Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 4, 1992 TAG: 9201040342
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Los Angeles Daily News
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A&E SERIES IS A PROJECT OF A LIFETIME
When veteran documentary producer Charles Grinker decided to make a program examining the last 91 years, he was determined to "do a different look at the 20th century, not just the facts and the numbers, but the feelings," he said.So he asked 100 influential and famous Americans to share their most sacred memories.
What did he get? Bill Moyers talking about being in Dallas the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Julia Child describing a ride in an early automobile before there were roads. Rita Moreno remembering a kiss from Elvis Presley.
From childhood revelations to first-person accounts of historical moments, our heroes, policymakers and artists reveal hundreds of moving and humorous recollections in "The Class of the 20th Century."
This 12-part series, which has its world premiere at 8 p.m. and midnight Sunday on cable's Arts & Entertainment, captures the emotional impact of our century rather than merely spewing names, dates and statistics like a cliched history lesson.
"The words of the people who were there on the scene is much more a true picture of an event than that which you find in an encyclopedia or a documentary," said Grinker, who interviewed each guest and served as co-executive producer of the series.
"This is how we felt about our century as it was happening. This is feelings and emotions more than facts. That's what does make it different.
"I did this more than anything else for my five kids. We have all read on the page about historical events. My kids used to ask me, `What was it really like?'"
Grinker said some of his children (ages 27 to 35) were astounded after watching one of the interviewees describe his fears during the Cuban missile crisis.
"I grew up in the '40s and experienced that. They read about it in school. They never realized we were that scared about it. Now they know."
Each episode weaves historical footage with comments from prominent Americans such as newscaster Peter Jennings, baseball legend Mickey Mantle, U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder and musician Frank Zappa.
In addition to providing entertainment, the series was created as a video time capsule to be preserved for the people of the year 3000. The 12 episodes have been donated to the Museum of Television & Radio in New York as part of its permanent collection for current and future generations.
"You have to care about the people of the future and not just yourself," Grinker said. "Each century is shaped by the century before. There's no single thing for us today that's more important than being good ancestors. Our memories can provide guidelines and teach people in future milleniums. You can't be here just to take; you've got to leave something for the people of the future."
Although Grinker wants to offer future generations a view of the 20th century, he said he doesn't consider himself "a historian, not in a traditional sense. I consider myself a teacher.
"In the 35 years since I finished my college education, I have done biographies of famous people. I've learned my history through the words of the people who made headlines. It's a different way to learn history, and I'm trying to give that back as best as possible."
Each episode of the series covers a different era of the 1900s and includes reminiscences from those who lived through it and often from those who played an integral part in its development. The segments conclude with each guest sending his own personal message to the people of the year 3000.
Grinker said that selecting 100 significant individuals to represent the century was a difficult task for producer-director Merrill Mazuer, producer-writer Pamela Lack and himself.
"We started with 500 people. The key criteria was we wanted people of interest to the television audience and people who truly influenced other people and who continue to influence us today," he said.
"If there is a common denominator among these 100, [it is that] there is no one who ever retired. They all continue to work and thrive. They've all continued to educate themselves throughout their lives.
"[I learned that] if you're fortunate enough to be doing something you like, keep doing it. Work is not a dirty word to them."
The premiere episode features such distinguished seniors as Milton Berle and Cab Calloway discussing World War I, prohibition and other events from 1900 to 1929.