Tom Smothers, one half of the comedy duo The Smothers Brothers, has died at age 86. On March 27, 1974, Tom and Dick Smothers joined Roy Leonard in the WGN Radio studios for a conversation, including how they survived after being kicked off TV by CBS for being too political.

https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4473984/Smothers_Brothers_2023-12-27-170124.64kmono.mp3 Comedian Tom Smothers, one-half of the Smothers Brothers, dies at 86

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WGN Radio Archives

Remembering Mike Ditka

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From the archives: Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert

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Remembering Judy Markey

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From 2022: Dave Plier with TV director James Burrows

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Archives: Sirott and Murciano talk with Walt Parazaider

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For decades, Dick Clark was the celebrity many people watched ring in the new year live from Times Square in New York City. Even today, nearly a decade after his passing, ABC’s New Year’s broadcast still uses Dick Clark’s name in its title. But, “America’s Oldest Teenager” was known for many other things beyond the New Year’s show, including his over 30 years hosting “American Bandstand.” In this November 8, 1985 interview, Roy Leonard talks with Dick Clark about the history of “American Bandstand” and some stories from the American music scene.

https://serve.castfire.com/audio/3908304/Dick_Clark_2021-12-30-030504.64kmono.mp3 More From the WGN Radio Archives

On January 8, 1986, at the height of the Bears Super Bowl run, the then-CBS NFL lead broadcast team of Pat Summerall and John Madden were in Chicago and made time to stop by the WGN Radio studios to visit with Roy Leonard. John Madden died today at age 85.

https://serve.castfire.com/audio/3908018/Pat_Summerall_and_John_Madden_2021-12-29-002818.64kmono.mp3 John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster, dies at 85

Fifty years ago, Clint Eastwood was already an established Hollywood star, having appeared in a number of movies and TV series. But in 1971, he would begin a new phase of his legendary career when he made his directorial debut with “Play Misty for Me.” On October 18, 1971, Clint Eastwood visited with WGN Radio’s Roy Leonard to talk about that film as well as other aspects of his career to that point.

https://serve.castfire.com/audio/3885303/Clint_Eastwood_1971_2021-10-14-145203.64kmono.mp3 More From the WGN Radio Archives

Ginger Rogers, one of the iconic stars of Hollywood’s “Golden Age,” was born 110 years ago this week, on July 16, 1911. The career of the actress, dancer and singer spanned decades. In the fall of 1991, Rogers visited the WGN Radio studios to visit with Roy Leonard and discuss her book, Ginger: My Story. Here is that segment, which also features an appearance from “Dances with Wolves” author and screenwriter Michael Blake.

https://serve.castfire.com/audio/3856670/Ginger_Rogers_2021-07-14-211610.64kmono.mp3 More From the WGN Radio Archives

This week from the WGN Radio archives, we go back 35 years to June 4, 1986, a Wednesday morning on The Roy Leonard Show when he was visited in-studio by Donny and Marie Osmond. They were already veteran pop music superstars having had a variety show when they were teenagers and have continued over they years as performers in a variety of venues and formats.

https://serve.castfire.com/audio/3843690/Donny_and_Marie_2021-06-01-223830.64kmono.mp3 More From the WGN Radio Archives

In this Roy Leonard segment from the early 1970s, Carol Channing is surprised to learn that Roy saw her in 1948, before she was a star. Channing died today at age 97.

http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3585782/carol-channing_2019-01-15-121122.64kmono.mp3

Roy Clark, the country music legend and star of the long-running TV series “Hee Haw,” died today at age 85. In 1994, he visited with WGN Radio’s Roy Leonard to discuss the publication of his autobiography, My Life in Spite of Myself, and share memories from his long career. Here are a couple of minutes from that interview.

http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3567372/roy-leonard-roy-clark_2018-11-15-161712.64kmono.mp3

Actor Burt Reynolds appeared a number of times on WGN Radio over the years, from the peak of his 1970s stardom to more recent appearances as he reflected on his career. Reynolds died today at age 82. We look back at some of his appearances here:

Roy Leonard – March 1972, near the time of the publication of Reynolds’ Cosmopolitan centerfold:
http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3543711/roy-leonard-burt-reynolds_2018-09-06-151611.64kmono.mp3

Dean Richards – April 2011, as Reynolds was in the Chicago area for screenings of some of his classic films:
http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3543739/dean-richards-burt-reynolds_2018-09-06-162639.64kmono.mp3

Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano – August 2015, Reynolds appearing in Chicago at Wizard World:
http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3543713/sirott-and-murciano-burt-reynolds_2018-09-06-151913.64kmono.mp3

Matt Bubala – August 2015, Reynolds appearing in Chicago at Wizard World:
http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3543714/matt-bubala-burt-reynolds_2018-09-06-152014.64kmono.mp3

America is remembering former First Lady Barbara Bush, the wife of the 41st President George H. W. Bush and mother of the 43rd President George W. Bush. Mrs. Bush died April 17, 2018 at age 92.

On April 12, 1984, then Second Lady Barbara Bush stopped by the WGN Radio studios to visit with Roy Leonard and discuss her book, C. Fred’s Story, which told the story of the Vice Presidential family dog, written from the dog’s perspective.

http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3491819/3491819_2018-04-15-162319.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3786.mp3

In this 1982 interview, Roy Leonard talks with comedy legend Jerry Lewis. Roy called it, “An amazing, serious interview about the art of comedy with one of the funniest men alive.” Lewis died August 20, 2017, at the age of 91.

http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3389145/3389145_2017-08-20-151745.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3786.mp3