Nebraska Stories Episode 811: Restoring Past Glory

Episode 811 of the Nebraska Stories program takes a look at the “Past Glory” days of Nebraska. All five segments are about bringing back an element of the past that could be lost forever. Hanging on to what matters can be challenging but is worthwhile in the end. As always, the bulleted points are from the NET show notes. The italicized words are my thoughts.

A Grand Island filmmaker returns home to find rare film of everyday life from the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘50s and hosts a premiere of the newly restored footage at The Grand Theatre. Seeing footage from Nebraska in these decades is rare. Some of my grandparents and many other relatives were living in or nearby Grand Island during those decades. My mom lived nearby during the last part of those decades. I should watch this segment with her to see if she recognizes anyone from her childhood. Many would consider this time span to be the golden age of film. So the fact that they have restored these clips does help to celebrate “past glory.”
Join a trek into Pine Ridge Country to see the Bighorn sheep in Sowbelly Canyon with wildlife expert Todd Nordeen of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Big horn sheep would definitely be considered to be past glory. They have not lived in Nebraska for many decades. I like how they are working to restore the habitats.
Omaha tribe member Taylor Keen plants indigenous heirloom seeds. Obviously we would not have enough food if farmers did not practice modern methods. Yet this story is exciting . Sme are working to keep germinating the seeds from long ago. Past glory can also be delicious.
Look back at the cluster of deadly 1913 Easter tornados that ripped through Omaha, Ralston, Yutan and Berlin (now Otoe). This story is more about past glory that was lost. Yet in the end, the people of Omaha and the surrounding communities recognized something. What mattered most was neighbors working together. Community.
Celebrate 150 years of great Nebraska art and literature with a trip to the Joslyn Castle in Omaha. I would greatly enjoy attending one of these sessions at some point. Not only do the actors bring back past glory but they make it relevant to the future.

You can watch now or later …

Remember: you can watch tonight’s show live on Nebraska Educational Television. Or you can watch the segments online at the Nebraska Stories website anytime.