Allyson McCabe
Stories
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Arts & Life
How the cartoonist behind The Addams Family defused fear, with dead-on humor
Charles Addams' goal was never to create fear, but to defuse it — infusing the horror with a playfulness that appealed even to those who prefer daylight to the witching hour.
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Arts & Life
NPR 50: The long tail of David Bowie's explosive 'Hunky Dory'
Bowie was still an aspiring pop star, with but one successful single under his belt, at the time of Hunky Dory's release. It wouldn't last.
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Arts & Life
Photographer Lola Flash is honored for creating images that challenge invisibility
Lola Flash has challenged gender, sexual and racial preconceptions, and in the '80s was a key figure in ACT UP. Now she's being honored for sustained achievement.
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Music
Get To Know Sparks, Your Favorite Band's Favorite Band
Brothers Ron and Russell Mael have made music as Sparks for more than five decades, mostly under the radar despite superstar fans. Now, a new documentary and a buzzy musical put them in the spotlight.
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Arts & Life
'Quaranzines' Bring Readers Together Despite Distancing
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Internet has become home to a growing number of self-published "quaranzines" on everything from cutting your own hair to building emergency hand washing stations.
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Music
On 'Mellotron Variations,' A 1960s-Era Instrument Makes A Comeback
Intended only for home use, the Mellotron became a sonic tool for The Beatles, The Moody Blues and David Bowie. Now it's inspiring a new generation of musicians.
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Arts & Life
20 Years Later, 'Boys Don't Cry' Still Inspires Admiration And Debate
The tiny independent film became a critical and box office hit by introducing mainstream audiences to a transgender hero. It fictionalized the true story of the brutal murder of Brandon Teena.
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Music
The Story Of 'The Fabulous Stains' And Riot Grrrl
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains, made in the early 1980s, inspired many of the early members of the underground feminist punk movement.
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National
Laundromats Fold In Learning Spaces For Busy Families
Some laundromat owners are teaming up with libraries to provide books, toys and even story time for kids forced to tag along on laundry day.
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Music
Ace Of Cups Gets A First Chance At An Overdue Debut
An all-women rock band before Fanny or The Runaways, Ace of Cups shared the same San Francisco stages as Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead, but never made an album — until now.