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The Daniel McCall Sr. family pose in front of their Government Street home in July 1945, two months after VE Day. Daniel Sr. was a physician. His son was with the law firm of Johnston, McCall, and Johnston. |
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Alabama Public Television (APT) will host a free, one-hour preview of “The War,” the new PBS documentary, on Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. at the Mitchell Center on the University of South Alabama campus. Filmmaker Ken Burns, who directed and produced the epic with Lynn Novick, will speak to the audience about the film and take part in a question-and-answer session following the preview.
“The War” explores the Second World War from an American perspective, following the experiences of a handful of men and women from four towns in the U.S. whose lives were transformed by the war. One of the four cities highlighted is Mobile, a sleepy southern port that became a booming, overcrowded “wartown” overnight.
The film took six years to complete and features interviews with veterans as well as those left at home during the conflict. The University of South Alabama Archives played a key role in the production of the documentary.
“We are thrilled to have been able to help Ken Burns bring war-time Mobile to life by providing video clips and more than fifty photographic images to ‘The War.’ The four years we and his production staff spent on this project was mutually enjoyable,” said Carol Ellis, USA archivist. “The faculty, staff and students of the University, as well as the public at-large, will be able to get a look into how Mobile lived and worked sixty years ago.”
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| A pair of female welders pause from their torches as their photo is taken, January 1944. |
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As a compliment to the PBS documentary, which will air beginning September 23, APT has produced its own tribute to the people of Alabama that will air at 8 p.m. on APT on Veteran’s Day, November 11. This APT documentary, titled “WWII: Alabama Remembers,” features interviews with veterans in Mobile and throughout Alabama. It was produced by APT’s Emmy-award winning executive documentary producer, Amanda Shaw Newsome.
The Mitchell Center preview will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Alabama Public Television, established in 1955, is America’s first statewide educational television network. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service, it is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, analog and digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. |
