The On The Bookshelf Podcast

Michael Benson & Craig Singer-story of 2 Movie Giants-Moguls

Book Bit for Jan. 2,2025

“Moguls: The Lives and Times of Hollywood Pioneers Nicholas and Joseph Schenck by Michael Benson and Craig Singer (Kensington Publishing Corp.)

 

It’s the story of the two most influential men in Hollywood history, whose stories have not been told until now. They didn’t just make movies, they created the Motion Pictures Academy, the Oscar, and helped launch United Artists, MGM, and Twentieth Century Fox studios, plus the Loew’s chain of movie theatres.

 

“The Schencks were responsible for metamorphosizing film, from its production and distribution to its star power, distribution via glitzy movie theatres, manipulating the headlines and celebrity narratives, and even how films were sourced, shot, and regarded by the public. They infused mystique, money, glamour, danger, sex, and romance into film and were there at the fledging start of “talkies.” Responsible for growing the celluloid industry into a multi-million dollar empire right through the Great Depression, one can draw a straight line from the efforts of the Schencks to today’s mega movie stars.”

But that’s not all! The Schencks (who started as pharmacists in Chinatown, NYC) halted a Nazi takeover of the movie industry and a shakedown by the Mob in the 1930s; Joe did four months in the fed pen for tax evasion (one of his deductions involved a menage a trois);their pals included William Randolph Hearst, Lillian Gish, Jacob Paley, John Huston, Fatty Arbuckle, Douglas Fairbanks, Irving Thalberg, Irving Berlin, and TV’s Superman George Reeves (whose mysterious suicide is linked to the brothers ) These guys knew everybody, and helped hundreds of people along the way. Joe’s brother-in-law was the iconic comic actor and silent screen star, Buster Keaton!

“MOGULS is a rollicking, entertaining romp through Hollywood’s unstoppable trajectory and its glitzy, sordid highs and lows, seen through the exploits of two brothers who made cinema history.”

Michael Benson (Brooklyn, NY) is the author of more than sixty books, including the nonfiction history and crime titles Gangsters vs Nazis, Betrayal in Blood, Killer Twins, Mommy Deadliest, Who’s Who in the JFK Assassination, and The Devil at Genesee Junction. He is the co-author, along with Frank Dimatteo, of the acclaimed American Mafia history books, plus the recipient of the Academy of American Poets Award.

Craig Singer is an Emmy-nominated director, producer, writer and filmmaker. A Former Disney executive, he directed and produced the films A Good Night to Die (2003), Dark Ride (2006), Perkins' 14 (2009) and Animal Room (1995). His latest film, 6:45, earned multiple awards, including Best Feature, Paris Independent Film Festival; Best Feature, Hollywood on the Tiber Film Awards; Best Horror Feature, Hong Kong Indie Film Festival; and Best Director, Catalina Film Festival.

 

Hear one of three interview with the authors on my podcast, onthebookshelf.podbean.com, two shorter and one 30 minutes  ON THE BOOKSHELF on WTBF-AM/FM.

Lou Ferrante returns with Book 2 in his history of Mafia--JFK, Cuba, Hoffa!

 The second volume in the epic history of the American Mafia from critically acclaimed author and former Gambino family heist expert, Louis Ferrante, continues with Borgata: Clash of Titans (Pegasus Crime) which covers 1960 to 1985, as the mob comes into conflict with the American political elite—and confronts internal wars that will shake the organization to its foundations.  

Ferrante is a former Mafia associate who served eight years in prison after refusing to incriminate his fellow Gambino family members. The first volume, Borgata: Rise of Empire (2024), received critical acclaim (including rave reviews in The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Washington Free Beacon, and The Advocate) and Louis was invited to chat about the book on multiple national programs, including NPR’s Morning Edition, KPFA’s Letter and Politics, and The Art of Manliness Podcast to name a few.

 The first serious external threat to the mafia’s existence in America came from U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who repeatedly expressed his desire to eradicate organized crime in America. Kennedy unleashed the full force of the U.S. Justice Department, including a slumbering FBI that Kennedy dragged into the fray, to the apparent dismay of long-time FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The mafia’s unforgiving response is executed by Louisiana don Carlos Marcello along with Florida don Santo Trafficante, who together aimed at the attorney general’s brother, the president of the United States.

 As he did in the first volume, Ferrante continues to debunk myths while adding new insights into other mafia mysteries, such as the feud between mafia capo Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano and union leader Jimmy Hoffa, revealing the most plausible scenario of why Hoffa died, how he was killed, and what happened to his body.

Louis Ferrante is a former Mafia associate and heist expert who served eight years in prison after refusing to incriminate his fellow Gambino family members. His last book, Mob Rules (HarperCollins), was an international bestseller, and his Discovery Channel Series, Inside the Gangsters Code, earned him a Grierson Award nomination for Presenter of the Year.

 

Susan Peters with story of a Monster: a serial killer called BTK

Monster: BTK is the newest installment of Tenderfoot TV & iHeartPodcasts' Monster franchise, spawned from the hugely popular 2018 podcast Atlanta Monster. The new season reveals the true story of Dennis Rader, also known as the BTK Killer, who murdered at least 10 people in Wichita, Kansas between 1974 and 1991. The BTK's notoriety was bolstered by his taunting letters to police and phone calls to the media. Rader's identity was finally revealed in 2005 to the shock of his family, his community, and the world.

Episodes available now!

Susan Peters is a former journalist and news anchor. Originally from Illinois, Peters went on to cover the news in San Diego and Peoria. She worked for KAKE, the ABC affiliate in Wichita, Kansas from 1995 to 2016. She has won regional Emmy awards for her reporting in both California and Kansas, recognized for excellence in over 40 years of journalism.

Peters is known for her dedication to connecting with those struggling in the community and engaging viewers by talking to them as if she were in their living room.

Peters was a lead anchor for KAKE in 2004 when the BTK Killer returned to terrorize Wichita. She covered the developments of the case daily, and was even called out by the BTK Killer in one of his taunting letters to the media. Following his capture, Susan was a pivotal voice in the community, giving a platform to BTK's many victims:

 

True Crime: Michael Cannell on 2 NYPD 'tecs who were Mafia assets too

"Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation" by Michael Cannell (Minotaur Books )

Through the 1970s and 1980s Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa served in the NYPD, rising through the ranks, each becoming decorated detectives. They are also responsible for what may qualify as the department's darkest chapter. For years the two cops operated not only as paid informants for the Lucchese organized crime family, but served as mob henchmen, committed a multitude of crimes and were involved in at least fifteen murders. And they came remarkably close to getting away with all of it. Michael Cannell, a former editor at the New York Times and author of the critically acclaimed A Brotherhood Betrayed, now has written the definitive account of the crooked cops' escapades and the trail of terror they left-which included the deaths and wrongful imprisonment of wholly innocent people-in BLOOD AND THE BADGE: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation (January 14, 2025; SMP).

MICHAEL CANNELL is the author of A Brotherhood Betrayed: The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc, and three other works of non-fiction. He has worked as an editor at The New York Times and contributed to The New Yorker and many other publications. He lives in New York City.

Ken Ham returns with Theology,Apologetics & more in "365 Daily"

This collection of 365 daily readings is thoughtfully organized into key categories that highlight different aspects of
Christian living, guiding you to apply biblical wisdom in every area of your life.
Science: Discover the harmony between faith and science, with readings that delve into God’s design of the universe, exploring the evidence of creation, natural order, and scientific apologetics.
Apologetics: Gain insights into defending your faith and logic and reason, equipped with daily reflections that strengthen your ability to articulate the truth of the Gospel in a secular world.
Theology: Deepen your understanding of Christian doctrines through Biblical theology, as you are guided through key concepts such as the nature of God, salvation, and the authority of Scripture.
Family: Build a Christ-centered home with reflections on parenting, marriage, and family life, grounded in Biblical principles that nurture love, respect, and discipleship within your home.
Church: Explore the vital role of the Church in the Christian life with an emphasis on community, worship, and mission, reminding believers of their purpose within the body of Christ.
Resources: Dive into practical resources, including recommended books, tools for study, and strategies for engaging culture, to enhance your spiritual growth and Biblical worldview.
Ken Ham is the Founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis and the visionary behind the highly-acclaimed Creation Museum and the world-renowned Ark Encounter.
Each year, Ken speaks to hundreds of thousands of children and adults on the topics addressed in these dailies.
He has authored over 40 best-selling books and resources and is a thought leader, upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse.
As husband, father of 5, and grandfather of 18, Ken has a heart for passing on a legacy of faith to the next generation as well as equipping this present generation to defend their faith and share the message of salvation.