According to my Rogers Ignite guide, this weeks episode is a repeat of "Suite Dreams: Birth of the Modern Hotel.

Worth adding that the show that followed this one was called "How Disney Built America," a 6-part exploration of the genius of Walt Disney. I didn't think it would be all that interesting, but it was excellent. I bring it up because the new episode dealt with the planning for Disney World in Orlando and how it came about. 

And the little nugget that emerged from the show is that several places were considered for the new location of the massive theme park. And one of them was Niagara Falls! They decided the amount of land needed and the weather wouldn't make it suitable, but imagine what might have been if that location had been picked! Who knew?

I have been taping the Disney series, pretty good so far.  There are a whole bunch in this series and they have been on for a while.  The Toys That Built America, The Food That Built America, The Mega Brands That Built America, How Disney Built America etc.  If you like business oriented documentaries these would be of interest.  All on History Channel.  The building of Disney World is on tomorrow evening at 10pm.  Two other episodes in the series are also on before Disney at 8 and 9pm. 

paterson1 wrote:

I have been taping the Disney series, pretty good so far.  There are a whole bunch in this series and they have been on for a while.  The Toys That Built America, The Food That Built America, The Mega Brands That Built America, How Disney Built America etc.  If you like business oriented documentaries these would be of interest.  All on History Channel.  The building of Disney World is on tomorrow evening at 10pm.  Two other episodes in the series are also on before Disney at 8 and 9pm. 

I have watched all of these series. Absolutely fascinating. Well worth your time.

I stull don't know when the episode of "Mega Brands" that features the origins of transistor radios, cassettes, CDs, Walkmans and DVDs debuts in Canada (keep checking the History Channel Canada listings) but it's bound to turn up here eventually. 

But now there's a new show to look for in the same vein. Beginning June 23rd in the U.S., History debuts an original new series called "The Icons That Built America," about people who made a huge impact on and changed modern culture through their work. Among those being spotlighted: 

Richard Pryor, Bruce Lee, N.W.A., George Carlin and the one I'm most looking forward to, Howard Stern. Each show traces the beginning of their careers and how they ended up influencing society, the movies, the media and more, each in their own way. 

I believe the first episode spotlights Evel Knieval, of all people, with this description:

"In 1965, a struggling motorcycle salesman desperate to juice sales at his small-town dealership comes up with a dangerous publicity stunt that not only launches him into a new career, but changes entertainment forever."

Another one to watch for, although there's no word yet on when Canadians might get the chance to see it.  

I love all the _________ That Built America.  Especially when they cross over.  On The Food That Built America you will often see the same actors crossing over between Candy, Fast Food, Breakfast Cereals, etc.  The innovations that went into everything that built America is fascinating.  My Journalism Professor, Stephen Kimber, just published a book called The Phelan Feud (The bitter struggle for control of a great Canadian food empire) promises to be a good read based on my fandom for these TV shows. 

For those with access to U.S. cable, via a sat dish or a VPN, this airs tonight (Sunday) at 10 PM. I'm still not entirely sure which "Shock Jocks" (the title of the episode) are featured but you can make a pretty good guess via the description from the History Channel's website:

"For decades, the radio world has been dominated by top-40 music, while the DJ is expected to simply shut up and play the next track. But in the 1970s, two maverick broadcasters take a different approach, challenging their bosses, the rules and polite society to help create a new genre: talk radio. One will launch an all-out war with his own station as he goes to shocking lengths in a bid to for the top spot in New York, while the other will launch a political revolution on the airwaves in an effort to save AM radio from extinction."

Judging by that precis, I feel confident that they're featuring the back stories of Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh and how both got started.
 

I missed the 10pm airing but found a repeat at 1am. I did see some of the episode but the lazyboy effect was too powerful. Zzzzzzzz. I will have to wait until it eventually comes to Canada and I can PVR it. What I did see was excellent.