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Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Over 20 years ago, two unassuming VHS tapes were delivered to the Library of Congress’s Packard Campus as part of a copyright deposit. This past month, they became an internet and anime sensation. It took some dogged, dedicated detective work to finally, fully understand the notoriety of these two works. It was a long-simmering puzzle, …
Posted in: Moving Image Research Center, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Television
Posted by: Laura Jenemann
Last month, we were saddened to learn of the passing of Adam Wade. While his name may not be top-of-mind, his career is certainly one to be celebrated. Wade was a singer, musician, actor, and the first Black American to host a nationally-televised game show. The Library of Congress National Audio-Video Conservation Center hosts a …
Posted in: Civil Rights, Recorded Sound, Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
The history of Asian-American representation on prime time television is one that, sadly, falls into three distinct categories. While many Asian-American actors have been able to play Asian-American characters over the course of TV history (Category #1), they have often been, until recently, regulated to supporting roles. Consider: Oscar-winning actress Miyoshi Umeki on “The Courtship …
Posted in: Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
With the exception of some carefully chosen British imports, you might not normally associate public television with broad-based comedy. But, in 1994, America’s own PBS did something that they’ve never done since: they produced and aired a 30-minute sitcom. The program, “The Steven Banks Show,” ran for 13 episodes in 1994. Five episodes of the …
Posted in: Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
You may not know the name Irna Phillips (1901-1973), but you know her work and influence. She pioneered the soap opera genre in radio and is widely regarded as a key creative figure in radio and television serialized entertainment. Phillips was the creator (and, for years, the primary scriptwriter) of “As the World Turns,” “Guiding …
Posted in: Daytime Serials, National Recording Registry, Radio, Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
The 1970’s TV series “The Next Step Beyond” is not to be (completely) confused with the 1959-1961 series “One Step Beyond” and its weekly tales of real-life, “documented” psychic phenomenon. “Next Step” was that show’s remake/sequel/revival—a one-season wonder, made for first-run syndication, and once again hosted by John Newland. Twenty-five 30-minute episodes were produced and …
Posted in: Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Sadly, in the Library of Congress’ Moving Image and Recorded Sound sections, we are no stranger to the concept of “lost” media. Though our vast archives are a testament to all the movies, TV shows, music and other sounds that have been created and have endured to the present day, sprinkled throughout film/sound history are …
Posted in: Television, Uncategorized
Posted by: Karen Fishman
This blog post was written by Matt Barton, curator of the Recorded Sound Section. On September 18, 2009, The Guiding Light ended a television run that began June 30, 1952, and a broadcast history that began on radio on January 25, 1937. The show’s run covered 72 Thanksgivings in all, but as we’ll see, the …
Posted in: Daytime Serials, NBC Radio Collection, NBC Television Collection, Radio, Recorded Sound Research Center, Television
Posted by: Karen Fishman
This blog post was written by Andrea Leigh, head of the Moving Image Processing Unit. As popular game show host Bob Barker once quipped, “We play games at home, we play games at parties, we go to clubs and play games. Americans love games.” Americans began listening to game shows on the radio and that excitement …
Posted in: Moving Image Research Center, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, NBC Television Collection, Television