Hi Love,
September 4th at 9pm ET on PBS you can watch the true story of Tennis Pioneer Althea Gibson!
Here are the facts:
This fall, THIRTEEN's American Masters presents Althea, premiering nationwide Friday, September 4, 2015 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings)during the U.S. Open.
The 90-minute documentary reveals the highs and lows of this remarkable athlete whose life and achievements transcend sports and have entered the annals of African American history. From her roots as a sharecropper's daughter in the cotton fields of South Carolina, to her emergence as the unlikely queen of the highly segregated tennis world in the 1950s, her story is a complex tale of race, class and gender.
In recounting Gibson's story, the filmmakers were meticulous in finding period imagery, including over 450 vintage photographs. Producer and director Rex Miller weaves this archival visual material and interviews with those who knew Gibson, such as former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, Wimbledon champions Dick Savitt and Billie Jean King (who also serves as one of the film's executive producers), Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, widow of Arthur Ashe, and more.
Though Gibson's accomplishments put her in the forefront of the struggle to eliminate segregation in tennis and to gain equal rights for players, she was a reluctant figure of the civil rights movement. "As far as Althea was concerned, it was not about representing the race," says Arvelia Myers, Althea's friend and tennis professional. Says Billie Jean King, "Arthur and I used our tennis as a platform, that's not what she wanted. She just wanted to play."
"Gibson's athletic prowess was unmatched on the tennis court, making her a formidable competitor," says Michael Kantor, executive producer of American Mastersand tennis enthusiast. "Her story remains an important part not only of sports history and African American history, but of American cultural history. American Masters is proud to share the story of this trailblazing athlete and extraordinary woman."
Launched in 1986, American Masters has earned 28 Emmy Awards - including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series since 1999 and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special - 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. Now in its 29th season on PBS, the series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET and also seen on the WORLD channel.
To take American Masters beyond the television broadcast and further explore the themes, stories and personalities of masters past and present, the series' companion website (http://pbs.org/americanmasters) offers streaming video of select films, interviews, photos, outtakes, essays and more.
American Masters: Althea is a production of Rexpix Media productions in association with Thornapple Films and Augusta Films. Co-produced by the National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC). Directed and produced by Rex Miller. Edited and produced by Elisabeth Haviland James. Produced by Nancy Buirski. Cinematographer is Rex Miler. Executive producers are Billie Jean King, William Ackman, John Amos, Richard Browne, Tory Kiam, and Debbie & Larry Linett. Original score by David Majzlin. Leslie A. Fields-Cruz is executive director of NBPC.
Funding for American Masters is provided by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Rosalind P. Walter, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Vital Projects Fund, Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, and public television viewers.
Additional funding for this program is provided by the Browne Charitable Fund and Rema Dupont.
About WNET
As New York's flagship public media provider and the parent company of THIRTEENand WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to more than 5 million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters,PBS NewsHour Weekend, Charlie Rose and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Oh Noah! and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams and MetroFocus,the multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. WNET is also a leader in connecting with viewers on emerging platforms, including the THIRTEEN Explore App where users can stream PBS content for free.
Check your local listings for more!
--Love Rae
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