American Masters
Since its premiere in 1986, American Masters has been the only PBS series committed to developing and producing comprehensive film biographies about the broad cast of characters who comprise our cultural history.
CLIPS (497)
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The Making of Unladylike2020Director Charlotte Mangin discusses what went into making Unladylike2020.Director Charlotte Mangin discusses what went into making Unladylike2020. -
She was the First Woman to Swim Across the English ChannelGertrude Ederle (1905-2003) made history and rocketed to international stardom ...Gertrude Ederle (1905-2003) made history and rocketed to international stardom in 1926 when, at age 20, she became the first woman to swim the English Channel, then considered one of the toughest ... -
Queen Lili‘uokalani - The First and Last Queen of Hawai‘iQueen Lili‘uokalani (1838-1917) was the first sovereign queen, and the last ...Queen Lili‘uokalani (1838-1917) was the first sovereign queen, and the last monarch of Hawai‘i, who assumed the throne in the midst of a government takeover by American business owners supported ... -
Two Things That Gave Carl Reiner the Most Pleasure in LifeComic legend Carl Reiner describes the two things that gave him the most ...Comic legend Carl Reiner describes the two things that gave him the most pleasure in life. -
Sissieretta Jones was a Trailblazing Black Opera SingerSissieretta Jones became the first Black woman to headline a concert on the main ...Sissieretta Jones became the first Black woman to headline a concert on the main stage at Carnegie Hall in 1892. Jones was heralded as the greatest singer of her generation and a pioneer in the ... -
Why Fran Lebowitz Always Sought Advice From Toni MorrisonCultural critic Fran Lebowitz says there's a specific reason why she would ask ...Cultural critic Fran Lebowitz says there's a specific reason why she would ask her good friend Toni Morrison for advice. In these outtakes from "Toni Morrison: The Pieces I am," she also talks about ... -
Director Interview with Timothy Greenfield-Sanders"Toni Morrison is an extraordinary subject in front of the camera," says ..."Toni Morrison is an extraordinary subject in front of the camera," says director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. In this interview, he talks about how he met Morrison and what it took to make this film. ... -
When Toni Morrison Won The Nobel PrizeIn this excerpt from "Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am," Toni Morrison tells the ...In this excerpt from "Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am," Toni Morrison tells the story of going to Stockholm to accept the Nobel Prize. "I like the Nobel Prize. Because they know how to give a party," ... -
Toni Morrison On Writing Without the "White Gaze"In this excerpt from Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Toni Morrison talks about ...In this excerpt from Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Toni Morrison talks about writing without the “white gaze.” She says, “I have spent my entire writing life trying to make sure that the white ... -
The Story Behind the Title of the Novel "The Bluest Eye"In this excerpt from Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Toni Morrison recalls the ...In this excerpt from Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Toni Morrison recalls the time a Black childhood friend, who was 11 at the time, told her that she had been praying for blue eyes for two years. ... -
The First American Indian DoctorSusan La Flesche Picotte became the first American Indian woman to graduate from ...Susan La Flesche Picotte became the first American Indian woman to graduate from medical school, and is notable for founding an independently funded hospital on the Omaha reservation in Nebraska. -
The Mae West Film that Helped Save Paramount PicturesThe Mae West film "She Done Him Wrong" was credited with helping to bring ...The Mae West film "She Done Him Wrong" was credited with helping to bring Paramount Pictures out of bankruptcy. It also helped make her a star in Hollywood and gave her the opportunity to turn a ... -
How Madonna May Have Been Influenced by Mae WestMadonna, Mariah Carey, Lena Dunham and other women entertainers have followed in ...Madonna, Mariah Carey, Lena Dunham and other women entertainers have followed in Mae West's footsteps in various ways, including breaking taboos about sexuality. Madonna in particular, with her book ... -
Why Didn't Mae West Keep Up with the Latest Fashions?Mae West didn’t keep up with the latest fashions. Her persona, with the ...Mae West didn’t keep up with the latest fashions. Her persona, with the exaggerated hourglass figure and luxurious clothing, was inspired from trends in the 1890’s. It’s perhaps because of this ... -
Without "Talkies" There Would Be No Mae WestThe silent film era ended with the birth of the "talkie" not long before Mae ...The silent film era ended with the birth of the "talkie" not long before Mae West become a Hollywood star. While audiences were enthralled by West's powerful and confident sexuality, the main way she ... -
Mae West Made this "Insane" Film in her 80'sThe film "Sextette," which Mae West made when she was in her 80's, was actually ...The film "Sextette," which Mae West made when she was in her 80's, was actually a "radical power move," according to comedian Natasha Lyonne. It demonstrated West's supreme confidence as a woman ... -
Annie Smith Peck: Record-Breaking MountaineerAnnie Smith Peck, one of the first women in America to become a college ...Annie Smith Peck, one of the first women in America to become a college professor in the fields of Latin, elocution, and archaeology, took up mountain climbing in her forties. She gained international ... -
Gladys Bentley: Gender-Bending Performer and MusicianGladys Bentley joined New York’s Harlem Renaissance jazz scene at age 16 and ...Gladys Bentley joined New York’s Harlem Renaissance jazz scene at age 16 and became an instant sensation and gender identity pioneer, performing piano and vocals at the most popular gay bars, ... -
The First American-Born Chinese Woman DoctorMargaret Chung (1889-1959) overcame great racism and sexism to become the first ...Margaret Chung (1889-1959) overcame great racism and sexism to become the first American-born Chinese female doctor in 1916. She also helped establish WAVES, the women’s naval reserves, paving the ... -
She was a leader of the American labor movementRose Schneiderman began working in a factory at age 16, and after experiencing ...Rose Schneiderman began working in a factory at age 16, and after experiencing unsafe work conditions and unequal pay first-hand, helped organize an all-women's chapter of a hat makers’ union. She ... -
She was the first Chinese American woman to vote in the U.S.Tye Leung Shulze resisted domestic servitude and an arranged child marriage to ...Tye Leung Shulze resisted domestic servitude and an arranged child marriage to provide translation services and solace to Asian immigrant victims of human trafficking in San Francisco. In 1912, one ...
