That's Amore! (and that's a schedule change!)

Due to a last minute problem with the supplier of the book associated with Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses, we regret we cannot air this program on Saturday, April 11 at 3 PM as scheduled. In its place, we will broadcast My Music: That's Amore! Italian American Favorites. Yes, it's completely different, but it's still great entertainment! Read about it below.

The schedule change also means Alone in the Wilderness will now begin at 4:30 P.M. Read about this show here.


My Music: That's Amore! Italian American Favorites

With a mixture of vintage clips and new concert performances, the latest edition of the MY MUSIC specials on PBS presents a poignant look back at the beloved crooners — and a couple of canaries — who symbolize the immense contribution of both Italian-American singers and the many hit songs of the 1940s-1970s that were influenced by the music-loving immigrants from Italy.

THAT’S AMORE: ITALIAN-AMERICAN FAVORITES is hosted by actor-singer Danny Aiello, who carries on the crooner tradition today with a rousing, contemporary performance of the evergreen “Some of These Days.”

Probably no other singer better recalls the easygoing popularity of the Italian crooner more than the late Perry Como, known as “Mr. C” to the millions who tuned in to his variety series and specials for over three decades. THAT’S AMORE: ITALIAN-AMERICAN FAVORITES opens with a pair of Como classics: “Till The End of Time,” a number one record from 1945, and “It’s Impossible,” a top-10 from 1970.

Julius LaRosa, an Italian-American hit-maker who continues to perform, offers a beautiful rendition of the standard “Three Coins in the Fountain,” as well as his playful 1953 smash “Eh Cumpari” and the traditional ballad “Domani.”

In footage from his final performance, the legendary Frankie Laine sings the heartfelt “That’s My Desire,” his first hit from 1947; the ageless Tony Martin returns to the stage with “There’s No Tomorrow,” his 1949 version of the Italian heirloom “O Sole Mio.”

The hippest segment of the Italian-American music scene is represented by the irrepressible Louis Prima, who breezes through “When You’re Smiling” and “Oh, Marie.” Other historical highlights from the vaults include Jerry Vale’s medley of “O Sole Mio”/“Mala Femmina”/”Come Back to Sorrento” and Eddie Fisher’s tender interpretation of “Oh! My Papa.”

Aged like fine wine, THAT’S AMORE: ITALIAN-AMERICAN FAVORITES spotlights a joyful tradition and musical heritage — part of the goal to preserve vital American music legacies on the MY MUSIC series, exclusively on PBS, and on Rhode Island PBS on Saturday, April 11 at 3 PM.

Show Me What You've Got, Rhode Island PBS!

With hundreds of items of all shapes, sizes, and value available, how do organizers of the Rhode Island PBS Spring Auction show off more of the great merchandise before the event? Put everything online, plus produce a short preview special!

"We already have more than 700 auction items donated this year," said Auction Director Jeffrey Hartley. "In this economy, that speaks to the enormous generosity and support of our donor companies and individuals." He added, "There literally is something for everyone, and in every price range."

Jeff Hartley, who lives in North Smithfield, has been the Rhode Island PBS auction director for seven years, and an employee of WSBE Rhode Island PBS for 21 years. In that time, he has seen technology undergo a huge revolution, and he has kept pace by moving more and more auction activity online.

"This year, for the first time, we have every single Spring Auction item available online," Hartley said. "Last year, we featured the spotlight items - items of higher donor value - and [online bidding] was well received. This year, everything is online, from a $10 pizza to the $24,000 Prius."

Fans of the popular annual event who do not have online access can still watch it live on television and call in to place bids, Monday April 20 through Friday, April 24, beginning at 7 P.M.

"All bids will be placed online, whether it's by the bidders on computers at home, or by the volunteers taking bids over the phone in the studio," Hartley explained.

This year's auction has a Green Gallery that showcases environmentally-considerate goods and services, including the top dollar-value item, a Toyota Prius hybrid sedan, donated by Your New England Toyota Dealer, plus a Vespa LX 50, donated by Vespa Newport and Providence Motorsports.

Conducting the auction online opens it up to a world-wide audience. "Last year, we had auction winners from all over the country, even as far away as California," Hartley said.

Casting a wider net using the 'Net increases visibility and positive exposure for the station – and the many businesses that donated. But it's still the close connection to the local community that differentiates Rhode Island PBS from other public television stations.

"The heart and soul of Rhode Island PBS are our members, donors, and volunteers," Hartley stated. "There is no greater proof of that than our Spring Auction."

More than two dozen of the 700 auction items are featured in a short special preview show that airs at various times throughout April:

• Friday, April 10 at 7 P.M.
• Sunday, April 12 at 9 P.M.
• Tuesday, April 14 at 1:30 A.M.
• Wednesday, April 15 at 2:30 P.M.
• Friday, April 17 at 7 P.M.
• Saturday, April 18 at 1:30 P.M.
• Sunday, April 19 at 11 P.M.

To view auction items, bid, or for more information about the online auction, visit ripbs.org.

Saturday Afternoon of Scenic Beauty - Local and Remote

UPDATE! Due to a last minute problem with the supplier of the book associated with Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses, we regret we cannot air this program on Saturday as scheduled. In its place, we will broadcast My Music: That's Amore! Italian American Favorites. Yes, it's completely different, but it's still great entertainment!

This schedule change also means ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS will now begin at 4:30 P.M.

The Emmy®-nominated Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses provides a comprehensive look at the 200-plus-year history, decline, and rebirth of the beacons that dot Rhode Island's 400 miles of rocky shoreline. Emmy®-award winning Director of Photography Jim Karpeichik presents his beautifully filmed documentary from the Rhode Island PBS studio on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at 3 P.M.

Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses covers all 30 of Rhode Island's lighthouses, and includes stories of tragedies and heroism, buildings lost, and restoration projects. Jim Karpeichik spent more than two years filming lighthouses in all seasons. Producer Heather Moreau researched maritime history and interviewed key people, including some who grew up in lighthouses, nationally recognized historians, and those who today are leading the way in restoration.

Then, at 4:30 P.M., take a walk on the wild side – serene and solitary – as Rhode Island PBS presents Alone in the Wilderness.

In 1967, at 50 years old, Dick Proenneke retired and traveled to the Twin Lakes region at the base of the Aleutian Peninsula. With only skill and resourcefulness as his companions, he built himself a log cabin on the lake shore. It was there, amid all the beauty – and harshness – of Alaska, that he spent the next 30 years of his life, Alone in the Wilderness.



Produced by Bob Swerer, Alone in the Wilderness uses color footage Proenneke recorded himself to share with his family back home in Iowa. Filmed mostly with a stationary 16mm camera, the film consists of shots of Proenneke performing tasks around his cabin, canoeing, walking, plus views of wildlife, along with narration. For shots of himself, Proenneke would fix the camera in place, and then perform his tasks. Since he was alone, he would have to return for the camera after walking or canoeing away.

In 1997 producer Bob Swerer and his father flew to Twin Lakes to visit with Dick Proenneke and to explore the Twin Lakes region. With more than 3,000 feet of film shot, and meticulous, poetic journals written, Proenneke's adventures in Alaska resulted in three films; Alone in the Wilderness was released in 2003. This documentary covers Proenneke's first year in the wilderness, showing his day-to-day activities, and the passing of the seasons as he sought to scratch out a living.

These and other special programs on Saturday from, 1:30 P.M. to 11 P.M., are part of the viewer-supported public television station's fund raising drive. WSBE Rhode Island PBS broadcasts on digital 36.1; Cox, Verizon, and FullChannel cable 8; DirecTV 36; and Dish 7776; Massachusetts cable subscribers should check local cable listings for channel number.

Roger Williams University Pushes "Planet Forward" (Rhode Island PBS)

PLANET FORWARD is an innovative, viewer-driven program that debuted on the Web and culminates in a primetime special on Rhode Island PBS on Thursday, April 30 at 8 PM. (The show premieres on nationally around Earth Day, two weeks earlier.)

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning CNN veteran Frank Sesno, the broadcast is driven by people’s ideas about the nation’s energy future. The most provocative and interesting submissions to the Web site will be featured in the broadcast, taped before an audience at George Washington University and featuring experts, scientists, policy makers and business leaders, as well as the selected citizen journalists.

Featured experts include:
•Carol Browner, assistant to President Obama for Energy and Climate Change
•James Connaughton, chairman, Bush White House Council on Environmental Quality; currently executive vice president, Constellation Energy
•Shai Agassi, founder and CEO, Better Place
•L. Hunter Lovins, president and founder, Natural Capitalism Solutions

Of huge local interest is the participation in this project by nine Roger Williams University journalism students. The eight seniors and one junior spent three intense weeks in January producing and editing their videos for submission. Their work so impressed the PLANET FORWARD folks, the students have been invited to the taping of PLANET FORWARD taping in Washington, DC.

Here are links to a variety of sources for more information, including:

An informative article by Gina Macri published in The Providence Journal

RWU students promote their videos:

Planet Forward (RWU) also has a group page on Facebook: www.facebook.com