Lynn Stevenson
An Introductory Guide to Wine
Have you always wanted to learn more about wine, but didn’t know where to start? “An Introductory Guide to Wine” gives you the basics you need to understand and appreciate this intriguing beverage. Through interviews and demonstrations with leading sommeliers, winemakers, wine educators and other industry professionals, you will discover what you like and how to describe your preferences to waiters and retailers. Learn how to find quality wines at value prices. Enjoy the beautiful California wine country over the course of three seasons and visit premium wineries for an inside look at how grapes are grown and wine is made. Experience the excitement of harvest at Clos LaChance, tour Robert Mondavi Winery, Franciscan Oakville Estate and Blackstone Sonoma. Visit the historic estate and underground caves of Schramsberg Vineyards and learn how sparkling wine is made. “An Introductory Guide to Wine” makes the fascinating world of wine accessible to everyone! Topics covered include: A brief history of wine, health benefits, classic grapes, world wine regions, california wineries, vineyard & harvest, winemaking, bottles & glasses, wine tasting, home wine tasting, Champagne & Sparkling Wine, ordering wine in a restaurant, food & wine pairings, understanding wine labels, buying wine, serving wine, storing wine and where to learn more.
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Douglas Fairbanks: The Great Swashbuckler
Douglas Fairbanks, the screen’s great swashbuckler, charmed millions with his energetic athleticism, his boyishly handsome good looks, and his sparkling charisma. Whether it was fighting off tyrannical land–owners in “The Mark of Zorro,” slashing the king’s guards in “The Three Musketeers,” sliding down sails in “The Black Pirate,” springing in leaps and bounds in “Robin Hood,” or riding a winged horse across the night sky in “The Thief of Bagdad,” Douglas Fairbanks was in his element as an action hero of grandiose costume dramas. But behind all of his achievements on the screen, there was another side to Douglas Fairbanks and this unique biography will reveal some of that man behind the mask. So swing into action and swashbuckle your way through this documentary. This is one adventure worth telling.
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Howard Hughes: The Great Aviator
As a young man, Howard Hughes was unstoppable. His wealth, power and ambition attracted business associates. His achievements as a movie producer propelled him into Hollywood’s inner circle. His dark good looks, Texan charm and vulnerability seduced countless actresses and socialites, marking him as a playboy with a decidedly possessive streak. Hughes was a passionate and prolific filmmaker who pushed boundaries, enraged censors, and did whatever it took to get his films made his way. Whether performing a death-defying stunt in “Hell’s Angels”, designing a special bra for Jane Russell in “The Outlaw”, or facing the wrath of mobster Al Capone and the United States government to ensure the release of “Scarface”, Hughes was a force to be reckoned with. As an aviation pioneer, Hughes broke numerous flight records to become a national hero. His contributions to aeronautic design gained him multi-million dollar government contracts. In later years, he expanded his empire to Las Vegas with the purchase of several hotels and mining interests, becoming America’s first billionaire. And his greatest dream, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute flourishes today. But a dark undercurrent of eccentricities and germ phobia eventually drove Hughes into a self-imposed exile for the last 20 years of his life. He died at age 70, a shell of his former self, surrounded by an army of aides and doctors. The legacy of Howard Hughes is both inspirational and tragic. Gain insight into the motivations of this complex man through a rare interview with Dr. Raymond D. Fowler, the psychologist who performed the psychological autopsy for the Hughes Estate in 1986. Explore the public and private life of one of the 20th Century’s most important Americans.
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The Alamo: A True Story of Courage
On March 6, 1836 the 13-day siege of the Alamo ended. Among the dead were three men destined to become martyrs and heroes: David Crockett, James Bowie and William B. Travis. Though considered a “small affair” at the time by victorious Mexican commander, General Santa Anna, the Alamo would take its place in history as a key battle of the Texas Revolution. Cries of Remember the Alamo! would eventually fuel an American victory over Mexico. The Alamo and its defenders grew into enduring symbols of courage and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds. Under the loving care of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the neglected mission was transformed into a shrine that continues to attract thousands of visitors from around the world each year. Today, Living History groups stage reenactments of the battle to educate the public, while historians seek the truth in a haystack of conflicting eyewitness accounts. Controversy has always been part of the history and legend of the Alamo. Whether they hold traditional or revisionist views, people are passionate about their opinions. Since 1836, the Alamo and its heroes have been immortalized in countless poems, songs, plays, books and movies. The films of Walt Disney starring Fess Parker inspired a Davy Crockett craze that covered the nation with coon skin caps and merchandise ranging from games to salt shakers to ladies underwear. John Wayneʼs epic “The Alamo”, took 11 years to make. Join us for an intriguing look at the Alamo featuring a host of fascinating people whose varying perspectives promise to illuminate a complex and controversial subject – • Interviews with authors, historians, anthropologists, reenactors, collectors, and others contrast and collide as history meets myth meets popular culture.
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Ghosts of California
There is another dimension to California...one where ghosts walk and hauntings occur. “Ghosts of California” investigates five of California’s most haunted sites: THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE - This house was the life-long obsession of Sarah Winchester, sole heir to the Winchester rifle fortune. Channeled by the spirits who pursued her, she oversaw its never-ending construction until her death, and some say she remains there still. ALCATRAZ - Tour the infamous prison that once held our worst criminals, where the ghosts of the dead are forever incarcerated. BODIE GHOST TOWN - Visit the god-forsaken ghost town where restless spirits haunt the cemetery and roam abandoned buildings. It was the most dangerous place to live, a lonely place to die. HOTEL DEL CORONADO - Dare to stay the night in Kate Morganʼs room? Did the beautiful stranger commit suicide, or was it murder? Only her ghost knows for sure. THE WHALEY HOUSE - Meet the ghostly family that inhabits one of the worldʼs most haunted houses and the man who talks with them regularly.
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Rudolph Valentino: The Great Lover
In December 1913, an Italian immigrant arrived in New York City with a degree in Agriculture and dreams for a better life. Few who knew him then could have imagined that only six years later, Rodolfo Guglielmi would become Rudolph Valentino, Hollywood’s first male sex symbol. A successful career as a dancer led to bit roles in the movies. But Hollywood wasn’t ready for a dark lover, so Valentino was typecast as the villain in most of his early films. His powerful portrayal of an unscrupulous Italian count in “Eyes of Youth” earned him the coveted lead role of Julio in “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” His sultry tango and tormented love scenes led to “The Sheik.” Almost overnight, he changed the face of leading men in America with his smoldering gaze and passionate embrace. Women flocked to the theaters and men tried to bring him down. But Valentino was much more than a sex symbol. He had a talent for comedy, spoke at least four languages, and was an avid collector of European antiques, books, fine cars and dogs. He was a skilled horseman, expert mechanic and serious amateur boxer. To his friends he was Rudy, a man of simple yet refined tastes who adored children and worshipped the women he loved. His tragic death at the age of 31 caused riots and motivated suicides. His funerals in New York and Hollywood drew hundreds of thousands of mourners. And his fans only increased, as The Great Lover became a legend. Eighty years after his death, people still pack the chapel at Hollywood Forever for his annual memorial service, making it the longest running event in Hollywood. From his birth in Castellaneta, Italy, to his untimely death in New York City, Rudolph Valentino led a fascinating life marked by scandal, controversy and heartbreak. Join us for an intimate look at the man behind the icon.
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