Arts

The silent-film comic was a flop in the 13-minute Making a Living. But only a few days later, he'd introduce his iconic Little Tramp character — and take the first step toward immortality.

Legendary comedian David Steinberg is the subject of a new Showtime documentary called Quality Balls. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Steinberg, whose controversial routine was responsible for the cancellation of the Smothers Brothers' TV show in the 1960s.

Diane Johnson often writes about American heroines living in France, but when she began her memoir, she found herself drawn back to her native ground in America's heartland. Critic Maureen Corrigan says Flyover Lives "lets scenes and conversations speak for themselves, accruing power as they lodge in readers' minds."

Last week we jumped all over the Piedmont with artistic jaunts to Greensboro, Yadkin, and all the way out to Boone. Today we're going to plop ourselves down right here in lovely, lively Winston-Salem for a while, and enjoy a little Triad music history 101. First, we'll take a look at Salem's 19^th century Moravian community in the waning days of the Civil War. The 26^th regiment bring will bring music to our ears and the New Winston-Salem Museum puts it in perfect historical context. Then, Salem Band is alive and well since its founding 243 years ago, and Music Director Eileen Young is keepin' it real for us in 2014! We'll continue full circle with more great music, this time an old-timey string band that really swings: Unbroken Circle is back in concert raising money for yet another worthy cause, and Wake Forest University's Martha Allman is here to share. We'll wrap things up today with a quick trip to the heart of downtown Winston-Salem and the art house cinema that's doing its part to keep things rockin' on fourth street: Aperture Cinema's Lawren Desai updates us on new screenings, Oscar picks and more.

Diane Johnson has spent much of her adult life living in France, writing novels like Le Divorce. But it was not until a visit home, to the Midwestern town of Moline, IL, that the Johnson discovered that her pioneer ancestors had lives worthy of writing about. Her new book, Flyover Lives reconstructs their stories.

B.J. Novak is a triple threat. He got his start in show business as a standup comedian which led to a job on the hit comedy series The Office. Novak had a regular part on the show but he was also one of the writers. Now he has put his writing talent to work on a book of stories: One More Thing.

“Now the Battle Din is O'er” was appropriately enough the last tune played for General Robert E. Lee. It was also the last music played by the 26^th Regiment North Carolina Troops, made up of Moravian musicians from Salem. In February New Winston Museum in collaboration with the Moravian Music Foundation will be hosting performances of this historic music along with the touching “When the Swallows Homeward Fly” performed for Lee on the evening of the surrender at Appomattox, VA, and others.

Paramount became the first big studio to distribute a major film in the U.S. only in digital, and others will probably follow. Small cinemas are struggling to raise money for the transition. Despite resistance from some major directors, the end of film is almost upon us.