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Why Are We So Captivated by Vampires?

Film historian David J. Skal. He's an expert on the horror film genre. His books include Hollywood Gothic: The Tangled Web of Dracula from Novel to Stage to Screen (W.W. Norton) and The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror (Penguin, paperback). His newest book (written in collaboration with Elias Savada) is Dark Carnival: The Secret World of Tod Browning, Hollywood's Master of the Macabre (Anchor Books). Tod Browning was a film director who earned the reputation as "the Edgar Allan Poe of the cinema." He directed Lon Chaney and Bela Lugosi and made such films as "Dracula" and the "repellent. . . and pathetic" "Freaks."

14:06
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Other segments from the episode on October 31, 1995

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, October 31, 1995: Interview with David J. Skal; Commentary on New Orleans and rock music; Interview with Elmore Leonard.
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06:48

The American Cities that Gave Us Rock and Roll: New Orleans.

Rock historian Ed Ward continues his series on cities and rock and roll. Today's city is New Orleans. Artists discussed include Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Little Richard, Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey, Dr. John (Mac Rebennack), The Meters, The Neville Brothers,

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27:27

Crime Novelist Elmore Leonard.

Novelist Elmore Leonard. He's 70 years old and has been called "the greatest living writer of crime fiction" (New York Times). Though he'd been writing for decades, critics didn't take notice of him until the 1980s. Now his work is known for it tight prose, "ear-perfect" dialogue and depiction of lower class life. Leonard's written thirty-two novels, including the bestsellers Pronto, Maximum Bob, and Get Shorty which has been made into a film, starring John Travolta and Gene Hackman.

Interview

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28:07

Vampire History and Folklore.

Raymond McNally studies vampires in folklore, literature, and film. He is a professor of Romanian and Eastern European History at Boston College. His books include "In Search of Dracula" and "Dracula was a Woman." He discusses the man who was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula, Vlad Dracula, or Vlad the Impaler.

Interview
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07:06

Fangtastic Voyage: 'True Blood' Vampires Live On

The third season of HBO's vampire soap True Blood is now out on DVD. TV critic David Bianculli says the show's success proves that vampires -- more than werewolves, zombies or witches -- will turn out to be the most durable media monsters of all.

Review
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06:33

Sinking Our Teeth Into Season Three Of 'True Blood.'

HBO's vampire series True Blood returns with its third season Sunday. TV critic David Bianculli says the series is different from other vampire dramas appearing on screen these days -- including the phenomenally popular Twilight movie series. For the most part, he says, it's not about denial and restraint. It's about giving in.

Review

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