Prairie Public Classics
Since signing on air in 1964, Prairie Public’s production crews have logged thousands of miles and hundreds of hours creating the quality series, documentaries, and performance shows that have become our viewer’s favorites.
This icon indicates a program distributed nationally to other public television stations.
1964
Prairie Public’s first local production was a series of scenic North Dakota slides set to music to fill the 5-minute interlude between classroom programs.
1965
KFME began production of its first instructional program–a 60-hour English Literature course for Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Teachers Orientation, the first program produced in Prairie Public’s studio, introduced teachers to the uses of public television programs in the classroom.
Art About Us was an instructional series hosted by Fargo art teacher Bruce McGhie. The series was carried by public television stations across the country.
Duologue was Prairie Public’s first general audience local production. The series was hosted by Lou Marget and broadcast by five other area public television stations.
1966
Red River Land, a classroom program taught by North Dakota author Erling Nicolai Rolfsrud, covered the history and the development of the Red River Basin, a lakebed plain that extends from the Canadian border into Minnesota and North Dakota. The program aired for nine years and won the 1969 Ohio Award for “The Little White Schoolhouse” segment.
Time for Art was the second classroom art instructional series from North Dakota artist Bruce McGhie.
1967
Children of the Dark won awards from the Broadcast Industry Conference and the Institute for Education through Television and Radio.
1969
Christmas Is… won an award from the Broadcast Industry Conference.
1976
SPIN with Cal Olson was a weekly hour-long magazine program with interviews and discussions about topical interests.
Peak At The Week was a weekly community arts calendar produced by an all volunteer crew.
1977
The Laughing Crowd examined the serious problem of drug use in Fargo.
1978
SPIN with Boyd Christianson continued Prairie Public’s popular magazine program with a new host taking the reins.
Jim Blanchard’s Television Theatre brought a new type of locally-produced program to Prairie Public’s schedule.
1980
North Dakota This Week was a weekly news broadcast featuring a roundtable of journalists from across the state.
Going Public featured host Michael J. Olson’s live episodes from locations around the state. The series was known for its daredevil locations including high up a television antenna in Minot and from a roof ledge on Fargo’s Radission Hotel.
Boyd Christianson Interviews included intimate portraits with many of North Dakota’s best known personalities. Guests included musician Lawrence Welk, baseball great Roger Maris, U.S. Senator Milton Young, hockey legend Cliff “Fido” Purpur and writer Louis L’Amour.
1981
1981 North Dakota State Gymnastics Championship was broadcast from Dickinson, North Dakota.
Dakota Dream Champ examined the life and work of renowned North Dakota-born poet Thomas McGrath.
1983
UND Sioux Hockey was broadcast live for two seasons by Prairie Public.
1985
Prairie Architecture: The Courthouses featured the historic, philosophic, and sociologic aspects of life revealed through architecture of the iconic prairie structures.
Let’s Talk: Fishing with hosts Dave “Hot Tip” Jensen and Boyd Christianson discussed the hows, whys, and wheres of the gentlemanly sport of angling with area fishing fans.
1986
A Dream Called Public Television hosted by then-president Dennis Falk presented the history of Prairie Public’s first 20 years.
1988
Vote ‘88 featured televised debates hosted by Prairie Public and the League of Women Voters
Joyful We Adore Thee: The Concordia College Christmas Concert was distributed nationally to more than 100 PBS stations.
The Drawing Studio brought art instruction by Fargo artist Bob Kurkowski to elementary schools throughout the state.
1989
Prairie Filmmakers, a showcase of regional filmmaking, was launched. As it continued annually, the program attracted dozens of entries.
National Competition on the Constitution featured a televised “dress rehearsal” for North Dakota’s champion debate team from St. Mary’s New England as they prepared for their national debate in Washington DC as part of the 1989 National Bicentennial Competition on the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The Magic of Art featuring artist Bob Kurkowski also included a companion book of lessons for teachers interested in expanding their art programs using new media such as dough sculpture, wax resists, and paper sculpting.
Get On Your Feet examined the North Dakota Self Reliance program.
More classics: Classics From The 1990s | 2000s
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