PoetOfTheSpheres

Three out of four American television viewers tuned to CBS or NBC to watch a A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy in 1962, which was syndicated world-wide (estimates of hundreds of millions of people eventually saw the program, making it the most widely viewed documentary during that era).

Mrs. Kennedy provided a masterful, authoritative, knowledgeable tour of the various historical artifiacts furnishing 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, "the people's house", its interior design and her well-received renovation efforts of the White House, all the while amidst an aura of elegance by the First Lady hard not not to be captured by while viewing the tour.

This was shown as part of historical films in my junior high school history course and left a poignant memory of an era. It should be put back into print as an educational and cultural DVD for those of a new generation to enjoy.

The Freedom of Information Act of the 70's and lawsuits have begun to reveal the shocking use of illegal drugs (LSD) combined with psychological and physical torture conducted by the United States Army against its very own troops on active duty overseas. This was part of Operation Third Chance.

The movie features one of those victims, James Thornwell, US Army. This included the Army's administering LSD to Thornwell without his approval (nor even his knowledge at the time), as part of their macabre and abusive experimentations.

The riveting movie features Thornwell's torture and subsequent 16 year journey unraveling the nearly unbelievable torture by the people he served - our government's military.

There are no multi-million dollar special effects here, just an unforgettable, true story. We may never know the extent of how many other Army staff (there were at least nine verified so far) subjected to this shameful chapter in US Military history, but this movie is a beginning. Hopefully it will be brought to videotape, for wider distribution.

Gary Weibert

I recall watching many episodes from this unique series and am disappointed it does not yet seem to be available for purchase. I'd always wondered if the last name of the ESP investigator (Dr. Rhodes) was a play on words in that it matches the first two letters of the famous ESP Researcher of Duke University, JB Rhine.

Each episode had its own challenge, with the good doctor having just enough manifested ESP ability to lead him along the trail of intrigue (remember those zoom-in close-ups of his eyes or ears, denoting his detecting psychic information pertaining to the case?)

I hadn't quite realized the other viewer's comments that at least some of the episodes apparently were repackaged in Serling's Night Gallery series, although I do recall at least one Sixth Sense episode appearing in a Night Gallery feature, yes.

One particular episode of intrigue involved master psychics seated around a table, with starry emblems floating or displayed about the darkened room, attempting to outwit Dr. Rhodes in his pursuit of their misuse of said abilities.

I think Gary Collins did a plausible job of taking the acting role seriously for this series, and would be delighted to obtain a copy of the entire series. Hopefully the original prints are still intact and available for said purpose?