ODYSSEY New Back in Time Introducing DocSCALE Spy in the Wild Returns BACK IN TIME The Abernathy Boys APRIL 2020 April 2020 Executive Polly Anderson OETA Director Marketing and Aaron Morvan Communications MOVIE Manager CLUB Production Designer Danny Rose Assistant Susan Cadot Editors Bob Hakim Saturdays at 9 pm Chad Haney Encores Fridays at 11 pm Jay Jacobs Lori Peters Janette Thornbrue The China Syndrome (1969) • April 4 Kristi Wren A reporter finds what appears to be a cover-up of safety hazards at a nuclear power plant. Fail-Safe (1964) • April 11 American planes are sent to deliver a nuclear attack Stay in touch... on Moscow, but it’s a mistake due to an electrical (405) 848-8501 • (800) 879-6382 malfunction. Can all-out war be averted? 7403 North Kelley Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73111 A Man For All Seasons (1966) • April 18 (918) 838-7611 The story of Sir Thomas More, who stood up to 535 North Greenwood Tulsa, OK 74106 King Henry VIII when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry. The Natural (1984) • April 25 An unknown comes seemingly out of nowhere to become © Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, 2020 a legendary baseball player with almost divine talent. Support from BancFirst MD Jirous and Barbara Jirous Foundation Bank of Oklahoma The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Calvert’s Plant Interiors Oklahoma’s Electric Cooperatives The Cherokee Nation The Pauline Dwyer Macklanburg and The Choctaw Nation Robert A. Macklanburg, Jr. Foundation ConocoPhillips Potts Family Foundation Harris Foundation, Inc. The Puterbaugh Foundation Jasmine and Melvin Moran Tom Johnson Investment Management, LLC Krumme Oil Company United for Oklahoma Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma Vyve Broadband 2 APRIL 2020 A NOTE FROM POLLY... If you’re reading this letter, chances are you consider yourself an OETA superfan. Many thanks to you all for your support during our spring membership campaign. Throughout the month of March, more than 800 new superfans across the state decided to financially support OETA for the first time! All of us here at OETA are amazed at this outpouring and are grateful for the generosity of everyone who donated. Welcome to all our new members, and thank you to our members who have been with us for years. I have some great news for everyone who likes British dramas and mysteries—we have a lot of premieres during the month of April. Kicking everything off Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. is World on Fire. Academy Award®-winner Helen Hunt stars as an American broadcaster reporting from Warsaw and Berlin as fighting erupts. Sean Bean, who you may know from Game of Thrones, plays a World War I veteran-turned-pacifist trying to cope with chronic shellshock while looking after his working-class family. As a bonus, you can binge watch the entire series starting April 5 through OETA Passport. Our Father Brown fans will be happy to hear that season eight, with ten all-new episodes, premieres Sunday, April 26 at 6 p.m. Mark Williams resumes his role as Father Brown, investigating the murder of an eccentric beekeeper, stepping in when Mrs McCarthy’s family reunion is threatened by a fortune-teller’s predictions and races against time to save Bunty from the hangman’s noose when she is tried for murder. And, lastly for all you animal lovers out there, Spy in the Wild returns with season two Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. From the humid tropics to the freezing poles, meet even more spy creatures in the middle of some of nature’s greatest events. Meet a spy Komodo dragon, spy puffin, spy stork, spy koala, spy seal, spy gorilla and many more. Executive Director, OETA SPY IN THE WILD A NATURE MINI-SERIES Wednesday, April 29 7:00 pm APRIL 2020 3 BACK IN TIME THE ABERNATHY BOYS In 1910 President Theodore Roosevelt returned to New York City from his world travels: accepting his Nobel Peace Prize and collecting African specimens for the National Museum. The streets were crowded with citizens, politicians, dignitaries and celebrities—including Bud and Temple Abernathy. The popularity of the Abernathy boys was such that they rode behind Roosevelt’s carriage during his ticker-tape parade. They were six and ten years old. Bud and Temple Abernathy first met President Roosevelt when he visited Frederick, OK in 1905. He was drawn to the area after hearing about Jack Abernathy, a man who could catch wolves barehanded and father to Bud and Temple. Jack was always a bit of a wild man with a penchant for adventure. In one particular instance, he interceeded when it became clear that his dogs were in danger after cornering a wolf. When the wolf attacked, Jack put out his arm in self-defense. He waited for the wolf to bite, but it never did. That’s because Jack’s hand was jammed deep down the wolf’s throat. Jack quickly perfected this unique style of hunting and became a professional wolf hunter. He would sell the wolves to zoos, parks or travelling shows. On special occasions, he would perform this feat strictly for entertainment purposes. Word travelled fast and caught the attention of Roosevelt. He was in awe of Jack’s skills and asked to join him on a wolf hunt. Jack obliged. In the tall grass of southwestern Oklahoma they spotted a grey wolf. After Jack wrestled the wolf, the president congratulated him saying, “This beats anything I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a great deal. When you get your hand free, I want to shake it.” Upon his departure, Roosevelt made Jack a U.S. Marshall—the youngest ever appointed. 4 APRIL 2020 During Roosevelt’s visit, Bud and Temple grew The boys, growing weary of the attention and to like the president. When they heard of his feeling homesick, wanted to go home. They return to the United States after being abroad thought they would take it a bit easier on the for a year, they return trip. Instead of returning to Oklahoma decided to take a trip on horseback, they decided to drive themselves. to New York City Jack ended up buying them a Brush Roundabout to greet him. They for about $485. This car consisted of a single asked their father cylinder, a wooden axle and topped out at 30 if they could make miles per hour. They called the vehicle “The the trip...by horse. Wildcat.” The Brush Company used the boys He gave his approval in advertisements for years to follow. and the boys set off. Jack was not When Bud and Temple finally returned to too worried about Oklahoma, they were welcomed by throngs the boys’ welfare in Oklahoma City. One of the boys is credited as they had already with saying, “When we returned home, completed a similar we still had a few days left before school trip to New Mexico started, which we used to try and build a just months prior. plane like the Wrights’ in our backyard.” Bud and Temple left for their trip in April, their first major stop being Hominy, OK. From then on, their following grew city to city. Crowds would welcome them and reporters would write of their journey. Their celebrity status came with perks, including their first automobile ride. The highlight of their stay in Ohio was a personal tour of the Wright brothers airfield by none other than Wilbur Wright who explained the science of flight. In West Virginia they saw Haley’s comet. When they came to Washington D.C. the brothers met with President Taft and his cabinet. The pair made it to New York City where they attended a Baptist church and were seated in the Rockefeller pew. Following their trip to New York City, a They were obviously beloved by America. promoter approached the family with a challenge to travel from coast to coast on horseback Finally, the day of the parade came. People were in less than 60 days, the record at that time. throwing flowers toward the President. One The prize was $10,000, which would be worth admirer gave him a stuffed teddy bear with the over $250,000 in today’s currency. The boys flag wrapped around its neck. Roosevelt stopped accepted the challenge. It’s expected that they the parade, got out of his carriage, walked to would have beaten or tied the record if their Temple and said, “Here, Temple, this is for you.” horses had not escaped in the desert, costing When the parade concluded a lunch was held them two precious days and the prize money. at the Astor in the Abernathys’ honor. Orville Wright, Theodore Roosevelt and his cousin, The Abernathy Boys is a part of OETA’s award- Franklin, were among those who attended. winning documentary series, Back in Time. To To escape the crowd, a police captain had to learn more about the adventures of Bud and carry the boys on his shoulders to their hotel. Temple, tune in Thursday, April 9 at 7 p.m. APRIL 2020 5 WHAT TO WATCH World On Fire Sunday, April 5 • 8:00 pm World on Fire is an adrenalized, emotionally gripping and resonant World War II drama that follows the intertwining fates of ordinary people in five countries as they grapple with the effects of the war on their everyday lives. Don’t miss the series premiere. The Windermere Children Sunday, April 5 • 9:00 pm Child survivors of the Holocaust are brought to an estate near England’s Lake Windermere to recuperate with the help of volunteer therapists.