PBS stations will broadcast the documentary "Make No Little Plans; Daniel Burnham & The American City," on Monday, Sept. 6 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. More details here.
Image via Wikipedia
Television
Close Encounters Of The Wright Kind
Rehabbing Ross
Here's some video and lots of great images on the rehabbing of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Ross House in Glencoe, IL that appeared on the WTTW program, Chicago Tonight. See it here.
Image via Chicago Tonight weblog
Ross House On Chicago Tonight
WTTW's nightly news program, Chicago Tonight will feature the recently-saved Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Ross House in Glencoe, IL tonight. Tune in at 7:00 CST or watch the video clip tomorrow on their website.
Image via Chicago Tonight website
Wingspread Must See TV
Frank Lloyd Wright's "Wingspread", the majestic home designed for the H.F. Johnson Jr. in 1937, will be featured in a special documentary as part of "Connections" MATC's Student
Operations Day, Saturday at 4 p.m. on Milwaukee Public Television
channel 36.1. More info here.
Image via Wikipedia
Adelman On The Roadshow
A presentation drawing and some vintage photos of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Benjamin Adelman House appeared on last night's Antiques Roadshow on PBS. See more here.
Image via Antiques Roadshow website
Chrysler Building's Chrome
I caught an interesting episode of "Modern Marvels" all about chrome on the History Channel the other day. Featured in the episode was one of my all-time favorite works of architecture, the Chrysler Building. Apparently, it's chrome (and lots of it) that makes that Art Deco masterpiece shimmer so beautifully. Catch the episode or order the DVD to learn all about it.
Robie On The Tube
Don Erickson's Home & Studio on NBC's Open House
Joe Kunkel, realtor for Don Erickson's home in Barrington, Illinois, says that the property will be shown March 14th on NBC at 10:30 am, repeating in the late evening (check local listings), on LX.TV Open House.
Image copyright VHT
Taliesin's Gardens On TV
The gardens at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin
home, Taliesin, near Spring Green, will be featured on the upcoming
Public Television Station broadcast “The Wisconsin Gardener.” Follow the link for details.
Image copyright Mark Hertzberg
Saving Fallingwater: A Documentary
Fallingwater almost lived up to its name and would have fallen down the waterfall it's perched over if an extensive restoration had not taken place in 2001. Follow the link to read about a new documentary on the amazing rescue of a beloved architectural icon.
Oops!
A few weeks ago we posted that the Wisconsin Public Television program "In Wisconsin" would feature a segment on the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's American System-Built Homes, Model B1. That post had the wrong date for broadcast. The program will air in Madison on Wisconsin Public Television on Thursday, February 4th at 7:00 pm CST, with an encore presentation on Sunday, February 7th at 4:00 pm CST. Milwaukee Public Television, Channel 10, will also air the In Wisconsin program on Sunday, February 7th at 11:30 am CST. The program will also be available after air date at the Wright In Milwaukee website. Follow the link for more details.
Image via Wright In Wisconsin
Randy Jackson's American Idol
Lights, Camera, Tour!
Elbert Hubbard: An American Original, On PBS
If you don't know who the legendary Elbert Hubbard is, you need to see this promising documentary that airs November 23rd, 2009 at 9pm CST on you local PBS station. Learn more about this American Arts & Crafts leader here, plus video clips from the program.
Image copyright PBS
Stephen Colbert Wants To Flush The Guggenheim
Architecture critic and author, Paul Goldberger, was on the Colbert Report last night discussing his book Why Architecture Matters. At the end of the interview, the Guggenheim Museum got a shout-out and Stephen asked where the handle was to flush it. Hilarity ensued. The clip will eventually be up on this link...look for it.
Image via Colbert Nation.com
Craft In America
Postcards From The Edge
Image via The Vintage Plum
America's Best Idea = Must See TV
Image via PBS.org
Guggenheim "Cells" Out
Did you catch the new Sprint commercial during Sunday Night Football yesterday featuring CEO Dan Hesse in a certain spiraled NYC landmark? If not, see it here. Have we reached Guggenheim critical mass?
Image via YouTube
Ennis Block On The Tonight Show
The Ennis House has been enjoying the spotlight recently. Case in point: The textile block design from the house made an appearance behind the musical act on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. See it here. Thanks to PrairieMod reader Scott T. for the heads-up!
Image copyright NBC
LEGOS In The Morning
The Frank Lloyd Wright LEGOs are making the rounds! Apparently they appeared on the Early Show on CBS. You can watch the segment here.
Image copyright CBS
Guggenheim And Conan O'Brien
Last night marked the debut of Conan Obrien as the new host of the Tonight Show. As part of the show's opening, Conan appeared running his way from New York to Los Angeles, passing by a certain white, spiraled museum. Check it out here.
Image copyright NBC
Frank Lloyd Wright on NBC & ABC Family
Frank Lloyd Wright has been in the news like crazy with the major Guggenheim Museum exhibit and new LEGO's. He has also shown up in pop culture with mentions in last week's episodes of How I Met Your Mother and Greek. Both reference either Fallingwater or the Guggenheim.
I Want My FLW TV
According to a recent article from the online Liberator Magazine, the coming wave of DTV (digital television) will allow for the transmission of a two-way signal. This means that DTV shows can be interactive. According to the article, PBS has produced a documentary on
Frank Lloyd Wright that allows the viewer to choose from a list of
buildings designed by the architect, and then gives a virtual
"tour" of that property. Read more about the future by following the link.
Illustration by PrairieMod
Images courtesy of Wikipedia
Geoffery Baer's Chicago Lakefront
Earlier this month on WTTW Chicago, "tour guide extrordanaire" Geoffery Baer presented Chicago's Lakefront. If you missed this spectacular show or are outside of the Chicago area, you can watch the entire 90 minute program here. I highly recommend it.
Also, for $350 you can purchase all 10 DVD programs that Baer has produced regarding Chicago's splendor.
Image copyright WTTW
Pumkin-Palooza
If you're home tonight after Trick-or-Treating and looking to watch something informative while carving that pumpkin, then you might want to check out the History Channel's line-up of spooky programming. Then, cruise over to their website to download historical pumpkin stencils! Happy Halloween!
Image copyright History Channel
"Arial Issue" at Mad Men
For all you type geeks who are fans of the hip AMC show "Mad Men," here's a blog bemoaning the unauthenticity of the use of Arial, introduced in the 1980's, as the font in the closing credits.
Continue reading after the jump...
The Venture Bros. Meet Mr. Wright
Who knew watching Cartoon Network would mean running into Frank Lloyd Wright? The Venture Bros.
is an absolutely hilarious cartoon on Cartoon Networks [adult swim]
which spoofs Johnny Quest--only in a slightly off-color style.
Wa$ted! on Discovery Home & Planet Green
I've heard about the coming Planet Green Network, but just caught one of its shows this evening on Discovery Home. Wa$ted! is a show from New Zealand that attacks a spectrum of environmentally unfriendly households auditing their waste, energy, water and transportation consumption. Not surprisingly, each episode unearths dozens of eco-horrors that are killing both the environment and the homeowner's bank account.
The show seems a bit campy, but I'm sure that is me just being a Yankee snob. However, when Planet Green officially launches on June 4th, 2008, you'll be able to catch a new Americanized version of the show. Check it out after the jump!
Postscript: I do have to admit that it was unusual watching Discovery Home and seeing several Treehugger commercials.
Image copyright Discover Networks
e2: Design: Season 2
I caught the second episode tonight of Season 2 from the PBS series e2: Design. It truly looks brilliant in HD. The title was Greening the Federal Government, featuring Thom Mayne's San Francisco Federal Building. I've made this recommendation in the past, but I seriously suggest you get the series on DVD. You can pick up e2: Design Season 1, e2: Design Season 2, or e2: Energy Season 1.
Maybe a last minute holiday gift for yourself?
Image copyright PBS
e2: energy, Season 1 & e2: design, Season 2
If you missed e²: design, the economies of being environmentally conscious, a six part series about sustainable design and architecture that aired on PBS last summer.....you can buy the DVD or download episodes at www.e2-series.com. But, if you haven't heard....there is a new season of e2: design on the way, plus the addition of e2: energy!
The second season of e2: design - narrated again by Brad Pitt - features Thom Mayne, architect of the San Francisco Federal Building; Enrique Peñalosa, the former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia; and Adriaan Geuze, lead architect of the Borneo Sporenburg development in Amsterdam. 
View full episodes for free at www.e2-series.com (click on Webcasts), running continuously thru each week of the series. A full schedule of Webcasts is available on the site. Also, you can link to the series' YouTube page to view trailers, podcasts and more.
Images copyright e2-series.com
Farnsworth House on Chicago Public TV: September 13th, 2007 at 8pm
We received this news via our friends at CBB....
Saved from the Wrecking Ball
Farnsworth House
Hosted by Geoffrey Baer
Debuting on WTTW Channel 11
Thursday, September 13th at 8:00pm
The building might be beautiful, but it ruined the friendship between its owner and its architect. WTTW’s Geoffrey Baer tells the dramatic story of Farnsworth House by pioneering modern architect Mies Van Der Rohe. Nestled in a forest along the Fox River south of Aurora, it’s one of the most important works of 20th century architecture. It survived love affairs, law suits and natural disasters over half a century. But when its owner abruptly put it up for auction in 2003 it looked like it might be carted away as a trophy. This program tells the tale of daring design set against dramatic events. It culminates with a high-stakes auction where a grassroots group stakes everything to save the house.
For a preview clip, click here.
Image copyright WTTW Chicago
A Tale of Two Franks
Out of curiosity I watched the documentary, "Sketches of Frank Gehry" on PBS last night. I have to say, I'm generally not a huge fan of his style of architecture-- it's comes off very chaotic for the sake of being chaotic--but I did enjoy the documentary. I came away from it appreciating the way Gehry approaches his commissions; his way of working through a problem through trial-and-error model building was intriguing. I was also interested in seeing the way he worked with his team to design a structure. His buildings make a little more sense in the context that they are large scale sculptures that people live and interact in.
While Gehry's work is antithetical to many of the Prairie School tenants, I was surprised at how closely some comparisons could be drawn between him and Frank Lloyd Wright. How can this be? Well here's what I observed:
1. Gehry works with materials for their inherent properties. He makes use of metal, glass, stone, wood, etc. in startling ways; but he is conscious of the specific nature of each material.
2. Like Wright, Gehry is a sponge for ideas and inspiration from many different sources, including paintings, animals, ships, and other buildings. He remembers these different things he's exposed to and recalls them later to apply to specific projects.
3. The movie showed Gehry working closely in his old age with a devoted group of associates and apprentices, reminiscent of Wright's followers.
4. Both architect's are interested in pushing the envelope and received skepticism or hostility from peers and critics because of it.
5. While not having the "dandy" quality of Wright, both Franks are "starchitects" with lofty ambitions and extreme egos.
These were just some observations as I watched. I thought it odd that Wright was never mentioned in the movie, since Gehry designed a Guggenheim Museum after him. It seemed a natural topic of conversation to compare and contrast the two larger-than-life artists.
Check out the movie if you get a chance, if for nothing else than to get a personal insight into how an artist's mind works and thinks. If anyone would like to add their thoughts to the "Tale of Two Franks," we'd love to here from you!
Image courtesy of Sony Pictures
You Need to Check This - design: e2 on DVD
If you missed this fascinating series on PBS this summer, get the HD video on DVD today. design: e2 explores the economies of being environmentally conscious through six episodes narrated by Brad Pitt; The Green Apple, Green for All, The Green Machine, Gray to Green, China from Green to Red and Deeper Shades of Green. From the website...
e2: The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious is an original HD multipart television series that explores the living vitality of the environment. Eight different topics - from sustainable architecture to water culture to alternative energy to organic farming to recycled clothing and more - are each presented in six thirty-minute episodes, challenging us to live smarter, live greener and live with the future in mind.
DESIGN launches our e2 series and introduces us to the inventive leaders and technologies driving sustainable practices in the buildings where we live, work, and play. Through DESIGN, and future series - WATER, ENERGY, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, BOTANICALS, TEXTILES, and HEALTH - e2 demonstrates that living in harmony with nature is not only a matter of progress; it's a matter of survival.
You can order the DVD here and be sure to explore the website that contains some compelling video and audio clips. For example, this QuickTime video clip with previews of episodes 1-6.
And because we're so proud of Chicago, be sure to checkout episode 3. The episode, titled "The Green Machine," Mayor Richard Daley takes viewers on a tour through Chicago and showcases his mission to make it "the greenest city in America".
Images and text courtesy of www.design-e2.com
Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo DVD
We've been getting questions from readers about the release of PBS's "Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo" on DVD. We didn't have the answer, but our contact at WNED was gracious enough to provide these details...
The DVD has been sent out for duplication and it should be with Forest Incentives (the organization handling the sales of Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo) in 2-3 weeks. If you're interested, you can call 1-800-593-4420. The price for the DVD is $24.90 (including S&H).
Tell your friends you read it on PrairieMod first! :-)
Architecture & Drugs
I saw a commercial on TV that caught my eye because of its setting, Calatrava's Milwaukee Art Museum. It was a drug commercial for Lipitor. Tried looking for the video file online to post for you all, but all I was able to find was this link via tommcmahon.net. The blog links to a great article here.
Image courtesy of PrairieMod
PBS Broadcast: Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo
It's finally here! This coming Monday, September 4th, 2006 - you'll be able to see Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo on PBS. It is a national broadcast that all of us can pick up, maybe even in High Definition.
More than a biography of America’s greatest architect, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S BUFFALO is a story of family, friendship, and the meaning of home in American life. The film explores how a friendship spanning decades affected the structural aesthetic of a major American city and made a significant impact on architectural history. FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S BUFFALO is narrated by David Ogden Stiers. Armand Assante is the voice of Frank Lloyd Wright.
If you're interested, The Western New York Public Broadcasting Association has a page on their website that explores the "Behind the Scenes" details about this documentary.
Image and text courtesy of WNED
Wright's Little Gem
Michigan Television, the public television station of the University of Michigan, recently won an Emmy for a documentary titled "Wright's Little Gem." The short film is about the Melvyn Maxwell Smith House in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and constructed largely by the two Detroit school teachers. Enjoy watching this short film and taking a peek at what makes this gem special by clicking here.
Screen capture courtesy of Michigan Television
Update: FLW's Buffalo, a 60-minute documentary
This is a follow up posting to Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo, a 60-minute documentary. Our source at The Western New York Public Broadcasting Association has let us know that PBS has committed to carrying this documentary as a national broadcast, although they haven't given a date just yet. As reported earlier, it will most likely be sometime late 2006 or early 2007. As soon as we receive more info, will let you know.
From Prairie Soil to Prairie Style
On March 7, 2006 WTTW Chicago will be airing a new program titled Chicago's Western Suburbs: From Prairie Soil to Prairie Style. It's hosted by Geoffery Baer who has produced and hosted other various Chicago area "tour" shows for WTTW. The Forest Park Review featured a brief article about the program that shares a bit more detail regarding what will air on the show. It will also be available in HDTV.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo, a 60-minute documentary
We've recently caught wind about a documentary that's been in the works on Frank Lloyd Wright and the profound impact he had on the architecture of Buffalo, NY. The Western New York Public Broadcasting Association is producing this and it's scheduled to finish production in April 2006. PBS has shown strong interest in the project and might possibly pick it up for national broadcast. That is still to be determined. If things work out (keep your fingers crossed), the national broadcast will either be in late 2006 or early 2007. Our source at WNED will keep us updated and we will certainly relay the info to you as we receive it.
Also, there are plans for a DVD release of the documentary. If so, I'll be eager to get my hands on a copy.
Details courtesy of WNY Public Broadcasting Association
Photos courtesy of Chuck LaChiusa and Buffalo Architecture and History
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