About this season
American Masters is a PBS television series which produces biographies on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the United States.
Episodes (8)
1. Lillian Gish: The Actor's Life for Me
Aired 11 July 1988 • 90 min
The famed career of the silent movie actress and an examination of the role of women in film during that era of American cinema.
2. A Duke Named Ellington
10.0Aired 18 July 1988 • 90 min
Detailed biography of the renowned jazz performer/conductor Duke Ellington and his band, including his easy-going grace and sophistication.
3. Andre Kertesz of the Cities
Aired 8 August 1988 • 90 min
A retrospective of the urban photography of Andre Kertesz, told by tracking him in the final years before his death.
4. Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul
9.0Aired 22 August 1988 • 90 min
Franklin's life - from gospel to Grammy Awards.
5. Rivera in America
Aired 29 August 1988 • 90 min
The murals and politics of the famed Mexican artist Diego Rivera.
6. Saint-Gaudens: Masque of the Golden Bowl
Aired 5 September 1988 • 90 min
A dramatic recreation of the work and career of a renowned sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens
7. Neil Simon: Not Just for Laughs
Aired 8 March 1989 • 90 min
The whimsical work of the beloved playwright.
8. Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
6.5Aired 26 June 1989 • 90 min
The story of "method" acting.