Eyewitness History

Matthew Perry was sadly found unresponsive in his hot tub by his assistant at his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, and later pronounced dead by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department on October 28, 2023. He was 54.Earlier this year, I interviewed renowned director Jonathan Lynn who directed Matthew Perry in the movie "The Whole Nine Yards." I wanted to present an excerpt from that interview where Jonathan talks about Matthew Perry, what he was like and shares some personal stories he hasn't shared anywhere else.Check out the full interview here:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Ql7m0bSpotify: https://sptfy.com/Pa3JRemember to subscribe, rate, and review Eyewitness History.Follow the show on social media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyewitnessHistoryTwitter: https://twitter.com/EyewitnessPodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we interview Morton Halperin, a central figure in the Pentagon Papers episode, to gain unique insights into one of the most pivotal moments in U.S. history.Explore the motivations and circumstances behind the release of this classified government report, which exposed hidden truths about U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.Learn how the Nixon administration, under the guidance of Henry Kissinger, responded to the Pentagon Papers leak, including the controversial wiretapping of Halperin's phones and his inclusion on the "Enemies List.Delve into Halperin's involvement in the Pentagon Papers' production, his connection with Daniel Ellsberg, and the legal battles that followed.Remember to subscribe, rate, and review Eyewitness History. Follow the Show on Social Media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyewitnessHistory Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyewitnessPodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Illeana Douglas, a multi-talented artist known for her remarkable career in acting, writing, producing, and directing, has been a shining star in the entertainment industry. You know her from such movies as Stir of Echoes, starring Kevin Bacon, and Cape Fear with Robert De Niro, among many, many others. She has written a book, called Connecticut in The Movies. She delves into how Hollywood has portrayed Connecticut on-screen and how this perception has evolved over the years. From classics like "Theodora Goes Wild" and "Bringing Up Baby" to contemporary masterpieces such as "The Ice Storm" and "Revolutionary Road," Illeana discusses over 200 feature films set in Connecticut that have, until now, remained unrecognized. "Connecticut in the Movies" is more than just a keepsake for Connecticut residents; it's a valuable resource for film enthusiasts, curated by the passionate Illeana Douglas. Remember to subscribe, rate, and review Eyewitness History. Follow the Show on Social Media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyewitnessHistory Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyewitnessPodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're joined by Andrew Biggio, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran with a deep passion for World War II history.He shares the inspiration behind his mission to honor WWII veterans and how it led to his book, "The Rifle." Learn about the powerful connection between veterans and the M1 Garand rifle, a symbol of their wartime experiences, in this touching conversation.Remember to subscribe, rate, and review Eyewitness History.Follow the Show on Social Media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyewitnessHistoryTwitter: https://twitter.com/EyewitnessPodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Key Battles of American History, host James Early and Sean follow a long-established Key Battles tradition by giving brief overviews of the postwar lives and careers of the major leaders, Axis and Allies, discussed in the series. Subscribe to Key Battles of American History!Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3nCfZZySpotify: https://spoti.fi/3nIwO5cListen to more episodes of Key Battles of American History!The Longest Day: D-Day and the Normandy Campaign: https://apple.co/46jPeuw / https://sptfy.com/P2g7Saving Private Ryan: https://apple.co/3Q9z0i4 / https://sptfy.com/P2g6 Hitler’s Last Gambit: The Battle of the Bulge: https://apple.co/3tprLJN / https://sptfy.com/P2g4See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we are privileged to host Esther Basch, a survivor of Auschwitz, one of the most notorious concentration camps of World War II. At just 16 years old, Esther was sent to Auschwitz in a cattle car, marking the beginning of her incredible and harrowing journey.After enduring the unimaginable horrors of Auschwitz, Esther was faced with a Death March to the Salzwedel Concentration Camp in April 1945. Miraculously, three days later, her life took a transformative turn when American soldiers liberated her and her fellow prisoners.Remember to subscribe, rate, and review Eyewitness History.Follow the Show on Social Media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyewitnessHistoryTwitter: https://twitter.com/EyewitnessPodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between 1940 and 1943, Polish diplomats based in Bern, Switzerland, engaged in a remarkable – and until now, almost completely untold – humanitarian operation. This operation, which has only recently come to light, was one of the largest actions to aid Jews of the entire war. In concert with two Jewish activists, these diplomats masterminded a systematic program of forging documents for Latin American countries that were smuggled into occupied Europe, in an attempt to save the lives of thousands of Jews facing extermination in the Holocaust. Today, I speak with renowned WW2 historian Roger Morehouse. Roger is the author of the books Killing Hitler, Berlin at War: Life and Death in Hitler's Capital, 1939-45, and The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939-1941. Here, we discuss his new book The Forgers which chronicles the work of the diplomats in a little known story about WW2.Remember to subscribe, rate, and review Eyewitness History.Follow the Show on Social Media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyewitnessHistoryTwitter: https://twitter.com/EyewitnessPodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we gain a firsthand perspective on the Israel-Hamas conflict from Peta Pellach, an Australian expatriate and a current eyewitness to the horrors occurring in Israel.Peta shares her unique insights as an eyewitness to the recent Hamas attack on Israel, emphasizing the historical implications of this conflict.Her firsthand experience sheds light on the atrocities currently taking place in Israel.Remember to subscribe, rate, and review Eyewitness History.Follow the Show on Social Media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyewitnessHistoryTwitter: https://twitter.com/EyewitnessPodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first episode of "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) aired on October 11, 1975. It was the beginning of a long-running and iconic late-night sketch comedy and variety show that has remained a staple of American television ever since. In recognition of this, I want to dig into the vault and present, once again, my interview with Hugh Fink.While serving as a writer on NBC's Saturday Night Live alongside luminaries such as Will Ferrell, Maya Rudolph, Norm MacDonald, Tina Fey, and Tracy Morgan, Hugh Fink not only gained acclaim for fearlessly satirizing pop culture but also made appearances as a commentator on the show's Weekend Update. In a crowning achievement during his final season at SNL, Hugh Fink was honored with the prestigious Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Program. He recently made a triumphant return to SNL as a guest writer, generously sharing his wealth of expertise with the newest crop of cast members and writers.In this conversation, we delve into his eventful tenure as an SNL writer, his involvement in the infamous Eddie Murphy controversy, and his unique experience scripting the last sketch in which the legendary Chris Farley appeared, among other fascinating insights.Remember to subscribe, rate, and review Eyewitness History.Follow the Show on Social Media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyewitnessHistoryTwitter: https://twitter.com/EyewitnessPodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of the WW2 generation faced hardship in their youth (they did spend their childhood in the Great Depression), but few had as bad of an early life as Denis Elliott, who became an RAF Flight Lieutenant. At age three he was placed in a brutal and abusive orphanage in London and was later subject to beatings by his first foster father. It wasn’t until the Second World War that everything in Denis’s life began to change — he finally overcame the lack of confidence and self-esteem that had plagued his childhood in Kent and went on to become a skilled, confident, brave pilot flying operations against Japanese forces in Burma, Malaya and Thailand.He spent two stints serving in the RAF, which saw him posted across Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and Europe, flying B-24 Liberators and Avro Lancasters.Today’s guest is Phillip Martin, author of “From Orphan to High-Flyer.” We discuss these stories, along with those of Denis’s personal growth, friendship and overcoming adversity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.