14 GWAR/ Bob Gorman

Posted on January 14, 2014 by HistoryReplaysToday

GWAR

Some people may find some of the topics objectionable.

Bob Gorman

Bob Gorman is the Secretary and the Shop Foreman for the Richmond based, Slave Pit Inc., which is, better know as the metal band GWAR. GWAR is much more than band. Its a 28 year old multimedia art collective that is know for its stage show as much as its music. The group floats somewhere between musical theater, professional wrestling, and a live horror movie. The narrative or mythos of the band is always changing but is basically, a group of aliens sent to earth as a punishment only to be trapped in the ice of Antarctica. They would then be freed by global warming and discovered by a music producer. They now travel the world playing music and fighting their enemies.

Bonesnapper, played by Bob Gorman

For more than 25 years Gorman has been making monsters, playing characters on stage, and acting as GWAR’s historian. As well as continuing his work with GWAR, Gorman is currently working on a documentary and coffee table book about the group. In this conversation with host Jeff Majer Gorman discusses the humble origins of GWAR in a run down building, their run-ins with the law, one of which ended up getting the ACLU involved, the groups two Grammy nominations, why they were turned away from the Grammies, the unexpected death of their long time guitar player Cory Smoot that resulted from a preexisting condition and a lot more.

Bob Gorman working at the Slave Pit

GWAR has just released their 13th studio album Battle Maximus, and will be going on tour in Australia in February and then will be making their first trip to Japan in early 2014. To find out more information about GWAR where to buy their new album Battle Maximus, where to see the show or how to donate to the Cory Smoot foundation go to GWAR.NET.

All photos are courtesy of Bob Gorman.

In this episode Free University is discussed, for more information on Free University listen to the episode with Dale Brumfield and Richmond’s Independent Press.

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Gorman from the film “Phallus in Wonderland”

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13 Bill Martin/The Valentine Richmond History Center

Posted on January 1, 2014 by HistoryReplaysToday

The Wickham House where The Valentine opened, seen after 1933. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

On this episode, Bill Martin, The Director of The Valentine Richmond History Center discusses the history of The Valentine, which is the oldest museum in Richmond. The museum opened its doors in 1898 in the Wickham House on the corner of Clay and 11th St. Over the years the museum has gone through many changes as RVA and its needs for a museum have changed, including expansion. The museum now takes up the entire block of East Grace St between 10th & 11th Streets. Martin also tells History Replays Today about the current renovations of the museums main galleries. The renovation is allowing Martin and The Valentine to reexamine what its means to live in a city like Richmond, that is layered with history and how that history should be taught and related to.

The Valentine Richmond History Center is a must visit for any one that wants to know anything about Richmond. The museum (like this podcast) focuses on ALL of Richmond’s history not just the Civil War. In fact Martin lays out why the Civil War may not even be the most important time in RVA’s history.

The Wickham House and Edward Valentine’s Studio remain open through out the renovation. The renovations progress can be monitored every Wednesday at the “Hard Hat Happy Hour”. The Valentine’s Community Discussions will also continue. Find out more information on the Valentine’s calendar of events.

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The Byrd Theater/Todd A. Schall-Vess

Posted on December 14, 2013 by HistoryReplaysToday

The Byrd Theater in 1953, for The Byrd Collection

Correction! In my introduction I mention that Its A Wonderful Life is playing Dec 24, 2013 and Dec 25, 2013. I incorrectly said the times for Dec 25 are 7:15 and 9:30. The correct time is 7:15 and 9:45. For more info about times click here.

1928OpeningCarlR0019

Todd A. Schall-Vess, General Manager of The Byrd Theater, in Carytown talks about the 85 year history of the theater. It opened on Dec 24, 1928. Schall-Vess discusses the opening of the theater, The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, the natural spring built into the theater, and much more. The Byrd is the oldest operating movie theater in Richmond. The photo to the left and below are from opening day of The Byrd in 1928.

Information about going to The Byrd can be found here http://byrdtheatre.com/

ByrdOpeningDay1928 The Byrd is a staple in Carytown and has been there since before Carytown was called Carytown and even before that stretch of Cary St was called Cary St. Information on how to support The Byrd can be found at http://www.byrdtheatrefoundation.org/

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Benjamin Ross/ Rev John Jasper and 6th Mt Zion Baptist Church

Posted on December 1, 2013 by HistoryReplaysToday

Benjamin Ross, Historian at 6th Mount Zion Baptist Church which dates back to 1867and started in a Confederate horse stable by the James River.

Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1887 for the church’s collection

The Church was started by the charismatic Rev John Jasper who is most famous for his “Stars Do Move” sermon that proved the Earth was flat and that the Sun revolved around the Earth using the bible.

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The hat worn by The Rev John Jasper with the stained glass windows from the original building on Duval St in Jackson Ward., photo by Jeff Majer

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Interior of 6th Mount Zion Baptist Church, photo by Jeff Majer

9 Dale Brumfield: Richmond Independent Press

Posted on October 31, 2013 by HistoryReplaysToday

Dale Brumfield

This episode of History Replays Today, The Richmond History Podcast features Dale Brumfield, the author of Richmond Independent Press, The Underground Zine Scene and a founder of Throttle. This episode covers Richmond’s (dis) connection to Martin Luther King’s assignation, King’s version of his “I have a dream speech” to protest VA’s failure to integrate its schools, how Allen Ginsberg accidentally started a riot in the fan, why James Brown and other black musicians were banned in Richmond, why the section of Franklin St through VCU is so well preserved, local lore like a poet who lived on the Kanawha Canal and why he through a cow in the canal, & much more.

Richmond Independent Press

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Episode 6. Ben Anderson/ Hippodrome Theater

Posted on September 15, 2013 by HistoryReplaysToday

The Hippodrome as it looked when it opened in 1913. The original building burns. The fire is covered in the podcast. Photo from Richmond Times-Distpatch

The Hippodrome Theater as it looked when it opened in 1913. The original building burns. The fire is covered in the podcast. Photo from Richmond Times-Distpatch

Ben Anderson, Park Guide for the National Park Service has done intensive research on Richmond’s most famous historic black theater, the Hippodrome. Anderson has a conversation with host Jeff Majer, about the theater in Jackson Ward. The theater is celebrating its 100th birthday and the conversation covers almost all 100 years.

The Hippodrome Theater as of 9/14/13, photo by Jeff Majer

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Episode 4. Hugh Campbell

Posted on August 15, 2013 by HistoryReplaysToday

Jeff Majer has a conversation with Hugh Campbell the owner and operator of the John Marshall Barber Shop on Richmond’s Shockoe Hill. The barber shop opened in 1929 on the same day that the stock market crashed that caused the great depression. Campbell has been cutting hair t the shop for almost 50 years and has hosted many notables including Cab Calloway, George Bush, Richard Nixon, Elvis, Bruce Willis and many more.

CORRECTION: I say in this episode Shockoe Bottom yet the John Marshall is clearly on Shockoe Hill. My bad.

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Episode 1, Harry Kollatz on Richmond in Ragtime

Posted on June 30, 2013 by HistoryReplaysToday

The First Episode of The History Replays Today Podcast. Harry Kollatz is the guest. He discusses his book Richmond in Ragtime: Socialists Suffragists, Sex and Murder. Harry is also the Senior Writer at Richmond Magazine and the author of True Richmond Stories. Both of his books are from History Press.

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What Makes A True Richmonder

Posted on June 23, 2013 by HistoryReplaysToday

This is a clip from an interview with Harry Kollatz. He is a 20 year vet writing about RVA at Richmond Magazine and to author of 2 books from History Press about Richmond, Real Richmond Stories and Richmond in Ragtime: Socialists, Suffragist, Sex and Murder. This is a clip from the pre interview. The later book will be the topic of the longer conversation to be posted July 1.

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