KCET Honors Womens History Mon with Inspiring Documentaries in March

BURBANK, CA - Feb. 26, 2014 - KCET, the nations largest independent public television station serving Southern and Central California, commemorates Womens History Month with several fascinating documentaries throughout March. These programs celebrate the courage, commitment and strength of influential women and their significant impact on the U.S. as well as the world.

No Going Back: Women and the War - Sunday, March 2 at 11 p.m.

North of the Mason-Dixon line, the Industrial Revolution of the mid-19th century drew increasing numbers of women out of the home and into the factories. In the agrarian, antebellum South, no such exodus occurred. Many Southerners perceived the forces of modernization - including the early rumblings of the womens suffrage movement - as a threat to their traditional way of life. However, as Fort Sumter fell in April of 1861, so too would many firmly held cultural and societal beliefs about a womans place. Hardships and hunger forced ill-prepared, isolated and often un-educated Southern women into the public sphere to demand relief from the government and advocate for policy changes. No Going Back: Women and the War explores how the lives of women, and their roles in society, changed during and after the Civil War. Grammy -winning singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter narrates. Interviews with well-known historians and academics, reenactments at Civil War-era landmarks, and dramatic readings from the letters and journals of women, both free and enslaved, illuminate this fascinating chapter in American history.

Thatcher: A Memoir - Thursday, March 6 at 10 p.m.

This is a moving documentary about Britains first and only female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. A controversial figure whose right-wing politics, economic liberalization and bold social changes earned her the moniker Iron Lady, Thatcher was loved and hated - often at the same time. Through interviews with some of her closest colleagues, the next generation of politicians she inspired, and those who opposed her all through her premiership, viewers get a closer look at the remarkable and effective politician that left an indelible mark on the U.K.

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II - Friday, March 7 at 8 p.m.

Following the death of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, the 25 year-old Princess Elizabeth immediately replaced him as Head of State of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth. But many months of planning were to follow before Elizabeth IIs formal coronation on June 2, 1953. This fascinating documentary tells the behind the scenes story of the momentous occasion, looking at the enormous logistical operation involved and the issues that threatened to turn the whole thing into a disaster. The coronation was an event of huge cultural significance, seen as an opportune moment for the British royal family to establish the meaning of the modern monarchy - reinforcing the idea of continuity and tradition, while establishing the new reign of the young queen and her modernizing consort, the Duke of Edinburgh. By opening up the diaries and papers of those at the heart of the planning and delivery of the event, the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II shows the lesser known story behind the pageantry and historical spectacle.

Women in Chemistry: Life Lessons from the Lab - Sunday, March 9 at 11 p.m.

This documentary profiles eight remarkable women who have made important contributions to the field of chemistry. The Women in Chemistry project set out to present a group of eminent women chemists in all their dimensions principally to inspire young women to consider careers in the chemical and molecular sciences.

Life Is A Banquet: The Rosalind Russell Story - Thursday, March 13 at 10 p.m.

Rosalind Russell, the star of Auntie Mame, His Girl Friday, Gypsy, and scores of other memorable films and Broadway shows, came into her own during Hollywoods Golden Era and was paired with many of the luminaries of that time, including Joan Crawford, Cary Grant, and Kirk Douglas. An advocate for those with disabilities, this unique and pioneering talent was struck with severe rheumatoid arthritis in her later years, which derailed her career. Thereafter, Russell championed the needs of millions also suffering from the disease. Whether considered for her sophisticated comedy roles or dignity under duress, her humanity shines through. Narrated by Kathleen Turner, this insightful and warm profile comes on the occasion of the approach of the 75th anniversary of her breakthrough role as Sylvia Fowler in The Women (1939) and the 55th anniversary of her most famous role as Mame Dennis in Auntie Mame (1958).

Invisible Women: Forgotten Artists of Florence - Sunday, March 16 at 11:30 p.m.

Florence, Italy, the cradle of the Renaissance, gave rise to some of the worlds most celebrated artists, architects and scientists, including: Michelangelo, Brunelleschi and Galileo. Yet, little is known of the citys trailblazing female artists. The Emmy -winning Invisible Women: Forgotten Artists of Florence sheds light on the lives and works of these largely forgotten Renaissance-era painters, revealing the hidden half of one of the worlds most beloved art cities. Infrared reflectography and other high-tech equipment assists a dedicated group of artists, historians, restorers and museum executives as they remove centuries of decay and bring precious pieces of art history - salvaged from storage facilities throughout Italy - back to life. Cameras chart this painstaking process of reconstruction, restoration, preservation and conservation of two works, Lamentation with Saints by Plautilla Nelli (1524-1588), a cloistered nun and the first known female painter of Florence; and David and Bathsheba, by Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653).

Sister Wendy and the Art of the Gospel - Thursday, March 20 at 10 p.m.

Sister Wendy, all tee

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