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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: 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: Cary O’Dell
The following is a guest post by Jenny Paxson of the Packard Campus. Thursday, January 9 (7:30 p.m.) Crime and Punishment (Columbia, 1935) Hungarian actor Peter Lorre, who became internationally known for playing a serial killer in Fritz Lang’s German thriller M (1931), left Europe when Adolf Hitler came to power. In only his second …
Posted in: Motion Pictures, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Packard Campus Theater, Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
The following is a guest post by Jenny Paxson of the Packard Campus. Thursday, December 5 (7:30 p.m.) Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 1993-2015) Following an 11-year run of a highly popular late night variety show on NBC, David Letterman moved to CBS with Late Show with David Letterman which debuted on August 30, …
Posted in: Motion Pictures, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Packard Campus Theater, Television, World War II
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Packard Campus Theater Schedule for December 2019 As a follow-up to the November video presentation of musical highlights from David Letterman’s late night program on NBC (from 1982-1993), the Packard Campus Theater kicks off the month with musical performers seen on Letterman’s CBS series, Late Show with David Letterman (1993-2015). Two films depicting the Battle …
Posted in: Christmas, Motion Pictures, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, National Film Registry, Packard Campus Theater, Television, World War II