In The Spotlight
The Secrets Beneath Hazleton
Monday, September 21st 7pm
Beneath the streets of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, lies a world forgotten by time - a network of hidden tunnels, abandoned mine shafts, and underground structures that hold the secrets of the past. This 30-minute WVIA original documentary focuses on previously unexplored underground areas, including secret tunnels built from homes that connect to the mines beneath the city, as well as a hidden speakeasy that was sealed for over 75 years and is said to be only accessible through the banks in downtown Hazleton. The Secrets Beneath Hazleton aims to bring these long-buried secrets to light and explore their historical significance for a whole new generation.
WVIA 60th Anniversary: Throwback Thursdays
In commemoration of WVIA's 60th anniversary, on one Thursday a month WVIA will open up the vaults to present an evening of classic WVIA original productions.
Lyman H. Howe's High Class Moving Pictures
Thursday, September 24th, 8pm
A unique documentary that chronicles the amazing career of turn-of-the-century moving picture pioneer Lyman H. Howe of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, whose six touring companies introduced most of rural America to the movies. Special archival footage includes the first successful moving pictures ever taken from an airplane (Lincoln Beachey, Wilkes-Barre, 1911); the historic address delivered by President Theodore Roosevelt to 100,000 (Wilkes-Barre, 1905); Construction of the Panama Canal (1913),and Lyman H. Howe Days at the San Diego and San Francisco World's Fairs (California 1915). Long before talking pictures, Lyman H. Howe entertainments featured the photograph and live sound effects from behind the screen. Included are voiceovers by individuals who were part of the Lyman Howe moving picture shows and who remember, first hand, the impact they made a century ago. (1983)
The Best of Uncle Ted
Thursday, September 24th, 8:30pm
Take a stroll down memory lane with Uncle Ted - the famed late night host of horror movies - who appeared for years on "Uncle Ted's Monster Mania" on WVIA in the 80's and 90's. (1995)
Local TV: The Early Years
Thursday, September 24th, 9pm
The WVIA Original Documentary Film, Local TV: The Early Years, takes you back to the start of television in northeastern Pennsylvania with stories from the pioneers who were there like: Frank LaBarr, Tom Powell, Dr. Roy Morgan, Ann Wideman, Jim Ward, Nancy Berg, Tom Bigler, Uncle Ted, Jim Lagan and Bob Carroll. (1992)
WARMLand Remembered
Thursday, September 24th, 10pm
More than 60 years ago, Northeastern Pennsylvanians discovered a shocking new sound on their radios, and within weeks, more than half of the people here were calling the area WARMland. The radio station was WARM: 5,000 watts at 590 AM, delivered by "five towers of power." The "Mighty 590" became Northeastern Pennsylvania's number one station practically overnight, and it stayed on top for decades. (2003)
News & Public Affairs
1001 Cuts
Thursday, September 3rd 9pm
1001 CUTS reveals the hidden barriers facing women in the high-stakes professional world of surgery. This half-hour program exposes how small and large slights - from everyday sexism to systemic discrimination - persist and accumulate along the careers of women. The film also highlights the skill and determination required to succeed within workplaces designed for and dominated by men. Through candid, personal accounts, 1001 CUTS illustrates how culture shapes patient care, while celebrating the grit, expertise and resilience of women helping to shape a stronger, more inclusive future for medicine.
Frontline - The Man Who Knew
Tuesday, September 8th 10pm
Revisit the saga of FBI Agent John O'Neill and his warnings about Osama bin Laden before the 9/11 attacks. O'Neill's story provides a rare glimpse inside the FBI and helps answer the question: What did the U.S. government know and when?
Roadtrip Nation: Beyond Books
Part 1 - Thursday, September 10th 7pm
Part 2 - Thursday, September 10th 7:30pm
ROADTRIP NATION: BEYOND BOOKS celebrates the value of public libraries and the community resources they provide. This two-part series shines a spotlight on the people behind the stacks - the community leaders who keep our libraries vibrant, dynamic and essential - as told through the eyes of three young adult "roadtrippers" driven by their own love of libraries. As Isabelle, Jenny and Maryan explore the varied communities served by libraries across America, they start to realize that the public library is an invaluable space for everyone - and a place where each of them can begin to carve out an impact of their own.
Man in Red Bandana
Thursday, September 10th 9pm
This one-hour documentary film tells the inspirational story of a 9/11 American hero - Welles Remy Crowther. The young man worked on the 104th floor of the South Tower and saved at least ten people on September 11th. Tragically, Welles died that day, but his heroics became known eight months later as a result of an ordinary item - his signature red bandana. Narrated by Gwyneth Paltrow.
Surviving 9/11: Where We Stand
Friday, September 11th 7pm
At its heart, this documentary is a depiction of resilience found in the aftermath of 9/11. Following ten intimate personal accounts, 'Surviving 9/11: Where We Stand' reflects on the strength survivors have continuously found in community and themselves. They share experiences marked indelibly not only by loss, but also by optimism, and an enduring commitment to life in spite of tragedy. The documentary is a mirror to our current moment of ongoing global crisis and the hope that can be found even in the darkest of times. Yet, while the message of the film resonates at any moment, it carries particular poignancy in the late summer/early fall, when the anniversary of 9/11 invites reflection and remembrance.
Independent Lens - Ghost in the Machine
Monday, September 14th 10pm
The untold origins of artificial intelligence lie not in machines but in power, revealing the fantasies behind the hype that got us here and where we go next. Ghost in the Machine navigates the rapids of artificial intelligence in this investigative essay documentary that excavates the philosophical, cultural, and political forces driving the global AI boom. It approaches questions like What is AI, Who is building it, and What will humans become by exploring how emerging technologies have historically reshaped identity, culture, and global power, while also exposing the current fronts of human exploitation without which AI would not function. The documentary lends a fresh perspective on what AI is, how it works, and how people can maintain a sense of agency in a threatening and overbearing tech-driven world.
Frontline - Scammed
Tuesday, September 29th 9pm
How online scams steal billions of dollars and ruin victims' lives. With The Associated Press, the rise of a global criminal industry, the people and technology enabling it, and the efforts to shut it down.
Drama
The Marlow Murder Club on Masterpiece (Season 3)
Sundays 8pm, September 6th - October 11th
Now an established part of newly promoted DI Tanika Malik’s (Natalie Dew) crime-solving team, retired archaeologist Judith Potts (Samantha Bond), dog walker Suzie Harris (Jo Martin) and vicar’s wife Becks Starling (Cara Horgan) are back and bringing their unconventional methods to a string of high-profile murders. From the sudden death of the nicest man in Marlow, the town’s beloved mayor, to a celebrity chef found dead at the launch of his cookbook with half the town in attendance, the team will be working under the watchful eye of the Marlow community. They’ll also be called to action at a university reunion in an eerie manor house where in a surprising twist, Becks finds herself amongst the suspects. Could this case threaten our amateur sleuths’ roles as civilian advisors?
Marble Hall Murders on Masterpiece
Sundays 9pm, September 6th - October 11th
Marble Hall Murders reunites audiences with the clever meta world first brought to life in Magpie Murders (2022) and Moonflower Murders (2024). Editor Susan Ryeland is pulled into a new literary puzzle when she’s hired to work on a continuation novel in the Atticus Pünd series, penned by a troubled young writer. But when the assignment draws her into another very real murder case, Susan soon finds herself cast as a suspect. Meanwhile, within the world of the novel, the enigmatic detective Atticus Pünd travels to the Isle of Corfu where he becomes embroiled in the murder of Lady Margaret Chalfont.
Trespasses
Sundays 10pm, September 20th - October 11th
Cushla, a Catholic school teacher living in the dangerous world of Belfast 1975 embarks on an illicit affair with Michael, a married Protestant. As their forbidden love deepens, Cushla is pulled between duty and desire, family and freedom.
History
Billy the Kid: American Experience
Thursday, September 1st, 9pm
On April 28, 1881, 21-year-old Henry McCarty, alias Billy the Kid, just days from being hanged for murder, outfoxed his jailors and electrified the nation with the latest in a long line of daring escapes. An outlaw with a deadly reputation, the young man was finally gunned down by an ambitious sheriff just a few weeks later. The felling of one of the most notorious criminals of the age was instantly national news. First demonized by the lawman who killed him,he was soon mythologized by a never-ending stream of dime store romances and big-screen dramas. But in all the tellings, Billy the Kid's real story has been obscured. Born to impoverished Irish immigrants, the Kid led a hardscrabble life that became harder still when his mother died of tuberculosis. He came of age in a lawless corner of New Mexico, where an Irish immigrant ring held a vice-like grip on all money-making endeavors and the Mexican population was frequently cheated out of their property without recourse to the courts. Caught in the middle of a many centuries old conflict, the Kid captured national attention with his reckless violence. His fascination with Mexican culture, his flair for Spanish and his disdain for the Anglo authorities made him a hero of sorts to the Hispanic community, who hid him when the law came looking and mourned him most when he was gone.
Underground Railroad: The William Still Story
Sunday, September 6th 7pm
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: THE WILLIAM STILL STORY is the story of a humble Philadelphia clerk who risked his life shepherding runaway slaves to freedom in the tumultuous years leading up to America's Civil War. William Still was the director of a complex network of abolitionists, sympathizers and safe houses that stretched from Philadelphia to what is now Southern Ontario. The film shares the remarkable life story of one of the most important yet unheralded individuals of the Underground Railroad.
Bonnie and Clyde: American Experience
Tuesday, September 8th 9pm
Discover the true story of the most famous outlaw couple in US history. Though their exploits were romanticized, the Barrow gang was believed responsible for at least 13 murders, including two policemen,as well as robberies and kidnappings.
The Young People's Continental Congress
Sunday, September 13th 7pm
In YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, high school students from across the country travel to historic Philadelphia to gather for a lively discussion and exploration of our nation's history. Led by a knowledgeable moderator, the students debate how America's founding ideals have evolved over the last 250 years, and share their hopes and dreams for the future of our country.
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Tuesday, September 15th 9pm
Long before Paul Newman and Robert Redford immortalized them on screen, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid captivated Americans from coast to coast. In the 1890s, their exploits robbing banks and trains in the West -- and then seemingly vanishing into thin air -- became national news and the basis of rumors and myth. But who were Robert Leroy Parker and Harry Alonzo Longabaugh? How did they come together to form the Wild Bunch gang? And how did they manage to pull off the longest string of successful holdups in history while eluding the Pinkertons, the nation's most feared detective force? Separating fact from fiction, this program explores the last pair of outlaws to flee on horseback into a setting sun.
Arts & Music
Made in the West
Friday, September 4th 9pm
In a world of fast fashion and fast furniture, functional art invites us to slow down and appreciate the details. This is art you can sit on, drink out of, or wear on your feet. It reflects the natural surroundings, and nowhere is this clearer than in the American West. Many of today's master artisans are aging out of the craft, and the path to preserve this uniquely American art form is at stake.
Great Performances - Verdi's Requiem: The Met Remembers 9/11
Friday, September 11th 9pm
Honor the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with this special performance hosted by Misty Copeland and led by Met music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin featuring soloists Ailyn Perez, Michelle DeYoung, Matthew Polezani and Eric Qwens.
American Masters - Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined
Tuesday, September 15th 10pm
Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined is a documentary film about the life and work of Julia Alvarez, one of America's most celebrated Latina writers. Alvarez burst onto the literary scene in 1991 with her semi-autobiographical novel, How the Garcia Sisters Lost Their Accents, to great acclaim, followed by In the Time of the Butterflies (1994), which raised global awareness about three sisters assassinated by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, and was made into a major motion picture. Her most recent novel, Afterlife, explores the universal issues of aging, loss and healing, and joins the debate about Latino immigrants in the United States. Called "a writer of gigantic storytelling talent, and exquisitely composed prose," Alvarez has helped blaze the trail for generations of Latina/o authors helping transform American culture and literature. Now 72 years old, she feels that time is running out to tell all of the stories still within her. The film will explore her childhood in the Dominican Republic, her complex family dynamics, the lifelong impact of their escape from the dictatorship, her feelings of displacement, hybridity and loss - and how she transforms all of this, in a nuanced,complex writing voice - into poetry, essays and novels.
Woody Guthrie and the Ghost of Tom Joad Today
Thursday, September 17th 9pm
Narrated by Roseanne Cash and featuring music from Bruce Springsteen, the film connects the paths of songwriter Woody Guthrie "This Land is Your Land" and author John Steinbeck "The Grapes of Wrath", who forged a bond in a campaign to ease the suffering of migrants in California through their art.
Joffrey Ballet: The Next Movement
Friday, September 18th 9pm
Five rising choreographers create world premieres for The Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works. Under intense time pressure, artists from across cultures and backgrounds transform personal stories into bold choreography shaping ballet's future.
Sing Democracy 250
Friday, September 25th 9pm
Celebrate America's 250th and reaffirm the promise of democracy at the Minneapolis Signature Concert. Powerful choral performances honor our nation's founding ideals, inspire hope, and remind us that We, the People, are at the heart of it all.
Voces: Omara - Cuba's Legendary Diva
Monday, September 28th 10pm
Meet the beloved Cuban singer Omara Portuondo, who has thrilled audiences for over half a century, from the stages of Havana's legendary nightclubs to her worldwide fame as part of the Grammy-winning Buena Vista Social Club.
Science & Nature
Ages of Ice
Wednesdays 10pm, September 16th - September 30th
Embark on a breathtaking journey to Earth's frozen frontiers. Meet the extraordinary scientists racing to decode the dramatic changes unfolding at our poles and reveal what it means for our future before time runs out.
Shenandoah
Thursday, September 17th 7pm
SHENANDOAH offers viewers a peek into the majesty of Shenandoah National Park. The hour-long film explores mountain caves to find the elusive American eel, climbs cliff faces to witness a peregrine falcon's first flight, and ventures far off the beaten path to discover the endangered Shenandoah salamander. The Appalachian Mountains are a place shaped by ongoing formations, migrations and transformations. This constant change is driven by the region's diverse species, geology and human history, which all play a role in the story of Shenandoah's lush and fragile wilderness - a place that has evolved for millions of years and continues to adapt today. With striking cinematography from two renowned National Geographic filmmakers, SHENANDOAH also explores the history of the park itself, chronicling how the physical landscape and its cultural impact have shifted over time.
Rising: Surviving the Surge
Sunday, September 20th 7pm
A gripping look at Hurricane Ian and the deadly power of storm surge. It follows survivors, scientists, first responders, and communities as they navigate the destruction and endure the recovery. With dramatic footage and expert insight, it reveals the rising threat of storm surge from coast to inland, urging preparedness in a new era of stronger, more frequent storms.