Along the Erie Canal

Do school children still sing "The Erie Canal" in elementary school? Even if they don't, they'll doubtlessly learn about America's first canal project in history classes. It may come as a surprise that the canal remained economically viable well into the 20th century, and is used today for recreation and exercise by people along the towpaths and on the water. However, despite the interesting historical facts learned in the course of this tape, and the excellent drawings of everyday life on the canal in the last century, the overall amateurish production values limit its appeal to a local audience. Among the many sins: cutting off interviewees in mid-word, never mind mid-sentence; clumsy camera work ("There's another lock over there." "Over where?" --the camera zooms in on a park bench--after a few seconds of viewing the bench, the cameraman says, "Well, we'll take your word for it."); repeatedly showing extraneous things that should have been edited (almost inaudible narration to a tour group clustering around a scale model at Fort Edward, etc.)--and the list goes on. Better editing and more rehearsed interviews would have erased the "amateur" feeling of this video. As it is, it's recommended only for local history collections in New York. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)