President Kennedy speaks out on the Berlin crisis; General Maxwell Taylor is headed to South Vietnam; Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie charges racial discrimination in Kansas City; Open warfare between rival factions of the New York underworld; Chico Marx is dead. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.

Gotham Variety

Evening Report | October 11, 1961

Sixty years after "The Hustler" was released, Joe Rubenstein reveals personal observations and fascinating facts about the production, director, and cast of this riveting drama, starring Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, and Jackie Gleason. Covered: Director's background [2:18] Synopsis [8:07] Newman's reaction to script [14:05] What Scott "said" to Laurie in party scene [18:25] Newman's performance [25:13] Why Scott used middle initial [26:54] Why Scott rejected Oscar nomination [28:56] Did Gleason hustle Newman? [35:33] Music [36:58] Links: Piper Laurie's Autobiography George C. Scott's Biography Podcast Website 

Movies: Robert Rossen's "The Hustler" (1961) [Ep. 11]

In this second installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein takes an in-depth look at the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and its many repercussions. Link to pt. 1 What You’ll Learn: What went wrong [1:44] Supporters and detractors [9:06] When & why RFK became the de facto V.P. [12:32] When & why JFK installed a taping system [13:11] CIA plans to assassinate Fidel Castro [17:03] What JFK knew about those plans [21:38] JFK’s political mop-up strategy [26:25] Why JFK’s poll numbers went up [31:22] Links: Podcast Website 

Bay of Pigs, pt. 2: Invasion and Aftermath

In this first installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein explores the evolution of the C.I.A. plan to invade Cuba and topple Premier Fidel Castro. What You’ll Learn: A 1954 model for the Bay of Pigs invasion [1:43] The increasing friction between the U.S. and Castro [6:16] How Cuba impacted the 1960 presidential campaign [15:31] A fresh look at JFK’s foreign policy approach [21:34] The pressure on JFK to invade Cuba [24:38] Links: Podcast Website 

Bay of Pigs, pt. 1: Planning Stages

In this second installment of a 2-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein discusses 3 of Steve McQueen's best films of the ‘60s -- Nevada Smith (1965), The Sand Pebbles (1966), and Bullitt (1968) -- and then ranks his top 10 films overall. Tons of behind-the-scenes trivia and analysis. Link to Pt. 1 What you’ll learn about: Nevada Smith [1:25] The Sand Pebbles [10:06] Bullitt [23:26] McQueen’s top 10 films overall [38:38] Links: Podcast Website 

Movies: King of Cool | Steve McQueen, pt. 2

In this first installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein explores the action-packed early life of Steve McQueen and discusses three of his best films of the 1960s: "The Magnificent Seven," "The Great Escape," and "The Cincinnati Kid.” Link to pt. 2 What you’ll learn about: McQueen as first crossover star from TV to movies [0:49] Troubled youth [5:26] Merchant Marine, Marine Corps [12:16] New York [16:28] Marriage, Hollywood [20:45] Wanted: Dead or Alive [23:35] The Magnificent 7 [26:20] The Great Escape [33:01] The Cincinnati Kid [40:27] Links: Podcast Website 

Movies: King of Cool | Steve McQueen, pt. 1

In this final installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein tells the story of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann's capture by Israeli operatives in Argentina and the Nazi war criminal's trial, sentence, and execution. Link to pt. 1 What you’ll learn about: The Israeli plan to kidnap Eichmann [2:13] The snatch, holding him prisoner, transporting him to Israel [6:58] Trial, testimony, sentencing [19:15] The 1942 Lidice massacre [27:34] Eichmann’s spiritual counselor [32:17] Execution [33:28] Sixties books, films, and TV shows about WWII & the Holocaust [42:04] Why discussing these things continues to be necessary [46:27] Links: WWII Documentary “The World at War” “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” by William Shirer “Night,” by Elie Wiesel Podcast Website 

Adolf Eichmann, pt. 2: Capture and Judgment

In this first installment of a two-part episode, host Joe Rubenstein explores the life and crimes of Holocaust organizer Adolf Eichmann, his years as a fugitive in Germany and Argentina, and the effort to bring this Nazi war criminal to justice. Link to pt. 2 What you’ll learn about: Eichmann’s early years in the Nazi party [1:03] Two critical junctures that massively accelerated the Holocaust [3:20] Eichmann’s 4-stage genocidal process [7:07] How Eichmann evaded detection in postwar Europe [14:43] Eichmann’s two big mistakes in Argentina [20:40] How Cold War politics affected the Eichmann case [28:11] Background on the Israeli team of operatives tasked with capturing Eichmann [32:30] Links: Book: “Hunting Eichmann,” by Neil Bascomb Podcast Website 

Adolf Eichmann, pt. 1: Crimes and Flight

David Pietrusza, author of "1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon: The Epic Campaign that Forged Three Presidencies," joins the show for a discussion of the latter stages of the 1960 race. Link to Part 1 Covered in this Episode: Nixon’s campaign mistakes [8:12] Did JFK's Catholicism hurt or help him? [11:29] JFK’s restricted usage of LBJ [15:51] RFK’s ruthlessness [18:15] Nixon’s psychotherapy [20:52] The African American vote [23:14] JFK’s amphetamine use [27:06] The debates [35:23] Voter fraud? [40:01] Did 1960 lead to Watergate? [42:57] Links: Episode Transcript David Pietrusza’s book Podcast Website 

Election 1960: JFK vs. Nixon pt. 2 w/ Author David Pietrusza

Host Joe Rubenstein explains why three mind-blowing Twilight Zone episodes of 1960 are a cut above the rest. Fascinating background, deep analysis, and runners-up as well. More info: realtime1960s.com | Follow Us at Facebook.com/RealTime1960s | Twitter @RealTime1960s | Production and Music: Joe Rubenstein.

“The Twilight Zone” - Top 3 Episodes of 1960

Sixty years after "Psycho" terrorized moviegoers, Joe Rubenstein takes a deep dive into Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller. What You’ll Learn: Hitchcock’s motivations in making the film [4:12] His brilliant marketing campaign [14:03] All about the shower scene [20:07] Goofs [23:07] Bernard Herrmann’s musical genius [31:42] Insane Oscar snubs [34:49] ‘60s trends set by Psycho [36:47] Links: Book: "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho" Episode Transcript Podcast Website 

Movie: Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960)

Dr. Gary Donaldson, author of "The First Modern Campaign: Kennedy, Nixon, and the Election of 1960," joins the show to discuss the early stages of the 1960 Presidential campaign. What You’ll Learn: What the Republican party looked like in 1960 [2:45] Eisenhower’s attitude toward Nixon [5:04] Why the left wing wasn't enthused about JFK [11:58] Why Eleanor Roosevelt opposed JFK [14:32] Why JFK picked Lyndon Johnson as running mate [26:16] About Nixon’s complicated relationship with New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller [29:30] Why Nixon’s choice of running mate may have hurt him [31:53] Links: Episode Transcript Sequel to this episode Gary Donaldson’s book Podcast Website 

Election 1960: JFK vs. Nixon pt. 1 w/ Historian Gary Donaldson

Andrew R.M. Smith, author of "No Way But To Fight: George Foreman and the Business of Boxing," joins host Joe Rubenstein for a wide-ranging discussion of the Hall of Fame heavyweight's amazing life in and out of the ring as well as his multiple image transformations. More info: gothamvariety.com, and follow @gothamvariety on Twitter or Facebook. Production and Music: Joe Rubenstein.

Gotham Boxing | George Foreman biographer Andrew R.M. Smith joins the show

Best-selling author Douglas Century, author of "Barney Ross: The Life of a Jewish Fighter," joins host Joe Rubenstein for a discussion of this Hall of Fame champion boxer and World War II hero's incredible life. More info: gothamvariety.com, and follow @gothamvariety on Twitter or Facebook. Production and Music: Joe Rubenstein.

Gotham Boxing | Barney Ross biographer Douglas Century joins the show

Mike Ezra, author of "Muhammad Ali: The Making of an Icon," joins the show to discuss his rankings of all 23 undisputed heavyweight champions from Jack Dempsey to Lennox Lewis. Mike's rankings: 1. Muhammad Ali 2. Joe Louis 3. Sonny Liston 4. Lennox Lewis 5. Evander Holyfield 6. Joe Frazier 7. Gene Tunney 8. George Foreman 9. Mike Tyson 10. Jack Dempsey 11. Rocky Marciano 12. Riddick Bowe 13. Floyd Patterson 14. Max Schmeling 15. Jersey Joe Walcott 16. Ezzard Charles 17. Max Baer 18. Ingemar Johansson 19. Jack Sharkey 20. Primo Carnera 21. James Braddock 22. Buster Douglas 23. Leon Spinks

Ranking All 23 Undisputed Heavyweight Boxing Champs w/ Mike Ezra

The Gotham Variety podcast, created and produced by Joe Rubenstein, presents cutting edge audio drama, movie reviews, interviews on a wide range of topics, and a baseball show, "Gotham Hardball." For the drama episodes, listening with headphones is recommended, as we do everything possible - state of the art sound effects & sound design, gripping original music and some of the best actors in NYC - to create that sense that you are there, so that afterward you'll feel as though these stories actually happened to you.

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