Click on any entry in Barry Bradford’s Speaking Schedule for full details.
Cultural History
Steve Martin
Private VenueA common cliché in show business is to refer to someone as "one of a kind." Often that is hyperbole. But in the case of Steve Martin, it is literally true! There is no one who has a skill set … Continue reading
Gregory Peck
New City Library 220 N. Main Street, New City, NY, United StatesIf your mental picture of Gregory Peck is that of a straight-shooting, honest, compassionate, masculine but sensitive man who would always have your back and always stand up for the underdog, you'd be very close to the truth! While far … Continue reading
Bob Newhart
Private VenueBob Newhart turned 92 on September 5, 2021. He is a living legend and widely regarded as one of the nicest men in Hollywood history. Two of his sitcoms became iconic and his appearances on the Tonight Show were legendary. … Continue reading
Singing In The Rain Broadway and Hollywood
Private Venue"Singin' In The Rain" has been called "the very best movie never to win a single Oscar! It is not only one of the greatest musicals ever made - it is one of the greatest movies of any kind! Click … Continue reading
Walter Cronkite: And That’s The Way It Is
Private Venue2016 marks the 100th birthday of Walter Cronkite. In an era when the "mainstream media" is a convenient whipping boy for any politician upset by unfavorable coverage, it is hard to imagine that at one time a network news anchorman … Continue reading
Betty White: America’s Favorite Potty Mouthed Grandma
Palos Heights Public Library 12501 S. 71st Avenue, Palos Heights, IL, United StatesThe fabulous Betty White has been called an American national treasure - and rightly so! Up until her death at 99, Betty White was a beacon of positivity even in the most difficult years! Witty, working, and happy, Betty White … Continue reading
TV By The Decades: Television in the 1960s
Private VenueTV in the 1960s The 1960s were definitely one of TV's oddest decades! The 1960s began with Westerns dominating the ratings! The old West soap opera Bonanza became the most popular show on the air. One after another competing show … Continue reading
A Ventriloquist On The Radio – The Amazing Career Of Edgar Bergen
Private VenueEdgar Bergen certainly had one of the most unique careers in American show business history! Along with his "partner" the inimitable Charlie McCarthy, Bergen became the most influential and popular ventriloquists in history. More amazingly, he actually had his greatest … Continue reading
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Vernon Area Public Library 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire, ILNot only did Mary Tyler Moore “turn the world on with her smile,” as her iconic show’s theme song declared, she also influenced a generation of women to become more independent and to pursue successful and fulfilling careers. Moore’s own 50-plus-year … Continue reading
Carol Burnett – Queen Of Comedy
Private VenueCarol Burnett is one of the funniest women ever to star on television. And on Broadway. And in films. She is also, by reputation, one of the nicest, most thoughtful, and highly respected women in the entire history of … Continue reading