Produced for ABC, “Discovery ’69” was a children’s non-fiction program that aired in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Hosted by Bill Owens and Virginia Gibson, the Discovery programs were innovative, shedding a spotlight on America’s political, geographical, technological and cultural history. This episode takes viewers on a tour through the Valley of Mexico and discusses the ethnic and cultural makeup of modern Mexico. Most of the setting of the film is within Mexico’s Natural Museum of Anthropology. Teotihuacan is also viewed. A brief history of the Mayans, Aztecs, Mixtecs and the Inca are depicted. It opens with footage of modern Mexico City (:12). Teotihuacan is captured which is believed to have been constructed around 200 AD (:23). The intricate carvings on the pyramid are zoomed in on (:28). The title screen follows (:34). Children climb the stone steps of the pyramids (1:09). Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico City is depicted (2:03) housing Mexico’s Natural Museum of Anthropology opened in 1964 (2:11). The saying on the doorway of the Aztec Hall is translated to read “The World Belongs to the Aztecs” (3:06). The museum was created to show the time period prior to the Spanish invasion in 1519 as well as Mexico’s distinct civilizations (3:54). The birthplace of the Olmecs is pointed to (4:12). Polychrome pottery follows which is a product of the Mixtecs (4:35). An urn was made by the Zapotec people (4:45). Mural paintings were left behind by the Teotihuacans (4:54). A Mayan stela is shown (5:06). The Toltec at Tula created the statues appearing at (5:17). The earliest known piece of Meso-American art is shown to be a camel’s fossil bone morphed to resemble the skull of a coyote (5:30). This dates back to 10,000 BC. Wax figurines demonstrate early life here in the Pleistocene Age (5:59). A large head statue (6:24) was created by the Olmec between 1300 and 1800 BC. Small figurines which follow (6:42) were created by the Olmec. The Olmec’s, in an effort to reach their idea of ideal beauty, morphed their skulls by binding babies’ heads to boards (6:58). Other statues shown demonstrate shaved heads and tattooed faces which were also popular (7:09). The Olmecs are attributed to creating the calendar number system and picture writing (7:26). The narrators stroll through Mexico’s Museum of Anthropology (8:18). The span of Teotihuacan follows which was mainly a ceremonial and religious center (9:02) housing only a few priests. The Sun Pyramid is zoomed in on (9:08). Stones which protrude out from the pyramid have drawn much speculation from visitors (10:40). A sculpture of the Rain God known as Tlaloc is pointed to (11:26). A span of the inside shows alternating statues of Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl (11:41). The inner city composed of pyramids, courtyards and temples is shown (11:53). Residential areas were spread out farther from the center (12:06). Paintings on the inside of the doors (12:27) show Tlaloc again. A well-known mural here is ‘Tlaloc’s Earthly Paradise’ (12:50). As the original mural is eroded, a recreated mural shows the original details with more clarity (13:04). A model of one of the original statues of Quetzalcoatl’s palace follows (13:38). Bill Owens stands in the location which is known as the ‘Place of the Three Cultures’ (14:14). Virginia Gibson stands where the Aztecs had taken their final stand against the Spaniards (14:43). One of the early churches built by the Spaniards after their arrival in Mexico is shown as the Colonial Church of Santiago (14:50). Apartment homes are depicted to show the third culture of Mexico which is modern Mexico (14:57). A montage follows of Aztec sculptures (15:38) as well as the massive Sun Stone (15:46). The jaguar stone statue was once a central figure of sacrificial ceremonies of the Aztec (16:09). A close shot is provided of the hole in his back which was filled with human hearts torn from sacrificial victims (16:13). Wax figurines depict Aztec markets as the women would often sit on mats in order to watch their goods (16:56). The most popular items sold in areas were corn, beans, squash and chili peppers (17:04). Turtles and iguanas were also a part of regular Aztec diet (17:30). Warriors moved through the markets acting as policemen (18:51). A modern Mexico City market place is shown (19:22). Murals are shown on buildings and historical spots throughout the city (19:58). The statue called the Angel of Independence is shown (20:00) as well as the Monumento a la Raza (20:09). The film wraps up (21:17).

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