XD30872 “DISCOVERY ’69″ TV SHOW EPISODE “THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE” NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

Produced for ABC, “Discovery ’69” was a children’s non-fiction program that aired in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Hosted by Bill Owens and Virginia Gibson, the Discovery programs were innovative, shedding a spotlight on America’s political, geographical, technological and cultural history. This episode focuses on the history of the Louisiana Purchase. When the Louisiana Purchase from France occurred in 1803, it was the largest purchase of land in American history. It was also considered to be the most peaceful transfer of land between two great nations. The episode opens with Bill Owens in New Orleans, explaining how the Spanish flag came down over the Louisiana territory in November of 1803 (:14). The French flag replaced it for twenty days until the US purchased the land from Napoleon Bonaparte and raised the American flag over it (:23). Bill and Virginia Gibson stand in the port of Louisiana (1:15). The Cabildo building stands as the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies (1:57). A carving of an eagle is zoomed in on at the top of the building (2:06) where Spain had given the entire Louisiana territory to France and then to the US. Thomas Jefferson (2:52) and John Adams (3:05) are both pictured as major players in this event. Napoleon is pictured in painting (3:17) whom had been the emperor of France at the time. Politics surrounding the purchase are discussed (4:28). Pierre-Clement de Laussat is portrayed keeping journals during his time in the Louisiana territory (5:17). Virginia takes a cameo as Madame de Laussat (5:37). Paintings follow depicting the closure of the port of New Orleans by the Spanish to American shipping (7:44). James Madison was sent to Paris to help move the purchase along (8:01). Napoleon relinquishes the territory (8:45). The Slave Revolt of 1811 was one of the major factors in his decision. San Domingo is depicted as a small island is the Caribbean (9:55) and the site of the Battle of San Domingo in 1806. An excerpt is read from historian Henry Adams writings from 1811 (11:28). Paintings follow of the slave revolt (12:03). A map shows the Louisiana territory which would later be broken into 13 states (12:40). A reenactment of the meeting between a New Jersey Senator and Laussat in 1803 is shown (14:39). Price of the territory was set at 15 million (17:26). Bill returns the Cabildo building where Pierre-Clement de Laussat would accept the Louisiana territory and then turn it over to the US twenty days later (19:04). Virginia is seen as Madame de Laussat preparing a gala for the Americans after the purchase of the Louisiana territory (19:25). She explains that once the population was to hit 60,000, Louisiana would become a state (20:07). Both narrators appear to wrap up the film on a stairwell headed to a United Airways passenger plane (21:21). They show books for viewers who wish to further their educational knowledge (21:30). This film was a Jules Power Production in association with ABC News