While workers at Consolidated Edison electric company scrambled to restart their failed power system, New York City's police force tried to maintain order with no lights or radio equipment. "Blackout" premieres July 14, 2015 on PBS American Experience.

"The civilization that was New York came unglued for 24 hours, and that's what our story is about." American Experience Executive Producer Mark Samels talks about why we made Blackout.

Shop owners describe watching locals loot their store during the NYC blackout of 1977. "Blackout" premieres July 14 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Watch the first three minutes of Blackout, premiering July 14 at 9/8c on PBS, about the 1977 blackout that swept New York City.

"Every single borough in New York City was affected by the looting, and it happened very very quickly." Watch more clips from "Blackout," which premieres on PBS American Experience July 14, 2015 at 9/8c.

On the night of July 13, 1977, lightning strikes took out several critical power lines, causing a catastrophic power failure and plunging some 8 million people into darkness in the New York City area. First responders, journalists, shop owners, Con Edison employees, and other New Yorkers tell about what happened when the lights went out. Premieres 7/14 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Col. Stuart Herrington recalls the struggle of members of the South Vietnamese Military in staying behind to fight while their families were evacuated. Last Days in Vietnam premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.

Kiem Do, a colonel in the South Vietnamese Navy, remembers the solemn flag-lowering ceremony aboard the U.S.S. Kirk after the fall of Saigon. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.

Captain Gerald "Gerry" Berry was a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps during the fall of Saigon in April 1975. Capt. Berry was tasked with evacuating U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin from the U.S. Embassy, an order which proved to be more complicated than he expected.

In April 1975, Dam Pham was an Army Officer Lieutenant in the South Vietnamese Central Intelligence Service. When the North Vietnamese arrived in Saigon, Pham stayed in Vietnam with his family rather than evacuate. After 13 years of hard labor in a re-education camp, Dam Pham was released and made his way to America.

When news got out that the Americans were leaving Saigon, thousands of South Vietnamese descended upon the U.S. Embassy, desperate for a chance to get out before the North Vietnamese arrived. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.

With so many South Vietnamese helicopters landing on the USS Kirk, the crew had no other option than to dump the helicopters overboard once they'd unloaded their passengers.  "Last Days in Vietnam" airs April 28, 2015 on PBS American Experience.

Marine Guard Juan Valdez was one of the last left waiting for evacuation from the roof of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon during the American evacuation of Saigon April 29, 1975.

Col. Stuart Herrington and other Black Ops took matters in their own hands to get their South Vietnamese counterparts out of the country before the North Vietnamese reached Saigon. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.

After the shelling of Tan Son Nhut Airport by North Vietnamese troops, the U.S. Ambassador was left with only one evacuation option -- a heavy-lift helicopter evacuation. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.

In 1973, U.S. troops had begun to withdraw from Vietnam after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. Thousands of Americans remained in the country, and several had Vietnamese girlfriends, wives and families. In April of 1975, the North Vietnamese Army began to close in on Saigon, and South Vietnamese resistance was crumbling. Premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.

In 1975, Consul General Terry McNamara and Marine Consulate Guard Steve Hasty were in Can Tho, 78 miles southwest of Saigon. When they were told to evacuate only Americans, they went against orders and took hundreds of South Vietnamese refugees with them. This clip is subtitled in Vietnamese. "Last Days in Vietnam" airs April 28 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Nominated for an Academy Award® for Documentary Feature. From filmmaker Rory Kennedy, "Last Days in Vietnam" recounts the chaotic final days of the Vietnam War in April of 1975 as the North Vietnamese Army closed in on Saigon.

Richard Armitage and the U.S. Navy escorted the seaworthy vessels of the Vietnamese Navy -- all crammed with thousands of refugees -- from Con Son Island to the Philippines. "Last Days in Vietnam" premieres April 28, 2015 on PBS American Experience.

When a South Vietnamese helicopter was too large to land on the US Navy ship, the USS Kirk, the family on board had no chance, but to make a leap of faith. Last Days in Vietnam premieres April 28 on PBS American Experience.