In the News-Michael Uslan

Batman Producer Michael Uslan Interviewed on "Here and Now"

Michael Uslan (pronounced Youslan) gave an interview today, September 30, 2011, on the public radio show "Here and Now," hosted by Robin Young. Mr. Uslan, a New Jersey native, attended Indiana University where he taught the first accredited American college course on comic books. A comic book fan since childhood, Mr. Uslan dreamed of one day bringing the Batman he loved to the silver screen. His dream became a reality in 1989 with the release of Batman, starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Mr. Uslan is also the author of a memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman, released in hardback last month. To hear the interview, you can go to the website of "Here and Now" not there but here.

Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In The News-Brandon Michael Baker

Indiana Artist Creates Stained Glass Comic Book Covers

The name Brandon Michael Baker has been popping up all over the place among the Internet comic book crowd, and for good reason. Mr. Baker, an Indiana artist who creates stained glass renderings of classic comic covers, credits his unique interest in combining artistic media to his childhood fascination with the mythic heroes of comics and his Catholic upbringing. 

Artist by day and paramedic by night, the West Lafayette resident received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Purdue University. In addition to creating works in stained glass, Mr. Baker is an illustrator, printmaker, and costume designer.  

You can read more about Brandon Michael Baker from a post appearing on TrendHunter Art & Design:

“Brandon Michael Baker Re-Creates Classic Covers Worthy of Churches,” by Jason Soy, July 19, 2011.

You can also check out Mr. Baker’s stained glass covers and other art at his website at Man or Monster ? Studios.

Written by Bridget Hanley, Proficient Pen.
Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In The News-George Daugherty

Indiana Native Elevates Looney Tunes to "High-Brow" Status 

George Daugherty, Indiana native and award-winning conductor, recently appeared with the Costa Mesa Orchestra in Irvine, California, for a performance of "Bugs Bunny at the Symphony." The show is Mr. Daugherty's sequel to his groundbreaking "Bugs Bunny on Broadway," a film-and-orchestra-performance which has played to audiences around the world for more than two decades.

The revamped show, which made its debut in 2010, played to an audience at the Irvine Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. In attendance were Chuck Jones' widow and daughter. Writer, director, and animator Chuck Jones frequented symphony performances at the amphitheater prior to his death in 2002 and actually appeared on the Irvine stage with Mr. Daugherty during the 1991 tour of "Bugs Bunny on Broadway." He also illustrated the 1994 book Chuck Jones' Peter and Wolf, written by George Daugherty and Janis Diamond and based on Daugherty's show.

For generations of children, Warner Bros. cartoons were their first exposure to the world of classical music. Daugherty's unique shows continue to expand on that Looney Tunes' tradition, bringing Bugs and the Warner Bros. gang to the big screen, accompanied by music from professional symphony orchestras throughout the world.  

You can read more about the Irvine show in an article at the Daily Pilot newspaper’s website:

“Classically Trained: Symphony Takes on Some ‘Looney Tunes’ ” by Bradley Zint, August 4, 2011,

Or visit the "Bugs Bunny at the Symphony" site to discover tour dates and performance details, here.

Written by Bridget Hanley, Proficient Pen.
Copyright 2011, 2024 Terence E. Hanley