Tonight, World TV Premiere of New England Legends Maritime Mysteries

(l -r) Nate, Tony and Jeff

In just a few hours, Jeff Belanger and Tony Dunne will be in Rhode Island PBS studios to present their Emmy-nominated series, New England Legends, including the world television premiere of the latest episode, "Maritime Mysteries." We're very excited to welcome Jeff and Tony to our studio! Tune in starting at 8 p.m. for all three episodes (scroll down for descriptions of the episodes). Then, wrap your night of fascinating "tales from the fringe" with Haunted RI: The Legends of Dolly Cole at 10 p.m. Great night of TV on Rhode Island PBS! 

In the meantime while you wait for 8 p.m. to arrive, listen in to this interview of Jeff by Tim Weisberg of WBSM 1420 AM on Saturday Morning with Tim Weisberg.

"The Spooky Berkshires" examines the tragic history of the Houghton Mansion in North Adams, Massachusetts, and its century-old haunting, then heads up to October Mountain in the Berkshires to chase down stories of Bigfoot sightings, UFOs, and the ghost of a young girl said to haunt an abandoned cemetery somewhere deep in the woods. In 2014, "The Spooky Berkshires" was nominated for an Emmy under the "Magazine Program/Special" category.

The second episode,"Mysteries in Stone," takes viewers north of Boston to a 4,000-year-old calendar in Salem, New Hampshire dubbed "America’s Stonehenge," before heading south to Lynn Woods on Boston's North Shore to explore tales of pirates, buried treasure, and a man who spent his life tunneling through solid rock because spirits told him he'd find gold.

The newest episode, "Maritime Mysteries," dives into the ocean waters of southeastern New England to explore the lonely and haunted Rose Island Lighthouse off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island. Then viewers head to shore to ponder an ancient and mysterious stone tower with possible connections to the Knights Templar. Finally, the crew trek up to New Bedford, Massachusetts, to investigate the haunts of abandoned Fort Taber / Fort Rodman.

"This isn't a ghost-hunting show," said Host and Executive Producer Jeff Belanger. "Legends are living, breathing things. They define our communities as much as the buildings or the people who came before us. New England Legends will explore those tales from the fringe that make living in New England that much more interesting. We’re thrilled to share these important stories with viewers of Rhode Island PBS."

New England Legends is a joint venture between Jeff Belanger and Tony Dunne. The two have been working together since 2009 when Dunne wrote and produced the documentary Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England for PBS. Belanger was featured prominently in that first documentary, which went on to national acclaim.

"To earn an Emmy nomination on our very first episode was a huge honor," said Director and Executive Producer Tony Dunne. "'Maritime Mysteries' takes this series to a higher level with even better story-telling, camera work, and editing. We want to show New Englanders the mysteries that many walk by every day without noticing."

Belanger and Dunne are currently working on future episodes of New England Legends and are actively seeking sponsorship to turn the program into a regular feature across more New England PBS affiliates.

About New England Legends
New England Legends is a partnership between Tony Dunne and Jeff Belanger. The series premiered in 2013 on PBS affiliate WGBY in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2014, the initial episode was nominated for an Emmy under the “Magazine Program/Special” category. “Maritime Mysteries” will air on WGBY Thursday, October 30th at 10:00 PM, and on Rhode Island PBS, Wednesday, October 29 at 8:00 PM. For more information, visit: http://www.ournewenglandlegends.com