On The Record

Did you know there was a 1902 Broadway production of "The Wizard of Oz." It was a smash hit and contributed to the 1939 classic movie. But as Record entertainment writer Jim Beckerman explains - the show had very little resemblance to the movie. In this episode of On the Record, Jim plays some of the songs from the musical, which had its roots in vaudeville.

Montclair author and journalist Jonathan Alter talks about the new HBO documentary he and two other film makers made on the life and careers of New York City columnist Pete Hamill and Jimmy Breslin. The film, "Breslin and Hamill - Deadline Artists" debuts on Jan. 28. Photo by Brian Hamill/Courtesy HBO.

Former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has been elected unanimously to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is the first player to be chosen unanimously in 75 years of balloting. In this episode of On the Record, Pete Caldera, who covers the Yankees for The Record, talks about why voting for Mariano was an easy choice. Record file photo by Tyson Trish.

Record entertainment reporter Jim Beckerman discusses this year's Oscar nominations in this episode of On the Record. Jim notes that the nominations present a mixed picture for women in film. The two films that scored the most nominations - The Favourite and Roma - both feature strong roles for women. But women directors did not fare as well. AP Photo.

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we replay this episode of On the Record that first aired in March 2018. King made his last public appearance in New Jersey when he gave a speech on March 27, 1968 at the Community Baptist Church in Paterson just days before he was assassinated in Memphis. In this episode, Record photojournalist Kevin R. Wexler talks with several Paterson residents who were there that day.