Volume 7 Issue 3 March 2010
In This Issue • Enjoy musical blasts from the past throughout the month, including specials featuring Pat Boone, Chet Atkins and Roy Orbison • The History Circle Community Calendar features history-themed regional events • Check out this month’s complete history programming on Western Reserve PBS and Fusion • American Masters follows architect I.M. Pei on a personal Dolley Madison: American Experience and architectural journey Monday, March 1, at 9 pm Repeats Wednesday, March 3, and Monday, March 8, at 3 am Become a Member of Dolley Madison lived through two wars, knew the first 12 presidents and watched America Western Reserve PBS! evolve from a struggling young republic to the first modern democracy in the world. At a time Join Western Reserve PBS when women could neither vote nor participate officially in politics, Madison, wife of the to support our high-quality fourth president, James Madison, became one of the most influential and best-loved figures of educational and inspiring programming. Find out how to join her day. When she died in 1849 at the age of 81 — one of the last remaining members of the online at westernreservepbs.org or founding generation — Washington City honored her with the largest state funeral the capital by phone at 1-800-554-4549. had ever seen. Dolley Madison features interviews with NPR senior news analyst and best-selling author New Channel Positions Cokie Roberts, historian Catherine Allgor, presidential historian Richard Norton Smith and more. The distinguished cast of actors includes Tony Award nominee Eve Best as Dolley for Time Warner Madison and Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays as James Madison. Effective March 8, Time Warner will The film looks at both the first lady’s public achievements and at her often troubled private change its digital channel positions. life — in particular, her relationship with her only son, a drinker and gambler who almost For more information, visit http:// ruined her final years. twcguide.com or call Time Warner.
Local funding for history programming is provided by The Ruth H. Beecher Charitable Trust. Heart of a Nation: America’s First Ladies
Monday, March 1, at 10:30 pm Enjoy this look at the important roles played by America’s first ladies. Using the National First Ladies’ Library in Canton as its primary resource, the program recalls important moments in first lady history.
Mary Regula talks about the founding of the National First Ladies’ Library in this Western Reserve Public Media production.
Western Reserve PBS • P.O. Box 5191 • Kent OH 44240-5191 • Call us at 1-800-554-4549 • Visit us online at www.WesternReservePBS.org Musical Blasts From the Past Pat Boone: Love Letters in the Sands of Time Sunday, March 7, at 7 pm Repeats Wednesday, March 10, at 10 pm During the 1950s, one performer challenged Elvis Presley in chart-topping hits — Pat Boone. Instantly recognizable for his silky, smooth singing voice, charming good looks and iconic The T.A.M.I. Show: Rock ‘n’ Roll’s First white bucks, Boone had 38 top 40 hits, became Concert Film a movie star and a best-selling author and, from 1957 to 1961, hosted a weekly network television Monday, March 8, at 9 pm musical variety show called “The Pat Boone-Chevy Repeats Sunday, March 14, at 4:30 pm Showroom.” One of the rarest rock events ever captured on film, the 1964 Boone’s guest stars were some of the best- concert known as “The T.A.M.I. Show,” short for Teen Age Music known entertainers in the world, including International, featured performances by future Rock and Roll Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, the Mills Brothers, Frankie Hall of Famers the Rolling Stones, James Brown, Chuck Berry, the Avalon, Johnny Mathis, Connie Francis, Julie Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the London, Count Basie, Fabian and Nat “King” Supremes and many others. Cole. In this special, Boone reintroduces an The T.A.M.I. Show was filmed live at the Santa Monica Civic extraordinary vintage collection of guest solos Auditorium in 1964, a mere seven months after the Beatles and duets, along with a selection of his own appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and introduced the swinging classic hits. ‘60s to America. This legendary film hasn’t been seen in its entirety since it originally appeared in theaters in 1964. This restored version features Beach Boys performances that were removed shortly after the film’s initial theatrical run. The T.A.M.I. Show is the first concert movie of the rock era, Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar capturing such superstars as the Rolling Stones (with the late Brian Player Jones), James Brown, Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Miracles (featuring Smokey Robinson) and many pm Sunday, March 7, at 8:30 other Motown and British Invasion acts in their early prime. Repeats Thursday, March 11, at 8 pm On May 15, 1987, a group of A-list musicians gathered to celebrate the enormous influence that guitarist and producer Chet Atkins had on their lives and careers. Taped before a studio audience at Neeley Auditorium on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, the star- packed special includes performances by Atkins with Mark Knopfler, the Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald and a band of the Music City’s finest players. The concert has been the talk of legend — the Rounder Records 40th Anniversary recording and video have long been sought after Concert by guitar aficionados and music collectors. By the Tuesday, March 9, at 10 pm first notes of “Deep Thumb Blues,” it’s easy to see why. Recorded just blocks from the famed Music Filmed in October 2009 at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, this Row that he’s largely credited with creating, Atkins concert is a celebration of Rounder Records’ 40 years in the music gives the audience a master class in playing and industry and features Grammy-winning Rounder artists. performing. They include Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Atkins, who passed away on June 30, 2001, Douglas, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Béla Fleck and Irma Thomas, referred to himself as “Chet Atkins, CGP.” CGP along with musical host Minnie Driver and special guests Nathan stands for certified guitar player, an honorary and the Zydeco Cha Chas and jazz/R&B pianist Henry Butler. degree that Atkins bestowed upon only the most The special also features select performances from Steve Martin’s worthy pickers. Just five were ever given the honor: show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, from Alison Krauss and Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner, Tommy Emmanuel, John Robert Plant’s 2008 CMT “Crossroads” special and from Madeleine Knowles — and Chet Atkins. Peyroux’s 2009 concert in Los Angeles. History Circle Community Calendar
Tea With the Curator — Hearth Musical Blasts From the Past and Home — McKinley Presidential When Irish Eyes Are Smiling: Library and Museum Monday, March 8, from 10 am to noon Sunday, March 14, at 2 pm McKinley Presidential Library and Repeats Tuesday, March 16, at 8 pm; Thursday, March 18, at Museum, 800 McKinley Monument 9:30 pm; and Saturday, March 20, at 6:30 pm Dr. NW, Canton. For reservations In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and the green month of March, or more information, call 330-455- take a nostalgic journey back to the 1950s and 1960s with long- 7043. unseen footage of beloved performers singing some of the greatest songs from and inspired by Ireland. Irish Ceili Band Performs Traditional The program appropriately opens on the streets of Dublin with Irish Music — Hudson Library the legendary crooner Bing Crosby offering a pair of Irish folk and Historical Society Thursday, standards, “Molly Malone” and “McNamara’s Band.” Tough-guy March 11, at 7 pm 96 Library St., actor Robert Mitchum, generally not known for his singing, teams Hudson. For more information, call up with the Ames Brothers for a rare rendition of the tender “Too- 330-653-6658, ext. 1010, or visit Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra.” hudsonlibrary.org. Flame-haired film beauty Maureen O’Hara delivers a touching version of “Look to the Rainbow” from the Broadway musical The Voice of the American Soul: “Finian’s Rainbow.” She and singer Rosemary Clooney unite for a Marian Anderson — National First rousing declaration called “It’s a Great Day for the Irish”; they’re Ladies’ Library Saturday, March 13, joined by variety show host Ed Sullivan and Pat Rooney, who also from 10 am to noon 205 Market Ave. dances to the spirited “The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady.” S, Canton. For more information, call Other popular performers on the program include Carmel Quinn, Vicki or Noelle at 330-452-0876. Morton Downey, Dennis Day, Pat O’Brien, Paul O’Keefe and the Irish Rovers (with their hit recording of “The Unicorn”). Using World Cat for Genealogy Research — Medina County Public Library Sunday, March 14, at 1:30 pm Medina County Public Library, 210 S. Broadway, Medina. For more Roy Orbison: In Dreams information, call 330-725-0588. Sunday, March 22, at 10 pm Soup at Six — On the Move: The The inspiring life and times — and music — Early Auto Industry in Stark County of first-generation Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — McKinley Presidential Library inductee Roy Orbison are the heart of this music and Museum Thursday, March 18, documentary. from 6-8 pm McKinley Presidential For Orbison, whose rock ’n’ roll career Library and Museum, 800 McKinley spanned the 1950s through the 1980s, ambition Monument Dr. NW, Canton. For and stardom always took a back seat to the more information or reservations, purity and essence of his art. Even without call 330-455-7043. formal training, he was a brilliant songwriter whose simplest tunes, “Only the Lonely,” Mr. Vickers’ Butterbur — Mill Creek “Crying,” “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “Blue Bayou” MetroParks Sunday, March 28, and “You Got It” — all heard in Roy Orbison: at 2 pm Walter Scholl Recreation In Dreams — defied conventional rules of Area, near the intersection of Bears songwriting and structure. Den Road and Normandy Dr., Orbison also was one of pop’s most gifted Youngstown. One of the legacies of and colorfully distinctive vocal stylists. His Mill Creek Park’s first naturalist is many fans include artists such as Willie Nelson, a still-thriving colony of butterbur. Chet Atkins, Jeff Lynne, Robert Plant, Bruce For more information, call the Springsteen, Bill Wyman and Bono, all of whom MetroParks Office at 330-702-3000. pay homage onscreen to their idol. The special includes footage of Bruce All About Kent Speaker Series — Springsteen’s speech at Orbison’s 1987 Kent Historical Society, Wednesday, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. March 31, at 6:30 pm Unitarian This event was the prelude to the 1988 all-star Universalist Church, 229 Gougler tribute concert, “Roy Orbison and Friends: Ave., Kent. Wayne Enders is guest A Black and White Night,” which aired on speaker. For more information, call PBS. Segments of that concert are interspersed 330-678-2712. throughout In Dreams. Western Reserve Public Media 1750 Campus Center Dr. P.O. Box 5191 Kent, OH 44240-5191 1-800-554-4549
March 2010 • History Programming
PBS A service of Western Reserve Public Media A service of Western Reserve Public Media
Digital channels: 45.1 (WNEO) and 49.1 (WEAO) Digital channels: 45.2 (WNEO) and 49.2 (WEAO) Armstrong Cable: Channels 12 and 113 Armstrong Cable: Channel 416 Clear Picture: Channels 9 and 602 Clear Picture: Channel 84 Massillon Cable: Channels 2 and 602 Massillon Cable: Channel 84 Time Warner Cable: Channels 10 or 12; for more information about Time Warner Cable: Channel 368; changes to HD channel designations, visit twcguide.com or call Time Warner Channel 993 beginning March 8
American Experience Objects and Memories Floating on Air Monday, March 1, at 9 pm Thursday, March 11, at Thursday, March 4, at 9 pm Wednesdays, March 3, 4 am Saturday, March 6, at 7 pm March 24 and March 31, at 3 am Cross Canada Century Flight African American Lives 2 Monday, March 8, at 3 am Monday, March 15, at Sundays, March 7 and March 14, at noon 1 am and 1 pm Heart of a Nation: America’s First Ladies The Blitz: London’s Longest Northeast Ohio: The War Monday, March 1, at Night Sunday, March 7, at 2 pm 10:30 pm Monday, March 15, at Sunday, March 14, at 4:30 pm 3 am The War Morristown: Where America Sundays, March 7 to March 21, at 2:30 pm Survived Germans in America Wednesday, March 3, at Wednesdays, March 17 to Lasting Impressions: The Wendell August 4:30 am April 7, at 2 pm Forge Story Monday, March 8, at American Masters Wednesday, March 10, at 8 pm and 10 pm 4:30 am Small Town, Big Dreams Saturday, March 13, at 8 pm Monday, March 22, at I.M. Pei Faces of America With 1 am Clyde Singer: An American Artist Wednesday, March 31, at 9 pm Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Thursday, March 11, at 8 pm and 10 pm Wednesday, March 3, at Jerusalem: Center of the Saturday, March 13, at 6 pm Noted architect I.M. Pei, who left his 10:30 pm World native China in the 1930s, was invited to Monday, March 22, at Inventive, Industrious, Inspired: A History design a modern museum to house the Pride and Passion: The 3 am of Akron antiquities of Suzhou, where he grew up. Italians in America Wednesday, March 17, at 8 pm and 10 pm This film follows his seven-and-a-half- Thursday, March 4, at Roy Orbison: In Dreams Saturday, March 20, at 8 pm 9:30 pm Monday, March 22, at year personal and architectural journey 10 pm The Front Porch President from west to east, a literal coming home The 8th Wonder: Waterloo Thursday, March 18, at 8:30 pm and — a realization of Pei’s lifelong dream, Wonders American Masters, John 10:30 pm but also his biggest challenge and a work Monday, March 8, at 1 am James Audobon Saturday, March 20, at 6:30 pm that he defines as “my biography.” Sunday, March 28, at noon Wednesday, March 24, The Blitz: London’s Longest Night The program includes commentary Tuesday, March 30, at 9 pm at 4 am Sunday, March 21, at noon from local residents, design specialists, Suzhou officials and a stellar array Time Team America Secrets of the Dead Bombing of Germany: American Experience of architects, designers and scholars Wednesdays, March 10 Sunday, March 28, at 4 pm and March 17, at 3 am Sunday, March 21, at 1:30 pm commenting on Pei’s life and work. and 4 am