WTIU

Striking aerial drone footage and time-lapse techniques that were not available just a few years ago provide a look at Indiana as it has never been seen before. From hidden waterfalls and glacially carved gorges, through the canopy of an ancient forest, to one of the largest prairie restoration projects in the country, Indiana is still a wild place.

He earned nicknames that often equated to the most powerful forces in heaven and earth: The Cyclone. The Whirlwind. The Comet. He earned the respect of civil rights pioneer Booker T. Washington. And he shook the hand of President Theodore Roosevelt, who sought out the great champion to congratulate him. Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor was the world’s first Black sports superstar. Reporters simply called him “The Fastest Man in the World.”

Discover the story of a legendary jazz guitarist and composer from Indiana. Wes Montgomery was born in Indianapolis on March 6, 1923, and rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time. This first full-length documentary of Wes Montgomery is told through the eyes of his youngest child, Robert Montgomery.

Stepping is a dance form that can be found across the country at virtually every college with a substantial African American enrollment. Stepping is performed informally during parties as well as more formally during organized step shows. This film explores this tradition, its historical roots as well as its contemporary forms, styles and uses, to understand how students construct various levels of identity through this dance form…African American identity, fraternity or sorority identity, gendered identity and personal identity. The film goes behind the scenes with the Alpha Phi Alphas as they prepare for a step show that is only a few hours away. Cutting between this show and interviews with current and past steppers as well as footage from previous shows, the film provides a broad picture of this vibrant and dynamic dance form.

This documentary explores the affection Americans have for covered bridges, and includes a look at preservation efforts, history, construction, tourism and why covered bridges are important. The program contains interviews with preservationists, engineers, builders, restoration experts, tourists, historians and covered bridge aficionados.

Saving Places: Preserving Indiana's Architectural Heritage tells the stories of individuals engaged in revitalizing, protecting, and preserving our historic places in Indiana. Indiana University professor of History James H. Madison gives a tour of four Indiana historic landmarks: Wilson Bridge, John Jay Center for Learning, Maple Grove Road and Lyles Station School.

Explore the fascinating story of a historic Bloomington theater and the secret to its longevity in The Indiana Theatre at 100. The Indiana Theatre opened to great applause on December 11, 1922. A crowd of 1,300—nearly ten percent of Bloomington’s population at the time—turned out on a cold Monday night to celebrate the theater’s opening. This documentary reveals how the theater continues to thrive.

Indiana Legends: Madam C.J. Walker - Two Dollars and a Dream is a story of the first woman in history to start with nothing and earn her own million-dollar fortune. This pioneering businesswoman is an inspiring illustration of a rags-to-riches existence.

The Four Seasons of Goose Pond takes viewers on an amazing wildlife adventure through what is quickly becoming one of the most famous restored wetlands for migratory birds in America.

We travel around Indiana to explore the rich history and culture surrounding Hoosier wine production. We talk to local wineries about their yearly production cycle, and visit two of the state's largest wine festivals. And we learn the finer points of wine tasting from experts at the Indiana Wine Grape Council, and from behind-the-scenes coverage of the Indy International Wine Competition.

Brown County, Indiana has been an artistic refuge since the early 1900s. That early artist colony included T.C. Steele, Adolph and Ada Walter Shulz, Will Vawter and Gustave Baumann. BROWN COUNTY ARTISTS documents the legacy of these early artists and then visits the studios of current Brown County artists: Fred Rigley, Larry Spears, Charlene Marsh, William Root and William Zimmerman.

Five generations of Indiana stone cutters and carvers helped create some of the most beautiful buildings in United States architectural history. With a mixture of interviews, historic photographs, archival film clips and period music, the program reveals a unique culture that values artistry and skill in stone work, yet is humble about its contributions to the building of America.

Built in 1835 close to the "Indiana College" building in Bloomington, Wylie House was the home of Indiana University's first president, Andrew Wylie, and his family. Today Wylie House is owned and operated by Indiana University as an historic house-museum. The program reveals how the museum has pursued its mission to preserve and study the house, and its place in local history.

The Beaux Arts Trio and Menahem Pressler represent a rare combination of longevity, consistency and quality. In honor of the group’s 50th anniversary in 2005, producer Susanne Schwibs interviews each member of the trio individually and as a group. Their comments are woven in with the music of their anniversary concert.

Indiana University Jacobs School of Music student jazz ensemble plays an original composition that pays tribute to the Jazz Age titans whose legendary early recordings were produced at a little studio called Gennett Records. The performance program The Gennett Suite features music inspired by artists including Louis Armstrong, King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Bix Beiderbecke and Jelly Roll Morton.

During his lifetime (1849–1916), James Whitcomb Riley was one of the most popular poets in America. Now more than 100 years after his death, Riley remains one of the most famous literary figures from Indiana. James Whitcomb Riley: Hoosier Poet explores his lasting legacy and the personal and professional challenges and successes he experienced as he became a beloved literary icon.

A special produced by WTIU Public Television introduces viewers to ten Indiana artists from across the state and celebrates the best in Indiana craftsmanship. The featured artists' media include fiber and fabric, basket weaving, woodworking, welding, glass blowing, bronze sculpting, origami, reclaimed plastic, instrument bows, and limestone carving.

Theodore Clement “T.C.” Steele was one of the most celebrated American Impressionist painters of his time. Singing Winds: The Life and Works of T.C. Steele — a new documentary that looks at the life and works of the great Hoosier Impressionist – from his hardscrabble youth, to his journey through some of the major art centers of Europe, to his return to his native

With nearly 6,000 miles of hiking, pedestrian, and biking trails within its borders, Indiana boasts a wide range of recreational trails. The Hoosier Way: Trails of Indiana takes viewers on a tour of some of Indiana’s finest outdoor nature trails, hikes, rails-to-trails conversion projects, and urban trails systems, revealing the beauty and wonder of our natural habitats.

Actual World, Possible Future explores the lives and work of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom, who sought to address the enormous problems that plague human societies: climate change, endangered species, ocean pollution, deforestation.