Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 335

PBS shows span 'The West, the wild and the world -if I JlnL, Images from WTTW-Ch. 11s fall crop of programs (from top left, clockwise): "Moll The Americas' Family Kitchen with Vertamae "In the Wild: The Elephants of India with Goldie Hawn." i 'K7V r-, 1 1. -v v. By Beth Kujawski Tribune Staff Writer There's something for everyone this fall on PBS. And while WTTW-Ch.

11 still is the place to see the quality original programs viewers have come to expect from public television, be sure to check out what Chicago area's other two PBS stations WYCC-Ch. 20 and WYIN-Ch. 56 have to offer. "The Though settled long ago, the West remains America's frontier, the resting place of our nation's myths and legends, polished over time into a Hollywood fairytale. But the documentary (airing, in eight parts, at 7 pan.

Sunday through Thursday and Sept 22-24 the latest production from acclaimed "Civil War" creator Ken Burns, balances history between pride and shame, and reveals how we came to claim that part of the world as our own. Burns acted as creative consultant and executive producer for "The West," but directing credits go to Stephen Ives, Burns' long-time colleague. "The West" begins in the 1500s and explores the events that have shaped America through the early part of this century, from the arrival 'of the Europeans and their conquest of the Native peoples and lands to the transformation of the West into a landscape conquered at last "The American Sixth in a series of presidential profiles, "TR, The Story of Theodore Roosevelt" studies Roosevelt's childhood, its effect on his rise to power and Roosevelt's effect on history. The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th This special, airing Nov. 10-13, points out that many of today's headlines strikingly reflect the same kinds of issues that existed at the beginning of World War I.

Actors including Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Louis Gossett, Jeremy Irons, Martin Landau and Helen Mirren bring history to life in the most comprehensive study of the war in the last 30 years. "Running In this election year, on Oct 1, PBS' Democracy Project offers a look at how the office of the vice president has changed, both in terms of popular opinion of the post, as well as the duties attached to the office. "Running Mate" features interviews with Bob Dole, Al Gore, Dan Quayle, Walter Mondale, Gerald Ford and Geraldine Ferraro. "With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in (Fridays, Sept 27-Oct 18 and Nov. 1-8) examines, in six one-hour documentaries, the lives and conservative politics of prominent Christian Coalition members and the effects of their movement in America.

"Genesis: A Living Conversation with September 15-21, 1996 Bill This is an examination of contemporary issues within the context of the first book of the Bible. Mandy Patinkin and Alfre Woodard lend their dramatic talents as storytellers. "In the A spin-off of the "Nature" series, "Wild" returns for its second season with "The Elephants of India with Goldie Hawn," Oct 9 and explores the plight of the Asian elephant whose population once in the millions has dwindled to fewer than 50,000 animals. "The New Explorers with Bill "Manatees: Red Alert" begins the series' seventh season on Oct. 30.

Despite recent successes in increasing the manatee population, the aquatic mammals have started dying inexplicably off the coast of southwest Florida. "Mystery of the Ancient Ones" (Nov. 13) tries to unravel the intrigue surrounding the disappearance of the Anasazi people, once thought to have succumbed to disease or the environment Husband and wife anthropologists Dr. Jonathan Haas of the Field Museum of Chicago and Dr. Winifred Creamer of Northern Illinois University have uncovered evidence that dispels both those theories.

"Einstein Revealed" begins the series' 23rd season Oct. 1 with a two-hour examination of the personal side of one of the Continued on page 40 5.