I wanted to examine how the world worked, to use the scientific process of discovery as a narrative device to tell good stories. Producers are a naturally curious lot and good documentaries are made out of that curiosity.
Archives
Creating NOVA (1971-76)
From Michael Ambrosino: Science is a part of our heritage, our present culture, and a major force in determining our future. Its absence from television [in the 1970s], spoke to the ignorance of many of its gatekeepers.... Science, medicine, technology, engineering, architecture all impact our culture by determining how we live our lives!
Proposal for The Science Program Group for Public Television (1973)
From the American Association for the Advancement of Science: Mr. Ambrosino's report outlines the plan for the creation of a science programming group for public television.
Going Public (1964-1970)
From Michael Ambrosino: I’ve never considered myself an intellectual; my memory and thought processes are just not good enough for true intellectual work. I do, however, have an insatiable curiosity and enjoy the world of ideas.
Building a Network: EEN (1961-64)
WGBH: The Early Years
- Skating Around the Rink (1956-60)
- Building a Network: EEN (1961-64)
- Going Public (1964-70)
Ed: This is the second of three excerpts from Michael Ambrosino’s autobiography. In the first part, [intlink id=”1055″ type=”post”]Skating Around the Rink[/intlink], he described the early years at WGBH, an era of live and live-on-tape TV productions at the 84 Massachusetts Avenue studio in Cambridge.
Skating Around the Rink (1956-60)
Ed: In 2006, WGBH pioneer Michael Ambrosino completed an autobiography for his family. Last month, he made a gracious offer for us to publish some of his early-WGBH stories on this Web site.
A world of song
From Michael Ambrosino: When you think how public broadcasting has changed over our last 50 years, it seems impossible to imagine what will be happening in that new facility in 2057!
WGBH Pioneers: Michael Ambrosino – Part 2 (1998)
Michael Ambrosino — the creator of NOVA — describes his early years at WGBH, an era of live and live-on-tape TV productions at the 84 Massachusetts Avenue studio in Cambridge.
Watch Video — Part 2 (57 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV7YeNFNQ3k?rel=0
WGBH Pioneers: Michael Ambrosino – Part 1 (1998)
Michael Ambrosino — the creator of NOVA — describes his early years at WGBH, an era of live and live-on-tape TV productions at the 84 Massachusetts Avenue studio in Cambridge.
This series presents authorized interviews with early producers and directors for Boston’s innovative public television and radio stations. He was interviewed on June 19, 1998 by Fred Barzyk.
40 years with ‘GBH
My first visit to WGBH was in the fall of 1955, just after TV had gone on the air at 84 Mass Ave. in Cambridge. I was at work developing a TV master plan for the University of Connecticut at the time, and wanted a tour of one of the few (12) “educational” stations on the air.