The Adams Chronicles

"The Adams Chronicles" was a multi-Emmy award-winning, thirteen-episode special by PBS that aired in the mid-1970s to commemorate the Bicentennial. It "chronicles" the story of the Adams political family over a 150-year span, including John Adams (signer of the Declaration, accomplished diplomat, and the 2nd President), his wife Abigail Adams, his son John Quincy Adams (acclaimed Secretary of State, the 6th President, and prominent abolitionist Congressman), grandson Charles Francis Adams, congressman and ambassador to Great Britain during the Civil War, and much-heralded members of the fourth generation Henry Brooks Adams, the historian and author of the novel "Democracy," and Charles Francis Adams II, the industrialist. The most prominent role in the series is John Adams, played by George Grizzard. His views dominate the series even after his passing, on the July 4th, 1826, on 50th anniversary of the passage of the United States Declaration of Independence. As a result of his achievements during the revolution, and afterwards as vice president and president, subsequent Adams generations have a hard time dealing with this legacy of public service and accomplishment and frequently wonder if they are measuring up to their distinguished ancestry. In the end, the members of the fourth generation feel that the time in which the Adams family can play a prominent role in the affairs of the nation has passed.

This series was released on DVD by Acorn Media on May 13, 2008.

Cast includes:

George Grizzard - John Adams

Lisa Lucas - Abigail Adams II

Michael O'Hare - Richard Cranch

Kathryn Walker - Abigail Adams

Katharine Houghton - Nabby Adams

William Daniels - John Quincy Adams

Pamela Payton-Wright - Louisa Catherine Adams

Jerome Dempsey - Tappan

W.B. Brydon: Samuel Adams

Alan Hewitt: Ames

Albert Stratton: Thomas Jefferson

Charles Siebert: Charles Francis Adams II

Charles Tenney: Brooks Adams

Curt Dawson: John Hancock

Dai Stockton: Brooks Adams

David O'Brien: Wolcott

Gilmer McCormick: Marian Hooper Adams

Guy Sorel: Count de Vergennes

James Congdon: Lovell

Jeremiah Sullivan: Alexander Hamilton

John Beal: Charles Francis Adams

John Tillinger: King George III

Mark Winkworth: John Quincy Adams

Nancy Coleman: Abigail

Nicholas Pryor: John Quincy Adams II

Paul Hecht: Jay Gould

Peter Brandon: Henry Adams

Reid Shelton: Pickering

Robert Symonds: Benjamin Franklin

Sandra Gartner: Mary Adams

Stephen D. Newman: Abraham Lincoln

Steven Grover: John Quincy Adams

Thomas V.V. Tammi: Thomas Adams

Tom Aldredge: McHenry

William Shust: Henry Adams

Episodes include:

Chapter I: John Adams, Lawyer

Chapter II: John Adams, Revolutionary

Chapter III: John Adams, Diplomat

Chapter IV: John Adams, Minister to Great Britain

Chapter V: John Adams, Vice President

Chapter VI: John Adams, President

Chapter VII: John Quincy Adams, Diplomat

Chapter VIII: John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State

Chapter IX: John Quincy Adams, President

Chapter X: John Quincy Adams, Congressman

Chapter XI: Charles Francis Adams, Minister to Great Britain

Chapter XII: Henry Adams, Historian

Chapter XIII: Charles Francis Adams, Industrialist

"The Adams Chronicles" won a number of Emmy Awards for television excellence. These included:

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN FOR A drama or comedy series - 1977

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Alvin Colt, Costume Designer OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN LIGHTING DIRECTION - 1977

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - William Knight, Lighting Director; George Riesenberger, Lighting Director OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TAPE SOUND MIXING - 1977

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Emil Neroda, Sound Mixer OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION OR SCENIC DESIGN FOR A DRAMA series - 1977

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Ed Wittstein, Production Designer OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DRAMA SERIES - 1977

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Fred Coe, Director OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES - 1977

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - James Cellan-Jones, Producer; Fred Coe, Producer; Robert Costello, Coordinating Producer; Virginia Kassel, Series Producer; Jac Venza, Executive Producer OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES - 1977

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Tad Mosel, Writer The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Roger O. Hirson, Writer OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION OR SCENIC DESIGN - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Ed Wittstein, Art Director OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN FOR A DRAMA - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Alvin Colt, Costume Designer OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN GRAPHIC DESIGN AND TITLE - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Girish Bhargava, Graphic Design; Bill Mandel, Graphic Design OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN LIGHTING DIRECTION - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Billy Knight, Lighting Director; Dick Weiss, Lighting Director OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Leonard Chumbley, Technical Director; Walter Edel, Cameraperson; John Feher, Cameraperson; Steve Zink, Cameraperson OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VIDEO TAPE EDITING FOR A SERIES - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Girish Bhargava, Editor; Manford Schorn, Editor OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - George Grizzard OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS FOR A SINGLE PERFORMANCE - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Kathryn Walker The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Pamela Payton-Wright OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Paul Bogart, Producer; Fred Coe, Producer; Robert Costello, Producer; James Cellan Jones, Producer; Virginia Kassel, Series Producer; Jac Venza, Executive Producer OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES - 1976

The Adams Chronicles - PBS - Sherman Yellen, Writer