The fire started on Sunday, October 8, 1871, in the Chicago barn of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary, and burned through early Tuesday, October 10, 1871. The blaze killed hundreds of people, destroyed about four square miles in Chicago, and caused billions of dollars in damages. Despite the devastation, reconstruction efforts encouraged the world’s first skyscrapers [...]
On October 7, 2003, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected as the governor of California. Roger Rosenblatt called it a “victory for the outsider,” “politics as unusual,” “a breath of fresh air” on NewsHour. As governor, Schwarzenegger surprised voters when he prioritized the issues of greenhouse gases and smog.
On Oct. 6, 1927, talking pictures arrived with “The Jazz Singer,” a movie starring Al Jolson that featured both silent and sound-synchronized scenes. Jolson was the first openly Jewish man to become a star in America. Listen to: “You Made Me Love You” sung by Al Jolson, part of the 2004 PBS documentary series “Broadway: [...]
For some veterans it takes years before they choose to speak about their war experiences. And some veterans never do. What happens when veterans finally share their stories? How does it feel to be heard? And how are we, as listeners, affected?
In 1910, an American doctor named Hawley Crippen was convicted in England of poisoning and dismembering his wife. The vicious murder—and execution—made international headlines. Almost one hundred years later, investigators re-opened the files. Watch episode….
Critical Condition puts a human face on the nation’s growing health care crisis by capturing the harrowing struggles of four critically ill Americans who discover that being uninsured can cost them their jobs, health, home, savings, and even their lives. Watch documentary now.
On October 1, 2000, one of the most notorious gangsters of the 20th century, Reginald “Reggie” Kray, died in his sleep, at the age of 66.
Upcoming documentary The Bungalows of Rockaway, delves into the rich history of the bungalows on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, NY, over the past 100 years. Co-producers Jennifer Callahan and Elizabeth Logan Harris discuss their upcoming documentary for Thirteen Forum.
This is your chance to ask documentarian Ken Burns about his career, his documentaries, and plans for the future. PBS Engage will ask Ken Burns 5 questions from the ones submitted by you. They’ll post the Q&A next week. Ask here…
On September 24, 1789, the Judiciary Act is passed by Congress and signed by President George Washington, establishing the first Supreme Court of the United States. Watch video from the 2007 PBS series, The Supreme Court.
