THIRTEEN
Can AI Surveillance Make Chile's Capital Safer? | THIRTEEN
- Title
- Can AI Surveillance Make Chile's Capital Safer? | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 12:57
- Date posted
- 4 hours ago
- Description
- How do major capital cities balance public safety with civil liberties in an era of rapid technological change? "The Open Mind" host Alexander Heffner and Mayor Mario Desbordes of Santiago, Chile, meet at the Public Security Office to discuss Santiago’s aggressive expansion of AI-powered camera networks, drone integration, and community apps designed to reclaim public spaces. As Desbordes argues, "There is no freedom without security." He is strengthening a security initiative that began two administrations prior to his. He explains (in Spanish) the influx of transnational criminal groups and increases in theft, carjackings, kidnapping and contract killing, but also actions to remove local street vendors who take away from the the tax base.
"Mayors of the World" is a special 70th anniversary series from "The Open Mind" exploring democracy and public policy with leaders around the globe, from Athens, Greece to Santiago, Chile to Toronto and Atlanta. The full program can b...
- Title
- Origin of Sleepy Hollow Legend: The Headless Horseman
- Runtime
- 1:19
- Date posted
- 5 hours ago
- Description
- Of all the Halloween legends, one of the most terrifying comes from the Hudson Valley. After the Revolution, author Washington Irving gave the country its first documented folklore — including Sleepy Hollow's ghost of the Headless Horseman. Irving has spooked generations since "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" was published in 1820.
#Shorts #SleepyHollow #HeadlessHorseman #WashingtonIrving #HudsonValley #Folklore #NYCHistory #THIRTEEN #PBS #AmericasFirstRiver #TheStoryOfNewYork #Halloween #HappyHalloween #SpookySzn
- Title
- Long Island's Forgotten 1658 Witch Trial
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 1 day ago
- Description
- Nearly 35 years before the infamous witch hysteria in Salem, MA, colonial settlers in East Hampton, Long Island put a local woman named "Elizabeth Garlick" on trial for witchcraft in 1658. Driven by strict Puritan culture and severe capital laws, this lesser-known trial exposes the fears and superstitions of early Long Island.
#Shorts #WitchTrials #LongIsland #EastHampton #SalemWitchTrials #ColonialHistory #Puritans #THIRTEEN #PBS #NewYorkHistory #Halloween #SpookySzn #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- Whose River is it Anyway? Billionaires Who Saved the Hudson | Part 2 | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 1:01:38
- Date posted
- 1 day ago
- Description
- When the trees are cut down and the fortunes are made, who truly owns the Hudson River? From ruthless Wall Street titans building empires to everyday citizens fighting to keep the land wild, the battle for the Hudson River shaped both modern industry and the environmental movement.
In part two of "America’s First River," explore how the rise of the Industrial Revolution nearly destroyed New York’s greatest natural wonder. From the booming factories of Troy and Albany to the devastating logging operations in the Adirondacks, host Bill Moyers looks at how rapid industrial growth threatened the land of Upstate New York. Featuring literary and historical insights, and descendants of famous American families, Moyers reveals how wealthy elites like the Rockefellers, Morgans, and Harrimans went from ruthless capitalists to unexpected leaders of nature conservation — ultimately saving the Hudson's beauty for generations to come.
"America's First River: Bill Moye...
- Title
- Dolores Huerta: How She Organized the United Farm Workers Movement | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 3:04
- Date posted
- 1 day ago
- Description
- THIRTEEN honors the life and legacy of labor leader and feminist activist Dolores Huerta — who passed away on October 28, 2026, at the age of 96.
In this clip from "American Historia," Huerta reflects on her early life, detailing segregation she experienced in school, police harassment, and systemic discrimination that pushed many Black and Brown students out of the education system. She transformed her anger into political activism after discovering community organizing, voter registration, and collective action.
Co-founding the "United Farm Workers Association" alongside César Chávez in 1965, Huerta joined forces with Filipino grape pickers on strike to demand basic human rights for agricultural laborers — including cold drinking water, sanitation in the fields, rest periods, unemployment insurance, and union recognition. Her relentless advocacy fundamentally transformed Latino history and the American labor movement.
"American Historia: T...
- Title
- Secret NYC Subway Before the Real Subway
- Runtime
- 1:27
- Date posted
- 2 days ago
- Description
- Back in 1870, New Yorkers woke up to a secret subway built completely under the noses of city officials. Inventor and entrepreneur Alfred Ely Beach's sly crew spent 58 nights excavating a 312-foot tunnel beneath Lower Broadway — complete with frescoed walls, fountains, goldfish, and a grand piano. The pneumatic tube (operated by a steam-powered fan and air pressure) carried passengers just one block between Murray and Warren streets before the political leader Boss Tweed shut it down a year later.
#Shorts #NYCHistory #Subway #NewYorkCity #1870 #AlfredElyBeach #NewYorkCity #UrbanExploration #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- Robert Moses' "Utopia" Apartments for New Yorkers | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 10:51
- Date posted
- 2 days ago
- Description
- Longtime residents and architectural historian Barry Lewis provide a look at a sprawling middle class complex in Manhattan that was soon sold for a record-breaking $5.4 billion in 2006. Some families lived for generations in the Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village apartment complexes, called "Stuy Town." Life there was considered "a utopia" within the city.
In the 1940s, civil servant and political operator Robert Moses and MetLife Insurance Company CEO Frederick Ecker transformed the polluted "Gas House District" into an 18-square block, 8,700-apartment neighborhood designed for middle-class families and World War II veterans. A glaring injustice was that Black residents were denied until 1950.
The 2006 segment “Stuy Town" is from the THIRTEEN Vault broadcast series "New York Voices," hosted by Rafael Pi Roman. "New York Voices" was a weekly public affairs series covered local news, arts, culture, education, and politics in New York City.
...
- Title
- New York City's Second Avenue Subway Saga | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 17:03
- Date posted
- 3 days ago
- Description
- Filmed in the mid-1970s during New York City's fiscal crisis, "The Saga of the 2nd Avenue Subway" captures frustrated commuters and opinionated politicians and planners who debate the controversial proposed subway line. In 1920 the Second Avenue Subway was proposed as part of an expansion of the Independent Subway System (IND), setting the stage for a century-long transit saga.
MTA Chairman David L. Yunich, city officials, urban planners from the Regional Plan Association, borough presidents, and frustrated Second Avenue merchants clash over soaring costs, overcrowded subway lines, and the disappearance of past transportation bond funds.
Tracing roots from Alfred Ely Beach's secret 1870 pneumatic tube beneath Broadway (operated by a steam-powered fan and air pressure) to multi-million-dollar construction holes left boarded up across Manhattan, the broadcast examines the high stakes of New York City transit history.
Decades after these debates, the...
- Title
- Union Square’s History in Under 90 Seconds
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 3 days ago
- Description
- Join historian Barry Lewis in Union Square for a 2006 dive into the history of one of New York City’s most famous public spaces. From its origins as a pre-Civil War residential district and the "Victorian Ladies Mile" to a bustling wholesaling center, labor movement hub, and the birthplace of NYC's first Earth Day, discover how Union Square set the stage for greenmarkets across the five boroughs.
#UnionSquare #NewYorkCity #NYC #History #Greenmarket #GrowNYC #Architecture #NewYorkHistory #BarryLewis #Shorts #THIRTEEN #TheStoryOfNewYork #PBS
- Title
- Andy Warhol's House Band: The Velvet Underground
- Runtime
- 2:29
- Date posted
- 3 days ago
- Description
- In this 1966 clip from "USA: Artists," a broadcast from the THIRTEEN Vault, Andy Warhol discusses his shift away from traditional painting and sponsoring The Velvet Underground, the avant-garde rock band. He explains his vision for merging music, art, and film into a "big discotheque" experience.
#AndyWarhol #TheVelvetUnderground #PopArt #RockHistory #NewYorkCity #NYC #USArtists #ArtHistory #THIRTEEN #TheStoryOfNewYork #PBS #LouReed #JohnCale
- Title
- How Students Protect NYC's Estuary in Coney Island
- Runtime
- 9:19
- Date posted
- 5 days ago
- Description
- One of New York City's last urban estuaries – where sea and river water meet – is Coney Island Creek Park. City students are taking hands-on action to protect their shoreline against sea level rise and severe weather. With the National Wildlife Federation Resilient Schools and Communities Program, students plant native beach grass to rebuild coastal dunes and create living buffers against dangerous storm surges.
In response to Superstorm Sandy, which devastated NYC communities in 2012, this video from "Our Climate Future,” a series produced by THIRTEEN's Kids’ Media & Education team, empowers young people to restore natural barriers and protect their environment and vulnerable New York City neighborhoods. Videos, along with resources to support classroom use, are available on PBS LearningMedia at https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/preventing-beach-erosion-video/our-climate-future/.
The Story of New York. Discover the stories that built New York C...
- Title
- Bringing Farm-Fresh Food to New York City Through Greenmarkets | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 20:18
- Date posted
- 5 days ago
- Description
- Back in 1976, urban planners Bob Lewis and Barry Benepe brought greenmarkets to New York City, giving regional farmers new income and city residents fresh food. Through the umbrella of the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) — rebranded as "GrowNYC" on April 1, 2010 — the Greenmarket operates over 60 seasonal and year-round freenmarkets and farmstands across all five boroughs, including in Union Square.
Marking its 50th anniversary in 2026, see how the city's greenmarkets transformed local food, restaurant menus, and neighborhoods, connecting everyday New Yorkers, top chefs, and regional family farms.
The 2006 episode “Union Square Greenmarket" features street, farm and restaurant scenes with Barry Lewis, Barry Benepe, farmer Keith Stewart, Alix Dench-Layton of Violet Hill Farm, and chef Colin Alevras. It's from the THIRTEEN Vault broadcast series "New York Voices," hosted by Rafael Pi Roman. The weekly public affairs series covered local...
- Title
- Gordon Parks’ 1968 Diary of a Black Family
- Runtime
- 2:11
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- Step into 1968 Harlem with legendary photojournalist Gordon Parks and his landmark "LIFE magazine" photo essay, "A Harlem Family." Spending weeks with the Fontenelle family, Parks captured the realities of urban poverty, cold winters without heat, and systemic neglect in New York City.
#GordonParks #Harlem #CivilRights #Documentary #LifeMagazine #NewYorkCity #NYC #History #UrbanPoverty #PublicBroadcastLaboratory #Shorts #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- Gordon Parks’ 1968 Photo Essay of Harlem Family | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 15:58
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- Featuring groundbreaking American photojournalist and activist Gordon Parks — the first Black photographer hired by "LIFE magazine" — this vignette highlights his landmark photo essay, "A Harlem Family." Spending weeks in the home of a Black family with 10 children in Harlem, the Fontenelles, Parks captured their daily struggle for survival, dilapidated housing, and systemic neglect in New York City. He exposes the heavy toll of urban poverty and systemic racism while celebrating the resilience, dignity, and strong family bonds within their home.
The 1968 episode “Civil Disorders" is from the THIRTEEN Vault broadcast series "Public Broadcast Laboratory (PBL)," which was a weekly live, experimental, and controversial television magazine program that aired from 1967 to 1969. PBL explored a wide range of social, cultural, and political topics, including school desegregation, environmental issues, avant-garde theater, police-minority relations, poverty, elections, studen...
- Title
- Andy Warhol on Breaking the Rules of Filmmaking
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- In this 1966 clip from THIRTEEN's "USA: Artists," Andy Warhol discusses his shift from Pop Art toward underground filmmaking and his desire to break film's conventions. He embraced unedited footage, deliberate camera jiggles, bad zooms, and raw film dirt so viewers would remember they were watching a film.
#AndyWarhol #UndergroundFilm #PopArt #ArtHistory #NewYorkCity #NYC #USArtists #Filmmaking #Shorts #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- How Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is Stopping Landlords’ Shady Tactics | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 8:22
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and "The Open Mind" host Alexander Heffner discuss a problem facing renters in cities everywhere: "renovictions," when landlords use repair work as an excuse to push out tenants and jack up the rent. Mayor Chow explains how Toronto is using local laws, building permits, and legal support to keep people in their homes. Similar to efforts in Toronto, New York City passed the "Good Cause Eviction" law in April 2024 to protect tenants from unfair rent hikes and sudden evictions.
"Mayors of the World" is a special 70th anniversary series from "The Open Mind" exploring democracy and public policy with leaders around the globe, from Athens, Greece to Santiago, Chile to Toronto and Atlanta. The full program can be viewed at https://www.thirteen.org/openmind/mayors-of-the-world/.
"The Open Mind," hosted weekly by Alexander Heffner, is a thoughtful excursion into the world of ideas across politics, media, technology, the arts, and all realms of...
- Title
- Why the British Lost Control of the Hudson River
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- Do you know the strategic military history of the Hudson River during the American Revolution?
Military historian Lt. Gen. Dave R. Palmer explains why the British viewed the river as the key to crushing the 13 colonies, and how American forces utilized the river's natural geography to block the world's greatest sea power.
#HudsonRiver #AmericanRevolution #History #BillMoyers #MilitaryHistory #NewYorkHistory #USHistory #THIRTEEN #Shorts #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- History of the Hudson River: War, Innovation, Art, & Betrayal | Part 1 | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 57:28
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- How did a 315-mile stretch of water shape the fate, culture, and economy of an entire nation? Long before it became the backdrop for New York's iconic skyline, the Hudson River was both a breathtaking natural wonder and the single most fought-over waterway in North America.
In part one of "America’s First River," Bill Moyers explores how the Hudson Valley served as the origin of American independence and our national identity. From the capture of Fort Ticonderoga and George Washington’s high-stakes defense at West Point to the infamous treason committed by Benedict Arnold, the Hudson held the key to the continent during the Revolutionary War. After the war, writers like Washington Irving — author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" — and landscape painters turned the river's beauty into the birthplace of American folklore and art.
The river also served as the inaugural grounds for Robert Fulton’s steamboat, which kicked off modern trade and industry —...
- Title
- Black Girls Faced Racist Threats in 1970s NYC
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- Black girls are in shock and tears after white adults threatened them on the street in Rosedale, Queens in New York City. This 1976 clip from Bill Moyers' Journal's "Rosedale: The Way It Is" also includes comments from Black and white adults to highlight the deep fear, hostility, and pain endured by a community divided by race and real estate.
#Rosedale #Queens #BillMoyers #NewYorkHistory #CivilRights #Documentary #Shorts #HousingSegregation #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- Roy Lichtenstein: Reinventing Modern Painting
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- See artist Roy Lichtenstein in his studio, where he explains why and how he broke away from traditional European and American painting styles to capture modern life. He traded classic brushwork for flat colors, commercial printing textures, and mechanical precision to pioneer a groundbreaking new era of Pop Art. This clip appeared in a 1966 epiosde of THIRTEEN's "USA: Artists."
#RoyLichtenstein #PopArt #ArtHistory #NewYorkCity #NYC #USArtists #TheFactory #ModernArt #Shorts #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- Teens & 20-Somethings That Changed NYC
- Runtime
- 1:31
- Date posted
- 10 days ago
- Description
- In the late 1960s, facing societal disrespect and neglect, The Young Lords — a group of teenage Puerto Rican-New Yorkers (Nuyoricans) in Spanish Harlem — rose up to demand change in New York City. From blocking Third Avenue with bags of uncollected trash to forcing the city to build a new Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx and pushing the federal government to launch school breakfast programs, discover how their grassroots activism transformed New York City.
#TheYoungLords #NYC #NewYorkCity #SouthBronx #CivilRights #History #Nuyorican #Activism #TheStoryOfNewYork #THIRTEEN #PBS
- Title
- Inside the Minds of Andy Warhol & Roy Lichtenstein | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 29:44
- Date posted
- 10 days ago
- Description
- Icons of the 1960s art world describe their cutting edge work in a 1966 episode from THIRTEEN's "USA: Artists." New York pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein used advertising and everyday objects — from comic books and subway displays to factory materials — and transformed them into a groundbreaking new art genre. Interviews and scenes take place in Lichtenstein's art studio and Warhol's legendary "The Factory" in New York City.
Lichtenstein articulates what informs his work and how he used printed dots and flat colors to paint the modern world. Warhol is typically evasive in his segment, which explores Warhol's early underground films, his "Silver Clouds" pillow-shape balloons that debuted in 1966, his collaborations with "The Velvet Underground," and his vision for pop culture.
The 1966 episode “Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein" is from the THIRTEEN Vault broadcast series "USA: Artists," which highlighted some of the top American artists of the...
- Title
- History and Culture of Puerto Ricans in New York | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 56:09
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- Explore the rich history, resilience, and cultural impact of the Nuyorican community in New York City. "Nuyorican," a term derived from "New York" and "Puerto Rican," describes people of Puerto Rican descent who were born or raised in New York City. Usage of "Nuyorican" dates to at least 1975, when the doors of the Nuyorican Poets Café opened in Manhattan's Lower East Side. The term represents pride in both being Puerto Rican — also known as Boricua — and a New York City resident.
From 1898, when Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States, to migration after World War II and the fight for civil rights led by activists like "The Young Lords," to vibrant contributions in art, poetry, salsa music, and food, this 2002 episode captures how Puerto Ricans transformed the fabric of New York.
This 2002 "Nuyoricans: Puerto Ricans in New York " special is from "Ethnic New York," a six-part series from the THIRTEEN Vault that highlights cultural heritage, st...
- Title
- Gilgo Beach Victim's Families Confront Serial Killer in Court
- Runtime
- 1:10
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- Families of the victims confronted the Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann during his sentencing. "You are no longer in control of this story," said one as relatives delivered powerful, emotional impact statements to ensure their loved ones are remembered as deeply cherished mothers, daughters, and sisters.
#GilgoBeach #RexHeuermann #LongIsland #Courtroom #TrueCrime #Newsday #Justice #Shorts #NewYork #THIRTEEN #PBS #WLIW
- Title
- Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Sentenced: Inside Rex Heuermann’s Day in Court | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 27:13
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- NewsdayTV takes viewers inside the courtroom where victims' families finally came face-to-face with Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, who is sentenced to life in prison. The day in court marks the end to nearly 16 years of fear, unanswered questions, and exhaustive investigation. Explore exclusive courtroom footage, emotional victim impact statements, the chilling details of the investigation's "murder roadmap," and ongoing lookouts into remaining cold cases like "Asian Doe" and "Peaches."
Subscribe to the WLIW newsletter to stay informed: https://www.wliw.org/email-preferences/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=description&utm_id=description
#GilgoBeach #RexHeuermann #LongIsland #NewsdayTV #TrueCrime #Courtroom #MassapequaPark #CrimeNews #NewYork #Investigation #ColdCase #THIRTEEN #WLIW #PBS
Please SUBSCRIBE if you enjoyed: https://www.youtube.com/@ThirteenWNET?sub_confirmation=1
For full episodes, check out h...
- Title
- Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens on City-Backed Supermarkets & Food Deserts | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 11:00
- Date posted
- 14 days ago
- Description
- Atlanta has something to show New York City, which is debating bold proposals like Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s city-operated grocery store and housing initiatives. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joins "The Open Mind" host Alexander Heffner to tour Azalea Fresh Market, a city-backed Downtown Atlanta supermarket designed to serve local food deserts. Leveraging local resources — Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) student-led design for the store layout and fresh produce grown in Georgia — Mayor Dickens breaks down the business model thant blends subsidized items with market-rate products to ensure long-term success for the store.
"Mayors of the World" is a special 70th anniversary series from "The Open Mind" exploring democracy and public policy with leaders around the globe, from Athens, Greece to Santiago, Chile to Toronto and Atlanta. The full program can be viewed at https://www.thirteen.org/openmind/mayors-of-the-world/.
"The Open Mind," hosted weekly b...
- Title
- Neighborhood in NYC Tried to Drive Out a Black Family
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 14 days ago
- Description
- In 1976, Bill Moyers documented the harrowing reality of housing segregation in Rosedale, Queens, following a series of arson attacks and a pipe bombing targeting Tony and Glenda Spencer's home. Despite continuous threats and violence from residents fighting to keep the neighborhood white, the family stood their ground.
#Queens #Rosedale #BillMoyers #BlackHistory #CivilRights #NewYorkHistory #Documentary #Shorts #HousingSegregation #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- 1970s NYC Neighborhood Violently Fought Integration | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 56:07
- Date posted
- 15 days ago
- Description
- When a Black family bought a home in Rosedale, Queens, in 1974, their move ignited a battle over housing segregation in New York City. Facing hostility, arson, and a pipe bomb from residents determined to keep the working-class community white, Tony and Glenda Spencer refused to be driven out.
Journalist Bill Moyers investigates the deep racial and economic divisions gripping this neighborhood in the 1970s. Through candid interviews with both the Spencer family and members of the local "Return Our American Rights" (R.O.A.R.) organization, this 1976 "Bill Moyers' Journal" captures an intimate look at urban decay, blockbusting (an illegal real estate tactic to exploit fear of demographic change in order to buy property cheaply and resell at a profit), and the battle for civil rights in New York.
This 1976 episode titled “Rosedale: The Way It Is” was broadcast on “Bill Moyers' Journal," a weekly current affairs program covering economics, history, literatur...
- Title
- NYC Teen Revolutionaries Who Transformed American Healthcare | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 6:19
- Date posted
- 17 days ago
- Description
- In 1970, a group of teenage Puerto Rican-New Yorkers in Spanish Harlem known as "The Young Lords" organized a takeover of New York City’s Lincoln Hospital to demand basic human dignity for their community. Facing severe neglect, unsafe medical conditions, and language barriers, these young activists used bold actions to force systemic change across healthcare, housing, and food access. Their strategic protest ultimately produced the country's first known "Patient Bill of Rights," and established modern hospital translation standards used across America today.
The segment "The Young Lords" is from PBS LearningMedia's series "American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos."
"American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos" is the work of actor and film producer John Leguizamo, who uncovers the forgotten Latino heroes who shaped American history. From groundbreaking pioneers to unsung trailblazers, discover the rarely told stories and contributions of Latino...
- Title
- 1613 Manhattan: Black Dominican Trader Outsmarts Dutch
- Runtime
- 3:33
- Date posted
- 18 days ago
- Description
- In 1613, Juan Rodriguez became the first recorded non-Native American, Black, and Latino resident of the island Manhattan, what is now New York City. He arrived with a Dutch trading ship that had recruited him from Santo Domingo in today's Dominican Republic. The free Caribbean trader shocked his Dutch captain when he refused to leave Manhattan to return with him to Europe. Choosing independence, Rodriguez embedded himself with local Native American communities to build a thriving hustle in the uncharted wilderness. How did a solo trader survive brutal Manhattan winters, outsmart Dutch merchants, and ignite a high-stakes battle over the early fur trade?
The segment "New York's First Immigrant" is from PBS LearningMedia's series "American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos."
"American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos" is the work of actor and film producer John Leguizamo, who uncovers the forgotten Latino heroes who shaped American history. From gro...
- Title
- Sarah Vaughan’s Apollo Theater Debut
- Runtime
- 1:27
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Before becoming one of jazz’s greatest voices, Sarah Vaughan entered "Amateur Night" at Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater in 1942 for one reason: to win the $10 cash prize. Facing the crowd and the threat of getting chased offstage, her gamble paid off in ways she never expected. A single high-stakes Amateur Night performance launched one of the most influential careers in Black music.
#SarahVaughan #ApolloTheater #JazzHistory #Harlem #BlackHistory #Shorts #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- 1969 Amateur Night at the Apollo. Backstage & Performances | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 10:49
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- Go backstage at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater in 1969 as contestants preaudition and perform at Amateur Night. The Apollo Theater on 125th Street has been associated with the history of Black music and entertainment in New York City since 1934. Beyond featuring top Black singers, musicians and performers, its “Amateur Night” offers aspiring talent a chance to perform before a live audience and compete for recognition at one of Harlem’s most influential cultural institutions.
Featuring star jazz singer Sarah Vaughan – who talks about her win at Amateur Night – and contestants Linda Jones and the Davenport group, this 1969 segment from “Black Journal” documents the excitement, pressure, and anticipation surrounding Amateur Night in Harlem. The Apollo’s stage has been a launching point for many Black performers.
This 1969 "Black Journal" segment, from the THIRTEEN Vault, was part of a monthly series of one-hour interconnected programs produced...
- Title
- Athens Mayor Haris Doukas: Making Athens Green, Clean, and Liveable Again | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 10:19
- Date posted
- 21 days ago
- Description
- Dining at Dionysos Zonar's with a view of the Acropolis and walking through the historic Athens National Gardens, Mayor Haris Doukas shares his bold vision to make Athens a green European capital. "The Open Mind" host Alexander Heffner joins the Athens Mayor to discuss applying Socrates' philosophies — living with limits, moderation, and social equity — to running a modern city.
From tackling severe air pollution and creating citizen-managed parks to digital app feedback systems and designing a 15-minute city — where schools, healthcare, and daily essentials are easily accessible by a short walk, bike, or by public transit ride — discover how Greece's capital is reducing concrete, increasing green spaces per citizen, and restoring oxygen and nature to the birthplace of democracy.
"Mayors of the World" is a special 70th anniversary series from "The Open Mind" exploring democracy and public policy with leaders around the globe, from Athens, Greece to San...
- Title
- Billionaire's Row Stole the Sun From Central Park
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 24 days ago
- Description
- Supertall, ultra-thin towers rose along Billionaire’s Row in Manhattan after air rights were bought, creating the tallest residential skyscrapers in the Western Hemisphere. Skyscrapers like the Central Park Tower (also called Nordstrom Tower) offer the ultra-rich private views, but their massive shadows stretch over a mile across Central Park — blocking the sun and altering New York's premier public green space.
#NYC #CentralPark #Architecture #BillionairesRow #Skyscrapers #NYCHistory #MoyersAndCompany #Shorts #UrbanPlanning #RealEstate #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork #BillMoyers @billmoyersandcompany
- Title
- How Billionaires Row Stole Sunlight From Central Park | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 21:41
- Date posted
- 24 days ago
- Description
- In 2014, Bill Moyers and journalist Warren St. John expose how super-tall luxury skyscrapers along West 57th Street — also known as "Billionaires Row" — cast massive shadows across Central Park, altering the cityscape for millions of residents and visitors. Multi-million dollar penthouses like "One57" serve as empty "safe deposit boxes" in the sky, while working-class residents face sky-rocketing living costs and a shortage of affordable housing under Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration. A closer look into political campaign contributions to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's campaign, questionable tax breaks, and state legislation reveals how deep financial influence shapes Manhattan's real estate. Civic advocates, park visitors, and local communities organize public protests and call for zoning reform to protect sunlight and public green spaces.
"Moyers & Company," from the THIRTEEN Vault, was a weekly 30-minute series aimed at helping viewers make sense of ou...
- Title
- Piri Thomas & Nuyoricans in El Barrio
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 25 days ago
- Description
- In 1968, author and poet Piri Thomas confronted the harsh realities of living in Spanish Harlem. Following Piri's best-selling memoir "Down These Mean Streets," Gordon Parks directed the documentary "The World of Piri Thomas" to capture the struggle, rich heritage, and enduring hope of New York City’s Nuyorican community in "El Barrio."
#SpanishHarlem #PiriThomas #Nuyorican #ElBarrio #NYCHistory #AfroLatino #LatinoHistory #Shorts #DownTheseMeanStreets #HispanicHeritageMonth #TheStoryOfNewYork #THIRTEEN #PBS
- Title
- 1960s Spanish Harlem: Piri Thomas' Mean Streets | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 42:42
- Date posted
- 25 days ago
- Description
- In this documentary directed by Gordon Parks in 1968, author and poet Piri Thomas confronts the harsh realities of growing up in impoverished Spanish Harlem. An Afro-Latino of Puerto Rican-Cuban descent, Thomas' memoir "Down These Mean Streets" became a best-seller in 1967.
Street scenes, Thomas' prose and poetry, and children's answers to questions about their lives paint harrowing accounts of rat-infested tenement buildings, drug addiction, prison time, and street violence in "El Barrio" of New York City. Children's drawings and voices add hope for the future.
"The World of Piri Thomas" aired in 1968 on "NET Journal" and is part of the THIRTEEN Vault. "NET Journal" was WNET's news anthology and documentary series that featured content about the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, the Nixon administration, New York’s Spanish Harlem, life on Native American reservations, and more from 1966-1970.
From September 15 through October 15, The WNET...
- Title
- Battle of Red Bank: Multiracial Revolutionary War Victory
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- On October 22, 1777, an integrated force of White, African American, and Indigenous soldiers made history at the Battle of Red Bank in New Jersey. These Patriots seized the property of a pacifist Quaker family in order to fight Hessian troops. The Patriot's decisive 45-minute victory left the family's property and home in ruins.
#AmericanRevolution #RevolutionaryWar #BlackHistory #IndigenousHistory #NewJersey #USHistory #Shorts #BattleOfRedBank #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- Creating Horror’s Greatest Movie Monsters | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 56:17
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- Every civilization, culture, and generation has its monsters. From city-destroying giants like Godzilla, King Kong, and the Kaiju to pop-culture creatures from Gremlins, Hellboy, and the xenomorph of the Alien saga, these beasts have long haunted the silver screen. Through myths, legends, and cinema, these iconic terrors warn of danger, reflect real-world human fears, and hold a mirror up to society.
Featuring insights from legendary directors, producers, editors, and critics — including Joe Dante, John Carpenter, and Roger Corman — "Monsters, the Enemy Within" explores the history, symbolism, and behind-the-scenes evolution of Hollywood's most famous creature features — from low-budget B-movies to studio blockbusters.
THIRTEEN presents "Monsters, the Enemy Within." Looking for the ultimate spooky season movie watch? Dive deep into cinema’s greatest terrors with legendary horror filmmakers this October.
Subscribe to THIRTEEN newsletters to...
- Title
- Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas on Housing & History | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 11:06
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- Step inside the historic Lisbon City Hall — the "Paços do Concelho" (Palace of the Municipality) — with Mayor Carlos Manuel Félix Moedas and "The Open Mind" host Alexander Heffner for an exclusive look at Portugal’s heritage and modern leadership. Mayor Moedas guides viewers through the room where the Portuguese Republic was established on October 5, 1910, and shares incredible historical anecdotes from the city's past. Beyond Lisbon's legacy of diversity, tolerance, and innovation, Moedas discusses the biggest challenges facing residents today. He details his administration’s aggressive approach to the housing crisis, rent subsidies for young adults, and why leading a city requires empathy and public service over business successes.
"Mayors of the World" is a special 70th anniversary series from "The Open Mind" exploring democracy and public policy with leaders around the globe, from Athens, Greece to Santiago, Chile to Toronto and Atlanta. The full program can ...
- Title
- Fishers Finally Hook US Government
- Runtime
- 0:52
- Date posted
- 29 days ago
- Description
- October is National Seafood Month and Mike has news about a new government office.
For centuries, US commercial fishers have worked tirelessly on their own, while farmers have received government support. In 2026, the USDA finally acknowledged the “farmers of the sea,” and established the first-ever official "Office of Seafood" to assist American fisheries, including with low cost loans for new ships and investments in their fleets.
#MikesBites #NationalSeafoodMonth #SeafoodIndustry #FishermanLife #CommercialFishing #USDA #Shorts #THIRTEEN #WNET
- Title
- How Dutch New Amsterdam Became New York
- Runtime
- 1:27
- Date posted
- 29 days ago
- Description
- In August 1664, four English gunboats arrived off the coast of New Netherland, threatening the Dutch colony. While Director-General Peter Stuyvesant wanted to fight, he ultimately surrendered without firing a single shot in order to save the city from total destruction and looting. The British terms of surrender were unexpected: instead of wiping out Dutch culture, the treaty allowed the Dutch to keep their property, business laws, and unique religious tolerance. Discover how this 1664 agreement planted the seeds for individual rights that later shaped the U.S. Bill of Rights.
#NYC #History #NewYorkHistory #DutchHistory #Shorts #AmericanHistory #NewAmsterdam #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- He Invented the True-Crime Genre
- Runtime
- 1:23
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- Author Truman Capote discusses the creativity behind his true-crime, nonfiction novel "In Cold Blood" in this 1966 clip from THIRTEEN's "USA: The Novel." He explains how turning real events into a narrative created the "nonfiction novel," giving factual events the same dramatic power as a work of fiction.
#Shorts #TrumanCapote #InColdBlood #TrueCrime #AmericanLiterature #PBS #THIRTEEN #NonfictionNovel #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- 1776 Attempted Submarine Attack in New York Harbor
- Runtime
- 1:31
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- In 1776, the first combat submarine attack in history took place in New York Harbor. Invented by David Bushnell, "The Turtle" was a one-man, pedal-powered vessel designed to attach a timed explosive to a British flagship. Featuring THIRTEEN's Francesca Poliseno, this clip from the 1976 program "Paths of Rebellion" reveals how the mission unfolded and why it almost ended in disaster.
#Shorts #RevolutionaryWar #AmericanHistory #AmericanRevolution #NewYork #NewYorkHarbor #NYC #THIRTEEN #PBS #USHistory #TheStoryOfNewYork #Submarine
- Title
- 9/11: Government's Slow Reaction
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- In the immediate aftermath of the first plane striking the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, critical gaps in communication delayed the government's response. This clip from a September 2004 broadcast of "NOW with Bill Moyers" examines the 9/11 Commission Report timeline involving President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and air traffic control in America.
#Shorts #September11 #911 #911Commission #BillMoyers #USHistory #Documentary #NationalSecurity #PBS #THIRTEEN #TunnelsToTowers
- Title
- How the Dutch Built the Foundation of New York City | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 51:57
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Architectural historian Barry Lewis traces New York City's roots back to 17th-century Dutch New Amsterdam. Long before it became an English colony, the Dutch West India Company settled the lower tip of Manhattan as a vibrant trading post defined by commerce, secularism, and cultural tolerance.
Follow key Dutch New York developments, from Henry Hudson's 1609 voyage up the river that now bears his name — which kickstarted the Dutch beaver fur trade — to Peter Stuyvesant's colony leadership, Adriaan van der Donck's fight for local representative government, and the wooden barrier that became "Wall Street." Uncover the early communities and people who left a lasting mark on the city—including Sephardic Jews who expanded religious freedom, and settler Jonas Bronck, whose farmland gave "The Bronx" its name.
The special "Dutch New York" (2009), from the THIRTEEN vault, brought to life early Dutch colonial history, from New York City to Albany. It commemorated t...
- Title
- NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani on FDR’s Legacy & Success for New York
- Runtime
- 1:20
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Standing in Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, New York City Mayor Zohran K. Mamdani speaks with Alexander Heffner, host of "The Open Mind," to discuss what it takes to build lasting success for New Yorkers. Reflecting on FDR's Four Freedoms, Mamdani emphasizes that progress cannot rely on the "fumes of the past" and highlights the importance of fighting freedom from want and fear for a new generation.
@openmindtv @NYCMayorsOffice @ZohranforNYC #ZohranMamdani #NYCMayor #NYC #FDR #PublicMedia #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheOpenMind #MayorsOfTheWorld #TheStoryOfNewYork
- Title
- What the Government Missed Before September 11th Attacks | Bill Moyers | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 54:00
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- How could the most powerful nation on Earth be caught off guard on September 11, 2001? In this September 2004 broadcast of "NOW with Bill Moyers," Bill Moyers dissects the findings of the 9/11 Commission Report to uncover systemic failures, missed warning signs, and critical intelligence breakdowns across two presidential administrations. Incorporating congressional coverage, the analysis maps out the chain of events leading up to 9/11, highlighting how national security agencies failed to connect the dots before disaster struck.
"NOW with Bill Moyers," from the THIRTEEN Vault, was a weekly news magazine, reported in conjunction with NPR, that included documentary reporting, in-depth one-on-one interviews, and insightful commentary from a wide variety of media-makers and those behind the headlines.
The Story of New York. Discover the stories that built New York City from a Dutch trading post into an iconic global powerhouse. The WNET Group explores defining ev...
- Title
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani on FDR's Legacy & Affordability in New York City | THIRTEEN
- Runtime
- 11:10
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- New York City Mayor Zohran K. Mamdani and Alexander Heffner, host of "The Open Mind," sit down at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park to discuss civic life, economic rights, and the city’s affordability crisis. Mayor Mamdani addresses food insecurity in the world's wealthiest city — where 1 in 4 Black New Yorkers face hunger — and outlines concrete solutions, including plans for city-run grocery stores, free 2K and 3K childcare, and tax policy reforms. As Heffner draws parallels between FDR's safety net and today’s economic pressures, Mamdani explains why success must be continuously replicated, how his administration measures progress through tangible results, and why working-class families must be "priced in" rather than pushed out of New York City.
"Mayors of the World" is a special 70th anniversary series from "The Open Mind" exploring democracy and public policy with leaders around the globe, from Athens, Greece to Santiago, Chile to Toronto and Atlanta.<...
- Title
- Dolly Parton's Favorite Song
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Dolly Parton reflects on her mother's wisdom behind her hit song "Coat of Many Colors" in this 2016 clip from "MetroFocus." Crafted from rags and scraps, the coat came with a biblical story from her mother to give Dolly a sense of pride — turning a simple coat into a message of love, hope, and acceptance that connected with audiences around the world.
#Shorts #DollyParton #9To5 #925 #September25 #CoatOfManyColors #CountryMusic #THIRTEEN #PBS #MusicHistory #BehindTheSong #DollyPartonQuotes
