WTIU Shop - Your favorite WTIU programs on DVD and Blu-Ray

Travel through Indiana’s rich wine history.
Follow the annual timeline found in a winery.
Talk with experts from the Indiana Wine Grape Council.
Visit two of the states largest wine festivals.
Go behind-the-scenes at the Indy International Wine Competition.
Explore Indiana's wineries from its northern border to the banks of the Ohio river.

Travel through Indiana’s rich wine history.
Follow the annual timeline found in a winery.
Talk with experts from the Indiana Wine Grape Council.
Visit two of the states largest wine festivals.
Go behind-the-scenes at the Indy International Wine Competition.
Explore Indiana's wineries from its northern border to the banks of the Ohio river.

Goose Pond: The Story of a Wetland & Its Neighbors tells of efforts to reclaim the wetland dating as far back as the 1930s when conservationists teamed with local sportsmen in a plan to turn Goose Pond into "a bird haven." A "Goose Pond Lake Project" was initiated in the 1940s, but was stalled in 1950 by lack of government support due to the Korean War. The US Fish & Wildlife Service nearly OK'd Goose Pond for a "National Wildlife Refuge" in 1959. In the early 1990s, local opposition prevented the Indiana Department of Natural Resources from succeeding in its initial bid to make Goose Pond a "Fish & Wildlife Area."

Goose Pond was mired in politics as mucky as the clay soil covering it. In 1999, a pair of passionate conservationists came to the rescue, persuading the Goose Pond property owner to enroll his land in the newly created Wetlands Reserve Program, within the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. This enrollment placed the Goose Pond property in a permanent easement, meaning it could never again be farmed.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources once again became involved and the wetland restoration began.

At the dedication of the Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area in September 2010, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels proclaimed, "Every projection I was ever shown for what might happen, and how quickly, has been exceeded...number of waterfowl, number of species, number of visitors...it didn't matter what it was...every expectation has been exceeded."

This product is also available on Blu-ray.

Goose Pond: The Story of a Wetland & Its Neighbors tells of efforts to reclaim the wetland dating as far back as the 1930s when conservationists teamed with local sportsmen in a plan to turn Goose Pond into "a bird haven." A "Goose Pond Lake Project" was initiated in the 1940s, but was stalled in 1950 by lack of government support due to the Korean War. The US Fish & Wildlife Service nearly OK'd Goose Pond for a "National Wildlife Refuge" in 1959. In the early 1990s, local opposition prevented the Indiana Department of Natural Resources from succeeding in its initial bid to make Goose Pond a "Fish & Wildlife Area."

Goose Pond was mired in politics as mucky as the clay soil covering it. In 1999, a pair of passionate conservationists came to the rescue, persuading the Goose Pond property owner to enroll his land in the newly created Wetlands Reserve Program, within the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. This enrollment placed the Goose Pond property in a permanent easement, meaning it could never again be farmed.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources once again became involved and the wetland restoration began.

At the dedication of the Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area in September 2010, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels proclaimed, "Every projection I was ever shown for what might happen, and how quickly, has been exceeded...number of waterfowl, number of species, number of visitors...it didn't matter what it was...every expectation has been exceeded."

This product is also available on DVD.

Witness vivid examples of this amazing wetland success story, beginning with a 4th Grade Field Trip and an excited group of youngsters who are ready to “dig in the mud” on their way to future careers as naturalists.

Next, during "the largest citizen scientist event in the world," record numbers of bird species are counted at Goose Pond for the National Audubon Society’s Annual Christmas Bird Count.

With the Sandhill as its mascot, Marsh Madness kicks off in celebration of the seasonal return of tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes.

And finally, experience a Community Birding Day at Goose Pond with rare, close-up glimpses of nesting Black-crowned Night Heron chicks, as well as other exotic migratory species.

Plus, as an added bonus, The Four Seasons of Goose Pond features exquisite portraits taken by some of the best wildlife photographers in America.

This product is also available on Blu-Ray.

Witness vivid examples of this amazing wetland success story, beginning with a 4th Grade Field Trip and an excited group of youngsters who are ready to “dig in the mud” on their way to future careers as naturalists.

Next, during "the largest citizen scientist event in the world," record numbers of bird species are counted at Goose Pond for the National Audubon Society’s Annual Christmas Bird Count.

With the Sandhill as its mascot, Marsh Madness kicks off in celebration of the seasonal return of tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes.

And finally, experience a Community Birding Day at Goose Pond with rare, close-up glimpses of nesting Black-crowned Night Heron chicks, as well as other exotic migratory species.

Plus, as an added bonus, The Four Seasons of Goose Pond features exquisite portraits taken by some of the best wildlife photographers in America.

This product is also available on DVD.

For architecture enthusiasts, Columbus is best known for its incredible collection of modern structures, featuring buildings and bridges designed by some of the world's most famous architects, including I.M. Pei, Eero and Eliel Saarinen, Richard Meier, Eliot Noyes, and many others. This hour-long documentary tells the stories behind Columbus's famous Bartholomew County Courthouse, the revolutionary First Christian Church, and the spectacular private residence of former Cummins Corporation CEO J. Irwin Miller.

Columbus, though, is about more than just architecture. Our Town: Columbus also depicts the city's early years, when Columbus was the epicenter of a thriving furniture industry, producing some of the world's finest pieces. Viewers will also learn about the young entrepreneur Clessie Cummins and the founding and rise of his company, Cummins Engine Company - one of the world's largest and most innovative makers of diesel engines.

Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, Columbus has played an important role in world events, serving as home to Camp Atterbury - an important training ground and hospital during the Second World War - and continuing to support and promote architectural innovation. Today, with its newly revitalized downtown, year-round festivals, state-of-the-art hospital, and burgeoning business community, Columbus is truly thriving.

Our Town: Columbus captures the spirit and tells the remarkable story of this truly unexpected, unforgettable gem of a town.

For architecture enthusiasts, Columbus is best known for its incredible collection of modern structures, featuring buildings and bridges designed by some of the world's most famous architects, including I.M. Pei, Eero and Eliel Saarinen, Richard Meier, Eliot Noyes, and many others. This hour-long documentary tells the stories behind Columbus's famous Bartholomew County Courthouse, the revolutionary First Christian Church, and the spectacular private residence of former Cummins Corporation CEO J. Irwin Miller.

Columbus, though, is about more than just architecture. Our Town: Columbus also depicts the city's early years, when Columbus was the epicenter of a thriving furniture industry, producing some of the world's finest pieces. Viewers will also learn about the young entrepreneur Clessie Cummins and the founding and rise of his company, Cummins Engine Company - one of the world's largest and most innovative makers of diesel engines.

Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, Columbus has played an important role in world events, serving as home to Camp Atterbury - an important training ground and hospital during the Second World War - and continuing to support and promote architectural innovation. Today, with its newly revitalized downtown, year-round festivals, state-of-the-art hospital, and burgeoning business community, Columbus is truly thriving.

Our Town: Columbus captures the spirit and tells the remarkable story of this truly unexpected, unforgettable gem of a town.

Indiana Legends: Madam C.J. Walker centers on a re-issue of award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson's 1987 documentary "Two Dollars and a Dream."

This program remains entertaining, informative, and educational today, combining interviews, historical stills and unique film footage, including scenes from Harlem's famous Cotton Club. The film is punctuated with the music of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and other masters of the era.

The child of slaves freed by the Civil War, Madam C.J. Walker became America's first self-made millionaire. She was an orphan at age 6, a mother at 14, and widowed by the time she was 20. By interweaving social, economic and political history, "Two Dollars and a Dream" not only tells the story of Madam C.J. Walker, but it also offers a view of black America from 1867 to the 1930's.

Newly added to the documentary is an interview with Stanley Nelson and A'lelia Bundles, Madam C.J. Walker's great-granddaughter as they discuss Madam Walker's philanthropy and social activism, two topics only briefly discussed in "Two Dollars and a Dream."

In addition to concert footage from the Singing Hoosiers 2011 Spring Concert, directed by Dr. Michael Schwartzkopf, the program goes behind the scenes to rehearsals, auditions, road-trips, and even college classrooms and apartments featuring interviews with student performers and the director.

Inspiring, entertaining and informative, Make Your Own Kind of Music proves that the magic of the live performance is only possible through the commitment, hard work, talent and training of scores of the most dedicated college students on campus.

In addition to concert footage from the Singing Hoosiers 2011 Spring Concert, directed by Dr. Michael Schwartzkopf, the program goes behind the scenes to rehearsals, auditions, road-trips, and even college classrooms and apartments featuring interviews with student performers and the director.

Inspiring, entertaining and informative, Make Your Own Kind of Music proves that the magic of the live performance is only possible through the commitment, hard work, talent and training of scores of the most dedicated college students on campus.

Wilderness Plots: Tales About the Settlement of the American Land contains fifty brief tales that trace the settlement of the Ohio Valley between the American Revolution and the Civil War, while meditating on the cost of that transformation to native people, enslaved people, wildlife, and forests. The collection of songs and later theatrical production based on the book were created through the collaborative work of an ongoing songwriting group comprised of Krista Detor, Tim Grimm, Carrie Newcomer, Tom Roznowski, and Michael White.
The group took up the challenge, and after a year or so of sharing ideas and hard work, in spring 2007 these five very different singer/songwriters released an album of their songs based on Wilderness Plots. Soon the group created a fully staged show with Scott Russell Sanders as narrator. Popular and critical acclaim has led the group to perform Wilderness Plots many times across the Midwest. In 2008, it also led to a nationally broadcast public television special about the creation of the show, called Wilderness Plots: Songs and Stories of the Prairie.
Because of the creative collaboration of these remarkable artists: Sanders, Detor, Grimm, Newcomer, Roznowski and White, audiences have been introduced to a treasure trove of preachers and profiteers, generals and journalists, hermits and healers, farmers and bone-collectors, loves, liars, layabouts and other high spirited characters – the kinds of people who, in all ages, have made history. Like the riches American folklore, these tales and songs witness to life on a wild, dangerous, and glorious continent and songs witness to life on a wild, dangerous, and glorious continent.

Wilderness Plots: Tales About the Settlement of the American Land contains fifty brief tales that trace the settlement of the Ohio Valley between the American Revolution and the Civil War, while meditating on the cost of that transformation to native people, enslaved people, wildlife, and forests. The collection of songs and later theatrical production based on the book were created through the collaborative work of an ongoing songwriting group comprised of Krista Detor, Tim Grimm, Carrie Newcomer, Tom Roznowski, and Michael White.
The group took up the challenge, and after a year or so of sharing ideas and hard work, in spring 2007 these five very different singer/songwriters released an album of their songs based on Wilderness Plots. Soon the group created a fully staged show with Scott Russell Sanders as narrator. Popular and critical acclaim has led the group to perform Wilderness Plots many times across the Midwest. In 2008, it also led to a nationally broadcast public television special about the creation of the show, called Wilderness Plots: Songs and Stories of the Prairie.
Because of the creative collaboration of these remarkable artists: Sanders, Detor, Grimm, Newcomer, Roznowski and White, audiences have been introduced to a treasure trove of preachers and profiteers, generals and journalists, hermits and healers, farmers and bone-collectors, loves, liars, layabouts and other high spirited characters – the kinds of people who, in all ages, have made history. Like the riches American folklore, these tales and songs witness to life on a wild, dangerous, and glorious continent and songs witness to life on a wild, dangerous, and glorious continent.

Meet unique individuals and hear their stories about craft beer and the art of brewing. We’ll take you to unique micro-breweries, clubs, festivals and gatherings of craft beer enthusiasts.

Viewers will get a unique behind-the-scenes tour of three of the larger breweries in Indiana: Broad Ripple Brewpub, Three Floyds Brewing Company, and Upland Brewing Company. Plus, viewers receive a brief look at the history of beer in Indiana, as well as lessons on basic craft beer ingredients, pairing foods and cooking with craft beer, and how to get started making your own craft beer.

Meet unique individuals and hear their stories about craft beer and the art of brewing. We’ll take you to unique micro-breweries, clubs, festivals and gatherings of craft beer enthusiasts.

Viewers will get a unique behind-the-scenes tour of three of the larger breweries in Indiana: Broad Ripple Brewpub, Three Floyds Brewing Company, and Upland Brewing Company. Plus, viewers receive a brief look at the history of beer in Indiana, as well as lessons on basic craft beer ingredients, pairing foods and cooking with craft beer, and how to get started making your own craft beer.

Indicate the date of the episode desired in the Additional Information field during the checkout process.

THE FRIDAY ZONE is a weekly television program for children on WTIU and WFYI. Every Friday, THE FRIDAY ZONE offers kids and families an entertaining and educational hour of PBS quality television. THE FRIDAY ZONE is unique in Indiana-featuring performances and appearance by guests from our community, a calendar full of great family events for the weekend, lots of creative games, crafts and ideas for family fun, explorations and activities. THE FRIDAY ZONE is a weekly television program that you can view on WTIU in South Central Indiana every Friday at 4:30pm and again on Saturday morning at 10am. It is also aired on WFYI in Central Indiana at 4:30pm on Fridays.

Indicate the date of the episode desired in the Additional Information field during the checkout process.

THE FRIDAY ZONE is a weekly television program for children on WTIU and WFYI. Every Friday, THE FRIDAY ZONE offers kids and families an entertaining and educational hour of PBS quality television. THE FRIDAY ZONE is unique in Indiana-featuring performances and appearance by guests from our community, a calendar full of great family events for the weekend, lots of creative games, crafts and ideas for family fun, explorations and activities. THE FRIDAY ZONE is a weekly television program that you can view on WTIU in South Central Indiana every Friday at 4:30pm and again on Saturday morning at 10am. It is also aired on WFYI in Central Indiana at 4:30pm on Fridays.

Indicate the date of the episode desired in the Additional Information field during the checkout process.

THE WEEKLY SPECIAL is an eclectic local magazine program that looks at issues, events, people and things of interest in our broadcast area. The program looks at what’s creating the buzz in our viewing area each week. If a regional political issue, incident or event is gaining attention, THE WEEKLY SPECIAL provides the background, finds the right people and gathers the latest information. If a special entertainment or artistic event visits the region, THE WEEKLY SPECIAL takes you there. The program even introduces you to fascinating things and people who are all around you but often go unnoticed. THE WEEKLY SPECIAL airs Thursdays at 8pm and Fridays at 6pm on WTIU.

Indicate the date of the episode desired in the Additional Information field during the checkout process.

THE WEEKLY SPECIAL is an eclectic local magazine program that looks at issues, events, people and things of interest in our broadcast area. The program looks at what’s creating the buzz in our viewing area each week. If a regional political issue, incident or event is gaining attention, THE WEEKLY SPECIAL provides the background, finds the right people and gathers the latest information. If a special entertainment or artistic event visits the region, THE WEEKLY SPECIAL takes you there. The program even introduces you to fascinating things and people who are all around you but often go unnoticed. THE WEEKLY SPECIAL airs Thursdays at 8pm and Fridays at 6pm on WTIU.

There are dozens of important historic places in Indiana that are constantly threatened by sprawl, obsolescence, and lack of official protection. Others are disappearing before our eyes by abandonment, neglect, and deterioration. But we can be encouraged because there are many places in our state where people decided to work together to preserve unique historic sites.

Produced by WTIU in cooperation with Indiana Landmarks, Saving Places tells the stories of individuals who are engaged in revitalizing, protecting, and preserving our historic places in Indiana. This video documentary tells the stories of four sites from across Indiana: Wilson Bridge near Delphi; The John Jay Center for Learning in Portland; Lyles Station School near Princeton; and the Maple Grove Road Historic District near Bloomington.

Today, historic preservation is much more about the future than about the past. Saving our historic landmarks helps us build meaningful communities for the future. It also helps us provide a place for those who come after us in which they will understand and appreciate the special culture of Indiana.

Saving Places focuses on the positives of “community-building” and economic growth that successful preservation can engender. Viewers will see the astounding transformations and find out what inspires people to get involved. What actions were taken? What obstacles were faced or are still being faced? All of the projects required organization, commitment, passion, and energy. While there are similarities—each story is different.

There are dozens of important historic places in Indiana that are constantly threatened by sprawl, obsolescence, and lack of official protection. Others are disappearing before our eyes by abandonment, neglect, and deterioration. But we can be encouraged because there are many places in our state where people decided to work together to preserve unique historic sites.

Produced by WTIU in cooperation with Indiana Landmarks, Saving Places tells the stories of individuals who are engaged in revitalizing, protecting, and preserving our historic places in Indiana. This video documentary tells the stories of four sites from across Indiana: Wilson Bridge near Delphi; The John Jay Center for Learning in Portland; Lyles Station School near Princeton; and the Maple Grove Road Historic District near Bloomington.

Today, historic preservation is much more about the future than about the past. Saving our historic landmarks helps us build meaningful communities for the future. It also helps us provide a place for those who come after us in which they will understand and appreciate the special culture of Indiana.

Saving Places focuses on the positives of “community-building” and economic growth that successful preservation can engender. Viewers will see the astounding transformations and find out what inspires people to get involved. What actions were taken? What obstacles were faced or are still being faced? All of the projects required organization, commitment, passion, and energy. While there are similarities—each story is different.

It may be a town of 36,000 people, but it ranks with five of America's biggest cities when it comes to architecture. Six of its buildings, built between 1942 and 1965, are National Historic Landmarks, and 60 other buildings sustain the Bartholomew County capital seat's reputation as a showcase of modern architecture.

This WTIU Production received a 2002 Regional Emmy Award Nomination.

Columbus, Indiana: Different by Design tells the story of the distinctive buildings—their special features, their architects, and the community that lives among them. The architects themselves, along with friends, family, colleagues, and clients tell the story. Among the featured structures are:

* First Christian Church by Eliel Saarinen
* Irwin Union Bank by Eero Saarinen, with landscape by Dan Kiley;and its addition by Kevin Roche
* Residence of J. Irwin Miller by Eero Saarinen, with landscape by Dan Kiley
* Mabel McDowell School by John Carl Warnecke
* North Christian Church by Eero Saarinen
* First Baptist Church by Harry Weese

The documentary also includes significant government and corporate structures designed by Robert Venturi, Kevin Roche, Paul Kennon, Myron Goldsmith, I.M. Pei, Cesar Pelli, Gunnar Birkerts, and other American and international architects.

Columbus residents interviewed on the program include Rene Campbell, J. Irwin Miller, Harry McCawley, Robert Stewart, and Brooke Tuttle. Bartholomew County resident and songwriter Tim Grimm is narrator for the program, and Paul Messing is composer of the original music.

Columbus, Indiana: Different by Design is a production of WTIU, Indiana University in association with Spellbound Productions, Inc.; Terrence Black, producer/director, and Nancy Callaway Fyffe, producer/writer; Steven Krahnke, executive producer.

Production of Columbus, Indiana: Different by Design was made possible by the generous support of The Columbus Area Visitors Center, Columbus Container Inc., and the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation.

Additional funding was provided by The Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County, Inc., the Columbus Economic Development Board, and Cummins Inc. Additional support comes from Frank Adams, Jr. & Associates, Johnson Ventures, Inc., Kramer Furniture & Cabinet Maker, and Textillery Weavers, and by an Historic Preservation Education Grant from the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, the Indiana Humanities Council, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Companion Website:

The COMPANION WEB SITE was created to help kids learn about the historical and cultural context that surrounded the construction of eight key Columbus buildings.

It uses Flash movies featuring contemporary photos to create a narrative of life in the United States in the mid- to late-Twentieth Century.

We think adults will enjoy it too!

West Baden Springs: Save of the Century chronicles the rise, demise and restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel. The program begins with the story of the hotel's 1902 construction by owner Lee Sinclair. The spa's glory days and events leading to the 1934 closing of the hotel are examined, as are structural and decorative changes made during the property's subsequent use as a Jesuit seminary and later use as a college campus for Northwood Institute. The program looks at deterioration that occurred after the building was vacated in 1983, and then, using documentary footage and interviews with key figures in the project, follows the over $30 million historic restoration of the property from 1996 to 1998. The camera records essential emergency work that stabilized the structure, unpleasant and pleasant surprises, restoration of architectural details throughout the main building, the re-creation of the gardens, and the replacement of four decorative towers that had been removed in the 1940s.

The program traces the magnificent history of the hotel—from its days as a spa and unofficial headquarters for the National Democratic Party—to its decline after World War II—and finally to the multi-million dollar restoration that has recently been completed along with a casino, an additional golf course and full spa features.

Though the hotel itself dates back to 1845, even before the charter of the town of French Lick, it was the end of the 1800s before it grew to international prominence. Managed by Thomas Taggart in the early 1900s, the hotel became famous for its mineral spring Pluto Water and for its championship golf course, designed by Donald Ross. Taggart wanted to make the hotel a relaxing spa where people would stay for weeks at a time and return frequently.

Co-producer Ron Prickel notes that the hotel location was originally selected specifically because of the spring there and the “medicinal value” of the water. “There wasn’t really much in the way of medicine but it was rejuvenating. The Pluto Water was bottled and shipped all over the world. Their slogan was ‘If Nature Won’t, Pluto Will,’” Prickel said.

The hotel attracted famous people from politicians to movie stars. “Bing Crosby was there. Abbott and Costello did a big war bond drive there; the 1924 PGA tournament was there. In its heyday, the hotel had any amenity that was available in recreation at the time.

The program devotes significant time to the hotel’s history, along with the years of work that went into the restoration.

Painstaking attention was paid to detail in the restoration while also adding to the hotel. The Pluto gazebo and spring houses were restored, where visitors can still take a Pluto Water bath. In addition, the spa area was improved to include all modern amenities. The old conference center, where Roosevelt visited, has been turned into a buffet restaurant and a new conference center for larger meetings has been added with a walkway to the casino.

Prickel and co-producer Gino Brancolini said viewers may be in awe of the extreme attention that was paid to detail in the restoration. “It’s something someone could have done, restored it, and it wouldn’t have been as elaborate. But this was done right,” Prickel said. “It was done because the people involved wanted it done well,” Brancolini added. “The goal is to make it the premiere resort area in the Midwest and maybe the country. They have put a lot of effort to return it to the grandeur they once had.”

Spanning Time: America's Covered Bridges explores the affection Americans have for covered bridges. The program looks at preservation efforts, history, construction, tourism and why covered bridges are important.

“What's fascinating is how universal the feelings toward covered bridges are,” said producer Gino Brancolini. “Everywhere they have covered bridges, people develop an attachment and affection for their bridge. There are instances we heard discussed where someone wanted to tear out the bridge and put in a steel bridge and others would fight tooth and nail to keep it.”

The program contains interviews with preservationists, engineers, builders, restoration experts, tourists, historians and covered bridge aficionados. Because the bridges are often located on rural roads, the program provides incredible scenery from around the country.

Companion Web Site:

The COMPANION WEB SITE contains a long description of the program and a slide show of covered bridges from around the country.

This 28-minute video documents five generations of Indiana stone cutters and carvers who have helped create some of the most beautiful buildings in United States architectural history. With a mixture of interviews, historic photographs, archival film clips and period music, the program reveals a unique culture that values artistry and skill in stone work, yet is humble about its contributions to the building of America. Shot on location in Indiana, North Carolina, Chicago, New York, Washington, and the Florida Keys, the documentary transports the viewer from warm tropical seas of 300 million years ago to enormous underground quarries being worked by stone cutters today. This program is for anyone with an interest in U.S. architectural history, geology, art, and unique artisan cultures.

Conductor Paul Biss characterized it as “truly a celebration of the violin” when distinguished former students of violinist Josef Gingold celebrated the master’s 75th birthday by joining the Indiana University student orchestra in a performance of Gingold’s favorite music.

Staged at the Musical Arts Center, the concert featured soloists Miriam Fried and Yuval Yaron, as well as performances by former students who are concertmasters at leading North American orchestras including: Andres Cardenes, Utah Symphony; Herbert Greenberg, Baltimore Symphony; Jacques Israelievitch; Raymond Kobler, San Francisco Symphony; Richard Roberts, Montreal Symphony; and William Preucil, Atlanta Symphony.

WTIU videotaped the performance and added commentary by Professor Gingold, Paul Biss and some of the featured musicians to create this engaging Tribute to a Master.

The featured musical selections include:

* Concerto in D Minor for String Orchestra, Op. 3 No. 11 by Antonio Vivaldi
* Concerto in E Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 64 by Felix Mendelssohn
* Concerto in B Minor for Four Violins and Orchestra, Op. 3 No. 10 by Antonio Vivaldi
* Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins and Orchestra, S. 1043 by Johann Sebastian Bach
* Concerto No. 8 in A Minor, Op.47 by Louis Spohr

Each holiday season, Tchaikovsky's magical The Nutcracker is brought to life in a colorful production by the Ballet Theater of Indiana University's School of Music. Sugarplum Dreams: Staging The Nutcracker Ballet goes behind the scenes of the 43rd annual presentation of this classic, showing the preparation, talent, and sheer effort exerted to bring this production to the stage.

Produced in documentary style, the television program begins with the auditions of children from the pre-college ballet program. It then follows several of them and Indiana University ballet students through dance practice, costume fittings, and musical rehearsal. The program introduces the principal characters of The Nutcracker story and shows work on 300 plus costumes used in the ballet.

As the dancers master their steps and the musicians hone their performances, the costume makers, set designers and builders all work toward meeting their deadlines. The viewer shares a hectic day-in-the-life of dancers and instructors as the performance approaches, while the camera captures the excitement and anticipation as all of the elements come together during dress rehearsal. The program ends backstage in the highly charged atmosphere of The Nutcracker performance.

In 2002, Sugarplum Dreams received a regional Emmy award in the category of Cultural Affairs.

Online Video:

• Sugarplum Dreams: An Introduction
• First Rehearsals
• Practice Makes Perfect
• Orchestra Rehearsal
• Who is the Sugarplum Fairy?

Behind-the-Scenes Photos:

• Filming rehearsals, 1
• Instructor with students
• Filming rehearsals, 2
• Costume shop, girl being fitted
• Costume shop, seamstress
• Costume shop, dancer being fitted

For many Hoosiers, the name Herman B Wells (June 7, 1902 - March 18, 2000) and Indiana University are synonymous.

In THE VISION OF HERMAN B WELLS, colleagues, University alumni, faculty, and friends define the ideals that directed Herman Wells as IU President (1938–1962) and as University Chancellor (1962 - 2000). Archival photographs and films, home movies, as well as contemporary video, capture Wells’ academic and public service activities.

The documentary explores Wells’ philosophy as he pursued racial integration and intellectual freedom, while creating a center for beauty and culture on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University. Wells was committed to the cultural and intellectual development of each student. In order to acquaint himself with individual students, President Wells strolled across the campus at times that would enable him to meet and chat with them. And no matter how large the graduating class grew, Wells signed each diploma personally.

The program also reveals Wells’ commitment to internationalism, as demonstrated by his wartime service with the State Department, his postwar diplomatic assignments to Greece and Germany, and his 1957 appointment as a delegate to the United Nations. These experiences led directly to Wells’ expansion of international programs at the University.

University Chancellor Herman B Wells continued important work for Indiana University up until his death, raising funds from private donors and promoting academic excellence. The documentary ends with a discussion of the Wells Scholars Program, a living legacy to this influential educator.

James ‘Doc’ Counsilman is known as the greatest swimming coach of all time, but he is much more than that. It’s that story—of Doc the husband, father, friend and coach—that is the subject of WTIU’s documentary, Doc Counsilman: Making Waves.

Though sports plays an important part in Making Waves, as it did in Doc’s life, this program tells the life story of Doc the man as well as the coach. It’s about his 60-year marriage and partnership to his wife, Marge. It’s about his heroic military career and how he survived being shot down over Yugoslavia in World War II. It’s about his joy and pain as a father. Finally, it’s a story about dreams and how Doc Counsilman made them come true.

In 1959 Counsilman, the Indiana University men’s swimming coach, and Hobie Billingsley, the IU diving coach, stood in front of the site that was to become Royer Pool. Although IU had never had more than a mediocre swimming program, Counsilman looked at his friend and declared that they would build a dynasty in that hole. As unlikely as it sounded, those who knew Counsilman believed if it could be done, Doc would do it.

In the years that followed, Counsilman's teams won 20 consecutive Big Ten Championships, 6 consecutive NCAA Championships, 72 individual NCAA Titles, 272 Big Ten Individual Titles, and 47 Olympic Medals.

Later, at age 58, when Counsilman began experiencing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, he again set out on what most outsiders considered an impossible task—he decided to swim the English Channel, becoming the oldest person to do so at the time.

It was that can-do attitude that Doc carried to every part of his life and is captured in Making Waves.

“He gave me a vision,” said Mark Spitz, an IU swimmer and Olympian. "He made me realize destiny isn’t a matter of chance, it’s a matter of the choices you make. It was something he didn’t allow me to sit around and wait for. He actively participated with me to create that challenge and create those dreams.”

Production support was provided by the Indiana University Varsity Club, Joe Hunsaker, Chairman of Counsilman/Hunsaker and Associates, and the Indiana University School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

Companion Website:
The COMPANION WEB SITE contains a detailed description of the program, online video clips, a bio and timeline, photo gallery, and more.

On September 14, 1979, James “Doc” Counsilman (1920-2004) stepped into the waters of the English Channel, attempting to become the oldest man at that time to successfully complete the challenging swim. What made the swim even more difficult for Counsilman was that four years earlier, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

In addition to coaching Indiana University to 20 consecutive Big Ten titles, six consecutive NCAA wins, and 12 national AAU wins, Counsilman’s success extended to the international arena. Doc was head swimming coach of the two most successful USA Olympic men’s swimming teams in 1964 (Tokyo) and 1976 (Montreal). In 1976, the U.S.A. men’s swimming team won 12 of possible 13 gold medals and brought home over two-thirds of all possible medals.

This 30-minute documentary follows Counsilman through his preparations and for the successful completion of his 13-hour swim.

Monroe County has a long and storied history—a history chronicled in the WTIU-produced documentaries Spirit of Monroe County I and II. The latest installment, SPIRIT OF MONROE COUNTY III, turns to the present, documenting the county’s abundance of resources in arts and culture, science, and the people who make it all happen.

In part I of the documentary, “Arts & Culture,” producer John Winninger takes a behind the scenes look at the success of the Cardinal Stage Company, samples local delicacies at the Bloomington Farmer’s Market, Oliver Winery and Taste of Bloomington, and visits some of Monroe County’s many seasonal festivals.

Part II, “Life Sciences,” surveys some of the most exciting advances in life sciences research and business in Monroe County, including cutting edge proton therapy at the IU Cyclotron facility, and recent developments on stent technology at Cook Medical.

Part III, “Diversity,” finds Winninger exploring the incredible variety of people and institutions that are the heart and soul of Monroe County.

In chronicling the here and now, SPIRIT OF MONROE COUNTY III depicts a region where a flourishing of arts and culture, scientific discovery and diversity point toward an even more dynamic future.

Production support provided by Smithville Telephone, McCrea & McCrea, and CFC, Inc.

Companion Website:
The Spirit of Monroe County III

Monroe County has a long and storied history—a history chronicled in the WTIU-produced documentaries Spirit of Monroe County I and II. The latest installment, SPIRIT OF MONROE COUNTY III, turns to the present, documenting the county’s abundance of resources in arts and culture, science, and the people who make it all happen.

In part I of the documentary, “Arts & Culture,” producer John Winninger takes a behind the scenes look at the success of the Cardinal Stage Company, samples local delicacies at the Bloomington Farmer’s Market, Oliver Winery and Taste of Bloomington, and visits some of Monroe County’s many seasonal festivals.

Part II, “Life Sciences,” surveys some of the most exciting advances in life sciences research and business in Monroe County, including cutting edge proton therapy at the IU Cyclotron facility, and recent developments on stent technology at Cook Medical.

Part III, “Diversity,” finds Winninger exploring the incredible variety of people and institutions that are the heart and soul of Monroe County.

In chronicling the here and now, SPIRIT OF MONROE COUNTY III depicts a region where a flourishing of arts and culture, scientific discovery and diversity point toward an even more dynamic future.

Production support provided by Smithville Telephone, McCrea & McCrea, and CFC, Inc.

Companion Website:
The Spirit of Monroe County III

Part 1: A visit to the Peden farm on Maple Grove Road for the spring farm festival, where over 3000 kids learn how farm life used to be. Part 2: A 1986 violin lesson with the late Josef Gingold, distinguished professor of music, who epitomized the spirit of music in the community and performances by his students. Part 3: The making of the 1998 5A State High School Football championship of Bloomington South. Part 4: The Indiana University men's soccer team's 1998 NCAA soccer title. Part 5: The good and bad memories of the African-American community about the history of race relations in Monroe County.

Part 1: Monroe County's natural history and the longtime search for a safe water source. Part 2: Cities and towns, including Stinesville, Ellettsville and the limestone industry's history, Smithville, Harrodsburg; farming; and the Monroe County Fair. Part 3: Education, business, and industry, including Indiana University and the leadership of Herman B Wells, Showers Brothers Company, RCA, downtown Bloomington, and Bill Cook and Cook, Inc. Part 4: Breaking Away and Hoagy Carmichael. Part 5: Athletics and sports figures, including Bob Knight, slow pitch softball, Jerry Yeagley and IU soccer, and Bloomington High School North's 1997 IHSAA championship in boys basketball.

OUR TOWN: TERRE HAUTE tells the story of Terre Haute, Indiana, from its origins as a trading post on the banks of the Wabash River in the early 1800s to today’s modern, thriving city with a fast-developing Riverscape Project. The hour-long documentary takes you on a journey through the history of the town known as the “Queen City of the Wabash”—a truly American tale full of inspiring triumphs, dramatic setbacks, and surprising twists and turns.

As the United States navigated the often-turbulent, fast-paced decades of the 20th century, so too did Terre Haute forge ahead, meeting challenges head on. OUR TOWN: TERRE HAUTE explores the city’s rapid growth during the “Roaring ’20s,” its struggles during the Great Depression of the 1930s, its patriotic fervor and sacrifice during World War II, and development as a center of higher education, healthcare, and diverse industries in the post-war decades.

Along the way you’ll meet colorful and fascinating characters, including visionary businessmen Chauncey Rose and Tony Hulman, acclaimed songwriter Paul Dresser, poet Max Ehrmann, and many others. You’ll discover Terre Haute’s surprising number of esteemed institutions of higher learning, including Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. And you’ll get a taste of the city’s impressive array of arts and vibrant festivals that instill Terre Haute with a lively and forward-looking spirit.

Bonus features on the DVD and BluRay include additional segments on Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College; the Hillary Clinton visit to the Saratoga Restaurant; the legend of Stiffy Green; Tom Roznowski singing “Back Home Again in Indiana”; and more.

Production support was provided by The Electrical Workers of the IBEW Local 725 and the National Electrical Contractors Association; The Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation; The Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau; and The Wabash Valley Community Foundation.

OUR TOWN: TERRE HAUTE tells the story of Terre Haute, Indiana, from its origins as a trading post on the banks of the Wabash River in the early 1800s to today’s modern, thriving city with a fast-developing Riverscape Project. The hour-long documentary takes you on a journey through the history of the town known as the “Queen City of the Wabash”—a truly American tale full of inspiring triumphs, dramatic setbacks, and surprising twists and turns.

As the United States navigated the often-turbulent, fast-paced decades of the 20th century, so too did Terre Haute forge ahead, meeting challenges head on. OUR TOWN: TERRE HAUTE explores the city’s rapid growth during the “Roaring ’20s,” its struggles during the Great Depression of the 1930s, its patriotic fervor and sacrifice during World War II, and development as a center of higher education, healthcare, and diverse industries in the post-war decades.

Along the way you’ll meet colorful and fascinating characters, including visionary businessmen Chauncey Rose and Tony Hulman, acclaimed songwriter Paul Dresser, poet Max Ehrmann, and many others. You’ll discover Terre Haute’s surprising number of esteemed institutions of higher learning, including Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. And you’ll get a taste of the city’s impressive array of arts and vibrant festivals that instill Terre Haute with a lively and forward-looking spirit.

Bonus features on the DVD and BluRay include additional segments on Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College; the Hillary Clinton visit to the Saratoga Restaurant; the legend of Stiffy Green; Tom Roznowski singing “Back Home Again in Indiana”; and more.

Production support was provided by The Electrical Workers of the IBEW Local 725 and the National Electrical Contractors Association; The Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation; The Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau; and The Wabash Valley Community Foundation.

There are many features that make Spencer, Indiana unique—adventuresome pioneers, a strong biomedical industry, a mail-order livestock business, Babbs Grocery Store, the Doughboy Statue, a clothespin factory, and McCormick’s Creek State Park to name a few.

But what stands out most—the one element that makes this Owen County town so special—is the people.

WTIU’s 2005 production, Our Town: Spencer, Indiana puts the spotlight on the people, places and things that make Spencer important. The program is a pilot for what may be a series of Our Town specials following a national model in which public television stations have given cameras to people and asked them to document what makes their community unique.

“We looked for a way to work with townspeople yet give us a video product that was a little more professional,” says executive director Gino Brancolini. “We came up with the idea to work with advanced telecommunications students from Indiana University and have Spencer residents identify stories and use the students to help them execute those stories.”

Since WTIU director John Winninger also teaches in the Telecommunications department, he was able to recruit student for an independent study course and the project took off. Once the team was in place, the process of finding the stories started. WTIU held a public meeting in Spencer last fall to gather stories and volunteers. WTIU then signed Jim DeCoursey on to narrate the program and has utilized the expertise of Vivian and Jack Zollinger to provide background information and help keep the stories accurate.

“In our early interviews we learned that the people were pioneers who settled there,” Winninger said. “They were the adventurers and the hard workers. Those values have stayed. Those early pioneers came here and had real strong values of fierce independence, a great work ethic, resilience, determination and characteristic patterns of language. These qualities still exist within Spencer.”

Although the program will be of obvious interest to Spencer residents, Brancolini said it should also appeal to other WTIU viewers. “What I think is interesting is that every community has interesting people and interesting stories to tell. By looking at a story like this, it’s a chance to reflect on what’s interesting in your community. You start to draw parallels and think about the stories in your own community.”

If that happens, Brancolini hopes viewers will take notes so they can be prepared when the next community is selected for this ongoing Our Town project. “We have students signed up for the fall to begin working on another project to air next spring.”

Companion Website:
Our Town: Spencer

With a colorful history, a vibrant downtown, and expanding industrial, service and cultural sectors, Seymour, Indiana is a town on the move. Its roots are in the railroad and its proximity to major highways continues to make Seymour an important transportation and industrial center. WTIU asked the residents of Seymour to share their story—the result is OUR TOWN: SEYMOUR, the third program in the station’s Our Town series.

OUR TOWN: SEYMOUR begins with a look at the town’s past including the machinations of Meedy Shields to make it a railroad intersection poised for growth, the exploits of the infamous Reno gang (perpetrators of the country’s first train robbery) and the influential German migration and heritage. The program then offers a look at Seymour Manufacturing, a niche business that has been in town longer than the telephone, visits the town’s famed Oktoberfest, and, later, the annual Seymour Car Show.

Additional segments look at manufacturer Aisin U.S.A., the influence of the local Wal-Mart Distribution Center, the Schneck Medical Center and the history of Freeman Field, an important Army Air Corp multiple-engine training center during World War II. Finally, no trip to Seymour would be complete without a visit to the renowned Larrison’s Diner, This Old Guitar music store, and the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts, created by the town’s favorite son—singer-songwriter John Mellencamp—and his family.

Bonus features include a segment on the Seymour Veteran’s War Memorial in Gaiser Park and a performance by Mike Gerth and the T.O.G. Band playing and singing John Mellencamp’s “Small Town.”

OUR TOWN: SEYMOUR was produced for WTIU by John Winninger with assistance from students in the Indiana University Department of Telecommunications and Executive Producer Gino Brancolini.

Production support was provided by JCB - Jackson County Bank; Jackson County Visitor Center; Seymour Orthopedics; and The Community Center of Jackson County.

Companion Website:
Our Town: Seymour

Martinsville, Indiana—a small town with a big reputation is the focus of the fifth WTIU OUR TOWN production. The “City of Mineral Water” is the hometown of legendary basketball coach John Wooden, sanitariums featuring healing waters, outstanding high school academics and athletes, an aerospace industry and much more.

The documentary on Martinsville explores the history of the city including the mineral water, floods, reputation, current industry, famous people and the future. Included are segments on Albert ‘Doc’ Merritt, John Wooden, Twigg Aerospace, Form-Tec, The Candy Kitchen, Grassyfork Fishery and the Morgan County Cancer Center. The documentary also explores the city’s future and how I-69 will impact it.

Production support was provided by Indiana Gratings, Inc., HomeBank, Community Foundation of Morgan County, and Bynum’s Steakhouse.

Companion Website:
Our Town: Martinsville

WTIU asked the people of Bedford, Indiana what was special about their community. They responded by identifying the places, people, organizations, events, industries and history they thought important. The result is OUR TOWN: BEDFORD, a video portrait of the self-proclaimed Limestone Capitol of the World.

You cannot examine Bedford without considering the limestone industry, its historical and aesthetic impact on the community and its vital role in the area’s economic development. The program explores the historical roots of the industry and the techniques used to shape this beautiful stone. It showcases the buildings, monuments and artifacts in town and throughout the United States produced by Bedford workers and artisans.

However, Bedford offers much more than limestone. The program provides insider looks at the town’s two major automotive manufacturers, Visteon and General Motors Powertrain. It explores the Lawrence County Museum of History, visits the town’s chief recreational facility, Otis Park, looks behind the scenes at the Bedford Little Theatre and introduces a few of Bedford’s celebrities, including its two “home grown” astronauts. No look at Bedford would be complete without a visit to its renowned annual Christmas parade and festival of lights, the program’s final segment.

OUR TOWN: BEDFORD was produced in association with Indiana University’s Department of Telecommunications by student producers Ole Brereton, Andrew Lee, Mark Pallman and Aaron Waltke under the supervision of John Winninger and Executive Producer Eugene Brancolini.

Production support was provided by the Hoosier Hills Credit Union, Elliott Stone Company, Inc., Dunn Memorial Hospital, and the Times-Mail Newspaper.

Companion Website:
Our Town: Bedford

OUR TOWN: GREENCASTLE, INDIANA is the fourth community to be profiled in WTIU’s ongoing series putting the spotlight on towns and cities in southern and central Indiana. As with the other programs, the Greencastle show started with a community meeting to get input from citizens about what makes their town special.

According to John Winninger, executive producer of the program, “We didn’t have to dig at all for interesting features. There was really good representation from the first call-out meeting. The community was very aware of their history and significant events. They were very responsive and excited and were honored to have been chosen.”

The program includes segments on the history, economy, folklore and people of Greencastle. Viewers will learn about the Heritage Wall; the impact of IBM leaving the community; DePauw University; the national road; the fire that burned most of the town in 1874; the history of the Buzz Bomb on the courthouse square; the Monon Bell rivalry; People Pathways; the Putnam County Fair; and the John Dillinger bank robbery in 1933. Current industry is also featured with segments on Dixie Chopper and Buzzie Unicem, formerly Lone Star Industries.

Bonus features include extended interviews and features on the Heritage Wall, Ivy Tech Community College, the Monon Bell rivalry and the Veterans Memorial Highway.

Greencastle historian Jinsie Bingham narrates the program. Joining her in the program are other well-known locals such as Frank Durham, John Baughman, Mayor Nancy Michael, Ken Eitel, Don Weaver and Alice Greenburg.

WTIU has previously featured Spencer, Bedford and Seymour. Winninger said the common thread in each of WTIU’s documentaries has been a genuine love of the community by the people who live there.

OUR TOWN: GREENCASTLE was produced for WTIU by John Winninger with assistance from students in the Indiana University Department of Telecommunications and the WTIU production crew.

Production support was provided by The Walden Inn and Conference Center and Old National Bank.

Companion Website:
Our Town: Greencastle

Widely recognized as among the best in the country, Indiana state parks are a great source of Hoosier pride. Anyone who has visited Turkey Run, McCormick’s Creek, Indiana Dunes or any of the dozens of other state parks can’t help but marvel at their natural wonders.

Although we owe the parks’ raw beauty to glaciers and other natural forces, these wild areas would have vanished long ago if not for the largely behind-the-scenes efforts of the many people—park directors, conservationists, ecologists and others—who over the past century have worked to preserve some of Indiana’s most stunning natural landscapes.

INDIANA STATE PARKS: TREASURES IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD showcases and celebrates these wild lands, introducing viewers to their vibrant, natural beauty and the people who have dedicated their lives to preserving the parks for future generations.

Produced for WTIU/Indiana University Television by Ron Prickel.

Production support was provided by Vectren Foundation, Stewart & Irwin, Attorneys at Law, and Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund.

Widely recognized as among the best in the country, Indiana state parks are a great source of Hoosier pride. Anyone who has visited Turkey Run, McCormick’s Creek, Indiana Dunes or any of the dozens of other state parks can’t help but marvel at their natural wonders.

Although we owe the parks’ raw beauty to glaciers and other natural forces, these wild areas would have vanished long ago if not for the largely behind-the-scenes efforts of the many people—park directors, conservationists, ecologists and others—who over the past century have worked to preserve some of Indiana’s most stunning natural landscapes.

INDIANA STATE PARKS: TREASURES IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD showcases and celebrates these wild lands, introducing viewers to their vibrant, natural beauty and the people who have dedicated their lives to preserving the parks for future generations.

Produced for WTIU/Indiana University Television by Ron Prickel.

Production support was provided by Vectren Foundation, Stewart & Irwin, Attorneys at Law, and Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund.

This documentary tells the story of Reverend Ernest Butler, his family, and his efforts as a grass roots civil rights activist. The documentary traces his childhood and formative years as a pastor in Connersville to his efforts to integrate public and private facilities in Noblesville. The major segment of the video concentrates on his years in Bloomington, as pastor of the Second Baptist Church. It describes the conditions he confronted on arrival in Bloomington in 1959, and examines his efforts to open up employment and housing opportunities for African Americans in Bloomington. Attention is also given to his daily struggle to improve the lives of the members of his church and the wider community.

The DVD contains the 28 minute program and approximately 19 minutes of additional material, including two songs and extended interview footage.

INDIANA LEGENDS: GEORGE TALIAFERRO is the remarkable story of an American hero who overcame racial barriers to succeed on the football field and in life.

A star halfback at Indiana University in the 1940s, George Taliaferro led the Cream and Crimson to its only undefeated season and Big Ten Football Championship. As a student activist, he helped desegregate the Bloomington campus, opening local restaurants and movie theaters to African Americans.

In 1949, Taliaferro made history by becoming the first African American to be drafted by an NFL team. The “Jackie Robinson of Professional Football,” he revolutionized the pro game with his unique combination of speed, quickness and all-around ability. As a player and later a social worker and university administrator at IU, Taliaferro was an outspoken opponent of racism and bigotry, fighting for equal opportunities for all students.

This DVD chronicles the life of a true Indiana legend, including bonus material on Taliaferro’s youth in Gary, Indiana and racism in the United States in the 1940s.

Produced for WTIU/Indiana University Television by Rob Anderson and Jeremy Shere.

Production support was provided by the Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics; Indiana University Alumni Association; Indiana University Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs; Indiana University Press; Indiana Humanities Council in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

INDIANA LEGENDS: GEORGE TALIAFERRO is the remarkable story of an American hero who overcame racial barriers to succeed on the football field and in life.

A star halfback at Indiana University in the 1940s, George Taliaferro led the Cream and Crimson to its only undefeated season and Big Ten Football Championship. As a student activist, he helped desegregate the Bloomington campus, opening local restaurants and movie theaters to African Americans.

In 1949, Taliaferro made history by becoming the first African American to be drafted by an NFL team. The “Jackie Robinson of Professional Football,” he revolutionized the pro game with his unique combination of speed, quickness and all-around ability. As a player and later a social worker and university administrator at IU, Taliaferro was an outspoken opponent of racism and bigotry, fighting for equal opportunities for all students.

This DVD chronicles the life of a true Indiana legend, including bonus material on Taliaferro’s youth in Gary, Indiana and racism in the United States in the 1940s.

Produced for WTIU/Indiana University Television by Rob Anderson and Jeremy Shere.

Production support was provided by the Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics; Indiana University Alumni Association; Indiana University Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs; Indiana University Press; Indiana Humanities Council in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Hometown: A Journey Through Terre Haute, Indiana takes an in-depth look at six of these buildings, transporting the viewer to a place that stands as monument to the way most Americans lived their lives in 1926. Based on the popular public radio program Hometown with Tom Roznowski, the documentary features Roznowski on a walking tour of Terre Haute in an improvisational exploration of history.

“We're trying to change the way people see Terre Haute,” Roznowski says. “Many people don't see it as very exceptional. One of our goals with this program is to uncover the fascinating in the everyday.”

“There were a lot of aspects of everyday life in the 1920s that we face as challenges now,” says Roznowski. “There was a balance between the rural and the urban in Terre Haute, the traditional and the cutting edge of technology. We always make the assumption that progress is being made as time passes. Terre Haute is case where a city actually declined over the course of the 20th century. It provides a window on America and American life that is very revealing once you explore it.”
Companion Web Site

The COMPANION WEB SITE contains a detailed program description with comments from the filmmakers, and images of vintage maps and postcards.

The documentary is based on the public radio program Hometown with Tom Roznowski.

On any given day there are people in our community who need assistance as the result of personal decisions or outside influences. In many cases family and friends are the answer to their needs. In other cases short-term assistance can serve to address the need for food, shelter and clothing brought on by poor personal decisions, an abusive relationship or a sudden catastrophic event like a flood. HARD LIFE is the story of 3 people who are on a journey of recovery.

Kent was living paycheck to paycheck and lost his job which resulted in nearly instant homelessness. He learned from others on the street of a place he could go for daily meals, help in a search for work, personal guidance, and transportation assistance. Still, nothing can replace the loss of priceless family photos destroyed as the rental company cleaned out his apartment to rent it to someone new.

Ellen was the manager of an apartment complex on the south side of Martinsville when days of rain finally covered her home in 3 feet of sewer backwash and neighborhood debris. She lost nearly everything she owned and for the first time in her life needed to seek out the help of local agencies. As the waters rose, she watched the life she knew wash away and a new life of waiting, reconstruction and change come to the surface.

Debbie came to Bloomington late one night after having bounced between shelters and the home of a friend, finally coming to rest on the doorstep of an agency which provides shelter for battered women. They took her in and gave her a place to stay, but in return she would be expected to go to work. At first she was angry and frustrated when faced with the expectation she would become self-sufficient but soon found herself moving toward greater self confidence.

In the end, this is a story of ourselves. We do not know when we may be the next person in need. As a society we’ve come to accept the everyday nature of those experiencing hunger, who are in need of emergency shelter, or who have lost everything due to a natural disaster. Experiencing these stories serves to remind us of the value and need of the social services in our community.

On any given day there are people in our community who need assistance as the result of personal decisions or outside influences. In many cases family and friends are the answer to their needs. In other cases short-term assistance can serve to address the need for food, shelter and clothing brought on by poor personal decisions, an abusive relationship or a sudden catastrophic event like a flood. HARD LIFE is the story of 3 people who are on a journey of recovery.

Kent was living paycheck to paycheck and lost his job which resulted in nearly instant homelessness. He learned from others on the street of a place he could go for daily meals, help in a search for work, personal guidance, and transportation assistance. Still, nothing can replace the loss of priceless family photos destroyed as the rental company cleaned out his apartment to rent it to someone new.

Ellen was the manager of an apartment complex on the south side of Martinsville when days of rain finally covered her home in 3 feet of sewer backwash and neighborhood debris. She lost nearly everything she owned and for the first time in her life needed to seek out the help of local agencies. As the waters rose, she watched the life she knew wash away and a new life of waiting, reconstruction and change come to the surface.

Debbie came to Bloomington late one night after having bounced between shelters and the home of a friend, finally coming to rest on the doorstep of an agency which provides shelter for battered women. They took her in and gave her a place to stay, but in return she would be expected to go to work. At first she was angry and frustrated when faced with the expectation she would become self-sufficient but soon found herself moving toward greater self confidence.

In the end, this is a story of ourselves. We do not know when we may be the next person in need. As a society we’ve come to accept the everyday nature of those experiencing hunger, who are in need of emergency shelter, or who have lost everything due to a natural disaster. Experiencing these stories serves to remind us of the value and need of the social services in our community.

In southern Indiana, just south of Bloomington and nestled between rolling, forested hills lies the state’s largest inland lake. Lake Monroe contains more than ten thousand acres of water and provides recreation for boaters, hikers, swimmers, and campers. The city of Bloomington and surrounding communities rely on it for a water supply. But underneath the jet skis and fishing boats lie the remains of a town that was washed away by progress.

Elkinsville: Washed Away By Progress is about that lost town. This once peaceful farming community in Brown County was displaced by construction of Lake Monroe in the 1960s.

Through an extensive collection of photos and interviews with former residents, the town of Elkinsville has been brought back to life. The program shows where these residents once lived and worked, and provides a glimpse of Indiana history seen through the eyes of people who can never go home again.

This program recounts the failed efforts by officials to find an adequate water supply for the greater Bloomington area and the circumstances that led the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a dam across Salt Creek, thus creating Lake Monroe. The new lake helped control downstream flooding, provided Bloomington with a reliable water supply, and spurred tourism and economic development in southern Indiana. But it didn't come without a price.

The cost was the entire town of Elkinsville. With their land taken away by the power of eminent domain, the residents had no choice but to move on.

Every year an Elkinsville reunion is held to remind people of the town that once was. Though saddened to move, most of the former residents express no bitterness, but rather, fondly remember their old town and enjoy the lake that washed it away.

Produced by WTIU in association with Tabletop Productions.

Production support was provided by the Fourwinds Resort and Marina.

As Barack Obama became President of the United States, many people wanted to make the journey to Washington DC to join hundreds of thousands of Americans to witness the Inauguration first-hand. WTIU tells their stories and reports on the historical significance of the 2008 Presidential election.

WITNESSES TO HISTORY is the story of the historical significance of the election and inauguration of Barack Obama. WTIU cameras accompany a Monroe County group to Washington D.C. to be among the millions witnessing the swearing-in of the nation’s first African-American President. Obama’s victory—improbably—may have been sealed in the Republican stronghold of Indiana when he became the first Democrat since 1964 to carry the state.

The historical impact of the election of the country’s 44th President is chronicled in this 30-minute special. Starting with a more than two- century fight for equal opportunities and culminating in a day many— including a Monroe County veteran of three wars—thought they’d never see. Political experts and well-known leaders including Dr. Cornel West and former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy reflect on the significance and the importance of the 2008 election. Though other black men have run for president—including Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Alan Keyes—they all failed to gain a major party’s nomination, a barrier Barack Obama overcame.

As Barack Obama became President of the United States, many people wanted to make the journey to Washington DC to join hundreds of thousands of Americans to witness the Inauguration first-hand. WTIU tells their stories and reports on the historical significance of the 2008 Presidential election.

WITNESSES TO HISTORY is the story of the historical significance of the election and inauguration of Barack Obama. WTIU cameras accompany a Monroe County group to Washington D.C. to be among the millions witnessing the swearing-in of the nation’s first African-American President. Obama’s victory—improbably—may have been sealed in the Republican stronghold of Indiana when he became the first Democrat since 1964 to carry the state.

The historical impact of the election of the country’s 44th President is chronicled in this 30-minute special. Starting with a more than two- century fight for equal opportunities and culminating in a day many— including a Monroe County veteran of three wars—thought they’d never see. Political experts and well-known leaders including Dr. Cornel West and former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy reflect on the significance and the importance of the 2008 election. Though other black men have run for president—including Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Alan Keyes—they all failed to gain a major party’s nomination, a barrier Barack Obama overcame.

In a single moment, the United States joined World War II, following the attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7, 1941. The semblance of measured serenity and daily life dissolved, and suddenly America shifted itself into the mindset of a nation attacked, a nation at war.

Japanese-Americans became part of a national identity crisis; mistrust flowed into fear, fear into panic. But the now-familiar story of Japanese Americans interned during the war has overshadowed other stories, stories which present these citizens—even in the face of unfair and even illegal discrimination—as among the heroes of the American struggle against tyranny.

Introducing IN TIME OF WAR, a 60-minute documentary narrated by Patti Duke exploring the Japanese-American experience of WWII in the Pacific Northwest. Delving into untold dimensions of the story in a personal vignette format, IN TIME OF WAR sets itself apart as a documentary that goes beyond camp life and explores the full impact of what it meant to be an outsider during WWII:

* Japanese Americans who were evacuated and never interned, but nonetheless experienced severe discrimination and loss
* Those who served in the US Army and fought for American freedom while their families were imprisoned behind barbed wire
* Those who resisted military service for reasons of personal patriotism and integrity, paying the price with island imprisonment
* And finally, those who did indeed experience the degrading alienation of internment camp on some of the most destitute land in America.

Featuring the critical insights of prominent Northwest historians and the poignant images of National Archives historical footage, IN TIME OF WAR gives voice to the forgotten. With humor, nostalgia and intimacy, survivors speak from their hearts:

Two former internees take a long trip back to the remnants of camp in a surprising exploration of life behind barbed wire. “Japan didn’t want us, and the U.S. didn’t want us. We were people without a country for so many years.”

One woman revisits her past as a young girl forced to leave her family behind. “We weren’t very welcome. I felt like I was out in the ocean with nothing.”

A resister talks about liberty lost, love found and life in a time of crisis. His is the story of the unsung hero, an individual whose deepest patriotism for America—the protection of true freedom—led him to an island prison for three dark years.

And finally a former infantryman takes us inside a riveting battle with the Germans—a battle that turned the tide of WWII. “It was absolutely pitch dark,” he said. “We fought for to days, moving only yards at a time. All this business about being disloyal…I thought about stuff like that when the bullets started flying.”

IN TIME OF WAR includes archival footage of WWII and the critical insights of recognized historians. Perhaps one the most compelling features of the documentary is how each subject talks about what it was like to be an American citizen during time of war. Ultimately IN TIME OF WAR reveals that civil liberties are fragile rights, but their struggle to attain these liberties will now never go unnoticed.

“There was an element of fate, there was an element of serendipity.” This is how Tim Grimm, folk singer and songwriter, describes his discovery of Wilderness Plots, a book by Indiana author Scott Russell Sanders. The book is a collection of brief tales about the settling of the American frontier. Grimm, together with other musicians began writing songs inspired by Sanders’s stories. What resulted was an innovative venture that blends genres into a complete experience.

WILDERNESS PLOTS: SONGS AND STORIES OF THE PRAIRIE features a selection of these songs in performance and readings by Sanders, all complemented by interviews with the artists and views of the Southern Indiana scenery. The interviews provide background information and offer insight into the artists: their work, their perspectives, their love for music, writing and history.

The idea of the Wilderness Plots songs started with Tim Grimm who was fascinated by the characters described in Sanders’ book. He challenged himself and four fellow Indiana songwriters to write songs that capture the realities, ironies, and aspirations of early pioneer life. Aside from Grimm, WILDERNESS PLOTS features Carrie Newcomer, Krista Detor, Tom Roznowski, and Michael White.

Early pioneer life was more simple than it is today but it was not necessarily easier, and it was frequently violent and beset with danger. Wilderness Plots contains lessons for today and holds appeal for people of all ages. “It’s about dwelling more consciously in the present by learning more deeply about the past,” Sanders said.

The program offers a glimpse into the creative collaboration of these artists. The footage was shot in the historic Mitchell Opera House (built in 1902) and at other scenic and historic sites: a one-room school house, a quarry, an old log home, a rural church, and in the Hoosier forest.

Susanne Schwibs is the producer/director of the program.

Production support was provided by The Moveable Feast of the Arts, a program funded by the Lilly Endowment and designed to showcase Indiana University’s cultural resources to communities across the state and the nation.

Artist and writer Judy Chicago—who coined the terms feminist art and feminist pedagogy—had not taught for 25 years when she returned to the classroom at Indiana University as a visiting professor. This program shows her work with a group of women students as they struggle with the artistic process, from conception to public presentation. Along with the students, the filmmaker explores the nature of artistic expression, the character of feminist art, and the commitment needed to forge an independent artistic identity.

WTIU presents a special airing of the interfaith prayer service held October 23rd, 2007 in Bloomington with His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama. Prayers from various faith traditions—Native American, Sikh, Bahá'i, Unitarian Universalist, Islam, Christian, Hindu, and Jewish—as well as musical selections, are performed. Remarks from His Holiness complete the program.

Brown County Artists: Expanding the Legacy documents the legacy left by these early artists and then visits the studios of several current Brown County artists who are still drawn to the area. These artists demonstrate their skills, share their work and relate their vision and philosophy of art. In the process, they reveal why they, like so many artists before them, are attracted to this hilly woodland of Indiana.

The present-day artists include Fred Rigley, landscape artist; Larry Spears, potter; Charlene Marsh, fiber artist; William Root, sculptor; and William Zimmerman, wildlife artist.