From ABC's live broadcast July 4, 1986.

Sam Waterston portrays Henry David Thoreau in (and also narrates) the story of how, while living at Walden Pond, he declined to pay the poll tax out of opposition to slavery, and spent a night in jail as a result. His performance weaves in excerpts from "Walden" and "Civil Disobedience," the latter before an audience of present-day Americans.

Some in the audience share their own stories of following conscience, including Franklin McCain, who joined three other black college students in a sit-in at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., on Feb. 1, 1960; Stephanie Salgado and Marie Hawkins, two high school best friends who fought for - and won - the right to go to prom together in 1986; and Jack Colhoun, who went AWOL from the Army out of opposition to the Vietnam War. (Vietnam veteran Glenn Beaulieu is also featured, but the tape cuts off just after he starts talking.)

Thanks for watching, and happy Independence Day!

FsGgw-lBIiA

From ABC's live broadcast July 4, 1986.

Sam Waterston portrays Henry David Thoreau in (and also narrates) the story of how, while living at Walden Pond, he declined to pay the poll tax out of opposition to slavery, and spent a night in jail as a result. His performance weaves in excerpts from "Walden" and "Civil Disobedience," the latter before an audience of present-day Americans.

sg1xU1mS3Zs

From ABC's live broadcast July 4, 1986.

What do you do for an encore after a magnificent fireworks display? Peter Jennings and Barbara Walters segue into Sam Waterston's portrayal of Henry David Thoreau, "who gave his own meaning to liberty."

The WFAA-TV "Happy Fourth of July!" card after this came from the following commercial break - I couldn't resist including it somewhere.

OZhmmQWMD1M

These are the final moments of WFAA-TV on its analog Channel 8. Chief meteorologist Pete Delkus narrates this brief retrospective of WFAA, including stills from its early days as KBTV, and footage from its history. It ends with a real treat, a sign-off tape from the mid '70s, then goes to snow forever.

lYgmSAmvG8Y

From 1x13, "The Wheel." Don pitches a campaign to Kodak for their new slide projector.

Please note: I "cannot enable embedding due to a content claim on this video." Blame AMC, not me.

R2bLNkCqpuY

T-SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE!

Ever wish songs just sang what was happening in the music video? Well now they do, in my second continuation of Dusto McNeato's "literal video" concept! Lyrics/singing: DASjr 2/28/09

BUY MERCHANDISE!
http://www.printfection.com/da sjr/Literal-Penny-Lane/_s_2683 79

40,000 VIEWS IN ITS FIRST MONTH!
100,000 VIEWS ON 6/02/09!
Thanks to everyone who helped to make this video so popular! Thanks to POPTUB for featuring the video! Thanks to Dust Films for the inspiration!

Featured on POPTUB 3/10/09:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =3tHHojbUL1g

1yJ2yWvGnkI

The last few minutes of a July 3, 1986, edition of the News 8 at Six evening newscast, which directly preceded ABC's live coverage of the Liberty Weekend opening ceremonies. (In Texas, the 150th anniversary of Lone Star statehood was celebrated alongside the Statue of Liberty's centennial.)

First off: Longtime weatherman and bow-tie aficionado Troy Dungan finishes up his weather forecast with a brief discussion of ... why you should eat your berries quickly.

Then, Tracy Rowlett (now at CBS 11) gives a preview of the 10 p.m. News 8 Update airing after ABC's Liberty Weekend kickoff: Jane Peterson will cover the "Two Great Nations Salute" at Dallas City Hall (that's the building behind Rowlett), and Matt Quinn's at the Dallas naturalization ceremony for 300 new citizens.

Midge Hill and John Criswell wrap things up by checking in from the festivities at the Fort Worth Stockyards, offering a glimpse of the music, dancing, food and merchandising. 250,000 people were expected to help welcome the Sesquicentennial Wagon Train as it rolled into the Stockyards, ending a 3,028-mile journey across Texas that started in January.

NBzsbIL-R5o

From ABC's live broadcast July 3, 1986. ("'Ripley's Believe It or Not,' 'The Colbys' and '20/20' will return next week at their regular times.")

From Governors Island in New York Harbor, hosts Peter Jennings and Barbara Walters give an overview for the 3-hour gala opening spectacular and the weekend of festivities celebrating the Statue of Liberty's centennial and renovation.

Pierre Salinger sneaks us regular folk into the red-carpet crowd (and even through security) to mingle with a few of the folks involved in the festivities, including Liberty Medal honorees Bob Hope, Henry Kissinger and Itzhak Perlman. This celebration of freedom wasn't free - it cost $5,000 per ticket for the opening ceremonies. (Not to mention the $10 million ABC put up for Liberty Weekend broadcast rights!)

The interstitial music is John Williams' "Liberty Fanfare," written specifically for the Liberty Weekend events. Expect to hear it a lot throughout these clips - both in abbreviated form and played live.

jt2XIyTPRsQ

From ABC's live broadcast July 3, 1986.

More pre-game coverage of the ceremonies, starting with Peter Jennings talking about the harbor over views of Lower Manhattan (ouch) and some of the ships assembling for the following day's Operation Sail event.

Barbara Walters interviews the night's first speaker, Gregory Peck, who talks about his Irish grandmother's arrival in the U.S. in the 1880s. Walters doesn't make him cry, but she does get a response about criticism of the event being too much glitz and glamour: It's a significant day, and no one's going to forget that, he says, but it's the American way to "have a little fun about it."

Peter Jennings brings us into Stone Phillips' profile of ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, who, 12 years after defecting from Russia, will be one of the 300 new Americans sworn in on Ellis Island, joining several thousands naturalized nationwide.

JEeM2ihNW-8