Abundant Waters; Brightest Africa

Two excellent, low-priced public performance programs which introduce viewers young and old to treasures of natural history as preserved in the American Museum of Natural History. Narrated by Cliff Robertson, both videos combine contemporary footage shot in the museum with archival footage of the history of the exhibit. In Abundant Waters, viewers journey through the museum's Hall of Ocean Life. Beginning with the 94 ft. long replica of the blue whale, Robertson recounts the story of the hall's riches, detouring into such fascinating tidbits as the necessity for Roy Miner, in the 1920's, to paint underwater (this was before color photography). From every corner of the globe, various fishes and marine mammals and birds are shown both in actual footage, and on display in the museum. In Brightest Africa, the Akeley Hall of African Mammals is the showpiece for an amazing story about its founder: Carl Akeley. Akeley, who made his first trip to Africa in 1896, revolutionized the process for creating lifelike museum pieces. While collecting data, he had his face busted by an elephant, and was attacked by a leopard (which he killed barehanded). In addition to the personal history of this colorful man, viewers are given an overview of the ecologies of African rainforests and grasslands. Following both programs, Robertson conducts a short quiz. Both programs are highly recommended for public and school libraries. (Available from: Museum Television Workshop, 230 Park Avenue, Room 659, New York, NY 10017.)