KERA Classics

Swank in the Arts: Philip Johnson (1978)

The famed architect speaks about his career, the many public spaces he created in North Texas and being in Dallas to accept the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects.
Friday, November 11 at 7 p.m. on KERA TV

Swank in the Arts: Maria Callas (1978)

A profile of the opera legend through an interview with the diva’s good friend and music critic, John Ardoin.
Friday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. on KERA TV

Fort Worth: Postcards from the Past (1996)

Using archival photographs, home movies, family photos and the personal memories of Fort Worth citizens, Fort Worth: Postcards from the Past takes a lighthearted, colorful look at the city from the 1800s through the 1960s and highlights the people, places and history that make it unique.
Sunday, November 13 at 6 p.m. on KERA TV

Swank in the Arts: Richard Avedon (1979)

The celebrated photographer discusses his early fascination with photography, his inspirations, his mentors, and embarking on a new project commissioned by the Amon G. Carter Museum in Fort Worth.
Friday, November 18 at 7 p.m. on KERA TV

In the American West: Photos by Richard Avedon (2005)

A program celebrating the 20th anniversary of the original Fort Worth exhibition by renowned photographer, Richard Avedon. Laura Wilson, Avedon’s researcher on the project, recounts the experience working alongside her mentor and illustrates how she found her own voice and photographic style in the process.
Friday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. on KERA TV

JFK: Breaking the News (2003)

“JFK: Breaking the News” offers a close-up look at how reporters responded to a national tragedy. Through the lens of journalists working in Dallas in 1963, audiences will learn about the moment-by-moment experiences of those who covered one of the most significant events in U.S. history. Their reflections also allow us to witness the remarkable rise of television as a primary source for breaking news coverage. Narrated by Jane Pauley, the documentary also reveals the tremendous technical obstacles that had to be overcome and the immediate journalistic decisions that accompanied the initial live remote broadcasts generated by television four decades ago.
Sunday, November 20 at 6 p.m. on KERA TV

Bob Wilson and the Early Years of KERA (2011)

Lee Cullum hosts the half-hour special about KERA’s first chief executive, Robert A. (Bob) Wilson. Cullum is joined by longtime friends and former KERA colleagues Jim Lehrer and Bob Ray Sanders in this retrospective about Wilson’s nascent vision for the burgeoning community television station and his achievements.
Friday, November 25 at 7:30 p.m. on KERA TV

After Goodbye: An AIDS Story (1993)

Narrated by actress Ruby Dee, this Emmy Award-winning special looks at the impact of AIDS on the members of Dallas’ internationally renowned Turtle Creek Chorale, which had lost 60 of its 200 members to the disease. Interwoven with powerful musical performances by the Chorale are the personal stories of individuals living with AIDS, as well as family and friends of the choir who had lost loved ones to the disease.
Thursday, December 1 at 8 p.m. on KERA TV

Swank in the Arts: Anthony Hopkins (1978)

While promoting his film “Magic” in the Dallas area in 1978, a very young Anthony Hopkins sat down with Patsy Swank for an informative interview, one of the few the actor had given up to that time, about his life and his craft.
Friday, December 2 at 7 p.m. on KERA TV

Swank in the Arts: Tom Hughes (1979)

Tom Hughes gained national acclaim as one of the most astute and successful musical theater producers in the country. In this interview from 1979, Patsy Swank talks with Hughes about the successes and struggles of the Dallas theatrical institution.
Friday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. on KERA TV

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