BBC Radio 4 LW

Desert Island Discs

Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Desert Island Discs: Shirley MacLaine

05/11/1983

Shirley MacLaine

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Shirley MacLaine

Roy Plomley's castaway is actress Shirley MacLaine

Roy Plomley's castaway is actress Shirley MacLaine.

Shirley Maclaine began her career as a singer and dancer in the chorus of a Broadway musical. Success came quickly when, as an understudy, she had to take over a leading role in The Pajama Game, and she went on to make many successful films including The Apartment, Sweet Charity and The Turning Point. She regularly tours the world with her own song and dance show. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her life and chooses eight records she would take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] 

Favourite track: If My Friends Could See Me Now by Shirley MacLaine
Book: Dictionary and Hexalingual thesaurus
Luxury: Blank paper

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King Day

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Martin Luther King Day

The events that led to the recognition of Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Rosa Parks' refusal to recognise segregation, the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955, and the passing of a bill to recognise Martin Luther King Jr Day as a national holiday.

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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