“Reviving Neglected Giants”
Where does television go after broadcast?
Unfortunately, much of it was lost, especially during TV’s early days. Although some was saved on media like reels and kinescopes, other programming wasn’t considered important or interesting enough to keep for posterity—but media historians and archivists have worked hard to preserve the content that endured via physical formats.
The project “Reviving Neglected Giants” showcases largely forgotten but hugely influential television programs while advocating for greater support of efforts to maintain the physical media that captured them as they continue to degrade over time.
In this section, follow the group of researchers, archivists, and students who joined forces to save two examples of formative early television and share them for a broader audience. Beginning with the collections’ provenance, continuing through the formulation of research questions and plans for broader access, and ending with academic papers and public exhibition, this journey explores the many issues raised along the way to preservation and publication.
We invite you to come along as we share considerations that impacted how, when, and where we have chosen to share these media, as well as why these two shows, in particular, continue to resonate in the 21st century.