Apollo 11 anniversary celebrated with special programming on Channel 11
“Tranquility base here, the Eagle has landed.”
Those words spoken by Neil Armstrong are my earliest memory of the Apollo 11 moon landing, which happened 10 years before I was born. I heard them, over and over again, thanks to a souvenir my Great Aunt Helen had brought back from Florida: the official soundtrack album of EPCOT Center.
Armstrong's words, spoken as the lunar module touched the surface of the moon, were included on the song “Golden Dream,” the climax of the Disney park's audio-animatronics show “The American Adventure.” The show celebrates the birth of our nation and the greatness its citizens have accomplished; certainly, Apollo 11 ranks among the very greatest.
July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, and our own WTTW Channel 11 is marking the occasion with a slate of programming they have dubbed The Summer of Space. The lineup includes an interview with Apollo 13 hero Jim Lovell conducted by Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano (Thursday, July 11) and re-airings of classic space-themed “Nova” episodes.
But the event begins 9 p.m. Monday, July 8, with the first installment of “Chasing the Moon,” a three-part film airing on three subsequent nights. This product of the “American Experience” series chronicles the history of the Space Race while, in the words of PBS.org, recasting it as “a fascinating stew of scientific innovation, political calculation, media spectacle, visionary impulses and personal drama.”
Directed by “American Experience” veteran Robert Stone, “Chasing the Moon” employs long-unseen archival footage and recent interviews with key figures.
In addition to “Chasing the Moon,” Summer of Space highlights include:
• “Antiques Roadshow” — 8 p.m. Monday, July 8. Features appraisals of space memorabilia.
• “Sirott & Murciano With Astronaut Jim Lovell” — 10 p.m. Thursday, July 11. An interview with the astronaut who flew on Apollo 8 and 13.
• “POV Shorts: Earthrise” — 10:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11. Shares the story of the first image captured of Earth from space in 1968.
• “8 Days: To The Moon And Back” — 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 17. A film mixes conversations between Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins with new footage and CGI.
• “Ancient Skies” — 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 24 and 31, and Aug. 7. Three-part miniseries traces the knowledge that helped past generations grasp the concepts of space.
From IMAX to your TV
Speaking of archival footage, this year's acclaimed IMAX documentary “Apollo 11” was pieced together from unearthed 65 mm film footage of the launch and recovery of the mission. The 93-minute film premiered last month on CNN and is still available on demand from the news network until July 23; it's also available for digital rental and purchase on platforms such as Vudu and iTunes.
But “Apollo 11” deserves to be seen on the big screen, and the Classic Cinemas in Woodstock, 209 Main St., will give you that chance at 1 and 7 p.m. Monday, July 8. Tickets are $8 for the evening show, and $6 for the matinee and all seniors. Buy them online at classiccinemas.com.
• The Daily Herald invites you to share your memories of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Email Diane Dungey at ddungey@dailyherald.com or join the conversation at www.facebook.com/DailyHeraldFans/. Provide your full name and town, and we may include your response in our anniversary coverage.