[TRAIN WHISTLE] >> IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR WE'LL MEET MASTER CHELLIST ELSA HILGER, THE FIRST FEMALE OHIRED.

PRODUCING AND DIRECTING PROGRAMS ON THE LOCAL CABLE TV SYSTEM.

TWO-PENNY THEATER WILL BE WITH US AND WE'LL LOOK AT RUTLAND.

THE YEAR WAS 1914.

>> WELCOME TO CROSSROADS, VERMONT'S PUBLIC TELEVISION MAGAZINE.

I'M JERRY JONES.

WITH ME IS CO-PRODUCER ENZO DIMAIO.

>> OUR FIRST SEGMENT TAKES IS US FROM THE WORLD'S GREAT CONCERT HALL WITH A STOP OVER IN PHILADELPHIA.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF OUR STORY ABOUT A VERY SPECIAL WOMAN.

>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED OI THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT.

IT WAS FUN DOING IT, AND I DIDN'T KNOW I DID ANYTHING SPECIAL.

IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL JOB.

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL YEARS AND YEARS LATER THAT I REALLY DID SOMETHING SPECIAL.

>> WHAT SHE DID WAS TO PERFORM FOR MORE YEARS AS THE FIRST FEMALE MEMBER OF A MAJOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA THAN ANY WOMAN IN HISTORY, BUT DESPITE THE YEARS IF SHE'S ANYTHING OTHER THAN RENOWNED CONCERT CELLIST, AVID SPORTSWOMAN, DEVOTED WIFE AND GRANDMOTHER, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT PIONEER AND ELDER PRODIGY ELSA HILGER IS NOT AN OLD LADY.

HER EYES TELL YOU THAT THE FIRST TIME YOU MEET HER.

THEY HAVEN'T LOST A BIT OF THAT YOUTHFUL GLOW.

THIS WAS TAKEN IN HER NATIVE VIENNA.

YOUNG ELSA HAS QUICKLY FALLEN INTO STEP WITH THE ALREADY PROMISING MUSICAL CAREERS OF HER TWO OLDER SISTERS.

>> MY OLDER SISTER WAS THE VIOLIN PRODIGY: USED TO COME TO THE HOUSE TO TEACH HER AND I WOULD FOLLOW HER TO THE LESSON AND SIT THERE AND NOT MOVE, MY SISTER SAID.

I WAS EIGHT BY THEN.

HE LOOKED AT MY HAND, OH, SHE HAS A PERFECT CELLO HAND.

>> BY AGE 12 SHE MADE HER OFFICIAL DEBUT WITH THE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND PRONOUNCED A YOUNG PRODIGY, A PHENOMENON, THE PROMISE OF A GIRL WITH THE HANDS OF A CELLIST BEGAN TO BE RESPECT REALIZED.

SHE AND HER SISTER TOURED AS A TRIO, A PIANIST AND VIOLIN.

BY 1921 THE FAMILY HAD MOVED TO AMERICA TO EMBARK ON A FURIOUS SCHEDULE OF NATIONWIDE CONCERT ENGAGEMENTS.

DUBBED THE BOHEMIAN TRIO THEY PERFORMED OVER 60 ENGAGEMENTS THEIR FIRST SEASON ALONE.

>> WE DID A LOT OF TOURING FROM COAST TO COAST.

SOMETIMES FOUR TIMES A YEAR FROM EAST TO WEST COAST.

WE WERE LIKE ONE UNIT.

WE NEVER -- NEITHER OF US EVER HAD ANY BOYFRIENDS.

WE WERE ALMOST LIKE NUNS.

THAT'S ALL WE KNEW WAS PRACTICEING AND PLAYING CONCERTS AND TRAVELING.

WE DID SO MUCH TRAVELING.

THE LAST TEN YEARS WE DID EVERYTHING BY CAR AND I DID ALL THE DRIVING.

I SOMETIMES DROVE TWO, 300 MILES A DAY AND PLAYED A CONCERT IN THE EVENING.

>> IN 1935 ELSA MADE MUSICAL HISTORY WHEN SHE JOINED THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA, BECOMING THE FIRST WOMAN OTHER THAN HARPISTS EVER HIRED BY A MAJOR AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

SHE RECOUNTS HER AUDITION WITH LEGENDARY CONDUCTOR LEOPOLD SANTA CO-SKI.

>> THAT'S QUITE A STORY.

HIS FIRST WIFE CALLED ME ON THE PHONE IN NEW JERSEY ONE MORNING, IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF DRIVE FROM PHILADELPHIA, AND SHE SAID, ELSA, DEER, HE'S LOOKING FOR A FIRST CELLIST.

WILL YOU PLEASE COME AND PLAY FOR HIM.

I SAD, MADAME, I'M IN MY HOUSE DRESS AND SLIPPERS.

IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF DRIVE.

SHE SAID, PUT SHOES ON, COME AS YOU ARE, AND PLAY FOR HIM.

SO I WENT AND I PLAYED TWO HOURS FOR HIM.

SOLO.

ALL SOLO.

HE SAID, FINE.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE YOU PLAY FOR THE UNION.

THAT IS THE RULING SO COME NEXT WEEK AND YOU'LL HAVE TO SITE WITH SOME ORCHESTRAL MUSIC.

I NEVER PLAYED ORCHESTRAL MUSIC IN MY LIFE.

I WAS ENGAGED.

>> SUDDENLY JUST ANOTHER NAME ON THE ORCHESTRA ROSTER ELSA EASILY MADE THE TRANSITION FROM HEADLINER TO TEAM PLAYER BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME CONCERN.

>> WELL, I TELL YOU FRANKLY WHEN I FIRST JONED THE ORC HAVE A MANY FAMOUS MUSICIANS IN PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK TOLD ME, YOU'LL NEVER BE THE SAME SOLOIST AFTER YOU SIT IN THE ORCHESTRA.

YOU'LL JUST BECOME A TEAM PLAYER.

I SAID, OH, NO, I WON'T ALLOW MYSELF TO.

FOR ME EVERY CONCERT WILL BE LIKE A SOLO APPEARANCE.

>> THERE WAS ALSO CONSIDERABLE DOUBT AMONG FELLOW MALE COLLEAGUES AS TO WHETHER A WOMAN COULD ENDURE THE RIGORS OF ORCHESTRA LIFE.

>> WHEN I JOINED THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA, THE MAN SAID, WELL, FINE, YOU'RE A WONDERFUL CELLO PLAYER BUT PHYSICALLY I DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO WITH US BECAUSE IT'S VERY, VERY STRENUOUS.

THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT MY TOURS WITH MY SISTERS WERE MUCH MORE STRENUOUS THAN ANYTHING WE DID WITH THE ORCHESTRA.

>> ELSA NOT ONLY ENDURED BUT FLOURISHED.

IN 1937 SHE MARRIED DICK EZERMAN, SON OF A WELL-KNOWN PHILADELPHIA CELLIST.

EVEN FOUND TIME TO RAISE A FAMILY BETWEEN PERFORMANCES AND RECORDING SESSIONS.

ALTHOUGH WIDELY ACCLAIMED FOR HER MASTERY IT WAS 15 YEARS BEFORE SHE WAS HONORED WITH A SOLO AND ANOTHER 15 YEARS TO ASSUME CHAIR OF FIRST CELLIST.

A UNION RULE FORCED HER TO RETIRE IN 1969.

HER LEGACY, SEVEN WOMEN ORCHESTRA MEMBERS WHERE THERE HAD BEEN NONE.

IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN RETIREMENT TO PUT AN END TO ELSA'S PLAYING CAREER.

A MORNING VISIT TO DICK AND ELSA'S CONDOMINIUM USUALLY FINDS HER IN THE MIDST OF ONE OF HER EXHAUSTING TWO-HOUR PRACTICE SESSIONS.

>> THE MAIN THING IS TO DO IT REGULARLY RATHER THAN TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE HOURS ONE DAY AND A FEW DAYS NOTHING.

EVEN IF IT'S ONLY ONE HOUR A DAY, BUT EVERY DAY REGARDLESS WHETHER IT'S SUNDAY, HOLIDAY, BIRTHDAY.

JUST PRACTICE AND PRACTICE WITH ALL YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT.

NOT JUST -- YOU DON'T GET EVERYTHING OUT IF YOU DO IT MECHANICALLY.

IT'S A DISCIPLINE IN THE PRACTICING THAT IS THE MAIN THING WHICH PREPARES YOU FOR THE CONCERT.

WITHOUT DISCIPLINE YOU DON'T GET ANYWHERE.

>> SINCE 1979, KATHERINE AND JOHN BAIRD HAVE ENABLED HER TO RESUME AN ACTIVE FIENCHTS TIME.

THEY HAVE HAPPILY INVESTED TIME AND ENERGY ON A BREAK EVEN BASIS FOR THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH HER.

>> WE MAKE A GREAT TEAM.

WE SEE, FEEL THE MUGGY MUSIC TOGETHER AND ENJOY PLAYING TOGETHER.

THIS THAT BEEN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND REWARDING ASSOCIATIONS ARTISTICALLY IN MY LIFE.

>> ON THIS SPECIAL AFTERNOON, ELSA WILL PERFORM A RECITAL COMMEMORATING THE 65th ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF HER CAREER.

>> JUST STAND UP FOR A MOMENT.

>> COUPLE OF INCHES MAYBE.

>> PUT YOU THERE.

>> EXCUSE ME A MOMENT.

NOW, THIS IS INHIBITING, RIGHT?

IT HAS TO BE MOVED.

I'M MOVING THIS MIKE OVER A LITTLE WAYS.

[AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] [APPLAUSE] >> EVERY YEAR SINCE RETIREMENT ELSA HAS MADE APPOINT OF ATTENDING A PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA CONCERT DURING ITS SUMMER RESIDENCE IN SARATOGA, NEW YORK.

THIS TIME SHE WILL WATCH AS ONE OF HER FELLOW RETIRED COLLEAGUES PERFORMS WITH THE ORCHESTRA.

FOR THIS EVENING'S GUEST STAR IS HER FORMER -- USE JEAN OR MANDY.

ELSA VISITS HER OLD BACKSTAGE HAUNTS HOPING SHE WILL RUN INTO A FAMILIAR FACE.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> LONG TIME.

>> YOU LOOK WONDERFUL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ELSA, HOW YOU DOING?

HOW ARE YOU?

>> FINE.

>> YOU LOOK TERRIFIC.

>> I HAVE BEEN FISHING.

>> OH, MY GOD.

>> ON THE CELLO?

HOW DARE YOU!

>> SUDDENLY, A SURPRISE APPEARANCE BY MICE PRO ORMANDY HIMSELF.

>> HE'S AS GOOD AS OF.

I TOLD HIM HE DOESN'T LOOK A DAY OLDER.

HE SAID, NO, NO, NO, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT, AND SO HE GAVE ME THE COMPLIMENT BUT I DID THINK HE LOOKED WONDERFUL.

>> ASIDE FROM THE MANY HONORARY DEGREES AND AWARD CERTIFICATES DICK AND ELSA'S WALLS SHOW RARE SIGNED PHOTOGRAPHS OF FAMOUS PEEP, JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER AND ROCK MAN NOVEMBER.

>> HE IS ONE OF TOSCANINI WHO CONDUCTED THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA FOR TWO MONTHS ONE YEAR, WHICH WAS VERY EXCITING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE HIS REHEARSALS WERE EXTREMELY INTERESTING.

AND EXCITING.

HE IS I THINK THE WORLD'S GREATEST CELLIST, HE LIKES ME, I LIKE HIM.

HE LIKES MY PLAYING, I LIKE HIS PLAYING SO WE ARE REALLY FRIENDS.

THE LAST SOLO APPEARANCE I HAD WITH THE ORCHESTRA HE WENT BACKSTAGE AND BROUGHT ME THIS ROSE, WHICH WAS VERY NICE I THOUGHT.

HE ALSO WROTE THE LITTLE -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT I SHALL SAY.

NO POEM BUT SOMETHING ABOUT ME.

EVERYBODY OF COURSE KNOWS THIS IS MR.

ORMANDY, WITH WHOM I WORKED FOR 35 YEARS.

WE WERE GREAT FRIENDS.

HE HAD A WONDERFUL WIFE WHOM I ADORED.

SHE'S A WONDERFUL LADY.

SO WE HAD A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

NOW, LET'S SEE.

SHALL WE GO FROM MUSIC TO FISHING?

>> WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT ELSA DOES WHENEVER SHE GETS THE CHANCE.

FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS ELSA HAS SPENT EVERY SUMMER ON HER BELOVED LAKE DONE MORE.

>> I LOVE TO FISH.

IT'S MY PASSION.

I COULD GO EVERY DAY.

JUST BEING OUT IN THE BOAT, BEING OUT IN NATURE.

EVEN IF I DON'T CATCH ANYTHING, JUST TO BE OUT IN THE FRESH AIR AND SEE THE MOUNTAINS ACROSS.

>> IF SHE'S NOT FISHING YOU'LL PROBABLY FIND HER IN THE WATER.

SHE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO SWIM ACROSS THE LAKE AND BACK.

>> I KEEP BUSY SO KEEP ME HEALTHY AND YOUNG.

ANYTHING I CAN DO.

>> FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS STUDENTS AT BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL HAVE BEEN SUPPLYING THEIR OWN PROGRAMMING TO THE LOCAL CABLE TV SYSTEM, GIVEN ACADEMIC CREDIT IN RETURN FOR THE SKILLS THEY DEVELOP WHILE THEY PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH A POPULAR SERVICE.

>> SATELLITE TV CLOSED CIRCUIT TV, PAY TV, AND CABLE TV.

THEY ARE ARE LOCAL ORIGINATIONS, PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR THE COMMUNITY, PROGRAMS MADE RIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY.

EDGAR AND I VISITED BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT, WHERE THERE IS A CABLE TV STATION BUT THE MAJOR PART OF THE PROGRAMMING IS DONE BY THE BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE STATION AT BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL, CATHOLIC CHURCH BFU, CAME ABOUT AS THE RESULT OF A FEDERALLY FUNDED TITLE 3 GRANT WRITTEN IN 1973.

THIS GRANT ALLOWED THE SCHOOL TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT AND WARNER AMEX CABLE DONATED ALLOWING THE STUDENTS'S PROGRAMS TO BE BROADCAST INTO 1700 HOUSEHOLDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER IN THE AREA OF CLAREMENT, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT.

SINCE 1974 A LIVE SHOW HAS BEEN BROADCAST EACH WEEK DISTRICT ATTORNEY MORNING AT 9:00 A.M.

AND REPEATED AT 5:00 P.M.

THEY ARE HOPING TO CHANGE TO COLOR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

JACK HILLIARD, AUDIO VISUAL COORDINATOR AT THE SCHOOL, WROTE THE GRANT AND IS PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE STATION.

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN PRETTY WELL ACCEPTED.

FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD AN INCREASE IN NUMBERS AS FAR AS KIDS THAT ARE ACTUALLY ON PROGRAM WE HAVE HAD AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE ON BUT WE'RE RESTRICTED BY SIZE PRETTY MUCH.

WE CAN HANDLE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE STUDENTS IN HERE, FIVE TO TEN IN MR.

McCULLOUGH'S CLASS.

15 IS ABOUT THE LIMIT.

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WE HAVE MORE THAN THAT WILLING TO TAKE IT.

>> IN THE FUTURE DO YOU SEE ANY MAJOR CHANGES OR CUTBACKS IN THE PROGRAM?

>> WE'RE GOING TO COLOR SHORTLY, HOPEFULLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WE'LL BE COMPLETELY COLOR CAMERA, WHICH WE LIKE PRETTY WELL.

I DON'T REALLY SEE ANY CUTBACKS BECAUSE THE TOWN HAS ACCEPTED THIS PROGRAM PRETTY WELL.

WE'RE OF COURSE I WON'T BE HERE.

I'M GOING TO BE LEAVING AND THE NEW PERSON TAKING OVER HAS A LOT OF NEW IDEAS AND H HOPEFULLY THE PRINCE WILLIAM WILL PROOF.

>> IT'S LIMITED TO JUNIORS AND SENIORS WHO MAY RECEIVE ENGLISH OR GENERAL CREDIT FOR THE COURSE.

HAS MINUTES THEY GO ON AIR THE STUDENTS ENTER CLASS.

SOME WILL WORK WITH JACK HILLIARD SETTING UP CAMERAS, ADJUSTING LIGHTS.

THE OTHER STUDENTS WORK WITH JOHN McCULLOUGH, THE COORDINATOR, COLLECTING THE NEWS, CALLING THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE STATION AND TOWN OFFICES.

OTHERS SCAN THE MORNING PAPERS THEN WRITE THEIR NOTES INTO BRIEF NEWS ITEMS AND EACH READS WHAT THEY HAVE WRITTEN ON THE AIR.

THEY COVER NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.

THAT'S THE FIRST HALF OF THE ONE-HOUR SHOW.

THE SECOND IS A FEATURE PROGRAM.

AREA BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAMMING.

THE LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS A WEEKLY FEATURE.

JUDY SITES, ASSISTANT MANAGER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FEELS THIS GIVES A GOOD FORUM FOR LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE CHAMBER DOES.

WELL, WE USE OUR TUESDAY MORNING TV SHOW BASICALLY TO INFORM THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY WHO MAY NOT BE BUSINESS TYPE PEOPLE BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT NEW PEOPLE ARE COMING IN, WHAT NEW BUSINESSES ARE COMING IN.

NEW PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE COMING IN.

DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE CHAMBER IS DOING.

WE MAINTAIN GOOD CONTACT I THINK WITH MEMBERS WHO ARE BASICALLY BUSINESS OWNERS OR DOCK HORSE, LAWYERS AND SO FORT.

WHEN SHOT IS NOT ON THE AIR CARDS ROTATE ON A MECHANICAL DISK WITH MUSIC, NEWS AND WEATHER HEARD FROM A LOCAL RADIO PROGRAM.

SINCE CATHOLIC CHURCH BFU BROADCASTS OVER A CABLE CHANNEL I ASKED BILL IF HE RECALLED ANY HUMOROUS INCIDENTS WHICH HAPPENED AT THE STATION.

>> OH, A LOT OF THEM.

SOME OF THEM ARE SO SMALL YOU FORGET THEM PRETTY QUICKLY.

I REMEMBER ONE MORNING I WAS IN THE EARLY MORNING THEY HAVE NEWS ITEMS ABOUT THE SCHOOL.

SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS, WHAT'S ON THE LUNCH MENU FOR THAT DAY, PART OF THAT IS A LOST AND FOUND SEGMENT WHERE THEY HAVE SOME ARTICLES LEFT AROUND THE SCHOOL AND THEY TRY TO GET THEM BACK TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNER.

THIS YOUNG MAN ON ONE MORNING PUT ON THE APPAREL THAT WAS LEFT IN THE LOST AND FOUND DEPARTMENT AND REALLY HAMMED IT UP.

HE ROSE TO THE OCCASION AND DID A HILARIOUS JOB WITH IT.

EVERYONE WAS JUST ROARING.

HE WAS REALLY FUNNY.

THAT IS REALLY GOOD.

THEY GET INTO IT IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> THE STUDENTS ARE BE LEARNING HOW TO COPE WITH THE UNEXPECTED.

POSE IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE AND LEARN ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND TOWN.

THE VICE-PRINCIPAL IS POSITIVE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

>> I THINK THE BENEFITS ARE TWOFOLD.

IT HELPS THE STUDENTS PUT ACROSS INFORMATION AS FAR AS PROGRAMS AND THINGS GOING ON HERE.

GIVES STUDENTS AN OUTLET AS TO EXPERIENCE IN TELEVISION AS A MEDIUM, WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

AND IT ALSO HELPS THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND TO SOME EXTENT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT BELLOWS FALL UNION HIGH SCHOOL.

>> STUDENTS HERE ARE IN A WORKING SITUATION WHERE THE FOCUS IS NOT JUST ON THE AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE BUT IS ALSO ON THE WRITING, PLANNING AND PREPARING OF THE PROGRAMS.

THE COMMUNITY ALSO BENEFITS FROM CATHOLIC CHURCH BFU.

PROGRAMS OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC KEEP THEM UPDATED ON LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, WEATHER, EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.

THIS IS NOT NETWORK TELEVISION BUT THEN AGAIN TDOESN'T PRETEND TO BE.

THIS IS COMMUNITY TV.

THE PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TO BE A VALUABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS WHO WORK HERE.

>> IN 1914, RUTLAND, VERMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMISSIONED A FUM MAKER DURING THE FESTIVITIES OF THE THE RUTLAND FAIR.

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE SCENES FROM 68 YEARS AGO.

[SINGING] ♪ I WOULD GIVE THE WORLD TO SEE THAT OLD GANG OF MINE ♪ ♪ I CAN'T FORGET THAT OLD QUARTET THAT SANG SWEET ADELINE.

♪ ♪ GOODBYE FOREVER, OLD FELLOWS AND GALS ♪ ♪ GOODBYE FOREVER OLD SWEETHEARTS AND PALS ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS THEM ♪ ♪ GEE BUT I'D GIVE THE WORLD TO SEE THAT OLD GANG OF MINE ♪ >> THAT'S CROSSROADS FOR THIS TIME.

AS ALWAYS WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS.

WRITE TO US AT CROSSROADS, VERMONT PTV.

OUR NEXT PROGRAM WILL BE ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25th.

UNTIL THEN SEE YOU NEXT TIME.