For 33 1/3 years, Paul Rappaport made history as a rock promotions kingpin at Columbia Records, shaping pathways for the biggest artists of the ’70s, 80s and ’90s to find their audience. Paul has penned 'Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay, and the Art of Rock Promotion', a memoir that captures the creative fun and the rich, human connection at the heart of the record business in its golden era.

Paul shares stories of big-budget, wildly innovative stunts, like painting a radio station pink for Pink Floyd, sending a terrifying “alien invasion like” laser beam across Los Angeles skies for Blue Oyster Cult and jumping through every station relationship hoop to land Mick Jagger, out of the box, at number one on the charts! Paul reports that in the records and radio world, it was friendships and reciprocity that made the engines hum.

Paul shares stories of his heart-to-hearts with Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and Mick Jagger and of his one-of-a-king thank you gift from Pink Floyd… an opportunity to join them on stage in London to shred and trade guitar licks with David Gilmour on Run Like Hell!

With a deep reverence for music and the artists who shaped his world view, Paul reflects on the chance he was given to be a part of the effort alongside his boyhood heroes and to help them share their work with the world.

Music is ever-evolving and to get radio stations on board with new sounds, Paul would often grab everyone from neighborhood radio stations and record stores and personally initiate them to the glory that is Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen live and in concert. It worked! He arranged one-on-one interviews, including the time Philadelphia radio personality Helen Leicht looked into the eyes of Paul McCartney and broke into tears. Sir Paul jumped up and pulled her into a hug. Beatles up close are sob inducing. He gets it.

Co-host Weezy, also a radio/records veteran, talks shop with Paul, remembering warmly the kooky and collaborative crusade to celebrate and share the music. They also discuss the future of terrestrial radio. Is there one?

In our current media segment, Fritz and Weezy discuss The Law According To Lidia Poet and Titans: The Rise of Hollywood, both on Netflix.

Path Points of Interest:

Gliders Over Hollywood

Paul Rappaport on Facebook

The Law According To Lidia Poet on Netflix

Titans: The Rise of Hollywood on Netflix

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Helen Leicht Interviews Sir Paul McCartney On WXPN - 8/29/13

We stand in gratitude to Bruce Vilanch for Peak Hollywood’s most treasured and iconic entertainment history moments. Bruce is an EGOT Award Show Writer and he’s penned warehouses and server farms full of TV Variety shows and specials with lingering legacies. As infamous Youtube gems were mined, during lockdown, by intrepid Millennial podcasters, Bruce bravely opened wounds to spill toxic details.

Yes, we are talking Star Wars Holiday & Paul Lynde Halloween Specials. The hot tea is on tap in Bruce’s new book, It Seemed Like A Bad Idea At The Time.

As a child, Bruce was not just your garden variety funny fat kid. His mother recognized his unique potential and submitted young Bruce as a Lane Bryant Charming Chub print model. His journalism career took off at summer camp where Bruce successfully avoided outdoor activities by writing a popular and dishy camp newspaper. During college he went pro as a cub reporter for The Chicago Tribune, watching the films Gene Siskel elected to skip. A review of Bette Midler’s cabaret show led to a collaborative lifelong friendship.

The pattern has continued with Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Dolly Parton and beyond. Bruce’s comedic charms are so potent, he can take stinkers like Can’t Stop The Music and Ice Pirates (featuring Bruce as a court jesting body-less head) and churn hilarity. Wherever the comedy leaned towards tragedy, Bruce mined the gold that is his new book.

Bruce also tells us how Donny Osmond’s pull with Mormon elders got a Utah affiliate to broadcast Bette Midler’s HBO special. Bruce then boldly addresses the Jo Koy Golden Globes fiasco. He imparts the famous legend of Beethoven (the dog’s) Oscar movement, and tells of his daring journey in search of a look at Milton Berle’s alleged equipment.

But, Bruce’s glories will not be outshined by his duds because we are ringing in a round of IMDB Roulette in which we celebrate: Ray Charles, Dolly Parton Elizabeth Taylor and The Constitution! Plus, Bruce hints at an upcoming special with Whoopi Goldberg!

In recommendations --

Weezy: Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War on Prime

Fritz: The Documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes on HBO Max

Path Points of Interest:

It Seemed Like A Bad Idea At The Time: The Worst TV Shows In History And Other Things I Wrote by Bruce Vilanch

Bruce Vilanch on Wikipedia

Bruce Vilanch on IMDB

Bruce Vilanch on Facebook

We Got Bruce - Fan Site

Star Wars Holiday Special

Paul Lynde Halloween Special

Brady Bunch Variety Hour - First Episode

Shiny Happy People - Season 2 - Teenage Holy War

Billy Joel And So It Goes

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We’re joined by actress/singer/dancer Ann Jillian who takes us on an extraordinary journey which begins as her parents escape Soviet-Occupied Lithuania and continues into the Hollywood soundstages that launch Ann’s career as a child star in Gypsy and Babes in Toyland and then winds towards her adult career as a beloved Hollywood icon.

Ann shares the powerful story of her family's flight across war-torn Europe on bicycles, aided by her mother’s multilingual savvy, which helped them dodge bullets and bombs and navigate a perilous path to safety.

Settling in America was more than a fresh start, it was a dream realized. Ann recalls the deep pride her parents felt the day they became U.S. citizens and she reflects on her show biz beginnings, first in commercials (she was a Chevrolet girl!), then, playing Bo Peep in Babes in Toyland, leading to the stage name bestowed upon her by Mr. Walt Disney! and landing the role of Dainty June in Gypsy, where she gained an even deeper appreciation of her own mother who was NOT a Mama Rose.

Ann tells us how education was valued for Disney child stars, she shares her mother’s wisdom on dealing with jealousies and she tells us about the treasured momento she received from her dear friend in Natalie Wood.

She also discusses her battle with breast cancer, her triumphant return to work, the joy in becoming a mother and the fabulously funny and romantic 'how we met story' featuring herself and her husband of 50 years, Andy.

And IMDB Roulette this week takes us on a journey around Mayfield, into the Twilight Zone and through a time when TV movies tackled important social issues.

In recommendations --

Fritz: Britbox Mini Series, Outrageous

Weezy: Netflix Series, Son of a Critch

Path Points of Interest:

Ann Jillian on Wikipedia

Ann Jillian on IMDB

Ann Jillian on Amazon

Outrageous

Son of a Critch

Media Path Podcast

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Media Path on Instagram

Media Path on X

Media Path on Bluesky