The Adams Chronicles
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The Adams Chronicles was a multi-Emmy award-winning, thirteen-episode special by PBS that aired in the mid-1970s to commemorate the Bicentennial. It "chronicles" the story of the Adams political family over a 150-year span, including John Adams (signer of the Declaration, accomplished diplomat, and the 2nd President), his wife Abigail Adams, his son John Quincy Adams (acclaimed Secretary of State, the 6th President, and prominent abolitionist Congressman), grandson Charles Francis Adams, congressman and ambassador to Great Britain during the Civil War, and much-heralded members of the fourth generation Henry Brooks Adams, the historian and author of the novel "Democracy," and Charles Francis Adams II, the industrialist. The most prominent role in the series is John Adams, played by George Grizzard. It is views that dominate the series even after his passing on the 4th of July on 50th anniversary of the passage of the United States Declaration of Independence. Because of his achievements during the revolution and afterwards as vice president and president, subsequent Adams generations have a hard time dealing with this legacy of public service and accomplishment and frequently wonder if they are measuring up to their distinguished ancestry. In the end the members of the fourth generation feel that the time in which the Adams family can play a prominent role in the affairs of the nation has past.
This series was released on DVD by Acorn Media on May 13, 2008.
Cast includes:
Lisa Lucas - Abigail Adams II
Michael O'Hare - Richard Cranch
Kathryn Walker - Abigail Adams
Katharine Houghton - Nabby Adams
William Daniels - John Quincy Adams
Pamela Payton-Wright - Louisa Catherine Adams
Jerome Dempsey - Tappan
W.B. Brydon: Samuel Adams
Alan Hewitt: Ames
Albert Stratton: Thomas Jefferson
Charles Siebert: Charles Francis Adams II
Charles Tenney: Brooks Adams
Curt Dawson: John Hancock
Dai Stockton: Brooks Adams
David O'Brien: Wolcott
Gilmer McCormick: Marian Hooper Adams
Guy Sorel: Count de Vergennes
James Congdon: Lovell
Jeremiah Sullivan: Alexander Hamilton
John Beal: Charles Francis Adams
John Tillinger: King George III
Mark Winkworth: John Quincy Adams
Nancy Coleman: Abigail
Nicholas Pryor: John Quincy Adams II
Peter Brandon: Henry Adams
Reid Shelton: Pickering
Robert Symonds: Benjamin Franklin
Sandra Gartner: Mary Adams
Stephen D. Newman: Abraham Lincoln
Steven Grover: John Quincy Adams
Thomas V.V. Tammi: Thomas Adams
Tom Aldredge: McHenry
William Shust: Henry Adams
Episodes include:
Chapter I: John Adams, Lawyer
Chapter II: John Adams, Revolutionary
Chapter III: John Adams, Diplomat
Chapter IV: John Adams, Minister to Great Britain
Chapter V: John Adams, Vice President
Chapter VI: John Adams, President
Chapter VII: John Quincy Adams, Diplomat
Chapter VIII: John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State
Chapter IX: John Quincy Adams, President
Chapter X: John Quincy Adams, Congressman
Chapter XI: Charles Francis Adams, Minister to Great Britain
Chapter XII: Henry Adams, Historian
Chapter XIII: Charles Francis Adams, Industrialist
The Adams Chronicles won a number of Emmy Awards for television excellence. These included:
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN FOR A drama or comedy series - 1977
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Alvin Colt, Costume Designer
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN LIGHTING DIRECTION - 1977
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - William Knight, Lighting Director; George Riesenberger, Lighting Director
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TAPE SOUND MIXING - 1977
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Emil Neroda, Sound Mixer
OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION OR SCENIC DESIGN FOR A DRAMA series - 1977
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Ed Wittstein, Production Designer
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DRAMA SERIES - 1977
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Fred Coe, Director
OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES - 1977
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - James Cellan-Jones, Producer; Fred Coe, Producer; Robert Costello, Coordinating Producer; Virginia Kassel, Series Producer; Jac Venza, Executive Producer
OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES - 1977
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Tad Mosel, Writer The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Roger O. Hirson, Writer
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION OR SCENIC DESIGN - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Ed Wittstein, Art Director
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN FOR A DRAMA - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Alvin Colt, Costume Designer
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN GRAPHIC DESIGN AND TITLE - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Girish Bhargava, Graphic Design; Bill Mandel, Graphic Design
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN LIGHTING DIRECTION - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Billy Knight, Lighting Director; Dick Weiss, Lighting Director
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Leonard Chumbley, Technical Director; Walter Edel, Cameraperson; John Feher, Cameraperson; Steve Zink, Cameraperson
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VIDEO TAPE EDITING FOR A SERIES - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Girish Bhargava, Editor; Manford Schorn, Editor
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - George Grizzard
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS FOR A SINGLE PERFORMANCE - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Kathryn Walker The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Pamela Payton-Wright
OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Paul Bogart, Producer; Fred Coe, Producer; Robert Costello, Producer; James Cellan Jones, Producer; Virginia Kassel, Series Producer; Jac Venza, Executive Producer
OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES - 1976
The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Sherman Yellen, Writer
