Bob Barry's Unearthed Interviews
252 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe music of the 60s and 70s was groundbreaking and it set the stage for the decades of amazing music that followed it. Milwaukee radio legend and Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Barry spoke with countless musicians and celebrities over the years and collected remarkable recordings of his encounters with these talented people, which he's now sharing with the public in this podcast. He spoke with Sonny and Cher, James Brown, Dolly Parton, and and many others, and they shared their amazing stories about their lives and careers. All the episodes will be available as they’re released at WisconsinBroadcastingMuseum.org. This podcast was made possible by a generous contribution from Terry Baun.
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Episodes
Yvonne Craig (Batgirl)
September 22, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.55 MBHow could you tell the good guys from the bad guys on TV shows in the 60s? Yvonne Craig, the commissioner’s daughter Barbara Gordon, and Batgirl on the 1960s Batman TV shows revealed that secret. And she told us why she was unhappy wearing the Batgirl costume in the show.
Burt Ward
September 15, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.88 MBHoly podcast, it’s Robin! Burt Ward is an actor from Los Angeles who played Robin on the Batman TV series. Like many males growing up, he was an avid fan of the Superman comic books. He excelled in high school sports, such as wrestling, football, and track. He was 19 years old when he auditioned for the role of Robin. He did his own stunts because his costume revealed more of his face, making it difficult for a stunt double to look like him. In this podcast he will expose more Batman secrets...
Adam West
September 08, 2021 05:00 - 5 minutes - 5.32 MBYou wouldn’t know who William West Anderson is, but you might remember Adam West, the name he took professionally. Adam is best known for portraying Batman in the 1960s series on ABC Television. He was very upset when he was not chosen to play Batman in the movie. West said he played Batman for laughs, but to do that one had to never think it was funny. He did a good job pulling that off. Did it bother him to be typecast or was he pleased that he took the role?
Tom Jones
September 01, 2021 05:00 - 5 minutes - 5.62 MBSir Thomas John Woodward is better known as Tom Jones. He has 19 hits in the United States and has sold more than 100 million records. His hits include: “Delilah,” “She’s a Lady,” What’s New Pussycat,” and the theme for the James Bond film “Thunderball.” In this podcast we find out how Thomas Woodward got the name Tom Jones, how his hit songs came about and his favorite Tom Jones song. Surprisingly this love song was written by the man who had a hit with the crazy tune called “Does Your Chew...
Michael McKean
August 25, 2021 05:00 - 9 minutes - 8.94 MBMost of you will remember Michael McKean as the annoying neighbor Lenny Kosnowski in “Laverne and Shirley.” He was also David Hubbins, lead vocalist in the fictional rock band “Spinal Tap.” And most recently he played Chuck McGill, Saul’s paranoid brother on “Better Call Saul,” for which he won a primetime Emmy award. Michael has appeared in many films, TV shows, and on Broadway.
Reed Kailing
August 18, 2021 05:00 - 17 minutes - 17.6 MBMany of you, if you’re from the Milwaukee area, will remember Reed Kailing when he was with Michael and the Messengers and the Destinations. His destination was way beyond the group. He met a lot of recording artists and played with some including Badfinger and the Grassroots. Reed was also the voice of Frank Hardy on the animated series “The Hardy Boys” and was in “Beatlemania” on Broadway. Some of his memorable encounters were with music legends like John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and Sir Paul ...
Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan)
August 11, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.27 MBIn the jungle and not always so quiet jungle is where Tarzan the Ape Man lived. Johnny Weissmuller won five Olympic gold medals for swimming and one bronze medal for water polo. After retiring from competition, he became the sixth actor to portray Tarzan, a role he played in twelve feature films. Dozens of other actors have played Tarzan, but Weissmuller is by far the best known.
Francis Gary Powers (Spy Plane Pilot)
August 04, 2021 05:00 - 7 minutes - 7.6 MBIf you were around in the 1960s you would remember the U-2 Spy incident. If not, you probably heard about it in school. Francis Gary Powers was an American pilot whose CIA U-2 spy plane was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission in Russian airspace. Powers received the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Prisoner of War Medals. Later he became a helicopter traffic reporting pilot for KGIL radio and a news reporter for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. While reporting on brush fires i...
The Vogues
July 28, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 7.2 MBYou’ll never guess where this group is from. I didn’t know until they told me. They’re best known for their chart-topping singles: “You’re the One” and “Five O’Clock World.” They toured the world and appeared on American Bandstand, The Tonight Show and the Ed Sullivan Show. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. Of course, we’re talking about the Vogues. The photo is from their appearance on my TV show in the late 60s.
Jimmy Durante
July 21, 2021 05:00 - 4 minutes - 5.42 MBI wonder how many of you have heard the name Jimmy Durante. He was an American actor, comedian, musician, and singer. His gravelly voice and murder of the English language made him one of the most popular radio and TV entertainers of his time. He was often referred to as the schnozzola or schnoz due to his large nose. He was a popular radio star, appearing on Eddie Cantor’s show, “The Chase and Sanborn Hour,” and the Armed Forces Radio Network. Jimmy’s version of the song “Smile” is part of ...
Lily Tomlin
July 14, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.5 MBMeet Mary Jean Tomlin, better known as Lily Tomlin. You may have seen her on the popular Netflix series “Grace and Frankie,” but do you know about her long career in show biz? She’s an American actress, comedian, writer, singer, and producer. Her first big role was on Rowan and Martin’s “Laugh-in” from 1969 to 1973. She has earned nominations for four prime time Emmy awards, three Screen Actors Guild awards and a Golden globe. Her first film performance was in “Nashville” followed by “9 to ...
Everly Brothers
July 07, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.17 MBRock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame members Don and Phil, the Everly Brothers, had a string of county rock hits in the 50s and 60s. Those many chart toppers included “Bye Bye Love,” “’Til I Kissed You,” and “All I Have to do is Dream.” We talked about how they got started, their music, their relationship with each other, and even how they met their wives. Phil was married to record producer Archie Bleyer’s daughter. Their song “Bye Bye Love” had been rejected by 30 other acts and ended up being No. 2...
Neil Sedaka and Freddy Fender
June 30, 2021 05:00 - 3 minutes - 3.95 MBIn second grade Neil Sedaka’s teacher sent a note home suggesting he take piano lessons. His mother took a part time job in a department store to pay for a piano. He ended up with a scholarship to Julliard School of Music. His song “Calendar Girl” came from seeing an old 1947 movie of the same name listed in “TV Guide.” We discussed his singing and song writing and ended up in an argument over his first hit record. Freddy Fender was a country/rock and roll musician known for his one hit ...
Cory Wells (Three Dog Night)
June 16, 2021 05:00 - 4 minutes - 4.62 MBPaul Williams wrote “An Old-Fashioned Love Song.” Randy Neuman penned “Mamma Told Me Not to Come.” And Laura Nero wrote “Eli’s Coming.” These were just three of the big hits for Three Dog Night that were written by others. The group had 21 Billboard Top 40 hits and three of those hit no. 1 between 1969 and 1975. Their biggest hit “Joy to the World” sold 4 million records and was the no. 1 recording in 1971. I interviewed Cory Wells from the group and he talked about the band’s name origin, t...
Caroline Kennedy
June 09, 2021 05:00 - 3 minutes - 4.19 MBOne day while preparing for my morning show at WOKY I located the place where Caroline Kennedy was staying. Yes, that Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy. She was at a tennis camp in Mayrhofen, Austria. The camp receptionist called her to the phone after the operator told her I was calling long distance from the United States. I’ll bet she got her ear in a ringer for that. Caroline told me that she had never been on the radio before and proceeded to answer 13 questions i...
Chester Gould
June 02, 2021 05:00 - 5 minutes - 5.42 MBWho invented the smartwatch? Was it Dick Tracy? The detective’s two-way wrist radio paved the way for Apple watch? I’m not sure about that, but I do know that the idea for a wristwatch that would serve as a phone was thought of by Chester Gould back in a 1946 Dick Tracy comic strip. Gould will talk about how he created the Tracy strip. He’ll also mention how he was way ahead of his times with electronic ideas and reveal how much a newspaper paid for a comic strip back in those days.
Ray Stevens
May 26, 2021 05:00 - 4 minutes - 4.97 MBHarold Ray Ragsdale was known professionally as Ray Stevens, an American country and pop singer. He was known for his Grammy winning recordings “Everything is Beautiful” and “Misty.” He also recorded “Gitarzan” and “The Streak.” His first hit “Ahab the Arab” was written the night before a session, in sheer panic. He had songs for the session but didn’t like any of them, so the night before, he realized that he had to do something and out of the blue the lyrics came to him. And in 1970 he was...
Bob Barker
May 19, 2021 05:00 - 5 minutes - 5.66 MBFirst, you’ll hear Johnny Olsen’s famous line from “The Price is Right,” maybe not exactly the way you’ve heard it on the show. He’ll join us on a future podcast because he had Milwaukee ties. But, on this podcast Bob Barker, retired American game show host, known for hosting CBS “The Price is Right” and “Truth or Consequences” will tell us how he got his start in radio. He talks about the game shows, hosting the Miss Universe pageant, and some strange things that happened there. “The Price...
Lone Ranger, Clayton Moore
May 12, 2021 05:00 - 5 minutes - 5.6 MBClayton Moore was born near Milwaukee. He played the Lone Ranger on TV and in the movies. Did he ever take his mask off? How much money did the actors make in the 40s and 50s? He also reveals a mistake he made while filming and the Lone Ranger has a message for the boys and girls that still holds true today. The photo with Clayton includes my son Rob.
Ron Howard
May 05, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.65 MBRon Howard and his wife Cheryl stopped by the studio in 1977. He told me that he started acting when he was four years old. He has acted in numerous movies and TV shows and produced many popular films. Most remember Ron as Richie Cunningham on “Happy Days.” Ron tells me about his career in show business from the beginning and his wife Cheryl told me how they met and what it’s like to be married to Ron.
The Hollies
April 28, 2021 05:00 - 5 minutes - 6.26 MBGraham Nash of the Hollies told me that they wrote “Stop Stop Stop” in a taxicab. They were told to Stop Stop Stop playing in Milwaukee when they were here in 1966. They’ll explain why. Allen Clarke tells how the group got started in 1962, how they decided on their name, and where their unique sound came from. You can view the outtakes from this interview online by searching “Hollies Milwaukee interview.” The photo was taken backstage and includes two members of local group “The Skunks,” Jac...
Roy Rogers
April 21, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.08 MBRoy Rogers was an American singer and actor. He was one of the most popular western stars of his era. He was known as the “King of the Cowboys,” appeared in more than 100 movies and many radio and TV episodes of the Roy Rogers Show. In this podcast you’ll hear how he got started in radio, his first film, and how much of the movies he made included real scenery. Remember the names of his horse, dog, jeep, and sidekick? Plus, we’ll get the inside on some stuff you’ve never heard before.
Ted Knight
April 14, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.3 MBFrom 1970 to 1977 the Mary Tyler Moore Show received 67 Emmy nominations and won 29. Ted Knight was an American actor and voice artist best known for playing the vain and untalented Ted Baxter on the show. He was also very proud of his Polish ancestry. He’ll pronounce his real Polish name for us. We talked about some of his earlier accomplishments including an Emmy and his criticism of the Emmy Awards. He did his impression of Lowell Thomas and he’ll also throw in some lines from Ted Baxter.
Jim Backus
April 07, 2021 05:00 - 7 minutes - 8.48 MBRemember the nearsighted cartoon character Mr. Magoo? Jim Backus told me how he developed that identity. He started his career in radio on CBS as the rich Hubert Updike III on the Allan Young Show and later on TV as the super wealthy Thurston Howell III on the 1960s sitcom Gilligan’s Island. He owned many other radio-TV credits between 1948 and 1989. He will explain what he had to do to make more money in radio at that time.
Beau Brummels
March 31, 2021 05:00 - 3 minutes - 3.72 MBThe Beau Brummels was an American rock band, formed in San Francisco in 1964. Some fans thought they were British. Sylvester Stewart, better known as Sly Stone, produced the group’s first recordings. They drew comparisons to the Beatles. Their song “Laugh Laugh” came about after the group’s Ron Elliott heard the Four Seasons on the radio, after listening to one of their songs. He wrote it in 15 minutes. This conversation is made up of outtakes from a WITI-TV6 interview, recorded backstage at...
Freddie and the Dreamers
March 24, 2021 05:00 - 3 minutes - 4.45 MBDid you dance “The Freddie” back in the 60s? That was one of the hits that Freddie and the Dreamers recorded in 1965. The 5’3” Freddie Garrity tried to teach the dance to me. All you had to do was bounce around with your arms and legs flying. Trust me, you didn’t want to see me doing this. I didn’t get many straight answers from the five Brits when I asked about their act, difference between American and British girls, Freddie’s favorite female type, and their favorite British joke. This cra...
Al McGuire
March 17, 2021 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.99 MBHe is quoted as saying “I think everyone should go to college and get a degree and then spend six months as a bartender and six months as a cab driver. Then they would really be educated.” That was Al McGuire, broadcaster and basketball head coach at Marquette University from 1964 to 1977. He won a national championship in his final season at Marquette and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. I asked Al for his thoughts on coaching, his feud with fellow broadcaster Billy Pa...
Roddy McDowall and Alfred Hitchcock
March 10, 2021 06:00 - 3 minutes - 4.09 MBEnglish-American actor, voice artist, and film director Roddy McDowall was best known for portraying Cornelius and Caesar in the original “Planet of the Apes” film series and well as Galen in the spin-off DTV series. Roddy explains what it was like to play that part, the makeup, and the adjustment he had to make for that role. You have most likely seen “Psycho,” “The Birds,” “Vertigo, “ “North By Northwest,” and many more scary movies made by English film director and producer Alfred Hitch...
Dick Clark
March 03, 2021 06:00 - 4 minutes - 5.53 MBThe world’s oldest teenager was the handle tagged onto Dick Clark. He was an American radio and television personality, TV producer, and film actor, best known for hosting American Bandstand. He was ageless. Did he get a face lift? Bobby Vee had a great comment about that. Part of the show is in the Smithsonian. Dick was disappointed with that and also expressed his negative feelings about the British Invasion.
Angie Dickinson
February 24, 2021 06:00 - 9 minutes - 9.05 MBActress Angie Dickinson appeared in more than 50 films including “Ocean’s 11” and “Dressed to Kill.” On TV she starred as Sgt. Pepper Anderson on the NBC crime series “Police Woman” for which she won a Golden Globe for best actress and three Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. But I was more interested in her personal life including a romance with Frank Sinatra, rumors of a close relationship with President Kennedy and her failed marriage to Burt Bacharach.
Vikki Carr
February 17, 2021 06:00 - 6 minutes - 6.12 MBVikki Carr, an American vocalist who had a singing career for more than four decades. After we woke her up, we found out what is it like to be a popular singer. Vickie Carr will take us through a day in her life. Different venues she has entertained and the story behind her emotional hit records. “It Must Be Him” was her biggest hit.
Mel Blanc
February 10, 2021 06:00 - 5 minutes - 6.14 MBWho doesn’t know who Bugs Bunny is? Or Barney Rubble from “The Flintstones” or Woody Woodpecker? These cartoon characters and many others were done by the man of a thousand voices, actor, and radio personality Mel Blanc. I asked him how they coordinated the voice and film, and how he invented the characters, one of whom saved his life. We’ll also find out who his favorite was and his connection with Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.
Johnny Mathis
February 03, 2021 06:00 - 7 minutes - 7.23 MBRomantic singer Johnny Mathis has sold over 360 million records worldwide making him the third biggest selling artist of the 20th century. Seventy-three of his albums made the Billboard charts. I wondered how he came up with all of those great songs.
The Chordettes
January 27, 2021 06:00 - 5 minutes - 6.04 MBThe Chordettes were a popular female singing quartet from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They are best known for their hit songs “Mr. Sandman” and “Lollipop.” I asked Carol Buschmann about their successful career and Dick Clark’s contribution to their success. She also volunteered some info I had never heard before.
Pat Paulsen
January 20, 2021 06:00 - 7 minutes - 7.74 MBIf Pat Paulsen was here today, he would be running for president. He ran satirical campaigns for President of the United States between 1968 and 1996. In the 1992 Republican Party primaries, he received 10,984 votes. Pat came in second to Bill Clinton in the 1996 New Hampshire primary, even placing ahead of real politician, Buffalo mayor James Griffin. I think you’ll enjoy Paulsen’s dry sense of humor.
Janet Leigh
January 13, 2021 06:00 - 8 minutes - 8.35 MBThis actress achieved her most lasting recognition as the doomed Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 psychological horror film “Psycho.” It has been listed among the greatest films of all time. Janet Leigh earned an Oscar nomination and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. She tells us about the famous shower scene and the length of time it took to shoot it. She’ll explain how she got the part and how they handled nudity at that time. What about the knife plunging into her...
Teresa Brewer
January 06, 2021 06:00 - 6 minutes - 6.96 MBTeresa Brewer was one of the most popular singers of the 1950s, recording more than 600 songs. She had 28 hits, including “Music Music Music,” “’Til I Waltz Again with You,” and “Ricochet.” She was on the Billboard charts for five years. Record research author Joel Whitburn joins me on this interview and he plays a song Teresa wrote and recorded about a popular baseball star. She’ll also tell us which one of her 28 was her biggest hit record.
Maureen McGovern
December 30, 2020 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.87 MBMaureen McGovern, a well-established and talented cabaret and concert vocalist, interpreted songs by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Richard Rodgers. At first she was not impressed with a song that ended up defining her career. In the summer of 1973, “The Morning After” from the movie “The Poseidon Adventure” was a hit for Maureen and ended up being used for special occasions like weddings and graduations.
Henry Mancini
December 23, 2020 06:00 - 5 minutes - 5.62 MBHenry Mancini was an American composer, conductor, and arranger, often called one of the greatest composers in the history of film. He won four Oscars, a Golden Globe and 20 Grammy awards. His best known works include the theme for the Peter Gunn television series, music for the Pink Panther films, and “Moon River” from the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Henry discusses his writing and the movies “Darling Lilly” and “Sunflower.”
Alan Alda
December 16, 2020 06:00 - 6 minutes - 6.35 MBAlan Alda, who portrayed Captain Hawkeye Pierce on the TV series M*A*S*H, co-wrote 18 episodes and directed 32. The series lasted eight years longer than the actual Korean War. The finale is still the most watched TV episode in American history. Alda is the only actor to have Emmys for acting, writing, and directing in the same series. We’ll find out how he got the part. Was he in the army? Do you know what M*A*S*H means? Did any of the events on M*A*S*H really happen in the Korean War? All ...
Mike Farrell
December 09, 2020 06:00 - 5 minutes - 6.07 MBMike Farrell, an American actor, was best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series M*A*S*H. He discusses this extremely popular TV show and how he got into showbiz. The fun really started when he told me a story about his daughter and how she embarrassed him during a People magazine interview in his home.
Jamie Farr
December 02, 2020 06:00 - 4 minutes - 5.38 MBIf you were television fan in the 70s and 80s you’ll remember the cross dressing corporal, later sergeant, from Toledo, Ohio bucking for a discharge while serving in the Korean War. Jamie Farr was Maxwell Klinger in the CBS television sitcom M*A*S*H. He actually served in the Korean War along with another cast member, Alan Alda. Jamie will detail how they filmed M*A*S*H and tell us about all of the women’s clothing he had to wear and the changes he had to make. One time he couldn’t get out o...
C.W. McCall
November 25, 2020 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.84 MBWilliam Dale Fries Jr., an American singer, activist and politician, was best known by his stage name, C.W. McCall. During the CB (citizens band) radio craze in the 1970s he had a big hit called “Convoy” which is listed on “Rolling Stone” magazine’s 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time. The song was No. 1 for six weeks and the inspiration for the Sam Peckinpah film “Convoy.” I was curious to know how he came up with his stage name and his CB call name “Rubber Ducky.”
Dickie Goodman
November 18, 2020 06:00 - 4 minutes - 4.92 MBRichard Dorian Goodman, known as Dickie Goodman, was an American music and record producer. He was best known for his technique of using clips of records to answer question posed by Dickie and his assistant. His hits included: “The Flying Saucer,” “Mr. Jaws” and “The Touchables.” Some record labels sued Goodman for copyright infringement. In the end, the court called it satire and dropped the suit. Dickie mentions that, also how these records came about and what it took to put them togethe...
McGuire Sisters
November 11, 2020 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.87 MBThese three girls performed for five U.S. presidents and for Queen Elizabeth. The McGuire Sisters recording of “Picnic,” “Sincerely,” and “Sugartime” sold more than one million copies. Two of the sisters joined me for a fun interview. Here’s a sample.
Captain and Tennille
November 04, 2020 06:00 - 6 minutes - 6.65 MBThe husband and wife duo of Captain and Tennille won a Grammy award for record of their year and had several big hits in the 70s. The Captain, Daryl Dragon, explains their roles in show business and Toni Tennille talks about songs she wrote including: ”How Can You Be So Cold When I’m So Hot” which she told me that she didn’t write for Daryl, but then in her book, “Toni Tennille a Memoir” she admits that she did write it for him. At the end of the interview, Toni takes a few shots at me.
Dyan Cannon
October 28, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 4.03 MBDyan Cannon is an American actress who was married to actor Cary Grant. She has been nominated for three Academy Awards for “Heaven Can Wait,” “Bob & Carol, Ted and Alice,” and “Number One.” I had heard that she posed nude in several films. She quickly corrected me and added a line that got by the censors. Dyan also mentioned a director whom she had no love for. Photo was taken at the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva.
Sophia Loren
October 21, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 3.9 MBSofia Villani Scicolone, known professionally as Sophia Loren, was an Italian film actress and singer from the Golden Age of Hollywood. She was born in Rome and began her film career in 1951. She won the Best Actress Academy Award for the film “Two Women.” Sophia appeared in many films including “Arabesque” with Gregory Peck, “El Cid” with Charlton Heston, and “Grumpier Old Men” with Walter Matthaw, Jack Lemmon, and Ann Margret. In this short clip she reveals her superstitions and beauty sec...
Noel Neill (Lois Lane)
October 14, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 5.96 MBSuperman fans will love hearing from Noell Neill. She was Lois Lane in the popular classic Superman television series. Noel took up professional acting and modeling in the early 1940s before landing the role of Lois Lane. Christopher Reeves played Superman and Lois explains his untimely death. She also reveals the shocking amount of money they made for those episodes and how they filmed the sequences.
Bobby Vee
October 07, 2020 05:00 - 4 minutes - 4.95 MBBobby Vee was a teen idol in the 60s and had six gold records in his career. He was also a songwriter and appeared in films. Bobby had unusual beginnings, including a big break that came from a tragedy. His producer Snuffy Garrett picked one of his hit records up. There was a stack of songs at the publisher’s office, one for Bobby and the other for the Everly Brothers. Snuffy picked up both stacks and the song “Run to Him” was in the pile. It was written for the Everly Brothers, but became a...