Exploring 'Conversations With Gods and Lesser People'

Explorations Unlimited welcomes Larry Suid, a military and film historian on Friday. Mr. Suid will be discussing his experiences interviewing people as part of his research for several books. This is not a discussion of god and religion; it is about people whose fame and importance are known worldwide, including John Wayne, Bob Hope, Neil Armstrong, and Curtis LeMay.

Mr. Suid will explain how he was able to obtain the interviews and the information he accumulated from more than 1,000 people in the film industry, the U.S. military, the government, and from civilians. He will recount some of his more interesting experiences such as meeting with the first man on the moon who originally agreed to an interview arranged by NASA, but then refused to talk on the record because he did not think the agency should be funding cultural history.

Mr. Suid has written books on the relationship between the film industry and the U.S. military, the Army's Nuclear Power Program, and the History of Armed Forces Radio and Television Service and is currently completing a biography of Fred Zinnemann, the director of "High Noon," "From Here to Eternity," "A Man For All Seasons," and "The Day of the Jackal." He received his bachelor of arts degree from Western Reserve University; a master's degree in Russian history from Duke University; a master of fine arts in film from Brandeis University; and a doctorate from Case Western Reserve University. In addition to conferences and seminars in the U.S., he has lectured in England, the Netherlands, Turkey and Israel.

Explorations Unlimited is held every Friday from 1-3 p.m. at the . This presentation will be held in room 114. Everyone is welcome to attend and questions are always encouraged. Please call 301-397-2208 for more information.