The Dana Gould Hour

This episode's guest is Wayne Federman, a very funny comedian and actor and now author. He has written a book called The History Of Stand Up: From Mark Twain To Dave Chapelle. It is a terrific read. Last year we had Kliph Nesteroph on to talk about his book The Comedians. This functions as a beautiful companion piece, for where Kliph’s book dwells into the lives of the comedians he discusses in the book, Wayne gives you history of the evolution of stand up as an art form -- the different ways it grew, changed, developed and evolved.

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Our old friend Thom Shubilla is here. Thom joined us previously to discuss his book, Prime Time 1966-1967, which was the story of how network television’s first all color season revolutionized the way we watch TV. His new book is entitled James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze. They say pop culture in the 1960s was comprised of the Three Bs, Beatles, Batman and Bond. The first James Bond films in 1962, Dr. No, kicked off a pop culture craze the dominated movies and television for the next five pr six years. Some good, a ton bad, some laughably, laughably bad, and Thom Shubilla is here to discuss them.

Rachel Feinstein is here. Rachel is a really, really, funny stand-up comedian whoes new special Big Guy, is now in Netflix. You may know Rachel from Inside Amy Schumer, the show Not The Place, she’s also on Amy’s new show Life and Beth, she’s been on Crashing, Red Oaks, and you will probably recognize her voice from Grand Theft Auto if you happen to play that. Do you play Grand Theft Auto, or do you just live it? I’m not sure.

Speaking of spies True Tales From Weirdsville tells the sordid tale of the origin of the CIA, from its sketchy beginnings in World War 2 as the OSS into the mysterious behemoth it is today.

Phil Hendrie is here. Phil Hendrie is a genius, and if you are unfamiliar with his work I am so happy that you get to learn about him through me. Starting out as a rock DJ he moved into talk radio and then perfected his very unique, very specific, very, very hilarious The Phil Hendrie Show, and now has his podcast, The World Of Phil Hendrie. There is a new documentary out about him called, quite simply, Hendrie, that will either introduce you to his incredible talent or will reinforce your appreciation of it. Phil Hendrie, so happy to have him on.

Additionally, we have nothing short of a broadcasting legend, George Schlatter, who re-invented how sketch comedy is presented on television, with the legendary Laugh-In, he produced series and specials for Cher, Mohammad Ali, Frank Sinatra, he is 93 and still going strong and he has a new book out entitled Still Laughing: A Life In Comedy and he is here to talk about it. George Schlatter.

True Tales From Weirdsville takes you into the world of cinematic legend Roger Corman, from the Creature From The Haunted Sea up through his two late 60’s counter-cultural epics The Wild Angels and The Trip.

Summer is in high dudgeon. The news is a rollercoaster the asphalt is too hot for the dog to walk on and all the good drive-ins are two hours away. That’s the reality I’m struggling with. I’m trying to adapt and assume you are too. So I offer this, this high summer audio oasis.

Drew Landry is here. Drew is one of my favorite comedians here in Los Angeles. He’s a buddy, he's super funny, and he has a new special out called All My Friends Are Dead. Drew started doing stand-up at 13, which means that, even though he’s only 30 years old, he’s already a worn out tired has been. NO! That’s me. Comedian Drew Landry. Comin' at ya.

Additionally, you’ve all heard of The Criterion Collection, But have you heard of Vinegar Syndrome? Vinegar Syndrome is basically The Criterion Collection for exploitation films and drive-in movie fair. They are archivists, film restoration experts and curators of our rich exploitation cinema heritage. They have a new box set out called The Lost Picture Show, which features titles like The Las Vegas Stranger, Violated! and The Sex Serum Of Dr. Blake (also known as Voodoo Heartbeat). From Vinegar Syndrome, Dino Proserpio and Oscar Becher are here.

True Tales From Weirdsville takes an unflinching look at a movie you may not have seen but you have definitely heard of. Caligula! Starring Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole and Sir John Gielgud. What’s the one thing that all these actors have in common? They all wish they weren’t in Caligula! Find out why!

As we always say, this show is brought to you by you. If you enjoy it, please consider being a Dana Gould Hour Sky Cadet. Go to DanaGould.com, and sign up for our Patreon. Five bucks a month gets you extra audio content video content and some other junk.

And now... it’s on... to our filthy business.

Two terrific guests on this episode, lordy. There is a new book out called The Exotic Ones, which tells the take of filmmaking duo Ron and Julie Ormond. They were contemporaries of Ed Wood and their story is every bit as bizarre. The book was written by the legendary Jimmy McDonogh, who wrote The Ghastly One about Andy Milligan. He’s also written biographies of Russ Meyer, Tammy Wynette, Neil Young and more. Jimmy McDonough is here today in all his psychotronic glory. And then we have our resident film critic Katharine Coldiron to further unpack the Ormond oeuvre but also to discuss her new book, Junk Film, Why Bad Movies Matter. True tales From Weirdsville is going to take you down to rabbit hole to uncover all things Kenneth Anger, and there is, as always, so much more.