Local Productions of SOPTV

STUDENT SHOWCASE
SOPTV has produced a series of local short segments that showcase exceptionally gifted students from Jackson County. Ralph Bowman, a retired Drama and Video Production Teacher has joined SOPTV to videotape the segments for airing between regularly scheduled programming on channel 8 and channel 21. The segments are not intended to be a 'talent' show, but demonstrate the efforts of the local teachers to enhance the talents of the students. Schools are chosen with outstanding programs in Music, Drama, Dance, Debate, Creative Writing, and other disciplines that warrant a carefully crafted presentation. The teachers in these departments suggest students who have shown outstanding talent and then help with the venue, microphones, and accompanying needs. Each child is allowed to perform for approximately two minutes.

AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING.

OREGON FINDS
Logging's Living Past
A field guide for people who want to discover Oregon's glory days of logging with visits to four remarkable museums and exhibits around the state of Oregon: The Collier Logging Museum, in Klamath Falls; The Southern Oregon Historical Society museum in Jacksonville; The Coos County Logging Museum and The Lazinka Sawmill at the High Desert Museum in Bend.
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A SOUTH ROAD TO OREGON
A History of the Applegate Trail
Early settlers coming to Oregon crossed vast plains, foreboding mountains, and hot deserts only to find their biggest challenge -- navigating the dangerous Columbia River. Inspired to find an alternative route, immigrants founded the Applegate Trail in 1846. A SOUTH ROAD TO OREGON: The History of the Applegate Trail traces the construction and controversy surrounding this long, treacherous southern branch of the Oregon Trail from Fort Hall, Idaho through parts of Nevada, California, and southern Oregon into the settlements of the lush Willamette Valley.

AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING.

THE WAR: SOUTHERN OREGON STORIES
In an effort to preserve an important piece of history and the contributions of southern Oregon's local veterans, SOPTV interviewed local a number of them for their stories of World War II.

AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING.

THE ROSEBURG BLAST
A Catastrophe and Its Heroes
August 7, 1959: A sleepy town in Oregon is awakened by fire. Spectators are drawn to the center of town not knowing the worst is yet to come. Rescue workers rush to the scene only to be among the first victims of a series of terrible explosions. Before the night is over everything within a 50-block radius of a single explosive-packed truck is in ruins. When the firestorm finally dies down, Roseburg and its citizens are changed forever. An award-winning new film from SOPTV.

AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING.

CAMP WHITE STORY
Southern Oregon Goes To War
This documentary chronicles the transformation of rural southern Oregon during WWII. At the onset of war in Europe, the need for training facilities was growing rapidly. One of the sites chosen was an area just outside of Medford, Oregon. Combined with a work force and abundant building material the Army Corp of engineers and local contractors transformed the property into a city of 35,000. The economy boomed and Southern Oregon was changed over night. This program was produced in cooperation with The Camp White Museum.

AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING.

HOMETOWN HEROES
Johnny Hampshire
Captain John F. Hampshire joined the Flying Tigers as a member of the Untied States Army Air Corps in the fall 1942. He was shot down and killed in China at the age of twenty-four after destroying a record number of enemy aircraft within a few short months. He has been listed as the number two ace in that field. This documentary features Johnny's life from his boyhood in Grants Pass to his dramatic last air battle. Through his life we are able to see a time in American history as it relates to one brave young man and the community he grew up in.

AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING.

CRATER LAKE
The Mirror of Heaven
The fascinating story of Crater Lake weaves together the chronicles of Native Americans and European settlers with a truly gripping race through the politics of conservation at the turn of the century. Here, the story of Crater Lake is told in crystal-clear, high-definition cinematography moving from local myths to scientific, 3-D animations showing the formation of the lake in all its volcanic glory.

AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING.

OREGON LEGENDS
The John Dellenback Story
Oregon legislator, John Dellenback, made such a powerful impression on other U.S. representatives during his tenure in Washington in the 1960s and '70s that he came away with the nickname "St. John." Find out what motivated and formed this man of faith and conscience. A complex and inspiring portrait of a legendary man and also of a commitment to living life in service to one's community.

AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING.

IN CONVERSATION with Jeff Golden
In our effort to serve the public interest and encourage informed civic participation, SOUTHERN OREGON PUBLIC TELEVISION (SOPTV) invites the public to view IN CONVERSATION with Jeff Golden. Jeff's televised interviews with Oregon's movers and shakers focus the issues and bring forth visions in the hopes that the viewer will find these conversations insightful and helpful for making informed decisions. The programs are approximately one half hour.

AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING.