America in Color
Season 3
TV-PG
In the early years of TV, from its invention in the 1920s until the mid-'60s, most shows were broadcast in black and white before color TV gained in popularity and become economically viable for broadcasters. That means many historic pieces of video -- including rare home movies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Nixon-Kennedy debate -- have all been relegated to being viewed in the colorless format. "America in Color" looks to change that by restoring and colorizing archival footage from the early 20th century through the '60s. Producers meticulously researched the original colors to make sure the tones are correct when they use revolutionary methods to add the proper hues to footage. Each episode of the hourlong series highlights newly restored footage from a specific decade in the history of the medium.
Where to Watch Season 3
6 Episodes
- Alaska
E3AlaskaAt the dawn of the 20th century, most Americans think of Alaska as an icy unpopulated wilderness, but one event will change everything: the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896. Through remastered and colorized news footage and home movies, witness Alaska's evolution from a frozen wasteland at the edge of the world to the 49th state to join the Union. From boomtowns to volcanic blasts to Japanese invasions, this is the story of America's last frontier as you have never seen it before. - Made in the USA
E4Made in the USAAt the turn of the 20th century, 29 million Americans are working and 40% of them are farmers. Over the decades, factories expand like never before, two world wars speed up technological change, and by the 1950s, American workers have the highest wages and consumer power of any country in the world. This is the story of the men and women who built the American Dream, presented entirely in color through digitally remastered archival footage and home movies. - Crimes of the Century
E5Crimes of the CenturyFrom Bonnie and Clyde to George "Machine Gun" Kelly and from the Lindbergh kidnapping to the Brink's robbery, the early 20th century in America was marked by celebrity outlaws, courtroom dramas, and shocking murders and misdeeds that captivated the nation. This is the story of America's fascination with crime, told in color. Using rare home movies, newsreel coverage, police footage, and FBI films, look back at the country's most high-profile criminals and cases. - Small Town Life
E6Small Town LifeAt the turn of the 20th century, two-thirds of Americans live in small towns, but by the 1960s, only a third remain. Some are lured to cities by the promise of opportunity and money, while others move there to escape racism and intolerance. Through it all, the myth of these quaint, harmonious communities continues to burn powerfully in the minds of many. This is the story of small town America, from soap box derbies and Will Rogers' charm to postwar poverty and the Great Migration, presented in color.
