The Telegram & Gazette profiled College of the Holy Cross alumnus Jerry Colbert ’64 and his role as executive producer of “A Capitol Fourth,” which showcases the Independence Day festivities held in our nation’s capital, including the White House and the Washington Monument. The broadcast is celebrating its 35th anniversary on PBS and will air on Saturday, July 4, at 8 p.m. on WGBH-TV Channel 2 in Boston.
According to the article, Colbert had the idea for a live TV broadcast of the National Symphony Orchestra Independence Day performance when the concerts were initiated in 1979, and put the first show together for PBS with just five cameras on the Capitol Lawn in 1981. This year’s show will have 20 HD cameras around the Capitol and will be hosted by “West Wing” star Bradley Whitford. Broadcasted to an expected audience of over 10 million, the show will include performances by Barry Manilow and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jack Everly, as well as a tribute to Frank Sinatra on the 100th anniversary of his birthday this year.
“This is a very fun, upbeat version of Americana” says Colbert. “For me, it’s an hour-and-a-half where everyone’s an American. We need a little bit more unity, I think”
In an earlier interview, Colbert discussed why he was drawn to television. “I wanted to try to make a difference, to try to communicate something with a social or more spiritual message to people,” he said. “And I thought the way to do it was television.”
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This "Holy Cross in the News" item by Kelly Ethier.
