An American Anthem

Here's a trivia question: when did the national anthem originate? The answer is 1931, after an act of Congress selected "The Star Spangled Banner over other candidates, including "America, the Beautiful," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and even "Yankee Doodle." Almost immediately, many citizens decried the choice, arguing that the anthem was virtually "un-singable" (c.f., Roseanne Barr, et al.), while others complained because the melody for the song was taken from a bawdy English bar tune. Hosted by Robert Conrad, An American Anthem traces the story of our national anthem from its origins--as a poem written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 after he beheld the gigantic flag with the stars and stripes that still flew over Ft. McHenry in Baltimore Harbor following a night of intense shelling--through its significance in the wake of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Recommended. Aud: H, P. (J. Carlson)