 |
||
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE and SYNOPSIS |
||
|
|
|
 |
||
|
|
|
MISS BETTY’S STORY OF AMERICA - EPISODE ONE “GEORGE WASHINGTON’S HOMETOWN - ALEXANDRIA, VA” ARTICLE (Approx. 400 words) Betty Ward, affectionately known in Old Town Alexandria, VA as “Miss Betty,” has for the past fifteen years conducted guided history tours of George Washington’s hometown. Now she has brought her charm, wit, and vast knowledge of the times to a new 47 minute video, “George Washington’s Hometown, Alexandria, VA.” Miss Betty is a spry 75 year old who sets a pace that few half her age can match. Decked out in authentic colonial-era garb, she takes visitors to the actual places where history happened, always starting with the challenge, “I’ll bet you didn’t know . . .” The video version uses reenactments, animation and period artwork to bring the town’s colorful history to life. The result is a spellbinding and often humorous narrative that is distinctly “Miss Betty.” Many of her stories concern George Washington, such as the time he got knocked flat on his keister in Alexandria’s Market Square. She also describes his battlefield valor in the French/Indian War, his reputation as king of the ballroom, his affinity for ice cream, his early survey of the new town, his support for the right of Catholics to build their own church, his establishment of a school for the less fortunate, his fascination with hot air balloons, his work as a volunteer fireman, and his little-known Alexandria “townhouse.” “George Washington’s Hometown” begins with John Smith’s 1608 discovery of a natural deep water port located 90 miles inland on the Potomac, the site where tobacco barons and visionaries William Ramsay and John Carlyle founded the town of Alexandria in 1749. Among its famous early citizens was Benjamin Bannecker, the brilliant African-American astronomer, mathematician, naturalist, surveyor and author of an almanac that was Thomas Jefferson’s favorite. Alexandria was also the home of fiery-blooded patriots and rum-running sea captains, of spite houses and periwinkle blue doors, of busybodies, flounders and tussy-mussies. It was where the mysterious Female Stranger met her end but whose spirit many swear still haunts the area. It was the home of Captain John Harper and his 26 children, and the notorious Bobtail Bowie who meted out cruel justice at the town’s whipping post. Miss Betty presents a lively and entertaining account of these stories and many more, and helps viewers understand why Alexandria played such a pivotal role in the development of our country. “George Washington’s Hometown” was written and directed by Robert Rector and produced by Marsha Roberts. For more information, along with clips from the video, go to www.rectorrobertsproductions. # # # |
||
|
|
|
MISS BETTY’S STORY OF AMERICA - EPISODE ONE “GEORGE WASHINGTON’S HOMETOWN - ALEXANDRIA, VA” SYNOPSIS This entertaining and lively 47 minute DVD, produced by Rector-Roberts Prod., is hosted by "Miss Betty," Alexandria, VA's favorite history guide. It explores the discovery, founding and colonial period of George Washington's home town, bringing it to life with live-action, animation, historical documents and re-enactments. # # # |
||
|
|
|