This collection includes radio interviews with Montana authors discussing Western literature. Each show was narrated and moderated by University of Montana professor, William “Bill” Bevis, and they were broadcast on the Missoula radio station, KUFM, during the 1974-1975 school year. Most of the broadcasts feature Bevis interviewing a particular Montana author or historian about their work or the work of another Western author. Other broadcasts feature Bevis reflecting on different Montana writers and literature produced in Montana. The original interviews are held as Oral History collection OH 021 at Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.
This collection includes 14 interviews.
-
Discussion by William "Bill" Bevis, circa 1974
William W. Bevis
University of Montana English professor, William “Bill” Bevis, begins the radio broadcast with a discussion centering on the difference between “Eastern” and “Western” U.S. literature. He talks about Mark Twain, Andrew Garcia, and other authors he intends to cover in his course on Montana writers.
... Read More -
Discussion by William "Bill" Bevis, circa 1974
William W. Bevis
William “Bill” Bevis discusses eight of Richard Hugo's poems from Hugo’s The Lady in Kicking Horse Reservoir poetry volume (1973).
This audio has not been transcribed, but a tape counter index is available.
-
Gary Niles Kimble Interview, circa 1974
Gary Niles Kimble
William “Bill” Bevis and panelist Gary Niles Kimble discuss Native American culture and spiritualism and how Indians are portrayed in novels, particularly in James Welch's novel, Winter in the Blood (1974).
This audio has not been transcribed, but a tape counter index is available.
... Read More -
Gerry Brenner and Earl Ganz Interview, circa 1974
Gerry Brenner and Earl Ganz
William “Bill” Bevis and panelists Gerry Brenner and Earl Ganz analyze and critique DeMarinis' novel A Lovely Monster (1957).
This audio has not been transcribed, but a tape counter index is available.
-
Interview with A.B. Guthrie
Alfred Bertram Guthrie
William “Bill” Bevis interviews A.B. Guthrie about the rationale behind the novel, Big Sky (1947), and Guthrie's reaction to the comments made by the panelists in the previous lecture. Bevis concludes with a discussion of Big Sky as representative of the naturalism movement of the ... Read More
-
Interview with Dorothy Johnson
Dorothy M. Johnson
William “Bill” Bevis and Dorothy Johnson discuss her writing career and her feelings about western literature and the movie adaptations of her stories. Bevis concludes the program with an analysis of Johnson's short story, “The Unbeliever.”
This audio has not been transcribed, but a tape ... Read More
-
Interview with James Welch, circa 1974
James Welch
William “Bill” Bevis and author James Welch discuss Welch's first novel Winter in the Blood (1974) and his style of writing both prose and poetry.
This audio has not been transcribed, but a tape counter index is available.
-
Interview with K. Ross Toole and Ed Gallagher, circa 1974
Kenneth Ross Toole and Ed Gallagher
William “Bill” Bevis discusses Andrew Garcia's Tough Trip through Paradise (1967), relating editor Bennett “Ben” Stein's responses to questions about the work. Bevis discusses the naiveté and primitive innocence in the work. He talks about other aspects of Garcia’s work with panelists K. Ross Toole ... Read More
-
Interview with K. Ross Toole and Ed Gallagher, circa 1974
Kenneth Ross Toole and Ed Gallagher
William “Bill” Bevis and panelists Ed Gallagher and K. Ross Toole discuss the mountain man, Andrew Garcia, and his life. They talk about whether or not he was a typical trader, and how accurate a picture of Montana history is given in his book, Tough ... Read More
-
Interview with Richard Hugo, circa 1974
Richard Hugo
William “Bill” Bevis asks Richard Hugo about his career as a writer and the influence of Theodore Roethke and William Stafford on his style. They discuss the changes in western regional literature since the 1940s, and the role Montana authors have played in those changes.
... Read More -
Jesse Bier and Larry Barsness Interview, circa 1974
Jesse Bier and Larry Barsness
William “Bill” Bevis and guest panelists Jesse Bier and Larry Barsness analyze the characterizations and motives in A. B. Guthrie's novel, Big Sky (1947), and discuss its place in western literature.
This audio has not been transcribed, but a tape counter index is available.
... Read More -
Madeline DeFrees and Tess Gallagher Interview, circa 1974
Madeline DeFrees and Tess Gallagher
William “Bill” Bevis and poets Madeline DeFrees and Tess Gallagher consider the question: Is there a northwest regional style of poetry? The three discuss Richard Hugo's poetry and talk about how it is representative of this style.
This audio has not been transcribed, but a ... Read More
-
Rick DeMarinis Interview, circa 1974
Rick DeMarinis
William “Bill” Bevis asks Rick DeMarinis about his writing career and the motivation behind writing A Lovely Monster, which was published in 1975. They discuss the meaning of the book.
This audio has not been transcribed, but a tape counter index is available.
... Read More -
William "Bill" Kittredge and Steve Krauzer Interview, circa 1974
William Kittredge and Steve Krauzer
William “Bill” Bevis and panelists Steve Krauzer and William “Bill” Kittredge discuss Dorothy Johnson's short stories and the qualities in the stories that allow for easy conversion to movies.
This audio has not been transcribed, but a tape counter index is available.
... Read More