By Mike Greife,
March 29, 2017
WARRENSBURG, MO - KMOS-TV, the University of Central Missouri’s public broadcasting
station, in partnership with “Missouri Life” magazine, has produced a six-part television
tour of Missouri that will soon air on all public television stations across the state.
“Missouri Life” first aired on KMOS in the autumn of 2016, hosted by Meredith Hoenes.
KCPT in Kansas City began airing the series in March 2017 at 8:30 a.m. Sundays, and
it will begin in May on Nine Network in St. Louis and Ozarks Public Television in
Springfield.
Hoenes guides viewers through a different Missouri community with an eye on some of
the local faces and places, histories and singularities. This virtual road trip takes
viewers from Boonville, through Excelsior Springs, Marshall, Steelville and Silver
Dollar City, ending with a special ‘best of’ episode.
Each program includes an overview of the local history, a profile of a remarkable
Missourian, a feature on a resident artist or entertainer, a visit to a business with
Missouri roots, and several featurettes on local places that reflect Missouri’s strong
and unique character.
“We reached out to KMOS about doing a TV show and were thrilled to find out that they
were already thinking along the same lines,” says Danita Allen Wood, “Missouri Life”
Editor-in-Chief. “We are so excited to see our magazine come to life with the high
quality sound and video that KMOS has produced. We love the synergy that a magazine
along with a television show can have.”
Program notes for each program in the series include:
Boonville: Learn about early automaker Henry Mitchell from his thrice-great grandson
Lewis Miller. The Old Cooper County Jail had been the longest continually operated
county jail in the state of Missouri, and Warm Springs Ranch has a history where the
Budweiser Clydesdales can be traced back to 1933.
Excelsior Springs: Visit the Hall of Waters and The Elms Hotel, Fence Stile Winery,
Wabash BBQ and meet local luminaries Gregg Williams (formerly of the LA Rams) and
artist Cathy Johnson.
Marshall: Hear the Marshall Municipal Band, visit the Saline County Courthouse, the
Nicholas Beazley Aviation Museum, go back in time with Jim the Wonder Dog, and learn
about birds with the Missouri River Bird Observatory.
Steelville: Sharpen your knife skills with Richardson Knives, fire up the kiln with
Wyandot potter Jamie Zane Smith, and get your feet wet on an historic float trip.
Silver Dollar City: A review of Silver Dollar City's beginning, along with the history
of Marvel Cave. Visit with the resident potter, glass blower and woodcarver. Other
stories include the Journey Stagecoach, Eva and Delilah's Bakery, Skillet Cooking,
and an overview of the theme park with The Homestead Pickers.
The final program encapsulates the best stories from the series.
Learn more about KMOS-TV’s programming and outreach opportunities at kmos.org.
