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

Pitching "Snow White"

37s

One evening, Walt Disney gathered his animators and studio staff together and told them of his newest idea: a feature-length, story-driven animated film called "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 and 15 on PBS American Experience.

Walt Disney's First Failure

2m 19s

After Walt Disney's distributor failed to pay, Disney had to come up with something "new and clever in animated cartoons" to save his Laugh-O-grams company. "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 & 15 on PBS American Experience.

Blackout, Chapter 1

8m 12s

July 14, 1977 dawned hot and humid in New York City. By 9:30pm the city would be plunged into darkness for more than 24 hours. In the wake of the power outage, tensions that had been simmering for years erupted into looting and violence. "Blackout" premieres July 14 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

The Station House was in Darkness, From Blackout

2m 32s

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.

"It went from being light to being looting," from Blackout

2m 40s

"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.

Blackout Preview

30s

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.

"A Terrible Moral Dilemma"

52s

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.

"I Had Lost Everything"

2m 7s

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.

The Pilot's Story

2m 59s

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.

The South Vietnamese Officer's Story

2m 59s

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.

"Chaos Had Descended"

3m 26s

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.

"One Helicopter at a Time"

2m 12s

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.

"Dead Men Walking"

1m 27s

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.

"Option Four"

3m 57s

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.

Last Days in Vietnam, Chapter 1

7m 27s

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.

Extended Clip: The Journey Downriver

11m 4s

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.

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