Producer Ken Marks sent me the following information this morning about a proposed new series titled, Legend Seekers… the sagas of real American families. The preview episode, “The Lively Family Massacre,” is to air in select markets. I took a look at the episode trailer, and was instantly impressed. I’d look to see this on television in our area – not just The Lively Family Massacre – but an entire 13 episode series.
Watch for the first TV series dedicated to the genealogy of ordinary everyday people – like you!
The Legend Seekers preview episode THE LIVELY FAMILY MASSACRE will begin airing on public television in select local markets
starting with WFYI-TV Indianapolis, Thursday, March 26th at 9:30pm. See the episode trailer at: www.Legendseekers.com/media.html
Filming for the historical reenactment scenes was done on location at Indiana’s own Connor Prairie in Fishers, IN.
The Bloomington, IN schedule is to be announced. Check the website often starting in mid-March for a complete listing of listings and markets.
Legend Seekers… the sagas of real American families www.legendseekers.com
We are very happy to announce that several independent public television stations across the country have agreed to air this episode to help us engage the vast audience interested in genealogy and create interest in sponsorship to fulfill a 13 episode series. WFYI in Indianapolis will be broadcasting the program on March 26th at 9:30pm… in the weeks following,
the program will air in Bloomington, IN; all of Southern Illinois, and is under consideration for air in parts of Nebraska, Michigan and Maryland.The Lively Family Massacre episode is a freestanding half-hour documentary that has already garnered awards in the form of two 2008 Telly Awards, and high praise from leading industry professionals such as Bill Kurtis (New Explorers/American Justice) and Aida Moreno (creator of the Antiques Road Show).
The series is about everyday ordinary people who have legendary family stories, and the process to authenticate, discover and reenact these legends. Through travel, research, and genealogy, we introduce fascinating experts and cutting-edge science (DNA, archivists, historians, satellite imagery, ground penetrating radar, etc.) to engage the audience along this journey. It’s a unique cross between a “how-to” reality program and historic documentary that is designed to engage the estimated 100 million people in America interested in exploring their ancestry/genealogy – now the most popular hobby in the world.
The pilot episode is a mini-documentary that traces the family legend of Southern Illinois resident Pam Frazer. Our host, Madonna Davis, who is a genealogist and a Daughter of the American Revolution, helps trace Pam’s direct connection to some of the first white settlers to arrive in Southern Illinois in 1813. During the search she uncovers a handwritten letter
addressed to William Clark (of Lewis and Clark fame) mentioning Pam’s ancestors by name, and 200 year old graves of her ancestors – the Livelys – who were massacred by a group of American Indians. The story features research, genealogy, interviews with experts, and a historic reenactment of the pioneer family and the massacre.Production is by Frank Haney, Ken J. Marks, and crew who collectively hold 9 regional Emmys and significant US network and national cable credits. Frank Haney has recently worked on long-form documentaries in Western Kenya, and Grenada as well – the Grammy-nominated Brian Wilson Smile performance DVD. He also produced or directed for 15 different one hour documentaries for the History Channel and A&E.
This show sounds wonderful. Thanks for letting us know about it. I applaud the producers of this show and hope it is successful. There are so many wonderful personal history stories that need to be recorded and shared. Recording stories on video opens up some exciting opportunties for families wanting to record the stories of their family. It is a great way to make the stories come alive, especially so that it can be shared with the younger members of the family. One of my areas of interest is showcasing the results of genealogy research on video: http://www.yourstoryhere.blogspot.com/
Video isn’t for everyone, but it does open up some new possiblities and future generations are going to love us for it!
Note: The show schedules will be published on our totally redesigned website being launched the week of March 23rd – Stay Tuned. Also there will be a place for you to submit your story ideas for consideration to be produced into a TV documentary.
Feel free to lobby your local PBS station – this is a grass roots effort.
My great great great great grandfather was a man that we were told was a general in the Revolutionary War his name was Joahia Harmer. All we know about himis that he disinherited my grandmother Alice Harmer because she married a lowly shoemaker. This is family folklore and I am aware that most of the time it’s wronge. But if you could shine some light on the Joshia Harmer I would greatly appreciated it.
I have done many years of genealogy research in am very proud to be the descendent of William Biggs, 1st sheriff of St Clair Co, Bernard Steiner who settled on the banks of the Kaskaskia, Peter Baumann who is said to have named New Athens and Lenzburg for his native Switzerland, Atlas and Shields Moore among others. The family spans several decades in Southern Illinois History and all made their mark. I would consider it a great honor to their memory if at sometime you could delve into their lives and possibly fill in some additional history.
Would be great to follow-up this with a program on William Boon(e). He was a relative of the famous Daniel Boone who lived in SE Illinois. He was Captain of the Illinois Rangers that responded to the Lively Family Massacre. The two survivors of the massacre went to Nat Hill’s Fort, located west of Marissa, Illinois. Some sources say that the Rangers caught up with the Kickapoo Indians east of Springfield, Illinois and at place later called Buckingham Ranch. They say that the Rangers killed the Indians and set trees on fire to be a warning to the Kickapoo tribes. Another source tells a very different story. When the Rangers caught up with the Kickapoo, there were hundreds of Indians. The Rangers made a quick escape without firing a shot. Many questions about this member of the Boone family that no one ever heard of.