Maxwell Street documentary on Discovery Channel
A new documentary about the struggle to save Maxwell Street has been produced for the Discovery Channel by Emmy Award winner Michael Hoff Productions of Emeryville, California. They are a major producer of non-fiction television for educational and cable TV stations. This show was produced for the Discovery Channel's "Ties That Bind" series about communities in the United States and their struggles for survival and identity. It was shot last year on Maxwell Street and at the New Maxwell Street Market.
The Executive Producer was Michael Hoff and the Associate Producers were Erika Trott and Yvonne Marracino. Ms. Trott can be contacted at <etrott@mhptv.com>, Ph: 510-597-9637.
Several interviews were conducted for this show. Included were interviews with legendary Bluesman Jimmie Lee Robinson; Joe Stefanovic, owner of Original Jim's Hot Dog Stand; Ken Dunn, founder and director of the Creative Reuse Warehouse; James Dean, community gardener; and Steve Balkin, Professor of Economics at Roosevelt University and Vice President of the Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition. Also included in the show is footage of live Blues played outside on Maxwell Street, a typical weekend Blues Jam by the Street's regulars such as Clarence 'Little Scotty' Scott, Mr. H., Bobby 'Top Hat' Davis, M.K. McGee, Johnnie Mae Dunson, Piano C. Red, Mandaz Wolf, and Frank 'Little Sonny' Scott Jr.. There were also contemporary interviews with market vendors.
Historic footage by famed Chicago documentary maker, Tom Palazzolo is also incorporated. That footage includes shots of old Top Hat, Blind Arvella Gray, and Casey Jones -- The Chicken Man.
The show already aired on The Learning Channel and was on the Discovery Channel twice this year. It will be repeated on the Discovery Civilization (Digital Cable) Channel on the following dates and times:
The Maxwell Street segment is paired with a piece about the Bangladesh community in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. The total of the two segments is an hour program.
This show is a must see for those interested in Blues and community history and for those wanting to see the vitality still on Maxwell Street and to learn why this neighborhood is worth saving.
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