Sam, stop fiddling with that thing and come in here and eat your dinner.

Oh, look at it roll.

Now we can watch OETA while we eat.

You.

I was asking our distinguished guests who will be visiting with you shortly, about how many states can say that they have complete statewide public broadcasting, public television.

And he said just a handful, John.

And then you then, you know, first you want to go first.

Okay.

You go first.

$1,001,285.

54321.

Start your move, Mike, and come.

Hello, everyone.

I'm rich and I'm Taylor Jackson rich.

We are here at the OETA Studios, home of some of the best Oklahoma oriented programs ever produced.

That's right.

Taylor.

In fact, the trophy case here filled with national awards, regional Emmy Awards, and a host of state broadcasting awards.

Those awards spent decades.

In fact, we've been on air for over 70 years.

OETA Was born in 1953 as Oklahoma State Public Media Network.

But our first program didn't really air until 1956.

In fact, the first shows only filled 20 hours per week.

They consisted of courses for school credit in partnership with the state Department of Education programs like these.

Hello there, and welcome to the program where you can learn some German.

Welcome to the Japanese Brush painting program.

I'll try to teach you the Japanese brush painting through television.

It would be 13 years before OTA became a PBS member station.

That was in 1969, giving Oklahomans access to a rich variety of national programing.

You probably remember a few of those older shows a little bit better than I do.

As a matter of fact, like when Sesame Street premiered in 1969.

Yes, yes.

Thank you.

I guess it is possible I may have seen a few premiers of what are now considered classics by many.

Taylor.

In fact, they're still on our airwaves, providing valuable early education to young Oklahoma.

So let's go ahead and run that footage.

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood.

A beautiful day for a neighbor.

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

It's a neighborly day in this beauty.

Would the neighborly day for a beauty.

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

I have.

Every day when you're walking down the street.

Everybody that you meet.

As an original point of view.

It's a simple message and comes from the heart.

Believe in this sense.

For that's the place.

The stars.

And I say, what a wonderful kind of day to learn.

To work and lay and get along with each on the bottom for the first time that day.

Hey.

Yeah.

Hey, guys.

In 1972, a man named Bob Allen came on the scene here at Ota.

And he was a visionary.

He really was.

And he made what it is today, one of the most watched PBS member stations in all of America.

One thing that was against me in being named director was I wasn't a broadcaster.

Well, I just decided I'm going to learn more about broadcasting than any of my fellow general managers.

Are you ready?

And I did.

All right.

Here it is.

It was just a passion that came out.

He knew what he wanted, and he knew what had a really good chance of working.

He really had great dreams for what Odetta could become at that time.

Last April, severe windstorms damaged OTA's transmission line and channel 13 was knocked off the air.

Presently, channel 13 is again in danger of going off the air unless we can purchase a brand new transmission line.

That's why we're coming to you, our viewers, to ask for your help.

The Bob Allen area translated into the Local States program era for OTA in all of Oklahoma.

One of the first programs to hit the airwaves in 1975, OTA wanted to partner with OSU horticulture and do a short time seasonal segment on gardening for Oklahomans.

Oklahoma Gardening premiered on OTA that year, and it started as a collaboration with the Oklahoma State University Extension Service, who initially brought plants all the way from Stillwater to the OTA studios in Oklahoma City.

More than half a decade later, Oklahoma gardening is still showing all of us how to nurture our brains.

Thumb you timely, research based information to help you tackle all of your gardening problems.

And we can't forget outdoor Oklahoma from the state Department of Wildlife and Sun up from Oklahoma State University.

In 1980, Bob Allen decided it was time for OTA to launch its own in-house production.

It was a statewide news program called the Oklahoma Report for those of us who weren't alive yet.

Taylor Jackson.

Here's what it looked like.

Hello.

We are happy to have with us at Oeta, Senator David Boren, the senior senator now for the state of Oklahoma.

Senator, nice to have you with us.

Thank you very much.

I'm having to adjust to that title.

You know, that's a that's a new one for me.

Senator Leon Field has served in the Oklahoma State Senate longer than any other human in the history of Oklahoma.

Now in his 76th year of life, he's winding down his career in the Senate.

He says next year he won't be back.

Senator field, give us just first an idea.

Why are you stepping out?

The ride from home, here and back?

Each week is just too much.

Taylor.

Nearly 50 years later, the Oklahoma report is still going strong.

But today, of course, it's called the Oklahoma News Report.

You and I work on that program, carrying on the tradition of serving all of Oklahoma with excellence.

Excellence is right, Rich.

The Oklahoma News report has won quite a few awards along the way, including regional Emmy Awards.

Educational television.

It is nine years old.

Quite young in the annals of education with on television itself is but you come to being news, public affairs.

Gentlemen of the Senate.

It's open top night here on the people's business.

And welcome to Oklahoma Votes 2020.

I'm rich.

Well, I do think, you know, we're so starved for campaigns here, but.

It's my distinct privilege to call the first joint session of the second regular session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature to order.

It is my distinct honor to recognize my friend, the chief executive, our governor, Kevin Stitt.

How about those world champion Oklahoma City Thunder?

Thank you.

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Oklahoma News Report.

I'm Rich Lund.

Which brings us to this event right here.

That's not an insignificant number.

Championship parade will end and the players will disembark to greet all the fans waiting.

Good afternoon.

We are the general.

The opportunity will help you understand other walks of life.

A mindset within our community and within our nation.

Traffic on Danforth out there to be able to back in.

We're a new fire station.

Number three would be constructed.

What say you both to that response?

Julie will start with you.

If you look through the next decades.

OTA's news product expanded, giving birth to a host of public affairs shows.

The State of Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular celebrating 100 years of Oklahoma statehood.

It makes it feel small and has been something where the stars have shown.

If I had only.

Known.

The topic today on Oklahoma Forum politics.

In 1005, that's my little honey plan.

Has also been there to bring the biggest political events to all Oklahomans, not only on OTA's broadcast channel, but all of them.

That's right, we provide a pool feed for every television and radio station in the state, for every governor's annual state of the state address from the House of Representatives, and every four years we do the same for the gubernatorial inaugurations.

And that is a coal job because on are held outside in January, and it takes months of work each year to make it all happen.

Raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I state your name.

I, George, and I do solemnly swear.

Swear that I will support, obey and defend.

That I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the United States, and that I will not knowingly receive, and that I will not knowingly receive any money or other valuable thing, any money or other valuable things.

Then he acts or duty pertaining to my office, of any act or duty pertaining to my office, other than the compensation allowed by law, other than the compensation allowed by law.

I further swear.

I further swear that I will faithfully discharge my duties, but I will faithfully discharge my duties as governor of the great state of Oklahoma, as governor of the great state of Oklahoma.

So help me God.

So help me God.

Now live from the Oklahoma State Capitol.

No one can deny we've come a long way in the past years, and we even have a greater future ahead.

Where the phrase Oklahoma is okay is not good enough.

Excellence must become our hallmark.

The founding fathers of Oklahoma were ever optimistic.

They saw the potential of our land and our people.

We absolutely must put aside our differences and renew our faith that we together can do great things.

We continue to move Oklahoma forward to keep our momentum going and most importantly, to serve our citizens.

Let us remember the future doesn't just happen.

We make it happen.

I do.

And that can only mean one thing.

Movie club.

We want to say thanks for joining us and we will see you again next weekend for the movie club.

Hey, check it out.

It's Robert Burch Rich, my friend.

Yeah, obviously recording another episode of the Movie club.

Yeah, we just finished taping The Great Escape.

This show has been around a really long time.

Yeah, we're closing in on the 40 year mark now.

Can you believe it?

I'm hard to believe, but classic movies every Saturday night for four decades and never missed one.

I would miss the popcorn.

Of course, you know, I'm not the first host of the movie club back in 1988.

B.J.

Wexler was the host, and he really became an icon on Oklahoma airwaves.

Hi, everybody.

I'm BJ Wexler, and another beautiful night in Oklahoma.

Hey, coming up, another great night at the movies as we kind of sneak downstairs to our private studio, get some popcorn.

Someone stepped outside just before the movie club, and they heard that popcorn popping up and down their street, up in the Panhandle.

Who knows?

Maybe they're popping popcorn all over the state of Oklahoma.

Hello, and welcome to the movie club.

In 1989, okay produced a critically acclaimed five part miniseries called Oklahoma Passage.

It traced 150 years of Oklahoma history and statehood through the eyes of the fictional Benton family.

Oklahoma Passage was created as a centerpiece to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of 1889 Oklahoma land run.

The series featured known actors in one prestigious Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

I am Samuel Wooster.

I'm sorry.

My orders are to bring you with me now.

Perhaps the bitterness has ended, and this is the end of an era.

I felt the pulse of this country and its moving west.

I've been west and felt the pressure of those who would take away our land.

If we give in to the railroad and the land promoters, people will swarm over us like locusts.

That's why I'm going to get there sooner than anyone else.

State of Oklahoma is deemed admitted by Congress into the Union.

From by plane to Atlantis.

Quite a passage for this sixth generation Oklahoma.

I was just thinking what a long journey this family has traveled.

What's this?

This is the logo for the very first documentary series ever produced at eight.

It was called State Line.

I think I kind of remember that it was one hour series that took an in-depth look at hard issues in Oklahoma.

Right.

And just three years after its debut, the series won its first Heartland Regional Emmy Award for an episode that was two years in the making.

It was called Stateline Oklahoma Rising, and was the construction of the dome on the State Capitol building from start to finish, and from there the awards started rolling in.

Inside our many guardians of the state.

Our governor, our legislators or judges.

Oklahoma coming together and coming of age.

But many felt the state's house was unfinished business.

And the artisans and stonemasons and steelworkers and all Oklahomans have something to tell their children.

I can tell them I helped build it.

I was honored naturally, to, you know, be even considered and let alone do it.

This dome is going to be a symbol of our unity, and a sign that we are ready for the next century.

We're coming together.

The unity is coming together, I see it.

And we see Oklahoma rising.

With the way we smell sweet.

And the wind comes right behind the rain.

Alone and far.

And what your lazy circles in the sky.

Oklahoma's most significant Civil War battle was fought on July 17th, 1863, and one of the reasons the Battle of Honey Springs was significant was that it was the first real combat test of black soldiers fighting for the Union.

The first Kansas Colored Infantry acquitted itself admirably at Honey Springs, and black troops continued to distinguish themselves throughout the Civil War.

After the war, freed slaves began to see the military as a career option, and those men ranged from the Central Plains to Mexico, policing cowboys and Indians and outlaws and settlers.

And they took a new postwar name from the Indians they were ordered to protect and also to oppress.

On this edition of State Line The Story of Oklahoma's Buffalo Soldiers.

Oklahoma's extreme weather pushes the power grid to its limit, and when the lines go down, an army of dedicated professionals mobilizes to defuze a dangerous situation.

It really doesn't matter what's going on outside.

We'll be out there working on it in driving rain, fierce wind or heavy snow at any hour, any day of the year.

Oklahoma linemen restore power to the people.

This is state line.

The documentary series Inside Oklahoma.

That's just one of nearly 100 episodes of Stateline, each of them dedicated to Oklahoma issues and concerns.

But wait, there's more.

Gallery.

Debuted in 2001, it was a documentary series dedicated to arts and culture in Oklahoma.

No other television station in the state produced such a program, and 25 years later, that is still the case.

You know, I think that's one of my favorite programs that produces Will besides ours.

Gallery took us behind the scenes of the Oklahoma City Ballet as they prepared for their annual Nutcracker performance and into the studio of some of the world's greatest artists who live and work in Oklahoma.

And they also introduce us to emerging artists from our state.

And you know what?

Taylor, they have never run out of material.

No they haven't.

We have some clips for you, but with over 200 episodes, it's only a small glimpse.

Take a look.

Art is my passion.

It's my life into my core and into my soul.

And it's just who I am.

I would do this as a kid.

This is exactly what I'm doing now and just completely forgot that as as life has gone on, I think that when you kind of pave the way that something is possible, that other people feel more confident and starting a company and creating their own work.

I'm a sculptor who uses certain mediums.

I'm not a welder.

I'm an artist who uses welding as an application for, you know, to achieve what I want.

Okay, I'm heading back here.

Don't do anything yet.

Getting that butter turning.

I'm not a woodworker.

I use would get where I'm going.

So really, it's just.

It's about exploring new mediums.

You don't get going.

I would describe my art is kind of structured and deconstructed because I build stuff up.

I take that part.

It's kind of like engineering taking away and just building.

I use a lot of positive and negative space, and it all really kind of falls back into really simplified, primitive forms.

Who would have known I'd become an artist and start working in would one day?

I think my purpose, at least right now at this stage of my life, is to share information through my art.

When people look at my art, I want them to hopefully come with an open mind and learn about someone or something that they may not have any relation to at all.

I try and put movement in the piece, a look of wonder or look of, or even a pensive, contemplative look.

And I always feel my work has come through me and not from me, that I can capture a facial expression and and somehow that made a mark in the market.

And it did me well.

So I I've had many wonderful, successful years as an artist.

I think a really proud coaching moment is also when they not only have success on the ice, but then they grow up to be this, like, wonderful person in the community.

Any time that I can create and inspire and just get back to the world, man, that that's a proud moment.

Oda's biggest award winning show is one dedicated to the history of our state.

It was launched in the year 2012, back in time as a documentary series that has not only won a host of regional Emmy Awards, but its one several Wrangler awards from the National Cowboy in Western Heritage Museum.

One year it was back in time and Ken Burns winning that award.

These are vital Oklahoma stories no one else is telling on television, so vital that many of the programs are used in schools statewide.

Though.

Boy, 5 or 6 years old, I look up, I want to do that.

I want to fly.

We sit there for three days and on the third day, catch decided to make a decision not just to open up Oklahoma City, but all the lunch counters that they owned around the Midwest.

For a time, the Floyd family lived on Young Street in Tulsa, with Charlie Floyd posing as a traveling salesman.

But when he was on the road, he was actually robbing banks.

Whenever there's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there.

And whenever they cop beating up a guy, I'll be there.

And whenever folks eat the food they raise and live in the house as they build.

I'll be there to.

See.

And I think those are enduring values that all of us cling to as human beings.

And I say with a little bit of Homer pride, I think those are particularly strong Oklahoman values.

Cripple for life.

A lot of them were lose legs, arms in pretty good chance of getting black lung.

I found out that from my Air Force friends that the Russians knew exactly where else Oklahoma was, and it had a big red X on them, because it would have been one of the first places to go.

Mountain right up.

They used the tin shed as a backstop mutt.

His father would pitch right handed, and Mickey's grandfather would pitch left handed, teaching him the fine art of switch hitting.

They made up games to add some fun to the batting practice.

A ball below the window of the house was a single.

Above the window was a double, the roof a triple, and over the house was a home run.

Mickey was the only kid in town that didn't get in trouble for breaking a window.

Was the maximum security camp for the entire prisoner of war program in the country.

All the troublemakers, all the people that they could track down is Nazi agents.

Not all German soldiers were Nazis.

Most of them are not.

But every unit had a Nazi in it.

And they could intimidate.

They could scare people.

And.

What is with all the bubbles?

Think of it as a tribute to one of the most popular PBS station network shows, and is produced right here in to.

And what's that, the Lawrence Welk Show.

Back in 1985, Bob Allen went to the Welk Show producers in California and asked them for the rights to revive the program that had stopped production.

And the idea was to take the old shows and repackage them into specials.

Okay, well, that was a favorite show back in the 60s and 70s.

But why did Bob think that anyone would want to see it again in the 80s?

Because he was a visionary and it truly worked.

To this day, if a public media station tries to take the Lawrence Welk Show off their schedules, they get phone calls from viewers demanding it be returned.

It's happened right here.

Okay, let's see why.

Gentlemen.

One.

Two.

The series aired locally in Los Angeles for over four years before ABC picks it up in 1955 after a successful 16 year run on ABC.

The show went into syndication, airing on even more stations than before.

In 1987, OTA acquired the rerun rights, and the Welsh show found its Forever Home on PBS.

Oeta is proud to be the producing station for The Lawrence Welk Show.

OTA has produced 13 very successful pledge specials, a full length documentary, 52 episodes of the weekly show each year, and in place of the original commercials, we've produced new performances and interviews showcasing the original Welk stars.

When John Henry was a little baby sitting on his that his knee, he picked up a hammer.

A little piece of steel, said hammer.

Being the death of me.

No, no, I mean the death of me.

But it's all down to the river.

There's a man walking on water.

Come along with me, for I want to see this man walking out of the water.

There's something about a hometown man that makes you want to shout.

There's something about a hometown man that brings the neighbors up.

There.

Well, gentlemen.

Sweet dreams, everyone.

We're going to leave you now.

And a happy time.

Happy time and happy times for della.

Happy di Dodge.

Had a good time to.

Goodnight, ladies.

Goodnight.

So long everyone.

It's time to leave you now.

Ideas.

What?

I'll be busy the night.

Speaking of national programs, because OTA is a PBS station, we're able to bring the world into every Oklahoma home for free.

You know, Rich, we've talked about the iconic educational programs for children, but programs that promote lifelong learning for all of us play a major role.

Why Oklahoma viewers made OTA one of the top PBS member stations nationwide.

Taylor, you know what show Oklahoma really love?

What's that?

Antiques Roadshow.

According to national numbers, more Oklahomans watch that show than in any other state.

It's one of many programs on OTA that educate, inspire and connect us all.

Antiques Roadshow is finding treasure in Indianapolis, the capital city of the Hoosier State.

I brought in an autographed Joe Louis whiskey bottle.

You can only look at one side at a time.

That's right.

And this side is pretty good.

Several years ago, I went to an auction just out of the blue.

It was in my town, and it was at a little church.

So for the day I played hooky, went to the auction.

So I saw this piece and I said, well, bid on it.

And I said, I'll only go so far.

And I got it.

I won this bid on this, dear.

I'm Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Welcome to Finding Your Roots.

In this episode, we'll meet actors LeVar Burton and Wes study two men whose lives were shaped by their absent fathers.

I was teased about that.

You know, I'd say things like, you know, I don't have a dad.

And the kids would say, you, you know, you grow up just with the blanks, right?

There's no information, no clue, and no real way to overcome that blind spot.

Austin city limits presents Miguel.

Yeah, yeah.

Back with your life.

Let me hold you in my arms with me.

This love between you and I. Civil.

Despite.

You're such a thing.

Is I just used the.

New Horizons.

The spacecraft that brought us to Pluto.

Now, can it complete another mission?

A close encounter with a mysterious object from the distant past.

Pluto and beyond on Nova.

This is the most iconic waterfall in the world.

It's a force that created a natural realm unlike any other.

Discover the many wonders of Niagara Falls.

I'm sorry, I just.

Alfie.

Peter and I have been invited to a fashion show.

I'll be back on Saturday.

You're staying over?

I've come to make amends.

How's that work?

Body been found over on patch line.

Excuse me.

We're open till five.

Oh, not today, ladies.

We're closing early.

Grand Chester on masterpiece mystery.

The people that a president trusts are the most sensitive roles in our national security apparatus.

Those people put their mark on history.

Probably have way more power between them than we've really seen concentrated in a long time.

Taylor, what is your favorite national program on OTA?

That's kind of a hard choice, but I think I'm going to have to go with finding your roots.

What about you?

That's a problem, I admit, but I am going to choose after careful consideration.

Downton Abbey.

That's a good one, too, and we hope you have a favorite OTA show to.

Whether it's one that shines a spotlight on Oklahoma or national program that is over 70 years of television excellence, provided Oklahomans in every corner of our state.

And we are proud to serve you.

Yes we are.

And thank you for being with us.

And thank you again for watching OTA.

So when we talk about statewide systems, talk about statewide roads or statewide educational systems or higher education system or statewide mental health system or statewide educational television, when we're talking about statewide living in a state that is larger geographically than any state east of the Mississippi River, we're talking about a major achievement.

And total Oklahoma has brought together tonight and at other times by public broadcasting, by Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.

And it's appropriate that at 25 years that we celebrate not just the 25th anniversary, because you're going to have birthdays, whether you do anything or not, they're going to come along, you're going to be 30, you're going to be 35, you're going to be 40.

Let's the good Lord comes before that.

You are going to have anniversary days.

But how needed is, as our 17 year old daughter says, our need.

It is that while we're celebrating 25 years, we are truly celebrating a high point in educational television.