Ken Burns, the acclaimed producer of documentaries who is most famous for his “The Civil War” series, is planning a new film about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, according to a news release by OETA.
Here’s Burns’ message to OETA and all readers:
I’m asking Oklahomans to help me with a new public television series I’m now working on: The Dust Bowl.
Like our earlier films on World War II, Jazz, Baseball, and The Civil War, we think the Dust Bowl is an important event in all of American history.
We’re in the early stages of our research, but we know that Oklahoma will be a major part of the Dust Bowl story we want to tell.
We’re looking for first-person stories of Oklahomans who lived through those hard, hard times, especially out in the Panhandle, where the Dust Bowl was the worst.
We hope to find people who can share their experiences with us – or their photographs, diaries, or home movies from the 1930s, to help us tell this important story.
If you or someone you know can help in this research project, please contact OETA at 1-800-846-7665 Or Send a Note to:
OETA Dustbowl Stories
P.O. Box 14190
Oklahoma City, OK 73113All we need at this stage is a short, written note explaining how you could serve as a resource. Or, please call OETA with a brief description of your Dust Bowl experience. We’ll take it from there.
Thank you for helping in this important project.
Ken Burns
Florentine Films
Burns also produced “Baseball,” “Jazz,” “The War” and “Lewis & Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery,” all for PBS-TV. And nearly 20 years later, I’m still convinced “The Civil War” is the finest moment in the history of television. So I’m thrilled Burns is tackling one of the most fascinating and tragic eras of American history.
When farmers went bust during the Dust Bowl and were forced to move westward in search of jobs, Route 66 was described memorably as “the mother road, the road of flight” by John Steinbeck in “The Grapes of Wrath.”
If you want to learn the definitive story about the Dust Bowl now, go buy “The Worst Hard Time” by Timothy Egan. It won the National Book Award for nonfiction in 2006. It was well-deserved.
(Hat tip: Batesline.com)
Ken Burns can do no wrong in my opinion. I look forward to seeing this project when completed.
Cool! I also recommend American Exodus by James N. Gregory. A fascinating read, and a very sad time for so many Americans.
ken hi i am ron dunivan,i have a cd on route 66.it has grown alot in the past ten years .it has a song that was used on nationwide tv about the days of the dustbowl days and route 66 appearing on a show five nites worldwide a show called ”real stories of the highway patrol”. it did its last five nights on the air about route 66.i was the soundtract heard across the world. i would like to talk to you.you may see me at http://www.dustbowlbaby.com or http://www.myspace.com/rondunivan my email is rondunivan@hotmail.com my no. is 707-384-7614 leave a message if i don’t answer. it has been edorced by martin milner.on my route 66 cd michael wallis says it is the new route 66 cd across the world please send me your email so i can send you my press release that talks about route 66.this cd is the music of the dustbowl.
I recently had some days off of work and was able to watch your program on Route 66! It was so very interesting and between my husband and I we were able to recall almost every part of the wonderful historic road with miles of land marks! It really saddens my heart that more people my age don’t take the time to appriciate and preserve route 66! when a lady at my job recently asked several questions about buidings on The Mother Road; What I couldn’t tell her personally I took her to google and we hunted this site down because of my watching OETA! After we got all her questions answered I told her she should spend more time watching OETA like me! Thanks, Shannon
ken haven’t heard back from you.isent you a cd waiting to hear from you thank you heres my no. if i don’t answer please leave a message ken .looking forward to hear from you. your friend ron dunivan 707-384-7614
Dear Ken, We re created the Cool Springs Station just west of Kingman on Route 66
http://www.coolspringsroute66.com
We have had many many contributors and heard fascinating stories over the past
8 years from travelers coming through. They tell their stories, and they continue to inspire us.
The family who we bought the property from, the Walkers, and Waverka’s skill hold many stories that would be a valuable resource for your documentary.
Get in touch with me and I will arrange the connection for you.
Sincerely,
Ned Leuchtner, owner Cool Springs Station 847 828 7203