Wednesday, May 1, 2013

50th Anniversary of the Great Steamboat Race


The Great Steamboat Race has been a long-standing tradition in Louisville leading up to the Kentucky Derby.  The first race between the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen was held in 1963.  Sentimental Productions has followed the story of the Delta Queen for 25 years since producing a 45-minute DVD titled the Unsinkable Delta Queen.  The video was produced for Cincinnati’s bicentennial in 1988.

The Unsinkable Delta Queen includes the story of the first steamboat race 50 years ago.  Historic footage shows the first race on a wet, chilly day in 1963.  Event organizers weren’t sure what to expect that year but despite the bad weather, an estimated 250,000 people lined the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville to watch the race.





The Delta Queen was involved in the race until 2008.  
Today, the steamboat is a floating hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee and no longer runs overnight river cruises. 

But the tradition goes on.  Since 2009, the Belle of Cincinnati has taken the Delta Queen's spot against the Belle of Louisville.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Top 5 Sentimental Reflections Segments in 2012

Sentimental Productions has produced four editions of Sentimental Reflections each year since the quarterly video magazine started in 2004.  The goal is to present entertaining stories of America’s heritage in story, scenery and song.  We have plenty of our own favorite topics and segments that we've produced through the years, but we thought now would be a good time to share our favorite content from 2012.

1. Vintage Base Ball (Summer 2012 Edition)

We share the early history of base ball before the first professional teams took the field.  Many vintage base ball teams across the country, like the Cincinnati Red Stockings, play according to the rules of the 1860s. Many terms we know today are different but the biggest change is that vintage base ball players do not use gloves.  
 
2. Hershey, Pennsylvania (Winter 2012 Edition)

Milton Hershey created his world famous Hershey Chocolate Company in the early 20th century when he built a chocolate factory near farms in rural Pennsylvania. He heavily relied on storefront displays instead of  traditional advertising to spread the word about his chocolate products. Aside from his successful business, Hershey built a town along with his factory with numerous amenities to benefit his workers.


3. Newseum (Spring 2012 Edition)

Five centuries of news history are on display at the Newseum, located along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.  One of the most popular exhibits is Today's Front Pages, a display of 80 front pages from newspapers around the globe.  Another powerful exhibit is the 9/11 Gallery which includes the broadcast communications tower from the north tower of the World Trade Center. The museum is a must-see for visitors to the nation's capitol.

4. Amphibious Vehicles (Autumn 2012 Edition)

Poor marketing efforts doomed the Amphicar in the United States, an amphibious vehicle produced in Europe in the early 1960s.  An annual gathering of Amphicar owners at a lake in western Ohio gives owners the chance to show off their unusual vehicles.  Owners participated in a parade on land and then a "splash-in" event on the water.


5.  Old Time Piano Playing Contest (Summer 2012 Edition)

Ragtime and tin pan alley tunes make up a weekend of music at the Old Time Piano Playing Contest, an annual event held in Peoria, Illinois.  The energetic performances also include impromptu sing-alongs.  Organizers of the event say the young participants are the key to keeping this style of music alive.


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Stay tuned for more great content from Sentimental Reflections in 2013 and beyond.  Click here to order a 1-year subscription to the quarterly video magazine.

What is your favorite Sentimental Reflections segment?  Leave a comment below.