MEDIA ADVISORY: March 9, 2016
Contact: Jasmine Brown, WETA 703.998.2046/ jbrown@weta.org
WETA TV 26 Premieres Martyrs, Mayhem & Martial Law: Life in Civil War Alexandria
Documentary Explores Alexandria’s Historical and Human Stories during the Civil War, Premieres Wednesday, March 9 at 8 p.m. and Repeats Throughout the Month
A new film produced by WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation’s capital, explores more of the extraordinary history and human stories of Alexandria, Virginia, during the Civil War years, 1861-1865. Following the 2014 WETA production Discovering Alexandria: The Early Years, this one-hour new documentary, Martyrs, Mayhem & Martial Law: Life in Civil War Alexandria, joins WETA’s portfolio of locally focused films created exclusively for viewers in Greater Washington.
WHAT: Martyrs, Mayhem & Martial Law: Life in Civil War Alexandria will engage viewers with a fascinating look at the Virginia port city located at the intersection of the North and South in the war. The film spotlights many aspects of life in Alexandria during the Civil War. Segments detail the Union occupation of the city; life regulated under martial law; the impacts on the African-American community; the migration and settlement of former slaves into the city; militarization of ports, railroads and city resources; and how the influx of tens of thousands of soldiers transformed the area. The program also explores historical buildings commandeered for treatment of wounded soldiers and transformed into medical facilities, including Alexandria’s Mansion House Hospital, which provided inspiration for the recent PBS drama series Mercy Street.
WHO: The film is the result of research conducted at the Alexandria Library, and other city resources, as well as the Library of Congress, and the National Archives. Participating in the film are local historian and experts on the era, including Jim Mackay of The Lyceum; Audrey Davis of the Alexandria Black History Museum; Susan Hellman of Carlyle House Historic Park; Susan Cumbey of the Fort Ward Museum; and J. Lance Mallamo of the Office of Historic Alexandria.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 8 p.m. (premiere) with repeats weekend afternoons and in primetime on Wednesday, March 16 at 10 p.m. on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD.
Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 4:00 p.m.
Check www.weta.org for additional listings.
MEDIA COVERAGE: Please contact Jasmine Brown at jbrown@weta.org with questions about promotional materials and media coverage. An electronic press kit with a promotional image is available at the following link: http://www.weta.org/press/martyrs-mayhem-martial-law-life-civil-war-ale…
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Additional Documents
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Life in Civil War Alexandria.docx
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