Teri L Sullivan
WKNO
Promotions Manager
901-325-6518
tlsullivan@wkno.org
July 2, 2008
For Immediate Release
WKNO Presents
The View From Adams Avenue: 19th Century Memphis
Victorian Village is at the heart of the Memphis story. It was the first “suburb” of Memphis, and in its heyday it was the true economic, social and political center of the city. Captains of commerce and industry built the grand homes to reflect the affluence, tastes and opulence of the times. Now in a new film presented on WKNO, local filmmaker Willy Bearden explores this history in The View From Adams Avenue: 19th Century Memphis, premiering Monday, August 4 at 7:00 p.m. on Channel 10.
Although many of the neighborhood’s homes no longer exist, the remaining few are a testament to the hard work and seemingly limitless possibilities of the Victorian era, and the struggles and triumphs of the men and women who made Memphis the shining jewel on the Mississippi.
“These houses have seen the grandest of parties, houseguests, and gentility, but have also stood serenely through war, depression, plague and neglect,” said producer Willy Bearden, who created such popular Memphis Memoirs documentaries as Overton Park: A Century of Change, Elmwood – Reflections of Memphis and Playing for a Piece of the Door. “The names of the houses themselves evoke some of the most important and accomplished citizens of Memphis. In the end, they are simply the finest examples of who we were, and in some cases, still are in Memphis. “
This documentary tells the story of the founding and development of Victorian Village, as well as its unique tie to the rest of the city which lay just across Gayoso Bayou. The story touches every part of Memphis life from the very beginnings of the city to today. At its core, the story is one of human enterprise, personal triumph and the will of a few to preserve this most important chapter in our history.
WKNO is a non-profit, private foundation serving the Mid-South for more than 50 years. An important community resource, WKNO uses the power of non-commercial public broadcasting to provide the Mid-South with quality educational and cultural programs that inform, entertain, and inspire.
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