Volume 9 Issue 12 December 2012

In This Issue

• Learn about the National Film Registry in Independent Lens, These Amazing Shadows

• Enjoy encore Nova presentations that delve into the history of the Great Sphinx, ancient cathedrals and King Solomon’s mines

• American Masters programs profile the Joffrey Ballet and Johnny Carson

• The History Circle Community Calendar features regional events

• Check out this month’s complete history programming on Western Reserve PBS and Fusion

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

Free computer classes!Western Reserve Public Media has partnered with Connect Ohio to offer free computer training at our offices in Kent. The three-part sessions are held every week. For more information, call us at 330-474-5005.

Live From Lincoln CenterOne Singular Sensation: Celebrating Marvin HamlischMonday, Dec. 31, at 8 pm and 10:30 pm Also airs on Fusion on Monday, Dec. 31, at 10:30 pm

Before his passing on Aug. 6, 2012, renowned composer-conductor Marvin Hamlisch was scheduled to conduct the New York Philharmonic’s 2012 New Year’s Eve program. The orchestra will instead dedicate its annual New Year’s event to this icon of American music.

Live From Lincoln Center host Audra McDonald — among the artists associated with Marvin Hamlisch’s extraordinary career — will perform in the New Year’s Eve celebration. Directed by Lonny Price and conducted by Paul Gemignani, One Singular Sensation: Celebrating Marvin Hamlisch will also feature Joshua Bell, Raúl Esparza, Michael Feinstein, Maria Friedman, Josh Groban, Megan Hilty, Kelli O’Hara and Frederica von Stade in a program highlighting music that spans Hamlisch’s groundbreaking music for stage and film.

Marvin Hamlisch, who received three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony and three Golden Globe Awards, plus a Pulitzer Prize, penned some of the most popular Broadway and Hollywood scores of all time, including “A Chorus Line,” “The Sting,” “Sophie’s Choice” and literally dozens more. He was also highly in demand as a conductor, with ties to numerous orchestras, particularly the New York Philharmonic.

One Singular Sensation will be broadcast from the Philharmonic’s Lincoln Center home, Avery Fisher Hall. It will mark the orchestra’s 74th Live From Lincoln Center presentation and its 14th New Year’s Eve broadcast.

The New York Philharmonic’s New Year’s Eve celebration at Lincoln Center will honor the late Marvin Hamlisch.

Riddles of the SphinxSunday, Dec. 23, at 5 pm

Also airs on Friday, Dec. 21, at 2 am

For 45 centuries, the Great Sphinx has cast its enigmatic gaze over Egypt’s Giza plateau. The biggest and oldest statue in a land of colossal ancient monuments, its scale is staggering: the mighty head towers as tall as the White House, while its body is nearly the length of a football field.

This strange half-human, half-lion image has inspired countless fantastic theories about its origins. How was it built and who or what does it represent? Surprisingly, the scribes of the period when it was built — during Egypt’s Old Kingdom — passed over it in silence. Adding to the mystery, archaeologists found that its creators abruptly discarded their tools and abandoned the structure when it was nearly complete.

Searching for clues, Nova’s expert team of archaeologists carries out eye-opening experiments that reveal the techniques and incredible labor invested in the carving of this gigantic sculpture. The team also unearths new discoveries about the people who built the Sphinx and why they created such a haunting and stupendous image.

Building the Great CathedralsWednesday, Dec. 26, at 9 pm

Repeats Friday, Dec. 28, at 2 am and Sunday, Dec. 30, at 5 pm

Carved from 100 million pounds of stone, soaring effortlessly atop a spider web of masonry, Gothic cathedrals are marvels of human achievement and artistry. But how did medieval builders reach such spectacular heights?

Consuming the labor of entire towns, sometimes taking 100 years to build, these architectural marvels were crafted from just hand tools and stone. Many now teeter on the brink of catastrophic collapse. To save them, an international team of engineers, architects, art historians and computer scientists searches the naves, bays and bell towers for clues as to how the dream of these heavenly temples on earth came true.

Nova’s teams perform hands-on experiments to investigate and reveal the architectural secrets that the cathedral builders used to erect their soaring, glass-filled walls. On this dazzling journey, the filmmakers reveal the hidden formulas, drawn from the pages of the Bible itself, that drove medieval builders ever upward.

Quest for Solomon’s MinesWednesday, Dec. 26, at 10 pm

Inspired by the Bible’s account of the splendor of King Solomon’s temples and palaces adorned in glittering gold and copper, countless treasure seekers have set off in search of the king’s mines. They have trekked through burning deserts and scaled the forbidding mountains of Africa and the Levant.

During the summer of 2010, Nova and National Geographic embarked on two groundbreaking expeditions to expose new clues buried in the pockmarked desert of Jordan. These cutting-edge investigations illuminated the legend of Solomon and revealed the source of the great wealth that powered the first mighty Biblical kingdoms.

Independent Lens, These Amazing ShadowsSaturday, Dec. 29, at 11 pm Also airs on Fusion on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 1 pm

What do the films “Casablanca,” “West Side Story” and “Blazing Saddles” have in common? Besides being popular, they have also been deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and listed in the National Film Registry, a roll call of American cinema treasures reflecting the diversity of film, and indeed, the American experience itself.

The current list of 550 films includes selections from every genre — documentaries, home movies, Hollywood classics, avant-garde, newsreels and silent films. Shaping a cultural history from pieces of film, These Amazing Shadows reveals how the National Film Registry is nothing less than a cinematic repository of our nation’s hopes and dreams, myths and truths.

Rich with imagery, the film interweaves clips from America’s most-beloved films (and many rarer treasures) with moving personal tales of how specific films have reflected our culture and changed lives.

To learn more about These Amazing Shadows, visit the film’s interactive companion website at www.pbs.org/independentlens/these-amazing-shadows, which includes an interview with the filmmakers and links and resources pertaining to the film’s subject matter. The site also features a Talkback section for viewers to share their ideas and opinions, preview clips of the film and more.

Nova Encore Presentations

History Circle Community CalendarFifty Greatest Photos of National Geographic — Cleveland Museum of Natural History Through Jan. 13, 2013 1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland. This exhibition includes some of National Geographic magazine’s most-remembered and celebrated photographs from its more-than-120-year history. For more information, call 216-231-4600 or visit http://cmnh.org.

Researching War of 1812 Ancestors — Western Reserve Historical Society Saturday, Dec. 1, from noon to 3 pm The History Center, 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland. Join Eric E. Johnson, historian general of the General Society of the War of 1812, to research your War of 1812 ancestors. Cost is $15 per person. For more information, call 216-751-7274 or visit http://www.wrhs.org/~/calendar/calendar.aspx.

Holiday Lantern Tours — Hale Farm and Village Begins Dec. 1; tours depart every 20 minutes from 6-9 pm 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath. This 90-minute evening tour transports you to the sights and sounds of Christmas Eve, 1862. Afterward, enjoy Victorian-era holiday treats. Dress appropriately for this indoor/outdoor activity. For admission cost and more information, call 330-666-3711, ext. 1720, or visit www.wrhs.org.

Memories of Christmas Past — Mahoning Valley Historical Society 648 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Seven period rooms of the Arms family home are filled to the brim with vintage decorations. This display features many pieces from the Historical Society’s collection as well as items on loan from private collectors. For admission cost or more information, call 330-743-2589 or visit http://mahoninghistory.org.

Encore PresentationJohnny CarsonTuesday, Dec. 25, at 9 pm

Repeats Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 2 am

Johnny Carson (10/23/1925 – 1/23/2005) was seen by more people on more occasions than anyone else in American history. Over the course of 30 years, 4,531 episodes and 23,000 guests, he became a fixture of national life and a part of the zeitgeist.

Narrated by Kevin Spacey, this film features 45 original interviews with Carson’s friends, family and colleagues, including Dick Cavett, Doc Severinsen and his second wife, Joanne.

Joffrey: Mavericks of American DanceFriday, Dec. 28, at 9 pm

Uncover the story of the first quintessentially American dance company, the Joffrey Ballet. Founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino pioneered a new dance philosophy by daringly combining modern and traditional techniques and art with social statement, and integrating pop and rock music scores.

Tracing the struggles and triumphs of the company from 1956 to the present, the film features interviews with former

and current Joffrey dancers, the breakthroughs of choreographers Twyla Tharp, Laura Dean and Margo Sappington, and rare archival performance footage, including excerpts from signature works “Astarte,” “Trinity” and “Billboards.” Mandy Patinkin narrates.

DECEMBER 2012 • HISTORy PROGRAMMING

Great Romances of the 20th Century

Fridays at 6:30 pm

Sundays at 6:30 pm (preempted 12/2-12/16 & 12/30)

Buddy Holly: Listen to MeSaturday, Dec. 8, at 11:30 am

Oregon Wine: Grapes of PlaceMonday, Dec. 10, at 1 am

Germans in AmericaWednesdays at 4 am (begins

12/12)

Edward and George: Two Brothers, One Throne

Monday, Dec. 17, at 1 am

Nova, Riddles of the SphinxFriday, Dec. 21, at 2 am

Sunday, Dec. 23, at 5 pm

Secrets of the DeadSundays at 3 pm (preempted

12/2-12/16)Saturdays at 5 am

Western Reserve Public Media 1750 Campus Center Dr. P.O. Box 5191 Kent, OH 44240-5191 1-800-554-4549

P B SA service of Western Reserve Public Media A service of Western Reserve Public Media

Digital channels: 45.1 (WNEO) and 49.1 (WEAO)Armstrong Cable: Channels 12 and 113

Clear Picture: Channels 9 and 602Comcast (Youngstown): Channel 813Massillon Cable: Channels 2 and 602

Time Warner Cable: Channels 10 or 12; for more information about HD channel designations, visit twcguide.com or call Time Warner

Digital channels: 45.2 (WNEO) and 49.2 (WEAO)Armstrong Cable: Channel 416

Clear Picture: Channel 84Massillon Cable: Channel 84

Time Warner Cable: Channel 993

War of 1812 in the Old Northwest

Saturday, Dec. 1, at 2 pm

The War of 1812Saturday, Dec. 1, at 3 pm

The Rise and Fall of the yWCA of Summit County

Saturday, Dec. 1, at 8 pm

Great Romances of the 20th Century

Sundays at 7:30 pm (preempted 12/23)

Mondays at 9 pm (preempted 12/24 & 12/31)

Thursdays at 8 pm (preempted 12/13 & 12/20)

Fridays at 9:30 pm

Serving America: Memories of the Peace Corps

Saturday, Dec. 8, at 2:30 pm

Saving the TitanicSaturday, Dec. 15, at 2 pm

The Titanic With Len Goodman

Saturday, Dec. 15, at 3 pm

Edward and George: Two Brothers, One Throne

Saturday, Dec. 15, at 8 pm

Sunday, Dec. 16, at 8 pm

Friday, Dec. 21, at 7 pm

Oregon Wine: Grapes of PlaceMonday, Dec. 17, at 8 pm

First Freedom: The Fight for Religious Liberty

Saturday, Dec. 22, at 3 pm

Defending the HomelandSaturday, Dec. 22, at 4:30 pm

Independent Lens, These Amazing Shadows

Saturday, Dec. 29, at 1 pm

Navy Heroes of NormandySaturday, Dec. 29, at 3 pm

Live From Lincoln Center, One Singular Sensation: Celebrating Marvin Hamlisch

Monday, Dec. 31, at 10:30 pm

Johnny Carson: American Masters

Tuesday, Dec. 25, at 9 pm

Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 2 am

Nova, Building the Great Cathedrals

Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 9 pm

Friday, Dec. 28, at 2 am

Sunday, Dec. 30, at 5 pm

Nova, Quest for Solomon’s Mines

Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 10 pm

Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance: American Masters

Friday, Dec. 28, at 9 pm

Independent Lens, These Amazing Shadows

Saturday, Dec. 29, at 11 pm

Live From Lincoln Center, One Singular Sensation: Celebrating Marvin Hamlisch

Monday, Dec. 31, at 8 pm and 10:30 pm