The title of Jake Johnson’s latest book—Unstaged Grief: Musicals and Mourning in Midcentury America—is more than a bit jarring. It’s that part about “Musicals and Mourning” that seems so odd. […]

Sidekicks, comic foils, and other stock and background characters: cinephile and essayist David Lazar loves watching old movie character actors more than the leads. In his latest book, Celeste Holm […]

Dr. Herbert West & Astounding Tales of Medical Malpractice By Bruce Brown and Thomas Boatwright Arcana Comics Howard Phillips Lovecraft was once a rare beast. Following a personal literary philosophy […]

Hey! Remember that one particularly scary thing? You know… That terrifying tale you read or heard as a kid. That creepy commercial that came on late one night. That bit […]

I understand if the notion of a tour featuring a 69-year-old band leader performing instrumental songs doesn’t exactly sound like a rocking good time, but the show director, screenwriter, and […]