Arts and Culture
100 Year-Old Mural in Bessemer Gets a Makeover
When the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was restored in the 1980s and 90s, people were awe struck by the transformation. Vibrant colors and details that had been hidden for centuries could be seen once again. At the Bright Star in Bessemer, which bills itself as the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Alabama, the staff is experiencing similar feelings as the eatery’s more than 100 year-old mural slowly gets a makeover.
Andrew Glaze, Alabama’s 95-Year-Old Poet Laureate, Has Died
According to his family, poet and playwright Andrew Glaze died Sunday February 7, 2016. Glaze has been called "an essential poet for more than sixty years." The novelist, playwright and poet was currently serving as Poet Laureate of Alabama.
Alabama Actress Keeps Fannie Lou Hamer’s “Little Light” Shining
“I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” ~Fannie Lou Hamer~ Actress and Alabama native Billie Jean Young has has done something not many have; she’s performed the same show more than 800 times on four continents. Her one-woman tribute tells the story of a Mississippi sharecropper turned civil rights activist, whose courage […]
New Ownership for The Birmingham Times
The state’s oldest African American newspaper has a new owner. The Birmingham Times, was purchased by the Foundation for Progress in Journalism, a Birmingham non-profit. Sam Martin will be the paper’s new publisher. Martin was formerly the publisher for the Montgomery Advertiser.
Arc Stories: January 2016 Edition
Stories about learning a valuable lesson. A young man striving for his father’s approval; a couple whose relationship is defined by the purchase of a van; and an educator who’s life trajectory is shaped by one of his students. (Originally aired January 28, 2016 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
Self-taught Alabama Artist Thornton Dial has Died
The self-taught, African-American artist Thornton Dial has died at his home in Bessemer. He was 87.
UAB Athletics Hits Another Fundraising Milestone
UAB Athletics announced yesterday that they exceeded a second crucial fundraising mark in the Finish the Drive campaign.
Mother Angelica and the Eternal Word Television Network
Roman Catholics around the globe know the name Mother Angelica. She’s the founding matriarch of a small monastery in Irondale that grew into one of the largest religious media networks in the world, spanning 145 countries.
A Visit to the Historic Lyric Theatre Before It Reopens This Thursday
An old Birmingham vaudeville theater starts a new life tomorrow. After two years and a more than $11 million renovation, the Lyric Fine Arts Theatre reopens downtown, exactly 102 years after its first performance. In its heyday, the theater hosted acts like The Marx Brothers and Will Rodgers. But decades of neglect left the theater in serious disrepair.
Committee Could Decide the Fate of the Jefferson County Courthouse Murals
Back in September, the Birmingham chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP) petitioned the Jefferson County Commission to remove two murals that currently hang in the entrance way to the county courthouse.
Arc Stories: Holiday Edition
‘Tis The Season: Stories about the Holidays: A Christmas gift that completely changed the trajectory of on man’s life; the first time a little-girl gets a glimpse of the adult world; and a confession 20 years in the making, as a boy searches his parents house for that Christmas gift he really wanted. Originally aired: […]
Christmas in Birmingham, 1920: The Dueling Santa Clauses of Loveman’s and Pizitz
During the Christmas season, Santa Claus is everywhere. And, if he’s not, a Santa suit can be had for a mere $40. But it didn’t used to be that way. This Christmas eve, Local pop culture historian Tim Hollis tells WBHM of a Birmingham Christmas past, when the city’s two largest department stores, Loveman's and Pizitz, fought for the title of Santa’s official Magic City headquarters. A word of caution for those of you listening with young children: this story touches on some Christmas secrets.
Found Sound: The Alabama Theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer Memorializes Buster Norris
A "found sound" story of organ recordings from the Alabama's Theatre's Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
Sociologists’ Book Urges End of Sex Division in Sports
Can you imagine a world with no gender divisions in sports? University of Alabama at Birmingham sociologist Adrienne Milner can. Not only that — she wants to help make it happen. Along with University of Miami professor Dr. Jomills Henry Braddock II, she’s written a new book called “Sex Segregation in Sports: Why Separate Is Not […]
Success More Than Jokes For Birmingham’s Roy Wood Jr. On Daily Show
For me, I think I have been very, very lucky to have a career up until this point where pretty much everything I have done, prepared me for what I am doing today on The Daily Show – from the acting, to the stand ups, even the prank phone calls. Roy Wood Jr.
Museum Exhibit Tells Spiritual Story of African Slaves in Haiti
A new exhibit opening at the Birmingham Museum of Art shows the marriage of African spirituality and Western traditions. The exhibit is called Haitian Flags and consists of ceremonial tapestries used by people of the Vodou faith. Vodou is still practiced on Haiti today. WBHM’s Esther Ciammachilli spoke to curator Emily Hanna at the museum to learn more.
Birmingham-Southern Professor Michael Flowers Named 2015 Professor of the Year
For more than three decades, Michael Flowers has been teaching acting at Birmingham-Southern College. Flowers was recently named 2015 Alabama Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation.
Birmingham LGBTQ Community Leader Honored by White House
Steven Romeo is founder of the Change Project here in Birmingham. It highlights the lives of LGBTQ people in Alabama and other areas of the South. Recently, Romeo received the White House “Champions of Change” recognition, given to just a handful of LGBT community leaders in the U.S. He stopped by to talk to WBHM […]
Arc Stories: November 2015 Edition
Stories about people trying to navigate through major dilemmas. A young man tires to discover a family secret; a girl comes to grips with the loss of her mom; and a woman finds herself completely exposed outside of a stranger’s house. (Originally aired November 19, 2015 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
The Eclectic Sounds of Birmingham’s Holly Waxwing
Montevallo native Garrett Crosby produces music under the name Holly Waxwing. The currently Birmingham-based electronic artist creates playful menageries of sound from disparate places and samples everything from top 40 and Mariah Carey to Episcopalian psychedelic folk. His EP Peach Winks was released earlier this year. WBHM's Em Wiginton spoke to him about how he creates his music. Holly Waxwing performs this Saturday at the Desert Island Supply Co. in Birmingham.
Controversial ISIS Coloring Book Reaches Vestavia Home
Really Big Coloring Books, which credits itself with starting the adult coloring book craze, has come out with a new and controversial one titled “ISIS: A Culture of Evil.” The company sent thousands unsolicited around the country, and one ended up in a Muslim household in Vestavia Hills. Henna Budhwani had just gotten home from work […]
Winston Groom — The Generals
George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, and George Marshall have become almost mythical figures after fighting in the U.S. Army during World War II. They’re also the subjects of Alabama author Winston Groom’s new book called The Generals. Marshall served as chief of staff of the army. McArthur commanded troops in the South Pacific. Patton fought in North Africa and Europe. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke with Groom about the book.
Musician Chris Thile on Playing Birmingham, Replacing Garrison Keillor
Virtuoso mandolin player Chris Thile performs in Birmingham Monday at UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. He spoke with WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley about his varied musical career, why he loves performing in Birmingham and how he feels about his next job: replacing Garrison Keillor as the host of A Prairie Home Companion.
WBHM Partners with StoryCorps OutLoud
Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM is partnering with StoryCorps to broadcast selections from its StoryCorps OutLoud initiative recorded in Birmingham. StoryCorps OutLoud is a multi-year project dedicated to preserving the often unheard voices of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. WBHM will share these stories on air and online Tuesdays and Fridays throughout November, 2015. […]
Jerri Hardesty: Changing Lives Through Poetry
Emotion often fuels poetry. Sometimes though that emotion is so personal it’s like being let into a secret space. That’s the way it is with poems we’ll hear from Jerri Hardesty. She’s president of the Alabama State Poetry Society. She’s won more than 600 awards and titles for both written and spoken word poetry. Hardesty […]
Arc Stories: October 2015 Edition
Three storytellers find themselves in frightening situations. A camp ghost story that gets out of hand; a man forced to look death in the face; and trying to spy on religious fanatics (Originally aired October 22, 2015 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
Why I Support WBHM: Michael Harrington
Michael Harrington’s winning design is featured on the newest edition of WBHM’s pint glass for the Fall 2015 fund drive. For a contribution of just $7.50/month or a one time contribution of $90.00, this pint glass is a wonderful reminder of your support of public radio for Birmingham and North Central Alabama, Here’s two […]
A Trip To The Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention
Limestone County, Alabama has a long and storied old time fiddling tradition. This past weekend, about 15,000 fiddlers and old time music fans gathered for the 49th annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Athens. RV’s from around the country loaded with fiddles, guitars, and banjos filled the campus of Athens State University. The convention and competition bring together musicians of all ages.
Arc Stories: September 2015 Edition
Stories include a man trying to do the right things when society is telling him otherwise; one man’s conflict within his own making; a young girl impersonating someone of a different race and gender; and a father trying to keep up appearances in front of his daughter. (Originally aired September 24, 2015 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
Journalist Pamela Newkirk on the Astonishing Life of Ota Benga
The 1904 Saint Louis World's fair is best known to Birminghamians as the place where Vulcan debuted, before moving to his permanent home on Red Mountain. But it was also host to an exhibit displaying thousands of humans from around the world. Among them was a young Congolese man named Ota Benga. He was captured by former missionary Samuel Phillips Verne and brought to America for the exhibit. Benga's story is the subject of the new book Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga by journalist Pamela Newkirk. She told WBHM’s Rachel Lindley about Ota Benga’s life, and the cultural mindset that led to his captivity.
Season Opener! Carlos Izcaray Leads the Alabama Symphony Orchestra
This weekend, newly appointed Music Director Carlos Izcaray conducts the Alabama Symphony Orchestra in a program featuring both modern and romantic works. Izcaray (pronounced “eez-ca-RYE”) spoke with WBHM’s Michael Krall about the program, his management style, and about how audiences might approach a modern, contemporary work. The conversation began with Izcaray talking about why he moved his […]
After Almost 100 Years, Birmingham’s Olmsted Park Plan Sees New Life
With the success of Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham, the city’s seen increased support for more public green spaces. As the city develops new parks and trails for Birmingham residents, leaders are taking lessons from the city’s history, including seeking advice from a park plan published almost a century ago.
