Annie Proulx, on reading and writing:

You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page.

Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.

- Annie Proulx.

James Patterson, on reading:

Reading is not work, not a chore, not a drudgery;

reading is the most joyful thing, yet, in the world.

- James Patterson.

Recommended reading - Talk Radio (1987) & Talked to Death (1987):

Talk Radio (1987) & Talked to Death (1987)

Both books filmed as Talk Radio (1988), directed by Oliver Stone.

Talk Radio

by Eric Bogosian.
 
Published 1987.
Published by Concord Theatricals.
Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0573651248
ISBN-13: 978-0573651243
 
Description:
 
Characters: 7 male, 2 female, plus offstage voices.
Scenery: Interior.

Newly revised! Barry Champlain Cleveland's controversial radio host is on the air doing what he does best: insulting the pathetic souls who call in the middle of the night to sound off. Tomorrow Barry's show is going into national syndication and his producer is afraid that Barry will say something that will offend the sponsors. This of course makes Barry even more outrageous. Funny and moving off beat outrage.

 

Talked to Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg

by Stephen Singular.
 
Published 1987.
Mass Market Paperback.
Published by Berkley.

ISBN 13: 9780425113295
ISBN 10: 0425113299
ASIN: 0425113299
 
Description:
 
The book that inspired Oliver Stone’s controversial film Talk Radio.
 
On June 18, 1984, one of the nation’s most controversial talk-show hosts was gunned down.
 
The murder triggered an extensive FBI manhunt that ended in a shocking discovery.
 

THE VICTIM: Alan Berg was the talk-show host all of Denver loved to hate. Aggravating. Irrepressible. Charismatic. Nobody escaped his withering attacks on hypocrisy, bigotry, and injustice.

 

THE CRIME: Berg was brutally murdered in front of his house. Unarmed. Unsuspecting. He was caught in a hail of machine-gun fire. His death shocked the country... and led the FBI on a nationwide manhunt for the killers.

 

THE SUSPECTS: The trail led investigators to the Order, a radical cult of neo-Nazi white supremacists. Armed and violent - their doctrine declared war on the United States and preached a philosophy of racial hatred and fear.

Born on this day – Marie Bell:

Marie Bell

Actress

Theatre director

December 23, 1900 – August 14, 1985

Credits:

Ne coupez pas mes arbres (1975); Closed Shutters (1973); Les yeux crevés (1968); Phedre (1968); Hotel Paradiso (1966); Sandra (1965); La bonne soupe (1964); The Leopard (1963); Le colonel Chabert (1943); Vie privée (1942); Ceux du ciel (1941); The Phantom Wagon (1939); Noix de coco (1939); La Glu (1938); Légions d'honneur (1938); Un carnet de bal (1937); Pantins d'amour (1937); Blanchette (1937); Fiordalisi d'oro (1936); La tentation (1936); Les demi-vierges (1936); Quand minuit sonnera (1936); La garçonne (1936); Le roman d'un jeune homme pauvre (1936); Sous la terreur (1935); Poliche (1934); Le grand jeu (1934); Fedora (1934); Caprice de princesse (1934); L'homme à l'Hispano (1933); Luck (1931); La folle aventure (1931); L'homme qui assassina (1931); Le joker (1930); La nuit est à nous (1930); Figaro (1929); La valse de l'adieu (1928); Madame Récamier (1928); Paris (1924); Le mauvais garçon (1923).

Born on this day – Anton Leader:

Anton Leader

Director

December 23, 1913 – July 1, 1988

Credits:

Movin' On (1976); Nichols (1972); Hawaii Five-O (1970–1971); The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County (1970); The Virginian (1965–1970); Get Smart (1970); Ironside (1967–1969); The Survivors (1969); It Takes a Thief (1969); Star Trek (1968); Iron Horse (1967); The Road West (1967); Mr. Terrific (1967); Tarzan (1966–1967); I Spy (1966); It's About Time (1966); Gilligan's Island (1965–1966); Daniel Boone (1966); The Legend of Jesse James (1966); Laredo (1965); Lost in Space (1965); Rawhide (1961–1965); Espionage (1964); Children of the Damned (1964); Zero One (1962–1963); Father of the Bride (1962); Leave It to Beaver (1961–1962); The Twilight Zone (1960–1961); The Brothers Brannagan (1960–1961); National Velvet (1960); Sea Hunt (1958–1960); The Man from Blackhawk (1960); Bold Venture (1959); Mr. Lucky (1959); Sugarfoot (1959); Schlitz Playhouse (1959); Zane Grey Theatre (1959); Lawman (1958); Perry Mason (1958); The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1957–1958); The Adventures of McGraw (1957); The O. Henry Playhouse (1957); The Web (1957); Wire Service (1957); The Ford Television Theatre (1955–1957); Cavalcade of America (1956–1957); The Eighty Yard Run (Playhouse 90) (1956); Four Star Playhouse (1956); The Millionaire (1956); Celebrity Playhouse (1955–1956); Damon Runyon Theater (1955); TV Reader's Digest (1955); Medic (1955); The Man Behind the Badge (1955).

Born on this day – Dino Risi:

Dino Risi

Director

December 23, 1916 – June 7, 2008

Born on this day – Rod Colbin:

Rod Colbin

Actor

December 23, 1923 – February 4, 2007

Born on this day – Harry Guardino:

Harry Guardino

Actor

December 23, 1925 – July 17, 1995

Credits:

Fist of Honor (1993); Murder, She Wrote (1984–1993); Renegade (1992); Human Target (1992); Cheers (1992); Under Surveillance (1991); P.S.I. Luv U (1991); Jake and the Fatman (1991); The Neon Empire (1989); Hunter (1989); Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1988); The Law and Harry McGraw (1987); Adderly (1987); Hotel (1985–1986); On Our Way (1985); Jessie (1984); Lovers and Other Strangers (1983); The Sophisticated Gents (1981); Vega$ (1981); Any Which Way You Can (1980); Barnaby Jones (1980); Hawaii Five-O (1969–1979); Bender (1979); Goldengirl (1979); Pleasure Cove (1979); Every Which Way But Loose (1978); Evening in Byzantium (1978); Matilda (1978); Police Story (1973–1978); No Margin for Error (1978); Wonder Woman (1978); Fantasy Island (1978); Contract on Cherry Street (1977); Rollercoaster (1977); Future Cop (1977); The Enforcer (1976); The Streets of San Francisco (1976); Having Babies (1976); Street Killing (1976); St. Ives (1976); Good Heavens (1976); McCoy (1975); Whiffs (1975); Capone (1975); The Manhunter (1974); The Evil Touch (1973–1974); Kojak (1974); Get Christie Love! (1974); The New Perry Mason (1973–1974); Indict and Convict (1974); The Wide World of Mystery (1973); Partners in Crime (1973); McCloud (1973); They Only Kill Their Masters (1972); Medical Center (1972); Night Gallery (1972); Slingshot (1971); Dirty Harry (1971); Monty Nash (1971); The Last Child (1971); Red Sky at Morning (1971); Love, American Style (1971); The Name of the Game (1968–1971); Men at Law (1971); The F.B.I. (1970); Lovers and Other Strangers (1970); The Lonely Profession (1969); The Hell with Heroes (1968); Jigsaw (1968); Madigan (1968); Valley of Mystery (1967); The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967); The Treasure of San Gennaro (1966); Run for Your Life (1966); 12 O'Clock High (1966); The Virginian (1965); The Reporter (1964); Rhino! (1964); Ben Casey (1964); Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963); The Outer Limits (1963); The Greatest Show on Earth (1963); Naked City (1959–1963); The Eleventh Hour (1963); Route 66 (1962); Alcoa Premiere (1962); Dr. Kildare (1962); The Dick Powell Theatre (1962); The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962); Kraft Theatre (1962); Hell Is for Heroes (1962); The Pigeon That Took Rome (1962); The Untouchables (1960–1962); Cain's Hundred (1962); Target: The Corruptors! (1962); King of Kings (1961); Checkmate (1961); Overland Trail (1960); 5 Branded Women (1960); Johnny Staccato (1959); The Five Pennies (1959); The Eighty Yard Run (Playhouse 90) (1957–1959); Pork Chop Hill (1959); Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1959); Houseboat (1958); Suspicion (1958); Kraft Theatre (1948); Studio 57 (1957); Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957); The Millionaire (1957); Schlitz Playhouse (1957); Studio One (1957); The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1957); I Led 3 Lives (1955); The Court Jester (1955); Hold Back Tomorrow (1955); I Married Joan (1955); The Big Tip Off (1955); Dangerous Assignment (1952); Son of Ali Baba (1952); Flesh and Fury (1952); Sirocco (1951); Up Front (1951).

Born on this day – Frederic Forrest:

Frederic Forrest

Actor

December 23, 1936 – June 23, 2023

Credits:

21 Jump Street (1987); A Piece of Eden (2000); Against the Wall (1994); All the King's Men (2006); Alone (1997); American Playhouse (1986); Andersonville (1996); Apocalypse Now (1979); Apocalypse Pooh (1987); Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun (1988); Best Kept Secrets (1984); Black Thunder (1998); Boogie Boy (1998); Brando (2007); Calamity Jane (1984); Cat Chaser (1989); Chasers (1994); Ciao! John Crowther (2023); Citizen Cohn (1992); Crash Dive (1996); Dark Shadows (1967); Die Kinder (1990); Double Exposure: The Story of Margaret Bourke-White (1989); Double Jeopardy (1996); Double Obsession (1992); Falling Down (1993); Futz (1969); Gotham (1988); Hammett (1982); Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991); Hidden Fears (1993); Hollywood Mavericks (1990); I Know My First Name Is Steven (1989); Implicated (1998); It Lives Again (1978); La tele de tu vida (2007); Larry (1974); Lassie (1994); Little Girl Lost (1988); Lonesome Dove (1989); Militia (2000); Mrs. Columbo (1979); Murphy Brown (1998); Music Box (1989); N.Y.P.D. (1968–1969); One from the Heart (1981); One Night Stand (1995); One of Our Own (1997); Path to War (2002); Point Blank (1998); Precious Victims (1993); Promise Him Anything (1975); Quo Vadis? (1985); Rain Without Thunder (1992); Return (1985); Right to Kill? (1985); Ruby and Oswald (1978); Saigon: Year of the Cat (1983); Shadow Hours (2000); Shadow Lake (1999); Stacking (1987); Star Wars Screen Test - Frederic Forrest (1977); Survival of Dana (1979); Sweepstakes (1979); Sweetwater (1999); TCM Remembers 2023 (2023); The 37th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1980); The 52nd Annual Academy Awards (1980); The Brave (1997); The Cast of One from the Heart (2024); The Conversation (1974); The Deliberate Stranger (1986); The Dion Brothers (1974); The Directors (1997); The Don Is Dead (1973); The Dream Studio (2004); The End of Violence (1997); The Executioner (1975); The Filthy Five (1968); The First 9 1/2 Weeks (1998); The Habitation of Dragons (1992); The House Next Door (2002); The Missouri Breaks (1976); The Parade (1984); The Quality of Light (2003); The Rose (1979); The Spreading Ground (2000); The Stone Boy (1984); The Two Jakes (1990); The Young Riders (1992); Trauma (1993); Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988); Twin Sisters (1992); Valentino Returns (1989); Valley Girl (1983); Valley Girl: 20 Totally Tubular Years Later (2003); Viet Rock (1966); Whatever (1998); When the Legends Die (1972); Where Are the Children? (1985); Who Will Love My Children? (1983).

Born on this day – Elizabeth Hartman:

Elizabeth Hartman

Actress

December 23, 1943 – June 10, 1987

Credits:

A Cinderella Named Elizabeth (1965); A Patch of Blue (1965); Doctors' Hospital (1975); Full Moon High (1981); In Pursuit of Treasure (1972); Intermission (1973); Love, American Style / Segment: Love and the Locksmith (1973); Night Gallery / Segment: The Dark Boy (1971); Secrets Behind the Secret (2007); Standby: Lights! Camera! Action! (1984); The 23rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1966); The 38th Annual Academy Awards (1966); The Beguiled (1971); The Fixer (1968); The Group (1966); The Movies (1967); The Secret of NIMH (1982); The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1967); The Wide World of Mystery (1973); Walking Tall (1973); Willow B: Women in Prison (1980); You're a Big Boy Now (1966).

On this day in movie history - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

directed by Sergio Leone,

written by Age & Scarpelli (a.k.a. Agenore Incrocci and Furio Scarpelli), Luciano Vincenzoni and Sergio Leone,

based on a story by Luciano Vincenzoni and Sergio Leone,

was released in Italy on December 23, 1966.

Music by Ennio Morricone.

Cast:

Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Aldo Giuffrè, Luigi Pistilli, Rada Rassimov, Enzo Petito, Claudio Scarchilli, John Bartha, Livio Lorenzon, Antonio Casale, Sandro Scarchilli, Benito Stefanelli, Angelo Novi, Antonio Casas, Aldo Sambrell, Al Mulock, Sergio Mendizábal, Antonio Molino Rojo, Lorenzo Robledo, Mario Brega, Richard Alagich, Chelo Alonso, Fortunato Arena, Román Ariznavarreta, Silvana Bacci, Joseph Bradley, Frank Braña, Amerigo Castrighella, Saturno Cerra, Luigi Ciavarro, William Conroy, Antonio Contreras, Domingo Contreras, Axel Darna, Tony Di Mitri, Gianni Di Segni, Alberigo Donadeo, Attilio Dottesio, Luis Fernández de Eribe, Veriano Ginesi, Jesús Guzmán, Víctor Israel, Nazzareno Natale, Ricardo Palacios, Antonio Palombi, Julio Martínez Piernavieja, Jesús Porras, Romano Puppo, Antoñito Ruiz, Aysanoa Runachagua, Enrique Santiago, José Terrón, Franco Tocci, Alfonso Veady.

On this day in movie history - Dirty Harry (1971)

Dirty Harry

directed by Don Siegel,

written by Harry Julian Fink, R.M. Fink and Dean Riesner,

based on a story by Harry Julian Fink, R.M. Fink and Jo Heims,

was released in the United States on December 23, 1971.

Music by Lalo Schifrin.

Cast:

Clint Eastwood, Andy Robinson, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, John Vernon, John Larch, John Mitchum, Woodrow Parfrey, Josef Sommer, Mae Mercer, Albert Popwell, Lyn Edgington, Ruth Kobart, Lois Foraker, William Paterson, Debralee Scott.

On this day in movie history - Talk Radio (1988)

Talk Radio

directed by Oliver Stone,

written by Eric Bogosian and Oliver Stone,

based on the play: Talk Radio, by Eric Bogosian and Ted Savinar,

and the book: Talked to Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg by Stephen Singular,

was released in New York City, on December 23, 1988.

Music by Stewart Copeland.

Cast:

Eric Bogosian, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Greene, Leslie Hope, John C. McGinley, John Pankow, Michael Wincott, Zach Grenier, Anna Levine, Robert Trebor, Linda Atkinson, Allan Corduner, Bruno Rubeo, Bill Johnson, Rockets Redglare.

On this day in movie history - Nobody’s Fool (1994)

Nobody’s Fool

directed and written by Robert Benton,

based on the novel by Richard Russo,

was released in the United States on December 23, 1994.

Music by Howard Shore.

Cast:

Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, Dylan Walsh, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Gene Saks, Josef Sommer, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco, Catherine Dent, Margo Martindale, Shannah Laumeister Stern, Angelica Page.