This book dives into various groups interests in the purpose of creating and maintaining national parks, monuments, and forests, and how to balance those interests with the political swings of the time as well as the publics ability to use and enjoy these spaces and. Not only does national parks sing with inspiration, but it is the most trustworthy synthesis scholars have on the american preservation movement. Ken burns, director and producer of the national parks, founded his own documentary company, florentine films, in 1976. If you are interested in the national parks in the us, this book is a must have. The companion volume to the twelvehour pbs series from the acclaimed filmmaker behind the civil. More than just a collection of aweinspiring sights, the series is also a gripping history lesson that touches on the economic, political, sociological, and geological forces at play. This 12hour, sixpart documentary series by ken burns and dayton duncan tells the story of an idea as uniquely american as the declaration of independence and just as radical. My topic for the talk was, what ken burns left out.
The national parks americas best idea hardcover book. National parks series by ken burns returns to pbs this month. It will then appear on consecutive wednesdays through march 3 rd. Apr 16, 2016 ken burns celebrates national parks centennial. The companion volume to the twelvehour pbs series from the acclaimed filmmaker behind the civil war, baseball, and the war americas national parks. Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of natures most spectacular locales from acadia to yosemite, yellowstone to the grand canyon, the everglades to the gates of the arctic the national parks. The good news is that the nps knows this is an issue and is actively working on it. Ken burns on the best presidents for national parks cnn travel. This is a story of people rich and poor, famous and unknown, soldiers and scientists, natives and newcomers, idealists. The sixpart series focuses on the ideas and individuals that helped propel the parks into existence. It is not only a great, great documentary, it needs to be seen by every american. His films include the war, jazz, baseball, and the civil war, which was the highestrated series in the history of american public television.
Many of us watched all or parts of the latest ken burns film on knmetv, the. Ken burns on the best presidents for national parks cnn. Neither yosemite nor glacier is the first to be designated a national park. Aug 18, 2016 ken burns called the national parks americas best idea and, honestly, i agree with him.
Thinking about todays post of merrell teaming up with the national park foundation to get people into the outdoors, i wondered is any of my american colleagues had written about ken burns. The national parks americas best idea is a documentary film series that was filmed in 2009, discussing many of the national parks in the united states. Ken burns promotes park series at acadia bangor bangor. In utah, where i live, there is a current furor over president obama possibly declaring a new national monument at bears ears. Dayton duncan, writer and producer of the national parks, is an awardwinning author and documentary filmmaker. The national parks, ken burns and his team spent months filming in national parks across the united states. Americas best idea series begins its encore pbs broadcast with the first episode airing on january 27, 2010.
May 29, 2009 thinking about todays post of merrell teaming up with the national park foundation to get people into the outdoors, i wondered is any of my american colleagues had written about ken burns. Directed and coproduced by ken, it was coproduced by his longtime collaborator dayton duncan. Ken burns series never cease to captivate audiences through immersive coverage of past events in harrowing detail. From yellowstone to yosemite, zion to shenandoah, our national parks were founded on one principle. The dvd series by ken burns is fascinating and very interesting to watch if you like history. Dayton duncan, along with ken burns, have provided a thorough history of the national parks. Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of natures most spectacular locales. Ken burns spoke at a national press club luncheon as his new sixpart pbs series on the national parks premiered. Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of natures most spectacular locales from acadia to yosemite, yellowstone to the grand canyon, the. For more information on ken burns, see page 78 of the 2010 farmers almanac. Ken burns national parks battle of the little bighorn. His work has won numerous prizes, including the emmy and peabody awards, and two academy award nominations.
Americas best idea, is a 12hour, sixpart film that traces the origins and growth of the national parks system over 150 years. Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of natures most spectacular locales from acadia to yosemite, yellowstone to the grand canyon, the everglades of florida to the gates of the arctic in alaska the national parks. Documentary filmmaker ken burns new series celebrating americas national parks and detailing their history will air in fall 2009, pbs said saturday. May 01, 2017 the 2017 lady bird johnson environmental award has been presented to ken burns for reawakening a nations consciousness to the natural world through his work, including the national parks. Yellowstone to the grand canyon, the everglades to the gates of the arctic the national parks. A companion book isbn 9780307268969 was released alongside.
Nations parks star in ken burns new documentary filmed over the course of more than six years at some of the countrys most aweinspiring locales, the. Trace the history of american national parks with director ken burnss rousing documentary, which recounts how remarkable heroes fought to preserve nature for all people and offers striking views from yosemite, yellowstone and other stunning locales. It will then appear on consecutive wednesdays through march 3 rd the series, which premiered last september, was the second mostwatched series on pbs over the last. Americas best idea is a sixepisode series on the history of the national parks, directed by ken burns and written and coproduced by dayton duncan. Americas best idea as a direct result of the publicity and broadcast of this documentary, national parks across the country saw a dramatic increase in attendance. Americas best idea is nonetheless a story of people. What other documentary filmmaker has an effect named after him. Where to stream 11 essential ken burns documentaries nyt. Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of natures most spectacular locales from acadia to yosemite. Ken burns called the national parks americas best idea and, honestly, i agree with him. This 12hour, sixpart documentary series by ken burns and dayton duncan tells the story of an idea as. At least, thats what famous documentary director ken burns the civil war told thousands of. The national parks pbs soundtrack original soundtrack.
Its a wonderful story, full of political battles fought over our i was a bit apprehensive about this book at first, as it was billed as a companion book to a documentary series which i havent watched, but is at the top of my queue now. Sep 28, 2009 ken burns spoke at a national press club luncheon as his new sixpart pbs series on the national parks premiered. This book dives into various groups interests in the purpose of creating and maintaining national parks, monuments, and forests, and how to balance those interests with the political swings of the time as well as the publics ability to use and enjoy these spaces and how. Acadia national park, maine ken burns is the rock star of public television maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries from the bangor daily news. Parents need to know that this stunning historical look at americas national parks from awardwinning filmmaker ken burns is an excellent pick for families. Ken burns is of course, a great documentary filmmaker, perhaps the greatest ever. In his remarks he mentioned some of the experiences he had in each of the national. On october 22, 2009, shortly after the ken burns documentary on americas national parks aired on national public television, i was invited to make a presentation to the santa fe rotary club. Americas best idea, a sixpart, 12hour series, is scheduled to air on pbs stations beginning sunday, september 27. Americas best idea is a 2009 television documentary miniseries by. It should be a must see for high school kids learning the history of our country. For nearly 30 years, burns has unearthed compelling, surprising, complex stories surrounding seemingly welldocumented subjects. That said, the national parks arent the most diverse spaces in the nation. National parks series by ken burns returns to pbs this.
An interesting perspective on the intersection of the conservation movement with the history of the national park system. Thats one of many reasons burns and duncan believe so fiercely in their thesis that the national park service, which turns 100 this august, is americas best idea. The burns show is listed under documentary filmmaking. Such a convenient news peg for ken burns, whose newest sixpart documentary, the national parks. Americas best idea is a sixepisode series on the history of the national parks, directed by ken burns and written and coproduced. The national parks americas best idea is a series that goes indepth featuring many of americas famous national parks.
Ken burns did a phenomenal job with the story and photography. Sep 25, 2009 nations parks star in ken burns new documentary filmed over the course of more than six years at some of the countrys most aweinspiring locales, the national parks. Americas best idea 2009 starring peter coyote and dayton duncan on dvd and bluray. Americas best idea but ken burns has agreed to allow us to watch it here or on our facebook page. That honor goes to yellowstone national park, which was officially named. Pinkleys story was actually cut from ken burns final film, the national parks. Pbs to show ken burns national parks series next year. This two part story, the boss, is about frank pinkley at casa grande national monument. Americas best idea is a sixepisode series produced by ken burns and dayton duncan and written by dayton duncan. National parks is set to air on pbs on september 27 2009.
He has collaborated on all of ken burns s films for twenty years as a writer, producer, and consultant. See all books authored by ken burns, including the national parks. He has collaborated on all of ken burnss films for twenty years as a writer, producer, and consultant. Awardwinning filmmaker ken burns explores the parks hidden history. Without the national parks program, yellowstone would be an amusement destination called geyserland. Ken burns sat down with usa today and shared some of the secrets of americas national parks. Ken burns and dayton duncan are the creators of the pbs documentary the national parks. Jul 30, 2009 the national parks by ken burns knopfdoubleday. The flagship publication of the national parks conservation association, national parks magazine circ.
Whether you are searching for ken burns dvds, ken burns bluray disks, or cd soundtracks, get blown away by history as youve never before experienced. Filmmaker ken burns talks about his lifelong passion for americas national parks, and the early memories that inspired his documentary series, americas best idea. Its a wonderful story, full of political battles fought over our i was a bit apprehensive about this book at first, as it was billed as a companion book to a documentary series which i havent watched, but is. Americas best idea is a 2009 television documentary miniseries by directorproducer ken burns and producerwriter dayton duncan which features the united states national park system and traces the systems history.
Apr 14, 2016 thats one of many reasons burns and duncan believe so fiercely in their thesis that the national park service, which turns 100 this august, is americas best idea. Ken burns, historian and filmmaker, talks about theodore roosevelt and other presidents who contributed the most to the national park system. Ken burns, filmmaker alfred runte brilliantly demonstrates why he is considered one of americas preeminent environmental historians. Listen to burns talk about the documentary and the parks and more in an interview on think, the flagship show of kera, the dallas npr affiliate. Here is a slightly edited version of my presentation. Mar 01, 1979 an interesting perspective on the intersection of the conservation movement with the history of the national park system.
Twisting the dragons tail 25 fri in performance at the white house a celebration of american creativity soundstage georgefest austin city limits tweedy. The 2017 lady bird johnson environmental award has been presented to ken burns for reawakening a nations consciousness to the natural world through his work, including the national parks. Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of natures most spectacular locales, the national parks. Americas best idea is a sixpart, 12hour documentary series by ken burns and his longtime colleague dayton duncan on the history of america s national parks. The companion volume to the twelvehour pbs series from the. Ken burns served as the director and producer of the series. Sep 02, 2014 as cocreator of the pbs series americas best idea. About ken burns ken burns, director and producer of the national parks, founded his own documentary company, florentine films, in 1976.
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