OUR TIMES WITH BILL MOYERS {SERIES PREMIERE} {LOS ALAMOS} (TV)
Summary
The premiere in this documentary series hosted by Bill Moyers which examines major issues of the day and how they affect individual Americans. In this edition, Moyers visits the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico on the fortieth anniversary of the detonation of the first atomic bomb. The show opens at the weapons laboratory with Moyers witnessing the unsuccessful test of high explosives used to trigger an atomic reaction led by physicist Paul White. Black-and-white footage is then shown of a scene that Robert Oppenheimer and physicist Isadore Rabi filmed reenacting their discussion moments before the first atomic explosion. Moyers then interviews Rabi, who is attending the reunion of scientists at the anniversary event. Rabi expresses his sorrow that the facility still exists. He had hoped that after World War II, atomic weapons would have been banned. Footage is shown of Rabi addressing seventy of the scientists who had worked on The Manhattan Project, concerning his fear that they have given dangerous knowledge and power to individuals who may not respect science or humanity. Moyers then interviews White about the problems he faces working on exciting experiments that pose a moral dilemma. He bemoans the fact that many of his contemporaries have never seen a nuclear explosion, and thus cannot realize the reality of the danger. Next, Robert Dinegar, an Episcopal priest who is also a leading expert on detonators that trigger atomic blasts, is interviewed. He says that he is comfortable with his decision to work on atomic projects since he has the opportunity to help eliminate war in a world where war is a possibility. Moyers visits the local Los Alamos high school and talks with the students about the reality of a nuclear explosion in their area. The program concludes with Moyers in attendance at the successful conclusion of experiments led by White first shown at the beginning of the program. Includes commercials.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the CBS Foundation, 1998.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: June 26, 1983 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:27:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:01129-2
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Atomic bombs; Manhattan Project; Nuclear weapons; Scientists
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1983
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - General Motors automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Spray 'n Starch fabric finish
- TV - Commercials - Tempo antacid
CREDITS
- Andrew Lack … Executive Producer
- Elena Mannes … Producer, Director, Writer
- Sheila Price Parker … Production (Misc.), Production Manager
- Denise Dowling … Production (Misc.), Production Associate
- Toni Elizabeth Siegel … Direction (Misc.)
- Errol Hazelwood … Researcher
- Walter Pincus … Consultant
- Bill Moyers … Host, Interviewer
- Robert Dinegar … Guest
- Isadore Rabi … Guest
- Paul White … Guest