The Ink-stained Wretch Podcast with G. Michael Dobbs

10/31/2024

The new Hellboy movie , The Crooked Man, is an effective, well acted, beautifully directed production that would have done very well in theaters in the United States. I loved it and can’t wait to buy the Blu-Ray. Highest recommendation from this Hellboy fan.

10/30/2024

New The Ink-stained Wretch Podcast with G. Michael Dobbs is up with info about the congressional race. Tune in!

Veteran journalist G. Michael Dobbs looks at the news, issues and interesting people of western New England through interviews and commentary.

10/29/2024

This week's The Ink-stained Wretch Podcast with G. Michael Dobbs will feature my recent interviews with both Congressman Richard Neal and his opponent Nadia Milleron. The episode will be up by Thursday.Tune in!

10/18/2024

What I did Wednesday night. It was a very good discussion about the MCAS ballot question.

The Forest Park Civic Association sponsored a panel discussion on Question 2 , whether to eliminate the MCAS graduation requirement. G. Michael Dobbs, Modera...

10/17/2024

It was a pleasure interviewing two successful Indian business owners who elected to make Western Massachusetts their home. Please listen to their story and a conversation about how they feel about the region here at The Ink-stained Wretch Podcast with G. Michael Dobbs

Veteran journalist G. Michael Dobbs looks at the news, issues and interesting people of western New England through interviews and commentary.

10/10/2024

New The Ink-stained Wretch Podcast with G. Michael Dobbs featuring an interview with Springfield's own, actor David Starzyk.

here's the link:

Veteran journalist G. Michael Dobbs looks at the news, issues and interesting people of western New England through interviews and commentary.

10/10/2024

So why did the city of Springfield remove a historic granite bench? Here's my take.

There are times I wish there could be more candid discussion in government.

10/09/2024

The lament of an old reporter, continued. Not that any public official, elected or appointed, would ever take my advice but if you are doing a meeting with a remote element please do not assume that everyone in Internet land knows who you are. Introduce yourself or have a name plate in a position where the camera will see it. Also it's helpful if you know HOW THE HELL TO USE A FREAKING MICROPHONE. They have only been around for more than a century.

Thank you. For more tips buy my book,

After spending most of a 70-year-long life working in mass communications, the author wishes to convey some of what he has learned as a newspaper reporter and editor, magazine publisher, radio talk show host and local TV news host. The format of this book is 100 chapters each consisting of 100...

10/04/2024

Happy to say that I had a great conversation with Springfield’s own David Starzyk for The Ink-stained Wretch Podcast with G. Michael Dobbs. The guy has had an amazing career as an actor and the conversation is funny and very informative. It will be posted next Thursday.

This domain may be for sale!

10/03/2024

New episode of The Ink-stained Wretch Podcast with G. Michael Dobbs featuring a conversation with state Sen. Jake Oliveira about what's happening in the Legislature and a rant about the removal of a bench from a historic park in downtown Springfield. Hope you tune in!

Veteran journalist G. Michael Dobbs looks at the news, issues and interesting people of western New England through interviews and commentary.

09/30/2024

So, when I was working with Steve Cary on the Paramount video, we found on the website of the Springfield Preservation Trust this photo of the Paramount Theater in 1939 with "Gulliver's Travels" on the marquee. I wish I had taken a look at their site when I was writing my second book about the Fleischer Studio!

So I looked a little more and here is a shot of the Capitol which was near City Hall. What a shame it was torn down years ago!

09/30/2024

Hey it's that time of year again! Falling leaves, crisp temperatures and reporters and politicians exchanging barbs! Yes it the annual valley Press Club Roast!

I can't be there this year (that will be an incentive for some to attend) but you can! It's a great night for a great cause: the scholarship fund there Press Club runs.

The Valley Press Club invites you and guests to attend the Valley Press Club Roast, scheduled Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the John Boyle O'Reilly Club in Springfield. (see the attached flyer). Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The event helps raise funds for scholarships for area students while providing an entertaining evening of skits, music and comradery. It pokes fun at the news, the newsmakers and the media, and is open to the general public.

Area politicians and other newsmakers attend and participate in the Roast each year.

Two veteran broadcast journalists, Ray Hershel and Kathy Tobin, will serve as co-emcees this year. Both are former reporters and anchors of WGGB-TV.

There are three ways to buy tickets: through EventBrite; by mailing a check to the club; or at the door on the night of the Roast. The link for EventBrite reservations can be found at: valleypressclub.com or at valley-press-club-roast-2024.eventbrite.com

09/23/2024

New The Ink-stained Wretch Podcast with G. Michael Dobbs with Matt Szafranski talking local politics is top for your listening pleasure. . Plus my take on the Paramount theater sale. Here are views of the Paramount to go with my comments.

09/20/2024

Busy day for old retired guy: board meeting of the Valley Press Club - the roast is next month - followed by appearing on NEPM ‘s The Rundown; followed by taping an episode of Government Matters with state Sen. Jake Oliveira; and work on a special edition of Goverment Matters which will be finished this weekend.

This week on The Rundown, a look at how town clerks are modernizing elections, a new cybersecurity center in Springfield, and an update on the cleanup of the Housatonic River.

09/20/2024

Honored once more to be part of today’s edition of The Rundown on NEPM. Tune in at 9 a.m. to 88.5 fm.

09/17/2024

Busy week for the old retired guy: three assignments for The Reminder and three assignments for Focus Springfield. Plus trying to line up an interview for the The Ink-stained Wretch Podcast with G. Michael Dobbs. Plus plus working on the Tom Tyler book, which is coming along well. Here is a shot of Tom from as Captain Marvel. It's autographed and I hope the signature is real. It is made out to a Spanish language movie magazine. The Republic movie serials were seen around the world.

09/16/2024

A bunch of cartoonists (and one writer and a musician) made the trek the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge to attend the fantastic exhibit honoring MAD magazine this past weekend. It is a mind-boggling collection of original art and artifacts that tell the story of America's best humor magazine. I read MAD for years and interviewed Bill Gaines. The artists and writers were well-known to me and their work played a pivotal part in forging a questioning attitude in me that has served me well as a journalist.

It was amazing to see originals from fabled EC Comics as well as MAD artists Mort Drucker, Paul Coker, Jr., Don Martin, Al Jaffee and more.

This is my third time at the museum and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Of course the company was also great as Mark Masztal, Gary Smith and his friend Chris, Tanner Ogle and Stephen R. Bissette - Writer/Artist/Packager/Self-Publisher accompanied me.

09/06/2024

If you missed this morning's edition of NEPM's The Rundown, here it is! It was great to talk news with my friend Paul Tuthill, Carrie Saldo and Nirvani Williams of NEPM.

The Rundown is back to discuss the results of the Massachusetts primary elections, both local and statewide, and the start of a new school year at UMass Amherst, where students have conflicted feelings.