Celebrating the Anniversary of 5 Community Programs that Spark Discussion
There’s just something special about community programming. It’s designed to cover unique subject matters that you won’t find anywhere else. That’s because community programming is all about the free exchange of information and ideas.
This month, 1623 Studios is celebrating five shows that have had an impact on their community and are celebrating their anniversary in October. Each of these shows brings something unique to the table whether it be a podcast highlighting the most interesting people in Gloucester or a vlog with insightful musings on everything under the sun. There’s something wonderful about entertainment that sparks the imagination, encourages discussion, and introduces audiences to new ideas and thoughts.
Get to know: Fishtown Local, Marjohn’s Musings, Smart Boating, Local Music Seen, and The Writer’s Block.
Fishtown Local
Fishtown Local is a podcast that highlights the most interesting people in Gloucester. Each 30-minute episode interviews a special guest who talks about how they got to where they are and how Gloucester helped them get there. It’s all about fascinating conversation, unique histories, and relevant topics. Host Gordon Baird is excellent at letting each of his guests lead the conversation and asking insightful questions that pull out their very best.
“I make sure I know something about each guest to shift gears when necessary, but by listening, the conversation always remains relevant and seems to elicit the best out of the guest because it continues to be about them,” said Gordon. “The unifying factor for each guest is Gloucester, including how they got here and how they have fit in.”
Check out all 45 podcasts so far and see what Fishtown Local is all about.
Marjohn’s Musings
For five years, Marjohn’s Musings has graced cable TV channels with profound insight and reflections on today’s latest news. It all started when host Marjohn Love decided to share her reaction to the Government Shutdown in 2013. At that time, she couldn’t help but rant about what Congress was doing, and people loved it. Thus, the show was born. The next thing Marjohn knew, she was writing and performing one show a month, providing viewers with 55 minutes of intelligent, thought-provoking entertainment.
“I base my mixed content approach on the popular PBS TV Series ‘Connections’ and my interaction style on Bob Hope and Mr. Rodgers, who both broke the fourth wall and talked directly to their audiences,” explained Marjohn. “We are now up to show #58, ‘Bobbin Lace Explorations,’ which is currently in postproduction. You can find some of the prior episodes on 1623/Studios YouTube Channel or on Marjohn’s Creative Characters YouTube Channel.”
After covering a wide range of topics from the addictive nature of sugar to opium poisoning, there’s no doubt that Marjohn’s Musings is here to stay.
Smart Boating
Smart Boating is a weekly TV show that was developed to help boaters make more informed decisions. Since it aired in August 2006, the show has covered a range of boating topics from purchases and sales to boat types, boat maintenance, winterization, safety, and more. Taped in the field with expert guests, Smart Boating provides solid advice that has been thoroughly researched and is delivered alongside discussion guides.
“The show started from humble beginnings,” according to Paul Jermain, the show’s producer. “The idea came from a lunchtime conversation with a marine surveyor friend who stated that he thought I could produce a better show than a well-known syndicated boating show that was airing at the time. I was unfamiliar with how to produce a TV show, but felt that my instructional background developed through extensive adult education involvement would enable me to produce a quality program. So, I stopped into the local public access cable TV studio the next day and asked for training.”
Now in its 200th episode, Smart Boating continues to air weekly only BevCam Channel 8 and thirty other public access cable TV station channels located along the North Shore. You can also find Smart Boating at www.smartboatingus.com.
Local Music Seen
Since it first aired in January 2011, Local Music Seen has been a favorite show in New England celebrating music in all its varied forms. Produced by Allen Estes and filmed for people who love to keep an eye on the local music scene, it gives viewers a sneak peek at the latest and greatest artists, bands, symphonies, and more. The best part is with Local Music Seen you get all the best local music without having to leave your house.
Check out Local Music Seen in its latest season and see why its slogan, “we bring the music to you” is so apt.
The Writer’s Block
The Writer’s Block is proof that reading and writing are still alive and well on Cape Ann. In fact, they’re thriving. Put together by John Ronan at 1623 Studios, The Writer’s Block has featured more than 500 poets and other artists since it debuted. Now, 29 seasons and 350 shows in, The Writer’s Block is synonymous with the art television in New England. In fact, it’s one of the longest, continuously running cable series in the area.
The 29th season of The Writer’s Block just premiered this October 4! John Ronan and 1623 Studios are looking forward to 29 more years with more great guests like Linda Pastan, Kate McCann, Moira Linehan, Joseph Featherstone, and Claire Keyes.
