Rick Feingold Programs

Buena Vista Social Club – the Musical

Dover, NJ Library - September 15, 2026 @ 2 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Poughkeepsie, NY Library - Boardman Rd. - September 23, 2026 @ 6:30 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Livingston, NJ Library - October 14, 2026 @ 7 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

In 1950s Havana, a group of young musicians created a sound that shook the world of Cuban music—until the revolution changed everything. Forty years later, the band came back together to record the songs they left behind and unexpectedly created the greatest-selling world music album of all time. The program covers Pre-Revolution life in 1950s Cuba, the Son cubano musical artists featured in the 1999 documentary movie, and the Tony-award winning 2025 Buena Vista Social Club Broadway musical.

American Baseball in Cuba

Poughkeepsie, NY Library - July 14, 2026 @ 6:30 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

The American Series against Major League opponents in Cuba began in 1890 and continued until 1959. Babe Ruth visited Havana in 1920 after his 54 home run season and lost a fortune gambling in the casinos. Jackie Robinson played spring training in Cuba prior to breaking baseball’s color line in 1947. Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson played baseball games in Cuba. After a night of drinking the writer Ernest Hemingway engaged the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Hugh Casey in a boxing match at his Havana home.

1950s Quiz Show Scandals

Cornwall, NY Library - April 20, 2026 @ 2 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Bronxville, NY Library - May 4, 2026 @ 3:30 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Lyndhurst, NJ Library - June 1, 2026 @ 6:30 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

In 1956, the game show Twenty-One premiered and was played honestly but ended as a “dismal failure” when the contestants could not answer the questions correctly. As a result Twenty-One became rigged with players being given answers in advance. When dominant long-running winner Herbert Stempel was ordered to lose he answered a key question incorrectly. Afterwards Stempel blew the whistle on the scam. Congressional hearings followed. Features the original Twenty-One episode of Stempel vs. Van Doren.

American Revolution 250 - Alexander Hamilton–Secretary of the Treasury

Clark, NJ Library - April 14, 2026 @ 7 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Verona, NJ Library - June 10, 2026 @ 6:30 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Hamilton, An American Musical received a record-breaking 16 Tony award nominations. As America’s first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton founded the U.S. financial system. His Federalist plan was quickly opposed by Anti-Federalists Thomas Jefferson and James Madison until a grand compromise was worked out. This program features music from the Broadway production and video from the Hamilton musical.

This is the sequel to the program Alexander Hamilton – The Musical and the Duel. The program includes music and video from Hamilton, An American Musical.

1986 Mets–More than Game 6–40th Anniversary

Poughkeepsie, NY Library - April 27, 2026 @ 6:30 pm - FREE In-Person program in the library

Lyndhurst, NJ Library - October 8, 2026 @ 6:30 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Celebrate baseball season with a 40th anniversary tribute to the 1986 Mets.

They were a last-place team for nearly ten years. Then General Manager Frank Cashen stocked the team with stars Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Darryl Strawberry, and Dwight Gooden and they won 108 games.

Relive the Astros playoff series and the nail-biter 16-inning final game. Listen to Vin Scully’s Game 6 call of the MIRACLE of Mookie Wilson’s 10-pitch at bat and the ground ball through Bill Buckner’s legs. Watch the post-season sequel of first-baseman Keith Hernandez playing himself in The Boyfriend episode on Seinfeld.

The Harvey Girls – Civilizers of the Wild West

Mahwah, NJ Library - February 4, 2026 @ 7 pm - FREE Virtual/Zoom program

Registration: https://mahwah.librarycalendar.com/event/harvey-girls-civilizers-wild-west-zoom-85395

The Santa Fe Railroad provided passenger train service between Kansas and New Mexico beginning in the late 1800s replacing the old stagecoach Santa Fe Trail. Fred Harvey opened eating houses along the railroad providing high standards of dining at train stops. He recruited young women from throughout the country to work in his restaurants. Based on the 1946 MGM movie musical The Harvey Girls starring Judy Garland and the Academy Award winning song On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe.

Madam C. J. Walker–The First Black Female Millionaire

Warwick, NY Library - February 3, 2026 @ 6 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Mamaroneck, NY Library - February 10, 2026 @ 7 pm - FREE Zoom program

Registration for Zoom: https://www.mamaronecklibrary.org/events/madam-c-j-walker-the-first-black-female-millionaire-via-zoom/

Born in 19th century rural Louisiana to former slaves, Sarah Breedlove rose to become the first female, African-American, self-made millionaire in the United States. Known as Madam C.J. Walker, she developed a line of beauty care products for black women. Walker built a factory, hair salon, mail-order business and a beauty school which trained 20,000 sales agents. Later she became a philanthropist and was active in organizing the NAACP’s Silent Protest Parade in New York in 1917.

Aaron Burr and the Hamilton Musical

Holbrook, NY (Sachem) Library - February 11, 2026 @ 7 pm - FREE Zoom program

Registration: https://sachem.librarycalendar.com/event/aaron-burr-and-hamilton-musical-zoom-166011

Warwick, NY Library - May 7, 2026 @ 6 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Hamilton, An American Musical earned 11 Tony awards and Aaron Burr is the villain. As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Revolutionary War he begins an unlawful relationship with the wife of a British Officer. Elected Vice President in 1800 under Thomas Jefferson he kills Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in a famous duel in Weehawken, NJ. Burr gets away with murder but is later tried for treason. This program covers the women in Burr’s life and features music from the Broadway production including The Election of 1800 and the Hamilton Burr duel.

Dick Clark’s American Bandstand – At the Hop-The Dances – 1957-1964

Kids raced home after school in the 1950s to watch Philadelphia teenagers dance on American Bandstand. First the high school students danced the Jitterbug. Then Chubby Checker introduced the Twist and dancing changed forever. Little Eva was next with the Loco-Motion dance craze. Features live Bandstand performances of At the Hop with Danny and the Juniors, Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin, Rebel Rouser by Duane Eddy, De De Dinah by Frankie Avalon, Lonely Teardrops by Jackie Wilson, Chantilly Lace by The Big Bopper and more.

Note: this is the Part 2 sequel to Dick Clark’s American Bandstand – Philadelphia.

Motown Records and Berry Gordy

Wayne, NJ Library - February 11, 2026 @ 12:30 pm - FREE In-Person program at the library

Syosset, NY Library - February 18, 2026 @ 2 pm - FREE Virtual/Zoom program

Registration: https://syosset.librarycalendar.com/event/virtual-motown-records-berry-gordy-rick-feingold-41628

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87276704519

Bronxville, NY Library - February 26, 2026 @ 1:30 pm - FREE In-Person program in the library

Berry Gordy wrote the Jackie Wilson hit Lonely Teardrops but barely made any money. So he started his own record company named Motown. The label played an important role in the racial integration of popular music achieving crossover success. Motown would launch the careers of Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. Includes classic video of the early years of Motown music.