[WETA documentary - 1988]

WETA Television 26 - Radio FM91

July 27, 1988

Mr. James DePreist Conductor Portland Symphony Orchestra 813 Southwest Alder Street Mezzanine Level Portland, Oregon 97205

Dear Mr. DePreist:

I am writing to you on behalf of WETA-TV, the public television station in Washington, D.C. We are in the process of developing a 60-minute documentary on the life and career of your distinguished aunt Ms. Marian Anderson.

We not only propose to chronicle the highlights in Ms. Andersons illustrious career. Rather we wish to emphasize the enormous impact she had on the music world and illustrate how equally impressive her humanitarian efforts were. Therefore we propose to produce a film profiling an extraordinary person whose legacy is one of greatness.

The program will consist of a series of interviews with music critics past and current members of the classical and operatic music genres contemporaries of Ms. Anderson and family members. Interview excerpts along with performance footage will be compiled along with contextual film footage of America and Europe during the 1930s 1940s and 1950s to place her life against the background of world events.

As Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Programming I will oversee this project as Executive Producer and will supervise a top ranked staff yet to be determined. However the necessary production team identified thus far would consist of a production consultant producer writer and researcher all with experience in successfully developing historical and performance documentaries. I have spent 20 years in public television production program development program administration and senior management. Among some of the program series the Cultural Affairs Department at WETA has presented to the Public Broadcasting Service are the following programs series SMITHSONIAN WORLD IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE RIVER JOURNEYS TREASURE HOUSES OF BRITAIN COMET HALLEY A CAPITOL FOURTH TAKING CARE OF TERRIFIC (WONDERWORKS) HUEY LONG MATISSE IN NICE SULEYMAN THE MAGNIFICENT IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE etc.

P.O. BOX 2626 Washington D.C. 20013 (703) 998-2600

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Mr. DePreist 7/27/88 Page 2

We plan to compile a team that will insure that the program will be substantive and visually stunning. Perhaps more appropriately stated we want our program to sing. [!] The program woud air nationally over the Public Broadcasting Service.

Enclosed for your review is a copy of the proposal on Ms. Anderson which provides in greater detail information about the documentary. I hope you enjoy reading the proposal. I have taken the liberty of including some additional information about WETA.

Many people are fans of your work with the Portland Symphony Orchestra myself included. I also recently listened to the radio program on Marian Anderson in the Unsung Heroes series produced by WETA radio in 1981. To this end I thought it would be wonderful if our documentary could somehow engage your participation. Clearly your input in our project would be important to its success. We fully realize that your schedule may be very busy. Despite this I thought I would nevertheless try to see if there would be any interest on your part. If there is an interest we would make every effort to arrange our production schedule to accomodate your schedule.

I look forward to hearing your reactions to our proposal. I will be in contact with your office within the next couple of weeks. Or please feel free to contact me. I can be reached at 703-998-2609 or 2669.

WETA is very excited about developing a program on Marian Anderson. I hope you share our enthusiasm after you read the proposal.

I thank you in advance for your consideration of the Marian Anderson project.

Very truly yours,

Tamara E. Robinson Vice President Cultural Affairs Programming

cc: Dante James Averi Livingston

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