Reel America: After School Specials

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📺When the final school bell lets the students out - the TV goes on! Join us for a screening of a variety of 16mm films made for television and see how public programming and educational television expanded in two short decades. 2026 marks the United States’ semiquincentennial – its 250th birthday! This is part of the Reel America series which celebrates the big birthday with a monthly movie showing the people from the past and present that had a hand in creating these United States. Get a monthly cinematic glimpse of what America looks like. This month we will watch: TELEVISION LAND(1971) by Charles Braverman: Uses live and taped film clips from television programs from 1948 to the 1970s to give an overview of the range of American television. CHILDREN’S AUTHOR JUDY BLUME (1979) : Jack Perkins interviews the author of best-selling books for juveniles Judy Blume, and explores why she is controversial among parents and why young people feel she is filling a need not filled by parents or teachers. WHO HAPPEN TO BE GAY (1979) by Dale Beldin & Mark Krenzien: This Emmy-nominated ABC Television documentary profiles six professionals who have decided to lead openly gay lives. The occupations of the three men and three women are an engineer, a college professor, a psychologist, a registered nurse, a real estate agent and a doctor. TELL THEM I’M A MERMAID (1983) Jane Fonda introduces this musical performance in which seven handicapped woman tell their stories with music, song, dance and laughter.