Pasquale Spensieri spends his days driving around Brooklyn looking for dull blades.
Cali Rivera, Cowbell Maker
Forty-five years ago, Cali Rivera started out with a dream to make the perfect cowbell.
Charlie Zimmerman, Watertower Builder
Charlie works for Rosenwach Tanks, building wooden water tanks.
Frank Schubert, Lighthouse Keeper
Frank Schubert is the last civilian lighthouse keeper in the United States.
Selma Koch, Bra Saleswoman
94-year old Selma Koch runs the Town Shop, one of New York’s last old-style bra fitting shops.
Walter Backerman, Seltzer Man
Once there were thousands of seltzer men in New York City. Today, Walter Backerman is one of the last.
Gracie Allen: The Joke That Became a Campaign
In 1940 the United States was just emerging from the shadow of the Great Depression and war loomed in Europe. Into these serious times stepped Gracie Allen.
The “Veep”
Alben Barkley served in Congress for close to 40 years and was Harry Truman’s vice president. But he never made it to the pinnacle of power.
When Ground Zero was Radio Row
For more than four decades, the area around Cortlandt Street in lower Manhattan was the largest collection of radio and electronics stores in the world. Then in 1966 the stores were bulldozed to make way for the new World Trade Center.
The WASPs: Women Pilots of WWII
In the early 1940s, the government launched an experimental program to train women pilots. They were known as the WASPs, the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
The 10th Mountain
The men of the 10th Mountain Division led a series of daring assaults against the Nazis in the mountains of Italy. After returning home, many of these soldiers helped to create the modern ski industry.
The Last Place: Diary of a Retirement Home
A group of residents of The Presbyterian Home use tape recorders to document their lives.
Serving 9 to 5: Diaries of Prison Guards
Diaries from officers who work behind bars at Polk Youth Institution.
Going Home: Cristel’s Diary
At 15, Cristel attacked a classmate with a razor blade. After 3 years of incarceration, she’s being released.
Doing Time: John’s Diary
As a kid, John dreamed of becoming a police officer, but by the age of 17, John had committed more than 75 armed robberies.
Matthew and the Judge: Juvenile Court Diary
Through their diaries, Matthew and Judge Jeremiah tell the same story from two different sides of the bench.
Amanda’s Diary: Girlfriend
Amanda is gay. Amanda’s family is Catholic. And she’s having a hard time convincing her parents that this is not “just a phase.”
Josh’s Diaries: Tourette’s
Josh has Tourette’s Syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable tics and involuntary verbal outbursts.
Melissa’s Diaries: Teen Mom
Melissa never meant to get pregnant. But now, after 12 years of living in the foster care system, she’s trying to build the family she never had.
Frankie’s Diaries: Welcome Home, Dad / Football
Frankie always thought his family was pretty normal until the day the FBI showed up.
Juan’s Diaries: Looking at the Rio Grande
Juan crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally with his family as a teenager. Now he lives next to the Rio Grande in Texas.
Jeff’s Diary: Halfrican
More and more these days Jeff finds himself thinking about race as he’s confronted with the question “What are you?”
Randy’s Diary: Remembering Ozell
While living on a farm that was once part of a slave plantation, Randy searches for clues about the life of his great-grandfather, the civil rights leader Ozell Mitchell.
Emily’s Diary: Teenage Days
Emily gives an inside look at “sportos,” “krusties,” “krinkles,” and how being a teenager isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Nick’s Diary: Home School to High School
Nick chronicles a turbulent year in his life. He’s 15-years-old and hates school, but somehow he must learn to make friends.
Ricky’s Diary: What If God….
Ricky’s father is an atheist activist. Ricky is beginning his own search for something to believe in.
The Rubber Room
The true story of little-known rooms in the New York City Board of Education building. Teachers are told to report there instead of their classrooms. No reason is usually given.
Lady Writes the Blues
You may not know her name, but Rose Marie McCoy was one of the most prolific songwriters of the 1950s and 1960s.
The Starting Five
The NBA, now a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry, looked very different a half century ago.
Civil War Widows
Seven decades ago, Daisy Anderson and Alberta Martin were brand new brides. And their husbands served on opposite sides of the Civil War.
Esperanza Garden
Esperanza Garden was a much-loved community space in Manhattan’s East Village…until city bulldozers arrived to tear it down.
