@wstraw
James McGill Emeritus Professor of Urban Media Studies at McGill University. Scholar of cities, media, night Follow news of night culture at https://theurbannight.com/ or visit my research site at https://willstraw.com/
Thanks for a very interesting podcast. I've loved Mighty Joe Young since I was a teenager. Among its many qualities, it is populated with dozens of bit players and character actors from across the history of Hollywood sound cinema, some like Irene Ryan) on their way to television stardom.
Thanks to everyone who came to my Toronto book launch last night. Apparently, though, there is an alternate FB event notice which has it as happening tonight (March 4th). I haven't been able to see this one, but apparently others have. I'm very sorry to anyone who viewed the wrong one.
Toronto Book launch:
Nights in Fairyland: Gossip, Blackmail, and the Many Lives of “Broadway Brevities” by Will Straw
The Living Room@Tranzac, 292 Brunswick Ave.
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. Doors open at 7:00 pm
Will Straw will speak in conversation with Professor Paul Moore (TMU)
Good investigative report on Live Nation and event-ticket monopoloies in Quebec. ici.radio-canada.ca/recit-numeri...
Congratulations Andy!
The little boy from Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island, who became "The Wolf of Broadway" in the 1920s. One focus of my new book, out now. www.mqup.ca/Books/N/Nigh...
Yes indeed!
Congratulations! I just checked and mine seems to be there too. Wow. I only sent in some corrections two days ago.
In his recent essay for @ccc-journal.bsky.social, @victorpickard.bsky.social analyzes the capitalist logics at the root of many media-related issues and provides a framework for shifting to a less capitalist, more democratic media system.
Read here: buff.ly/AYvibor
Yesterday, I received advance copies of my new book, a contribution to magazine history, LGBTQ+ studies and the history of gossip. www.mqup.ca/Books/N/Nigh...
J’y serai!
Publication date moved up to January 13th! Pre-ordernow. Nights in Fairyland www.mqup.ca/Books/N/Nigh...
This is published today, with my article on spaces of collective sleeping in the cinema.
People I know keep telling me it's a happening place now - I still can't shake off the prejudice that it's for people looking for work (which I'm clearly not!)
Sorry you can't make it to Montreal, but the University of Ottawa is in Ottawa!
This explains Montreal's complicated system of municipal politics better than anything else I've read or seen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpFp...
1965 - Scopitone machines come to Des Moines, Iowa.
Kind of interesting article on the success of newspaper inserts offering information on television programming. The secret, it seems, is getting rid of the old programming grid.
The dinner of Oct 20th would work fine! Where are you staying?
HI Tom. I'd love to, but am available only on the 20th. I have a thesis defense on line running over lunch on the 21st, then am in Sherbrooke for a conference 22-25th. It's my busiest week of the term (though I'm retired.) Will you be here at lunch on the 20th? Would be great to see you.
Last week, I acquired a collection of 175 Canadian restaurant and hospitality industry magazines from the years 1952-1971. I'll donate them to a food studies research centre, but, in the meantime, I did a quick gallery of the covers.
willstraw.com/canadian-foo...
