This educational film is an episode of the TV program titled “Discovery” followed by the year, in which the program was released – in this case, “Discovery ‘68”. It aired on ABC from 1962 until 1971 as an award-winning children’s program about the history and culture of America. This episode from 1968, titled “The Stone Age Americans”, is hosted by Virginia Gibson and Bill Owen and is produced in Mesa Verde National Park in Southwestern Colorado, to educate youngsters on the Indians and their tribal lives during the Stone Age.
The film begins at the Mesa Verde National Park (00:05). A model built to portray the look and life of an Indian tribe, that inhabited Mesa Verde National Park during the Stone Age (00:11). “The Stone Age Americans” title banner (00:27). “Discovery ‘68” intro segment (00:46). Host Virginia Gibson introduces the following episode from Mesa Verde (00:56). Footage of the canyons and the broad flat lands of the National Park, which Spanish explores named Mesa Verde, meaning The Green Table (01:09). Ravens glide in the air over the green landscapes (01:22). Round and square towers and houses carved in stone on the face of the cliff makes up “The Silent City of Adobe and Stone” (01:34). “Cliff Palace” is the largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde (01:58). Hosts Bill Owen and Virginia Gibson speak to the camera (02:31). Ruins of different Indian cliff dwellings around the National Park (02:43). A city carved into the vertical walls of a cliff, now known as “Balcony House” inhabited from 1202-1276 (03:20). A core sample of wooden beams from the houses used to estimate the date of when the Indian tribes lived there (05:23). A surface dwelling created on flat lands by farming Indian tribes (07:06). Landscape footage of the vast lands and canyons of Mesa Verde (07:28). Birds flying in the blue sky and through the canyons (08:00). The mummified body of a young Indian woman, named Ester, from a basket-making tribe displayed at the “Mesa Verde Museum”(08:30). Virginia Gibson explaining the natural occurrence of the mummification of Ester’s body (08:52). Detailed models and figures portray the timeline of how Indian tribes survived and evolved during the Stone Age, narrated by Bill Owen (09:34). Footage of the National Park, “Cliff Palace”, and “Balcony House” (13:16). Virginia Gibson walks around inside the “Balcony House” cliff dwelling displaying features of the daily life of the Indians, such as a Matate and Mono, made of stone to grind dried corn into flour, and the construction of their balconies (14:18). Bill Owen stands inside a large hole in the ground, called a Kiva, known to be a ceremonial chamber, with comprehensive systems for air ventilation (16:09). On the floor of the Kiva is small hole called Sipapu, which functions as a hole into the underworlds for the spirits to use (16:56). Virginia Gibson stand inside the remains of a burned down house (17:53). Bill Owen craws through a small hole that is the only entrance to the cliff dwelling as a measure of protection (18:46). The programs’ hosts conclude the episode by showing books, selected by American Library Association, recommended for further knowledge about the Stone Age Indian tribes (20:19).
“The Stone Age Americans” was produced by Daniel Wilson, directed by Lou Volpicelli, and written by Joseph Hurley. The film is a Jules Power production in association with ABC News and Public Affairs, in corporation with The National Park Service and National Education Association. Mex Glenn is director of photography with Steven Goldhor as camera assistant. William Hilliker, Jr. is production manager and J. Lencina is the sound recordist. The title “The Stone Age Americans” was designed by Eugene de Christopher, and the production unit’s domestic air transportation arrangement and promotional consideration were provided by United Airlines.
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