I begin my sweeps shooting tomorrow (sweeps are the months where networks set their advertising rates, so local news tries to put on in depth stories to gain viewers so ratings for the month will be higher and can in turn charge more for advertising. Because of some history stories I did in Charleston, I was told to do a series of three stories called "Hidden Columbia."
The idea is to find things about the city that even locals wouldn't know about. The first is the story of the old State Theater, later renamed the Fox Theater, on Main Street. If you went to it today, you would actually be going into 'Solid Gold', an African-American wig shop. I met up with the director of the Nickelodeon Theater, which bought the store in 2005 to revive the theater. After walking through the store, he took me through a door on the back wall. Once we were through the door, an old 1930's art deco theater opens up--run down, trashed, dark, but amazing nonetheless. Upstairs, an even bigger theater. Can't wait to do that story.
Second, I'm telling the story Underground Columbia. Modeled after Atlanta's Underground, it only existed for two years in the early 1970's, but shut down when the flight to the suburbs killed downtown. Nevertheless, the old underground, with restaurants and shops, still exists, also on Main street.
I'm supposed to find one more story, and am working a few different angles, including:
the tunnels underneath the statehouse and the history of the Ms. Venus pageant, sponsored by Sigma Nu during Derby Days. The pageant ran from 1947 through about 1970, and featured woman in high heels, short shorts, a tight shirt, and a bag over their head. Didn't see that coming, did you? Neither did I, so went to the archives at USC, and sure enough, in the yearbooks from those years, pictures of the pageant. It was judged by the president of the university and the dean of women students. I'm looking for a former winner to interview. Would be too funny. If you find my blog, give me some more ideas. thx.
2 comments:
Did you erase my comment?
I guess that I must first make a disclaimer and admit that I did not watch your series "Hidden Columbia" as an original broadcast- but online instead.
My apologies for being a ratings downer.....
HOWEVER- In hopes of redemption, I wanted to say that I did watch some of the series tonight after a dinner with friends where your series was the chief subject of conversation. We have all lived in Columbia for many years- but apparently know far less about our city than we thought.
I should first WELCOME you to Columbia and then congratulate you for your informative and creative series. I am very much looking forward to whatever you have planned next.
As far as viewing- I will do my best to actually watch the original broadcast next time ( doing my part and all that!)- but I think maybe the larger takeaway is that your stories had life long after their air date. How many boradcasts can say that?
Nice job Anderson.....
Post a Comment