Lakeport documentary to air on AETN, other stations in April and May

April 8, 2008 -- Arkansas independent television producer Jack Hill ( producer of TeleVision for Arkansas, a series of programs presenting various topics, but predominantly educational and social issues affecting Arkansas residents), has produced a documentary, "Lakeport Lives On," that will air on educational and commercial stations in Arkansas and surrounding areas during April and May.

A premiere of "Lakeport Lives On" will be held Wednesday, April 16, at 4:30 p.m. and
5:30 p.m., in the ASU Museum, Room 182.

The program, which focuses largely on the African-American heritage associated with Lakeport Plantation and the Lakeport Plantation house, was made possible through a grant from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, a division of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.  Broadcast sponsorship is being provided by Arkansas State University. The Lakeport Plantation was established before the Civil War by Kentuckian Joel Johnson, and the house was built in 1859 for Lycurgus and Lydia Taylor Johnson. Their descendants remained there until it was sold to Sam Epstein in 1927.

The Lakeport Plantation house is the only remaining Arkansas plantation home on the Mississippi River, and is now open to the public, thanks to a gift in 2001 to ASU from the Sam Epstein Angel family.

Dr. Ruth Hawkins, director, Arkansas Heritage SITES (System Initiatives for Technical and Educational Support), and project director for the Lakeport restoration, says “The documentary focuses largely on the African American experience and heritage in the life of the region—in particular, the lives of those who lived and worked on plantations like Lakeport.”

 

Air times for the documentary are as follows:

April 17, 6:30 p.m. Arkansas Educational Television Network

April 19, 5:00 p.m. KTVE, El Dorado/Monroe, Louisiana

April 20, 1:00 p.m. KATV, Little Rock

April 20, 5:00 p.m. WABG-TV, Greenville, Mississippi

April 21, 6:00 p.m. KLFI, TV-35, Texarkana

April 21, 6:30 p.m. KAIT-TV, Jonesboro

April 22, 10:00 p.m. KLFI, TV-35, Texarkana

April 26, 1:00 p.m. KAIT-TV, Jonesboro

April 26, 9:00 p.m. KLFI, TV-35, Texarkana

May 1, 6:30 p.m. Arkansas Educational Television Network

May 3, 12:30 p.m. KHBS-TV, Fort Smith

May 3, 12:30 p.m. KHOG-TV, Fayetteville

May 14, 6:30 p.m. Arkansas Educational Television Network

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