American Experience

History Series / 15 Seasons

American Experience, TV's most-watched history series, brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.

52m 54s

The Presidents, 2016

1m

Revisit the lives of six recent presidents -- John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush -- in films from our award-winning collection. Beginning August 8 on PBS American Experience.

The Presidents 2016: JFK

30s

Forever enshrined in myth by an assassin's bullet, John F. Kennedy's presidency long defied objective appraisal. While maturation, as evidenced in the handling of the Cuban missile crisis, was apparent, the potential legacy of the New Frontier will forever be left to speculation.

The Boys of '36, Chapter 1

9m 14s

In August 1936, just outside Berlin, Germany, crowds gathered for the marquee event of the Olympic rowing contests: the men's eight. The host nation had won more medals than any other and looked to dominate the final race. As Adolf Hitler looked on, nine boys from Washington prepared to row the biggest race of their lives. "The Boys of '36" premieres 8/2 at 9/8c on PBS.

The Boys of '36: The Olympic Trials

1m 15s

The boys from Washington had to win one more time to become the first Washington crew to represent the United States in the Olympics. "The Boys of '36" premieres August 2 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

The Boys of '36: UW's Secret Weapon

1m

Don Hume wasn't a physically imposing athlete, but he had a gift for rowing that helped lead the University of Washington rowing team to Olympic victory in 1936. "The Boys of '36" premieres August 2 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

The Boys of '36: The National Championships

1m 35s

The national rowing championship was June 22nd, and Washington’s strategy was to exercise patience in the four mile race. "The Boys of '36" premieres August 2 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

The Boys of '36: The Opening Ceremony

1m 3s

The 1936 Olympic Opening Ceremony was held on August 1 at the Reichssportsfeld in Berlin. Cheers echoed throughout the stadium as Adolf Hitler entered. "The Boys of '36" premieres August 2 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

The Boys of '36: The SS Manhattan

1m 3s

On July 15, 1936 more than 300 members of the U.S. Olympic team boarded the SS Manhattan to travel to the Olympic Games in Berlin. The boat also carried precious cargo: the boys from Washington's racing shell, the Husky Clipper. "The Boys of '36" premieres August 2 at 9/8c on American Experience PBS.

The Boys of '36 Trailer

1m 30s

In 1936, nine working-class young men from the University of Washington took the rowing world and America by storm when they captured the gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Their unexpected victory gave hope to a nation struggling to emerge from the depths of the Great Depression. The Boys of '36 premieres August 2 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Coming Soon: The Boys of '36

1m

In the summer of 1936, nine working class young men from the University of Washington took the rowing world and the nation by a storm when they captured the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Berlin. American Experience Executive Producer, Mark Samels talks about the series' upcoming documentary on the "Boys of '36," inspired by the best-selling book by Daniel James Brown.

A Ring-Side View of the Heavens

2m 20s

Radioing he had "a ring-side view of the heavens" Air Force officer David G. Simons made history in 1957 high aboard his Manhigh II balloon. He rose 101,500 feet above Earth, writing later he could barely comprehend the beauty of the sky. He was celebrated by The New York Times as "The First Space Man." "Space Men" premieres March 1 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Project Manhigh

2m 5s

Project Manhigh was woefully underfunded and undervalued, but Dr. John Paul Stapp and his Air Force team were certain of the project's success. Using spare parts and ingenuity, they assembled a capsule that attached to a newly-invented balloon they hoped would carry a man to heights over 100,000 feet about Earth's surface. "Space Men" premieres March 1 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

A New Frontier

2m 31s

Beginning in 1783, balloonists risked their lives trying to view the Earth from a brand new vantage point. But rather than deter aerial exploration, these new and dangerous heights lured explorers ever higher into the clouds. "Space Men" premieres March 1 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Testing Mankind's Limits

2m 59s

U.S. Air Force aviation doctor, John Paul Stapp, tested the limits of human physiology both on the ground and in near-space. Not satisfied with the accepted belief that 18 G's -- or 18 times the pull of gravity -- could kill a person, he set out to prove humans could survive acceleration and deceleration at rapid speeds and from dizzying heights. "Space Men" premieres March 1 at 9/8c on PBS.

Space Men Chapter 1

8m 47s

In the mid-20th century, a small band of high-altitude pioneers exposed themselves to the extreme forces of the space age long before NASA's acclaimed Mercury 7 would make headlines. In California, a young Army doctor named John Paul Stapp tested the limits of human endurance in order to keep up with the rapid developments in rocket and aircraft technology. "Space Men" premieres March 1 at 9/8c.

The Perfect Crime Chapter 1

8m 52s

On the morning of May 22, 1924, the body of 14-year-old Bobby Franks was found in a culvert outside of Chicago. A pair of glasses found at the crime scene would lead police to an unlikely suspect. "The Perfect Crime" premieres February 9 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

The Perfect Crime Preview

30s

The shocking story of Richard Leopold and Nathan Loeb, two wealthy college students who murdered a 14-year-old boy in 1924 to prove they were smart enough to get away with it. Their trial, with famed defense attorney Clarence Darrow and Cook County Prosecutor Robert Crowe, set off a national debate about morality and capital punishment. Premieres Feb 9, 2016 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Kindred Spirits, from The Perfect Crime

2m 31s

Although Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb came from similar backgrounds, they were very different young men. Loeb was sociable and handsome, while Leopold was quiet and brooding. Despite these differences, the two became fast friends and were soon plotting small crimes which would lead to something much larger. "The Perfect Crime" premieres February 9 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Attorney for the Damned, from The Perfect Crime

2m 57s

After Leopold and Loeb confessed to the murder of Bobby Franks, their families hired famed defense attorney, Clarence Darrow to try to save the boys from the hangman's noose. Darrow was no fan of capital punishment and accepted the case, believing it would provide him with a national platform in his crusade against the death penalty. "The Perfect Crime" premieres February 9 at 9/8c on PBS.

An Unlikely Suspect, from The Perfect Crime

2m 31s

In May 1924, police only had a few clues to point them towards the murderer of 14-year-old Bobby Franks. A pair of glasses found at the scene led them to 19-year-old Nathan Leopold. An intelligent young man from an influential family, Leopold was not a likely suspect -- at first. "The Perfect Crime" premieres Feb. 9 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

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