family, and get the inside scoop on over a dozen of your favorite holiday tracks. It’s a fun, fast, music-and-video-filled multimedia program featuring favorites by The Beatles, Bing Crosby, Wham, Dean Martin, U2, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, The Temptations, The Waitresses, George Strait, Run-DMC, Reba McEntire, Elmo & Patsy, The Jackson 5, Blake Shelton, Gene Autry, Band Aid, and of course Long Island’s own Mariah Carey, plus many more!
65 minutes.
NEW! COVER STORIES: THE ART OF THE ALBUM COVER
It’s the art lecture with a rock n’ roll heart! Learn how the greatest album covers of all-time were created in this fast-paced visual program. We’ll explore the crossroads of music, art and commerce as we discover the sometimes wild stories behind your favorite album art by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, Taylor Swift, The Police and others. See the sleeves that Andy Warhol, Banksy, Jeff Koons, Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha and other top artists made, and learn why Hipgnosis and Peter Saville are among the most revered cover designers. Which musicians created their own Grammy-winning album art? Who invented the album cover anyway? Learn all this and more in an eye-popping, toe-tapping, multimedia presentation!
65 minutes.
STILL NEW! BILLY JOEL’S NEW YORK
A spin-off of my popular ROCK N’ ROLL STAYCATION program, BILLY JOEL’S NEW YORK takes audiences on a multimedia, virtual stroll through the Long Island and New York City landmarks of The Piano Man’s career and songs. Discover the touchstones of his early, formative years; find out what eateries were the inspirations for the Parkway Diner, Mr. Cacciatore’s, and the Italian Restaurant; see the locations where some of his most famous album covers and music videos were shot; and lots more!
65 minutes.
STILL NEW! JOHN LENNON – WATCHING THE WHEELS
This program, taking its name from one of Lennon’s final hits, celebrates the life and times of the poetic Beatle who gave us such classics as “All You Need is Love, ” “Eight Days A Week,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Help” and many others. We’ll trace Lennon’s life from his early days in Liverpool through the Beatles’ success and eventual breakup in 1969, as he moved on to spend the 1970s exploring other interests, from solo albums to campaigning for peace with his wife, artist Yoko Ono. The upbeat, fast-moving program features video, music and the clever insights Lennon was known for. As he sang on Sgt. Pepper, “A splendid time is guaranteed for all.”
75 minutes.
SHELF INDULGENCE: LIBRARIES IN POP CULTURE
Shelf Indulgence takes an amusing, upbeat look at how libraries and librarians are portrayed in movies, TV, rock videos and more. Packed with insights and clips ranging from classic films like Ghostbusters and The Music Man to TV favorites like Friends and Family Guy, the program explores how pop culture’s view of libraries has changed (and sometimes hasn’t changed) with the times.
75 minutes.
BEHIND THE THEMES: GREAT TV THEME SONGS, 1950-2000
TV show themes are among the best-known songs ever, but few people know the behind-the-scenes stories of how these songs were created. Stroll down Memory Lane and get the inside scoop on tons of classic TV themes, like Seinfeld, Star Trek, Friends, Hill Street Blues, Cheers, MASH, Get Smart, Gilligan’s Island, Peter Gunn and many more!
75 minutes.
ROCKY REVISITED: FOUR DECADES OF STALLONE’S SPORTS SAGA
This program doesn’t pull any punches as it explores the history of Sylvester Stallone’s signature character—the million-to-one-shot boxer, Rocky Balboa—and his many movies, including the recent hit, Creed II. Shot in 28 days on a shoestring budget, Rocky starred an unknown actor, Stallone, who had written the script himself in a spiral notebook. Released in just a handful of theaters, Rocky went on to become the biggest hit of 1976, winning three Oscars including Best Picture. The film’s success paved the way for a billion-dollar franchise that, like the champ himself, flew high only to hit rock-bottom before finding latter-day redemption. Designed for fans 10 and up, this multimedia program explores the inspirations for characters, stories and settings in the series, and follows the backstage drama behind all the films, from writing and casting the movies to their critical and sometimes caustic receptions.
90 minutes.
BEAM ME UP: THE CREATION OF STAR TREK
Beam Me Up traces the fascinating creation of the best-known science fiction franchise of all-time. The fast-paced, multimedia program explores how creator Gene Roddenberry first envisioned the original TV show as a western in space, and then steadily built a team of legendary actors, brilliant writers and clear-sighted directors who brought the original crew’s story to life across a TV series, animated children’s show and six feature films between 1966 and 1991. Aimed at both beginner and longtime fans, the program follows Star Trek‘s long, tumultuous history and its continuing impact on pop culture around the world.
90 minutes.
GEORGE LUCAS AND THE CREATION OF STAR WARS
Featuring lots of exciting, rare footage and flashy PowerPoint, this program traces George Lucas’ surprising, inspiring life, and how he became the billionaire creator of the biggest science fiction saga ever. Along the way, you’ll see how successes and setbacks in his life drastically shaped and influenced the original Star Wars film in 1977. Designed for both casual and die-hard fans of all ages, this fast-paced, multimedia program explores Lucas’ inspirations for the original movie; follows the backstage drama behind all his films leading up to and including the original Star Wars; and shows clips from the many films that influenced Lucas side-by-side with his Star Wars reinterpretations. Finally, it examines the legacy of the franchise today.
90 minutes.
1969: THE YEAR THAT POINTED THE WAY
Five decades on, 1969 remains one of the most fascinating years in modern times. Closing out the turbulent Sixties while laying groundwork for the decades to come, 1969 had it all: The world watched the moon landing, Baby Boomers flocked to Woodstock, kids visited Sesame Street for the first time, the Beatles recorded together for the last time, and underdog New York teams turned the sports world upside down—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Go on a trip back in time as we explore 1969’s trends, music, fashion and more in this upbeat, fast-paced multimedia program.
70 minutes.
EXCELSIOR! THE LIFE AND TIMES OF STAN LEE
Entering publishing as an office assistant when he was only 16, Stan Lee went on to change the comic book industry forever as he created amazing superheroes (and villains!) that fans could relate to, turning Marvel Comics into a media empire. Many of his creations—including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Doctor Strange, X-Men, Black Panther, Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, Daredevil and countless others—are known the world over, but how much do you know about the former Long Islander himself? This program traces Lee’s own incredible creative journey across his nearly 70-year career.
75 minutes.
ROCKIN’ REELS: THE GREATEST ROCK N ROLL MOVIES OF ALL-TIME
Nothing rocks more than summertime, rock n’ roll and a good movie! Go behind the scenes of some of your favorite rockin’ flicks (and a few unheralded gems) to find out how they were made, ways they reflected the times they were made in and why they still resonate with us today. Along the way, there’s fun clips from classics like Grease, A Hard Day’s Night, Rock N’ Roll High School, Purple Rain, High Fidelity, The School of Rock and a dozen more.
90 minutes.
ROCK N’ ROLL STAYCATION: COOL MUSIC LANDMARKS OF NEW YORK
Via video and Powerpoint, take a visual trip through the rich rock n’ roll history of Long Island and Manhattan. Discover the secret locations where classic album covers by Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, The Doors, The Rolling Stones and others were shot. Where was the eatery that inspired Billy Joel’s “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant?” What Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group shot a record sleeve right on Long Island’s Meadowbrook Parkway? Where did Lady Gaga live before she became famous? Find out all this and more in this fast-moving, insightful program.
80 minutes.
CELEBRATING LEONARD COHEN
Leponard Cohen was known for his sharp, poetic lyrics and a deep, expressive voice. He died in 2016 at the age of 82, just two weeks after his final album, You Want It Darker, was released. This program recounts his upbringing in Quebec, fifty years of composition as he traveled and moved around the world, and more, using video clips and Powerpoint to illustrate and explore the legacy of his music.
60 minutes.
THE MAKING OF SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
2017 was the 50th anniversary of the record that changed Rock n’ Roll! Arguably the most famous Beatles album, Sgt. Pepper saw the band transition from mere pop stars to revered, serious artists. How did they create their landmark album? Clive Young, Editor-In-Chief of recording industry magazine Pro Sound News, takes apart the album, track-by-track, and explores the iconic album cover to show how it all came together.
90 minutes.
THAT’S A SMASH: GREAT PRODUCERS OF THE ’60s AND ’70s
Discover how the Baby Boomer generation’s favorite hits were made! Taking apart some of the most famous songs of all-time to see what makes them tick, you’ll hear classics by The Beatles, Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and others in a whole new way, discovering what’s hidden in the tracks you thought you knew by heart! Discover the Music Producers behind the scenes like George Martin, Phil Ramone, Phil Spector and more—the kings of studio magic. Hear step-by-step how Brian Wilson built “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” with a rock band, a female bass player, accordions, and gorgeous a capella vocals by the Beach Boys. Filled with plenty of video and cool visuals, this program explores the creative decisions that influenced important artists, their incredible albums and the musical tastes of an entire generation.
80 minutes.
POW: THE HISTORY OF SUPERHERO MOVIES
This fast-paced program traces the evolution of super-powered cinema, from the Saturday-morning serials of yesteryear to the box-office blockbusters of today. Aimed for all ages, the program uses “family-friendly” video clips and PowerPoint to take audiences behind the scenes of some of the coolest flicks (and a few fun TV shows), exploring how Hollywood’s take on superheroes has changed with the times and technologies available.
90 Minutes.
KABOOM: THE HISTORY OF MOVIE SPECIAL EFFECTS
Using video and PowerPoint, this fast-paced program follows the history of visual effects in movies, from the late 1800s to today’s computer-enhanced creations. As audiences have grown more sophisticated, so has Hollywood’s arsenal of smoke and mirrors, always aiming to take viewers into another reality. Following a timeline through movie history, the program presents key effect moments from great movies, explaining how the effects were achieved and why each was an important advancement. Special attention is paid to the movies of the last 30 years, illustrating the shift from using models to computer-generated animation.
95 Minutes.
YIKES: THE HISTORY OF MOVIE STUNTS
Yikes: The History of Movie Stunts is a fast-paced sequel to my popular Kaboom: The History of Special Effects program, tracing the action-packed evolution of jaw-dropping stunt work in movies. From car chases, explosions and leaping off bridges, to sword fights, motorboat jumps and hanging from helicopters, Hollywood stuntmen and women willingly risk their lives daily to bring excitement to the silver screen. Starting with seat-of-their-pants feats filmed in the early 1900s, the program follows a timeline of movie stunts throughout the ages, presenting some of the most spectacular acts ever put to celluloid while explaining the advancements in technology, training and safety that made them possible.
95 Minutes.
CRANK IT UP: THE HISTORY OF ROCK CONCERTS
Get an insider’s view of how rock concerts grew from Elvis performing in hayfields to the multi-million-dollar spectacles that the Rolling Stones and Madonna present today. Weaving facts, humorous anecdotes, video and PowerPoint slides together, this program highlights how concerts, like rock music, have always changed to reflect the times. While this program features considerable performance footage, The History of Rock Concerts features two video documentaries that are exclusive to this program, showing life behind-the-scenes on Fleetwood Mac’s 2004 tour and The Who’s 2002 tour. These films can’t be seen anywhere else!
90 Minutes.
THE WHAT, WHERE AND HOW OF DOCTOR WHO!
This multimedia program celebrates five decades of the TV series Doctor Who, covering 50-plus years in 100 minutes! Since first hitting TV screens in the Fall of 1963, Doctor Who has become a worldwide phenomenon and is now the most popular Sci-Fi TV series currently airing in America. Millions of fans of all ages, from tweens to seniors, tune in each week to enjoy the Doctor’s latest exploits as he travels through time and space in a police phone booth (A.K.A., the TARDIS), meets strange aliens and saves the universe with verve, nerve and know-how. Designed for both new and avid fans alike, the program uses video and PowerPoint to explore the show’s colorful on-screen and behind-the-scenes histories, profile all 13 Doctors, highlight their most important episodes and more.
100 Minutes.
J.K. ROWLING AND THE CREATION OF HARRY POTTER
Believe it or not, it’s been decades since the world’s most famous wizard first hit print with the UK edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Celebrate the anniversary with this fast-paced program, exploring how author J.K. Rowling developed Harry and his magical wizarding world; we’ll look at her creative process, recurring themes and more, as well the cultural impact that her books and movies have had in the Muggle world.
75 minutes.