Smithsonian Channel To Recount Coverage of Historical Events In ‘The Lost Tapes’ Series

Smithsonian Channel will relive major events in America through rare news footage as part of a new series The Lost Tapes, premiering in December, the network said Thursday.

The series will debut Dec. 4 on the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor with the retelling of the attack using only radio reports, television footage and rarely seen photographs and other media, said network officials. Other subjects profiled in the series that will debut in 2017 include the 1992 L.A. Riots, the 1997 Son of Sam serial killer in New York City, and the kidnapping of Patty Hearst in 1975, said network officials.

The Lost Tapes is produced by Tom Jennings of 1895 Films (MLK: The Assassination Tapes) with Smithsonian Channel’s David Royle and Charles Poe serving as executive producers.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.