August Wilson's "Fences" Staring Denzel Washington & Viola Davis

 Fences Is a Must-Watch

Set in the 1950s, the film Fences remains one of the most powerful works in Denzel Washington’s career—both as an actor and director. He brings August Wilson’s award-winning play to the screen with power, depth, and honesty, making it accessible to audiences beyond the theater world.

If you haven’t seen it yet, now’s a great time to check it out. Fences is available on streaming platforms and still resonates today with its timeless themes of race, family, and dreams deferred. It’s a moving, unforgettable film that continues to spark conversation.

A Look at August Wilson’s Fences

Fences is a play written by August Wilson in 1983. It’s set in 1950s Pittsburgh and centers on the lives of African-American families navigating personal and social challenges. The story deals with important themes like racism, family dynamics, and lost potential. In 1987, Fences won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play.

August Wilson was a celebrated playwright who dedicated his career to telling the story of African-American life throughout the 20th century. He created a ten-play series called The Pittsburgh Cycle, with each play set in a different decade. Fences is one of the most well-known plays in the cycle.

The other nine plays in The Pittsburgh Cycle are:
Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Two Trains Running, Jitney, King Hedley II, and Radio Golf.

Wilson’s plays continue to inspire, offering deep insight into the struggles, hopes, and strength of African-American communities. His legacy is still celebrated on stage, on screen, and in classrooms across the country. Washington has a deal with HBO to produce and direct all ten plays in the August Wilson collection.

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Mr. Philly Librarian

 

LOUD by Angelo Cataldi

 

A Raw, Real, and Hilarious Ride Through the Mind of Philly’s Loudest Sports Fan

If you’ve ever been bumper-to-bumper on the Schuylkill Expressway with a coffee in hand and your radio cranked to WIP, you probably spent many days with Angelo Cataldi yelling in your ear. For more than 30 years, Cataldi was the ringleader of Philadelphia sports radio a voice that stirred the pot, fired up the fans, and captured the chaos of this city’s obsession with its teams.

In his memoir LOUD, Cataldi pulls back the curtain on that wild ride. From growing up a “king nerd” in Providence, Rhode Island, to walking away from a newspaper career to dominate the Philly airwaves, his story is fast-paced, brutally honest, and—true to form and never quiet.

For me, LOUD is more than just a behind-the-scenes look at a Philly radio legend. It’s personal. I spent countless mornings listening to Angelo while stuck in traffic on the Schuylkill. But what made it even more special was hearing my mentor Mr. Bill William, aka Billy from South Philly would call in to debate him. Mr. Bill had deep Philly sports knowledge and was never afraid to go at it with Angelo live on-air. Their fiery back-and-forths weren’t just entertaining they were a masterclass in Philly sports discourse.

Cataldi captures that same spirit in this book: passionate, confrontational, but always rooted in love for the game and the city. He doesn’t shy away from controversy he owns it, reflects on it, and laughs about it. You’ll find plenty of stories about the infamous Wing Bowl, high-profile interviews gone sideways, and the callers who became part of the show’s lore.

                                            

One of the highlights for me personally was meeting Angelo at the American Library Association (ALA) Convention. He was incredibly down to earth nothing like the fired-up persona you'd hear on-air. We ended up chatting about Philly sports, and of course, the Eagles. The city was still riding high off last year’s Super Bowl run, and we both agreed: there’s nothing like Philly fans.

True to form, Angelo brought up his legendary love/hate relationship with the Birds and asked me for my prediction for the upcoming season. Without missing a beat, I said: “Eagles are going all the way.”

He didn’t argue.

He just gave me that classic Angelo Cataldi smirk—part approval, part skepticism, and 100% Philly.

— Mr. Philly Librarian