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Best of the Book Nook: Janet Leigh and Erik Larson

"Psycho: Behind the Scenes of the Classic Thriller" by Janet Leigh (original recording made in 1995)

1995 was my Hollywood year on the program. Over a thirty day period I had interviews with two of the greatest movie stars of their era, Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh. Janet Leigh was coming to Dayton for the Janet Leigh Film Festival and she was publicizing a book about her experiences making a film in which she only made a brief but career defining appearance; Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho."

I had never listened to this interview before now and had forgotten how utterly charming she was that day. We talked about her golden career, how she was discovered and quickly signed to a contract with a major movie studio, and some of the many movies in which she appeared. One of her most famous roles was in the Orson Welles film "Touch of Evil." Her co-star in that one was none other than Charlton Heston.

"The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America" by Erik Larson (original recording made in 2003)

I had a little extra time on this program so I have included a segment with Erik Larson. He came out to Yellow Springs in 2003 for an interview about "The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America." This true crime story went on to have a lengthy run on the best-seller lists. In this segment Larson talked about the diabolical serial killer who preyed on young women during the Chicago World's Fair.

The Book Nook on WYSO is presented by the Greene County Public Library with additional support from Washington-Centerville Public Library,  Clark County Public LibraryDayton Metro Library, and Wright Memorial Public Library.

Vick Mickunas introduced the Book Nook author interview program for WYSO in 1994. Over the years he has produced more than 1500 interviews with writers, musicians, poets, politicians, and celebrities. Listen to the Book Nook with Vick Mickunas for intimate conversations about books with the writers who create them. Vick Mickunas reviews books for the Dayton Daily News and the Springfield News Sun.