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History Detectives

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VIEWER MAILBAG

The Dangers of Filmmaking - Lubin Studio Photo Albums

| August 25, 2009 August 25, 2009 |

To say the films were destroyed by a fire at Betzwood, (by the route 422 Betzwood Bridge) was a bit of an understatement. One of the reasons for the move from Philadelphia to Montgomery county was to create a safer site for the flammable cellulose film. I'm told that as it ages and disintegrates the goo you sometimes find in the film can is very close in chemistry to Nitroglycerine.

What happened to the Lubin films was a large and loud explosion in the vault that was heard for some distance. It was a little more spectacular than a simple fire.

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What's with the huge turntable?

| August 25, 2009 August 25, 2009 |

During high school in the sixties, I spent a lot of time with my best friend listening to records in her father's music room. He was a retired navy officer. I loved listening to his system, but I was always curious about the turntable. It was very, very large. My friend only knew that her father had brought it from the military. When I watched (the Tokyo Rose Recording) segment, it answered that question from long ago. Thanks for the show. My husband just discovered it, and now he watches with me.

Kitty F.
(Note: Viewers will recall the Tokyo Rose Recording was on an unusually large vinyl disc. History Detectives had to search to find a turntable large enough to play the recording.)

Another Piece of Amelia's Airplane

| August 25, 2009 August 25, 2009 |

I thoroughly enjoyed your story on Amelia Earhart's plane. I thought you should know that the International Women's Air & Space Museum in Cleveland, Ohio has part of the landing gear from the plane as well.

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Protect Valuable Documents

| August 20, 2009 August 20, 2009 |

Several times you have made suggestions about how to care for old documents. The Millard Fillmore Pardon story would have benefited from a comment about not exposing old documents to direct light and to mount them in UV glass, which is protective.

Doug P.

Where Credit is Due

| August 20, 2009 August 20, 2009 |

When listing minority aviators, you should not forget Eugene Bullard who was the first Afro-American fighter pilot. He flew for the Lafayette Escadrille in WWI.

Ray B.

Where were the History Detectives when I needed them?

| August 20, 2009 August 20, 2009 |

I just want to tell you that "History Detectives" is an absolutely amazing show!

Where were you when I was younger?

In '77 my dad was remodeling (our) house and found a letter dated 1861-62, a young soldier writing to his sweetheart. All that I remember about it is him speaking of a Lieutenant Getty and friends of his having "the fever". My dad placed the letter in a book and never saw it again. I think if your show had been around then, we might have had more of a consciousness about the value of the letter.

Jay W.

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Proud of New Orleans

| August 20, 2009 August 20, 2009 |

I was very interested in the (Creole Poems) story. During the beginning of the show I mentioned to my husband that I thought the manuscript was a school notebook . What a surprise to find out that I was correct.

Many people think that all people from the South hated black people. That offends me so badly.

Growing up in New Orleans my parents taught us to respect all people regardless of race or religion.We were taught to find the good in people. We were taught to consider someone's character not their color. I am so glad that was the way I was raised.

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