Brattleboro Snapshot

Revel in surprising word histories, regional dialects, ancient linguistic roots, and modern slang with Martha Barnette, co-host of public radio’s popular “A Way with Words.” Barnette, a writer in love with so-called dead languages, co-hosts the radio show which The New Yorker called “Car Talk for Lexiphiles” with Grant Barrett, a linguist and lexicographer.

The 1950s were a fascinating time for Hollywood films. Silent era film directors were in their prime, and independent films were gaining a foothold. Exciting new stars such as Marlon Brando and Audrey Hepburn were making their mark while vital issues of the time such as juvenile delinquency, conformity, and racial attitudes were addressed, however timidly, while the shadow of the Hollywood blacklist loomed. Rick Winston will show clips from several films of various genres from that era and discuss their significance.