Highlights Archive

Trolley Parks: Great Lakes • WXXI-TV

Trolley Parks were born when trolley companies began adding picnic areas, playgrounds and carousels to the ends of lines to increase weekend ridership. In the early 1900s, there were more than 1,000 trolley parks, but today, only a dozen remain, including Rochester’s own Seabreeze Park.

Trolley Parks: Great Lakes airs Saturday, May 16 at 4 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Trolley Park: Great Lakes reveals the rich histories of two iconic amusement parks located on the shores of the Great Lakes: Seabreeze Park welcoming guests since 1879 on the shores of Lake Ontario, and Waldameer Park on Lake Erie, which began as a picnic ground in 1896. Trolley Park: Great Lakes also tells the story of the family ownership of both parks—ownership that has spanned generations.

Trolley parks were the precursors to today’s amusement parks. Most were built by streetcar companies in the late 1800s to increase business by giving riders a weekend destination at the “end of the line,” usually located at a park or lake. Initially, they included pavilions, dance halls and sports fields, with many expanding to include Ferris wheels, carousels and swimming pools. These parks helped usher in the golden age of amusement parks. In the early 1900s there were more than a thousand trolley parks. Now only a few remain.

Joy is what multiple generations have experienced and continue to experience at Seabreeze and Waldameer Park. Our goal with this film is to remind viewers of that simple joy with the hope that they will spread that joy, especially to children, while also realizing that preserving memories of times past is equally essential as safeguarding these trolley parks into the future.

Trolley Parks: Great Lakes repeats 5/18 at 5 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Photo: Seabreeze Figure Eight/Courtesy of Seabreeze Park

WXXI Classical Presents… Flower Drum Song

Join WXXI Classical for a screening of Flower Drum Song, the first feature film in American history to feature a majority Asian cast.

WXXI Classical Presents… Flower Drum Song screens Saturday, May 2 at 3 p.m. at The Little Theatre. It will be followed by a panel discussion hosted by WXXI’s Steve Johnson.

Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1950s, the story follows four young lovers: an undocumented immigrant, a cabaret performer, the cabaret’s owner, and a 20-something trying to forge his own path while respecting his parents’ more traditional views. As they pursue romance, they uncover the many layers of their Asian-American identities.

Add to the mix a memorable soundtrack by Broadway legends Rodgers and Hammerstein—including classics like “Love Look Away,” “You Are Beautiful,” and “I Enjoy Being a Girl”—and you’re sure to enjoy this landmark production in Asian American history!

Click here to purchase tickets!

WXXI Classical Presents is a series of films that are related to classical music in some way, co-produced by WXXI Classical and The Little Theatre. Selected by classical music hosts Brenda Tremblay, Mona Seghatoleslami, and Steve Johnson each film chosen exemplifies the power of music in an exciting or non-traditional narrative way. More details about the WXXI Classical Presents Series

Asian American profiles • WXXI News

Racquel Stephen, WXXI News Health, equity and community reporter, profiles Asian Americans in the Rochester area who are making an impact in our community. Links will be added here as stories are posted. Visit WXXINews.org.

Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story • WXXI-TV + Streams Live on the PBS App

Corky Lee’s epic quest to document Asian American history, culture, and activism. (55m 5s)

Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story airs Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

Using his camera as a “weapon against injustice,” Chinese American photographer Corky Lee’s art is his activism. His unforgettable images of Asian American life empowered generations. This film’s intimate portrait reveals the triumphs and tragedies of the man behind the lens.

Finding Your Roots “Far From Home” • WXXI-TV

Jamie Chung, Cyndi Lauper, and Danny Trejo uncover the stories of their immigrant ancestors.

Finding Your Roots “Far From Home” airs Sunday, May 17 at 11:30 a.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of pop icon Cyndi Lauper and actors Jamie Chung and Danny Trejo, exploring records in Italy, Korea, and Mexico to uncover ancestors whose stories were lost when their families immigrated to America.

My Music with Rhiannon Giddens “Haruka Fujii” • WXXI-TV + Streams Live on the PBS App

Rhiannon and Japanese percussionist Haruka Fujii perform and chat.

My Music with Rhiannon Giddens “Haruka Fujii” airs Saturday, May 25 at 11:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

Japanese percussionist Haruka Fujii talks with Rhiannon about the surprising history of the marimba in Japan and her own mission to spread the beauty of Japanese music to diverse audiences. They discuss Silkroad’s “American Railroad” project, and the episode ends with a performance of Fujii’s original composition “Tamping Song.”

Independent Lens “Third Act” • WXXI-TV + Streams Live on the PBS App

A filmmaker honors his father’s legacy of art, activism, and resilience across generations.

Independent Lens “Third Act” airs Monday, May 25 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

Generations call Robert A. Nakamura the godfather of Asian American film. Tadashi Nakamura calls him Dad. Tadashi turns the camera on his father as they confront art, activism, and aging. From WWII incarceration to cultural awakening and a Parkinson’s diagnosis, Third Act is a tender portrait of legacy, inherited trauma, and the final chapter of a shared creative life.

Independent Lens “Light of the Setting Sun” • WXXI-TV + Streams Live on the PBS App

A filmmaker confronts her Chinese family’s trauma and questions whether the cycle can end.

Independent Lens “Light of the Setting Sun” airs Monday, May 18 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

A Chinese family’s multigenerational trauma unfolds across time, place, and identity. Turning the camera inward, filmmaker Vicky Du traces her family’s mental illness back to the Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949. Spanning Taipei, Taiwan, and New Jersey, Light of the Setting Sun explores identity, gender roles, and whether healing can break the cycle for future generations.