Once Upon a Time… at Bennington College
This podcast explores the wild and wicked atmosphere of Bennington College in the 1980s, focusing on the class of '86 which included future literary stars Bret Easton Ellis, Jonathan Lethem, and Donna Tartt. It delves into their complex relationships, rivalries, and how they mythologized their college experiences in their fiction. The series, from Vanity Fair's Lili Anolik, reveals the secret history behind The Secret History and the lives of these Generation X writers.
Episodes
Welcome to "Once Upon a Time... in the Valley"
Welcome to Once Upon a Time… in the Valley.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 1: T-R-A-C-I
It's 1986. The San Fernando Valley. And, it turns out, the biggest star in Adult, isn't one.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 2: Wanted: Figure Models
A 15-year-old Redondo Union High sophomore learns to fake it so she can make it... as a nude model.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 3: We Kinda Made it Hardcore
Traci lands the Penthouse centerfold--and the studliest stud in porn.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 4: A (Porn) Star is Born
Traci goes from adult model to adult actress to adult phenomenon.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 5: Shooting (Porn) Star
The only thing wilder than Traci on camera, is Traci off camera. Also: Traci gets a rival; Traci gets a company; Traci gets a passport; and Traci gets busted.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 6: Fake Out and Make Out
The adult industry is screwed. The question is: Who's doing the screwing?
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 7: Surf City, USA
We leave the Valley and Traci Lords behind; go back to Redondo Beach and to Traci Lords before she was Traci Lords, when she was Nora Kuzma.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 8: Marion Davies' Love Button
Meet Troy Matherly, the heart of this story. The heart of Nora's story, and of Traci's story.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 9: The Ghost of Shauna Grant
We return to the Valley, and it looks a whole lot different this time around.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 10: Who Ratted Out Traci?
The mystery is (maybe) solved. And we hear directly—and at length—from 1985 Traci, in a never-before-aired interview.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 11: Afterglow
Traci Lords as the key to pop culture in the late 20th and early 21st century.
Once Upon a Time... in the Valley S1 | Ep 12: After The Afterglow
A crucial new piece of information comes to light.
Welcome to "Once Upon A Time... at Bennington College"
It’s the groves of academe: Bennington College, the wildest and wickedest school in America. In the last great decade: the 1980s. Bennington class of ’86, class of Bret Easton Ellis, future writer of American Psycho and co-leader of the literary Brat Pack; Jonathan Lethem, future writer of Motherless Brooklyn and MacArthur Fellow; and Donna Tartt, future writer of The Secret History and Pulitzer P
S2 | Ep 1: Dis-Orientation
Bennington. Autumn, 1982. Donna, Jonathan and Bret arrive on the campus of the school nicknamed “The Little Red Whorehouse on the Hill.” One of them comes with a steamer trunk. One of them comes with a Kangol cap. One of them comes with a “suitcase full of drugs.”
S2 | Ep 2: Bret Ellis, Valley Boy
Los Angeles, 1980-1981. “There was just this huge sense that the world was gay, gay, gay.” The origin story of Bret Easton Ellis (and Less Than Zero), Part One.
S2 | Ep 3: An Alley Along Melrose
Los Angeles, 1981-1982. “This rumor went around in 1981, 1982, that kids just were brought to see the body of another kid.” The origin story of Bret Easton Ellis (and Less Than Zero), Part Two.
S2 | Ep 4: Disappear There
Bennington. Autumn, 1982. Bret and Donna go on a date.
S2 | Ep 5: Bennington Revisited
Bennington. Autumn, 1982. Donna falls under the thrall of a magus-like professor, and the very small, very elite, very male band of students to whom he teaches Ancient Greek. “I can absolutely distinctly remember the three of them, and then the four of them—the three guys but then the four. The guys with Donna.”
S2 | Ep 6: Mississippi Chippy
Winter, 1982-1983. Over Non-Resident term, Donna gets closer to Jonathan, and becomes Paul McGloin's "Burning Boy."
S2 | Ep 7: Donna Lou
Mississippi, 1963-1982. Donna’s origin story. And Lord Jim... revealed?
S2 | Ep 8: Murder By Numbers
Bennington. Spring, 1983-Spring, 1985. Bret lives The Rules of Attraction, then sells Less Than Zero. Bret befriends David Lipsky, then be-enemies David Lipsky.
S2 | Ep 9: Entering Into the Sublime
Bennington. Spring, 1983. Donna Tartt becomes “Donna Tartt.” Jonathan Lethem becomes an angry young man.
S2 | Ep 10: An Impossible Shade of Green
Bennington. Autumn, 1983-Spring, 1986. Donna begins The Secret History. Donna throws tea parties and frequents martini hours. Donna bides her time. Jonathan drops out of Bennington only to hang around Bennington.
S2 | Ep 11: Disturbing Michiko Kakutani
Bennington and New York City. Autumn, 1985-spring, 1986. Less Than Zero is published and Bret becomes a cultural phenomenon. Bret also becomes a college senior. The most famous artist of the 20th century crashes his graduation party.
S2 | Ep 12: Sensational Sensationalism
New York City. Spring of 1987 to Spring of 1991. Patrick Bateman is born.
S2 | Ep 13: The Farmer’s Granddaughter
Cambridge, Massachusetts and New York, New York. Spring of 1986 to Fall of 1994. The Secret History is published. Plus, “The Purge” comes to Bennington.
S2 | Ep 14: It Was Like I Went Where I Failed To Go
1994 to the present day. Jonathan Lethem comes from behind. And just whose world are we living in anyway—Bret’s, Donna’s or Jonathan’s?
Introducing: What We Spend
Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend.
