On this episode of Our American Stories, Star Wars enthusiast and museum curator Jarod Roll shares how Star Wars revolutionized movie merchandising, licensing and how kids played with toys; and Wally Soplata tells the story of his eccentric union carpenter father who collected rare and vintage WWII aircraft for pennies on the dime.

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Time Codes:

00:00 - Star Wars

23:00 - The B-25 In the Backyard

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

On this episode of Our American Stories, Star Wars enthusiast and museum curator Jarod Roll shares how Star Wars revolutionized movie merchandising, licensing and how kids played with toys; and Wally Soplata tells the story of his eccentric union carpenter father who collected rare and vintage WWII aircraft for pennies on the dime.<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate">Support the show</a> (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Time Codes:00:00 - Star Wars23:00 - The B-25 In the Backyard Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

EP125: The Evolution of Star Wars Merchandise and The B-25 In the Backyard

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/aa8937bd-a131-4295-9fa7-ae330043628f/transcript

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On this episode of Our American Stories, few television comedies have had the lasting impact of I Love Lucy. When the show debuted in the early 1950s, Lucille Ball quickly became one of the most recognizable performers in American entertainment. Her success did not arrive quickly. For years, Ball struggled to find a role that truly fit her talent, moving through small film parts and studio setbacks before television offered a new opportunity.

Kathleen Brady, author of Lucille: The Life of Lucille Ball, joins us to tell the story of Lucille Ball’s long road to success and the breakthrough that made her one of the defining figures of early television.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, few television comedies have had the lasting impact of I Love Lucy. When the show debuted in the early 1950s, Lucille Ball quickly became one of the most recognizable performers in American entertainment. Her success did not arrive quickly. For years, Ball struggled to find a role that truly fit her talent, moving through small film parts and studio setbacks before television offered a new opportunity. Kathleen Brady, author of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLucille-Life-Ball-Kathleen-Brady%2Fdp%2F1504023714&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C3f2cc67b35a2433773fe08df287f259f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639274198722475870%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BNAtdI77QBt0H%2BHZ9ep5e%2FBbDDOvxz%2Bc%2FY2KUuasgCg%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Lucille: The Life of Lucille Ball</a>, joins us to tell the story of Lucille Ball&rsquo;s long road to success and the breakthrough that made her one of the defining figures of early television.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Before I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball Spent Years Being Told No

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/458adf07-113a-44c8-a583-b4e10148b788/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Amelia Earhart had already crossed the Atlantic by airplane, but in 1928 she had done so as a passenger. Four years later, she climbed into a single-engine Lockheed Vega in Newfoundland and set out alone, battling storms and mechanical trouble before landing in a pasture in Northern Ireland nearly 15 hours later.

The flight made Earhart the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic and earned her the Distinguished Flying Cross, the first awarded to a woman. Later that same year, she added another record by flying solo across the United States from Los Angeles to Newark.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, Amelia Earhart had already crossed the Atlantic by airplane, but in 1928 she had done so as a passenger. Four years later, she climbed into a single-engine Lockheed Vega in Newfoundland and set out alone, battling storms and mechanical trouble before landing in a pasture in Northern Ireland nearly 15 hours later. The flight made Earhart the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic and earned her the Distinguished Flying Cross, the first awarded to a woman. Later that same year, she added another record by flying solo across the United States from Los Angeles to Newark.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Amelia Earhart: The First Woman Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/75821a5a-a623-49e5-a5d8-b4e10148b789/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Timmons traveled to Louisville to spend a final few days with his Uncle Bud, who had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Brent arrived hoping to help his uncle and wondering what they could possibly say to each other with so little time left.

Instead, the two spent hours talking about fathers, family, inherited traits, old wounds, and the people who shape us over a lifetime. Brent came to realize that even in his final days, Uncle Bud was still teaching him, leaving behind one last lesson about influence, patience, family, and the kind of legacy a life can leave behind. Brent Timmons is a regular contributor to Our American Stories.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, Brent Timmons traveled to Louisville to spend a final few days with his Uncle Bud, who had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Brent arrived hoping to help his uncle and wondering what they could possibly say to each other with so little time left. Instead, the two spent hours talking about fathers, family, inherited traits, old wounds, and the people who shape us over a lifetime. Brent came to realize that even in his final days, Uncle Bud was still teaching him, leaving behind one last lesson about influence, patience, family, and the kind of legacy a life can leave behind. Brent Timmons is a regular contributor to Our American Stories.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Last Great Gift My Uncle Gave Me

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b4de7c81-a022-41e2-a7fa-b4e10148b788/transcript

EP125: The Evolution of Star Wars Merchandise and The B-25 In the Backyard

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