Great Scenic Railway Journeys: Trains Around North America

Join Rhode Island PBS on Saturday, March 2 beginning at 5 p.m. for a ride along North America’s most historic and scenic railways in the newest chapter of the Emmy Award-winning public television series, Great Scenic Railway Journeys: Trains Around North America. 

Robert Van Camp, executive producer and director of this program, hosts a special presentation live from Rhode Island PBS studios as part of the station's March fund raising campaign. Viewers who pledge $75 or more during the program will be entered into a drawing for round trip sleeping accommodations for two between Chicago and New Orleans, courtesy of Pullman Rail Journeys. The trip, valued at $3,900, includes meals and beverages aboard. For details, tune in Saturday evening.

Great Scenic Railway Journeys: Trains Around North America is hosted by Grammy-winning musician and storyteller David Holt, traces America's railroad history, telling the unforgettable stories of the continent's historic and scenic tourist railroads. More than just a tour, these stories capture railroads as they defined the spirit of North America, creating a new industry and re-writing transportation history. The program transports viewers to a variety of railways — from quiet and relaxing trains featuring spectacular meals and views, to fast-paced trains full of glitz and glamour.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on Rhode Island cable services: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, Full Channel 08; on Massachusetts cable services: Comcast 819HD, Verizon 18 / 518HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36 / 3128HD, Dish Network 7776.


About WSBE 
WSBE Rhode Island PBS is operated by the Rhode Island PBS Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 1987 as a public charity to raise funds and provide support services for Rhode Island’s public television station. WSBE is a viewer-supported member of the PBS system of independent public broadcasting stations. WSBE programs and operates Rhode Island PBS (digital 36.1) and Learn (digital 36.2), and broadcasts the Spanish-language Vme network on digital 36.3. Committed to lifelong learning since 1967, WSBE uses the power of noncommercial media to educate, engage, enrich, inspire, and entertain viewers of all ages in Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut. For more information about WSBE, visit www.ripbs.org. 

Downton Abbey Episode Will Repeat Due to Blizzard Power Outage

The "Blizzard of 2013" last weekend left many viewers without power... and without your weekly Downton Abbey fix.  

So, for you, we will repeat Episode 4 of Downton Abbey this Friday, February 15 at 9 p.m., and slide this week's regular episode (Episode 5) to 10 p.m. 

If you were among the "connected" who watched last week's episode, you can tune in to watch it again this week, or tune in an hour later for the new episode.

Secrets of Highclere Castle, originally scheduled for 10 p.m., will be shown at a later date. 

Travel Webinar for British Landscapes Tour

Rhode Island PBS presents British Landscapes featuring a tour at Highclere Castle, the filming location of Downton Abbey

Join the professional travel planners from Collette Vacations for an informational Webinar

Go beyond the brochure. Join Rhode Island PBS and Collette Vacations for an entertaining online travel presentation. Discover the people and places that make our tours special and do it from the comfort of your own computer. Ask real-time questions, learn from travel experts and lose yourself in incredible images of the British Landscapes. This is the first step on what will be an amazing adventure.

Title:	Rhode Island PBS presents British Landscapes!
Date:	Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Time:	7:00 PM - 7:30 PM EST

Space is limited. Reserve your Online Presentation seat now at: www.gotomeeting.com/227346466 After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

British Landscapes: September 11 – 21, 2013 featuring England, Scotland and Wales Sleepy villages where sheep wander the grassy hillsides, lakes set amidst mountains that inspired centuries of literature, and cities thriving with arts and culture — these are the landscapes of Britain. Discover them on this 10-day journey through England, Scotland and Wales. Sleep in a historic castle. Visit the university town of Cambridge. Soak up the pastoral landscapes of the Cotswolds. Walk in the footsteps of William Shakespeare. Explore London and Edinburgh. Experience the wonder of Stonehenge. Stroll through historic York. For more information contact: Collette Vacations ● (877) 872-4331 Reference Booking #: 522531

WSBE airs "41" and "They Walk Among Us" Marking 10th Anniversary

 Ten years ago, on the night of February 20, 2003, hundreds of rock music fans gathered at a local club in West Warwick, RI, to hear a national band. But excitement turned to panic when indoor pyrotechnics ignited the club and the small building burned to the ground in a few minutes. The fire - one of the worst in United States history - claimed 100 lives, injured 200, and left a permanent scar on the larger Rhode Island community.

Marking the tenth anniversary of the devastating fire at The Station nightclub, WSBE Rhode Island PBS airs two films about the youngest victim, Nicholas "Nicky" O'Neill: 41 (Director's Cut) and They Walk Among Us.

41, a documentary by Christian de Rezendes and Christian O'Neill (Nicky O'Neill's older brother) airs Saturday, February 16 at 7 p.m. as part of Rhode Island Stories on Rhode Island PBS (36.1). It airs on the anniversary itself, February 20 at 8 p.m. on Learn (36.2). This extended Director's Cut includes additional footage and storytelling shown for the first time on Rhode Island PBS. 41 paints a portrait of Nicky's 18 years - packed full in so short a time with prolific writing, composing, acting... and an obsession with the number 41  But what makes the film so remarkable is the story after the story: what happened - and continues to happen - after the deadly fire took his life. Signs are everywhere that Nicky's spirit continues to move among his family and friends. Even strangers. 41 is a story of uplifting hope, insight, and comfort. And it may change the way you think about life and death.

They Walk Among Us is the filmed stage performance of a one-act play written by Nicky O'Neill a year before the fire. Amazingly, the play tells the story of teenagers who have died and become angels, with one of the characters based on Nicky himself. A year after the manuscript was found, the play was performed by a group of dedicated friends and family members who had come together to present a work that has since become a local legend.

They Walk Among Us gives us a glimpse into the heart of a gifted young man whose time came much too soon, while also celebrating the spirit of a community joined together to share with the world a life-changing message of hope.

First released in 2005, this recent version of the film has been thoroughly re-edited, with a new opening sequence and a new original score by composer Michael Teoli. They Walk Among Us is directed by Christian O'Neill, filmed and edited by Christian De Rezendes, and produced by Dave Kane.

They Walk Among Us premieres Sunday, February 17 at 11 p.m. on Rhode Island PBS (36.1) and follows 41 on February 20 at 10 p.m. on Learn.

Christian de Rezendes

Christian O'Neill

 

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on Rhode Island cable: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; on Massachusetts cable: Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36 / 3128HD, Dish Network 7776.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; in RI on Cox 808; Verizon FiOS 478; Full Channel 109; in MA on Comcast 294 or 312.