GDG- O'Relly book filming for History channel
CWMHTours at aol.com
CWMHTours at aol.com
Fri Jan 13 19:01:01 CST 2012
I think that if you are going to set yourself up as a professional
historian or historical writer then you ought to meet the standards you set.
Shouldn't be making a lot of goofy errors, inserting your view of what a
character is thinking or making up a conversation when there is no historical
conformation of it.
You either are a historian writing historian or you are not. It's black
and white to me.
Hot on the trail of Swanson's [criticism deleted here] book "Manhunt" of
which a lot of historians are very critical here comes another sloppy
attempt, and issued just when the movie "The Conspirator" came out.
Been to see Mark Leepson a couple of times who wrote "Monocacy: The Battle
That Saved Washington" (Really?). Appeared to swap terms like brigade
and battalion interchangably and regiments and divisions. Didn't seem to
really know his characters and their history. Much of his talks were of the
Old Wives Tales type. I never bought his book.
When Ginrich came out with his Gtybg book years ago I saw him. At the end
I was quite unimpressed. Seemed also not to know his characters. He made
this historical proposition but when myself and others would try to pin
down how, when, where, etc Longstreet would pull off the big move he seemed
to be very vague. I could have bought an autographed book. I didn't.
Swanson constantly inserts thoughts and conversation that only came out of
his own imagination. Lots of historians besides myself are pretty
critical of his work. I read the book, twice, but because it was a gift.
It's either History or it is not.
Your Most Obedient Servant,
Peter
In a message dated 1/13/2012 7:18:58 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
jlb4tlb at yahoo.com writes:
Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
Why not? Is there some magicial event that has to take place to
qualifties or not a person from writing as they please. its entirely up to the
consomer to make the desicion if the work merits money.
BTW, Ginrich writes fiction that is based on the Civil War, so yes yiu
are wrong.
O'Reilly phony? personal insult or do you have facts?
Namaste
Jeff Burk
>________________________________
> From: "CWMHTours at aol.com" <CWMHTours at aol.com>
>To: gettysburg at arthes.com
>Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 6:33 PM
>Subject: Re: GDG- O'Relly book filming for History channel
>
>Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>SAee? Everything about O'Reilly's book is true. Quasi- or phony
>historians such as O'Reilly and Gingrich should not be writing about the
Civil War.
>
>Your Most Obedient Servant,
>Peter
>
>
>In a message dated 1/13/2012 3:55:43 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>TerryBrasko at mindspring.com writes:
>
>Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>> "Killing Lincoln" was an outstanding read as I was unaware of the
entire
>story, like most folks I knew the general outline of what happened. Now I
>have a much better understanding of the facts.
>
>>Lets hope this turns out better then the Gettysburg program The Scotts
>did.
>
>>Namaste
>
>>Jeff Burk
>
>
>Let's hope they leave out the errors. Here is the National Park
Service
>Review:
>
>
>
>Here is the full National Park Service review:
>
>Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site
>
>Review of Killing Lincoln, Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
>
>Reviewer for Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site, Rae Emerson, Deputy
>Superintendent
>
>Eastern National – Cooperating Association
>
>History
>
>Eastern National, formerly known as Eastern National Park and Monument
>Association, is a 501(C) (3) not-for-profit “cooperating association,”
>that
>supports the National Park Service. Cooperating associations are
recognized
>by Congress as a means to assist the educational and interpretive
mission
>of
>the National Park Service. Cooperating associations provide various
>services, primarily by procuring, distributing and selling educational
>material in retail outlets located in national parks . . . .
>
>Products
>
>The products sold at Eastern National bookstores are a combination of
>Eastern National-produced items and merchandise purchased through outside
>vendors, including books, reproductions, apparel, and collectibles. All
>products sold in Eastern National retail outlets are evaluated by
National
>Park Service interpreters for historical accuracy, quality, and
relevance
>to
>park themes. Strict standards are maintained to ensure we offer the
finest
>quality products that will enhance visitors’ experiences. As a
cooperating
>association, Eastern National sells only products that the National Park
>Service has approved.
>
>Reference: Eastern National
>
>Product Selection Criteria – Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site
>
>Relevance to park’s themes
>Historically accurate
>Publication has relevant citations
>Reflects scholarship; the use of primary resources with documentation
>Factual errors in publication
>
>The following errors are noted in chapters the reviewer was well versed
in
>the subject matter. Other chapters may also have similar findings noted
by
>subject matter experts or other reviewers. These observations are not
>included.
>
>Errors are identified by chapter, followed by passage where error is
noted,
>then followed by a fact comment, which is followed by the reference for
the
>fact comment.
>
>Prologue
>
>“He furls his brow . . . .” furl – nautical term to compact, roll up;
>furrows – narrow grove, depression on any surface, i.e., furrows of a
>wrinkled face
>
>Chapter 15
>
>“The two warriors will never meet again.”
>
>Fact comment:
>
>On April 10, 1865 Generals Lee and Grant met a second time at Appomattox
>Court House, Virginia. At that second meeting General Lee requested that
>his
>men be given evidence that they were paroled prisoners – to protect them
>from arrest or harassment. 28,231 parole passes were issued to
>Confederates.
>
>Reference:
>
>Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
>
>Chapter 19
>
>“After it (Ford’s Theatre) was burned to the ground in 1863 . . . . . .
.
>“
>
>Fact comment:
>
>December 30, 1862, fire broke out and gutted the interior leaving only
the
>blackened walls standing.
>
>Reference:
>
>Restoration of Ford’s Theatre (Historic Structures Report, George J.
>Olszewski, Ph.D, Historian, National Capital Region, National Park
Service;
>1963; p. 11)
>
>Chapter 21, 27, etc.
>
>“Grant meets with Lincoln in the Oval Office.”
>
>“Lincoln sitting in his Oval Office . . .”
>
>Fact comment:
>
>Oval Office built in 1909 during Taft’s administration.
>
>Chapter 30
>
>“On the nights when the Lincolns are in attendance . . . . . . . . .
and
>a
>portrait of George Washington faces out at the audience, designating that
>the president of the United States is in the house.”
>
>Fact comment:
>
>Messenger arrived at the theatre from the White House about 10:30 a.m.
>(April 14, 1865) to reserve the presidential box for the performance
that
>evening.
>
>Reference:
>
>Restoration of Ford’s Theatre (Historic Structures Report, George J.
>Olszewski, Ph.D, Historian, National Capital Region, National Park
Service;
>1963; p. 53)
>
>“Ford added an additional touch to these normal decorations of the
>presidential box when he placed a gilt-framed engraving of Washington its
>central pillar for the first time.”
>
>Reference:
>
>Restoration of Ford’s Theatre (Historic Structures Report, George J.
>Olszewski, Ph.D, Historian, National Capital Region, National Park
Service;
>1963; p. 54)
>
>“So Ford’s Opera House, as the theater is formally known, is his (Booth)
>permanent address.”
>
>Fact comment:
>
>During the period from December 1861 – February 1862, Ford rented the
>theatre to George Christy, who advertised the building as “The George
>Christy Opera House”.
>
>After renovating the theatre in February 1862, the theatre reopened in
>March
>1862 under Ford’s name: Ford’s Atheneum.
>
>In February 1863 work started to rebuild the theatre after the December
30,
>1862 fire. The theatre known as “Ford’s New Theatre” reopened on
Thursday,
>August 27, 1863 and later referred to as Ford’s Theatre.
>
>Reference:
>
>Restoration of Ford’s Theatre (Historic Structures Report, George J.
>Olszewski, Ph.D, Historian, National Capital Region, National Park
Service;
>1963; pages 7– 13)
>
>“The state box, where the Lincolns and Grants will site this evening, is
>almost on the stage itself . . . . . . . . . . distance traveled would
be a
>mere nine feet.”
>
>Fact Comment:
>
>The presidential party occupied two boxes, # 7 and #8 which, when
combined,
>are referred to as the presidential box; the state boxes are build on
the
>stage proper; the distance from the state box to the stage is 11 and ½
feet
>to 12 feet depending on what end the box is measured. This difference is
>based on the rake or slant of the stage towards the audience.
>
>Reference:
>
>Restoration of Ford’s Theatre (Historic Structures Report, George J.
>Olszewski, Ph.D, Historian, National Capital Region, National Park
Service;
>1963; pp. 46, 51, 55)
>
>“Booth has performed here often and is more familiar with its hidden
>backstage tunnels . . . . .”
>
>Comment:
>
>Booth played twelve performances from November 3 – 14, 1863. He will not
>perform again at Ford’s Theatre until March 18, 1865.
>
>“In the southeast corner (of the stage) was a two-foot wide stairway
along
>the south wall which led to the basement. This stairway also provided
>access
>to the orchestra pit and unhindered passageway from stage-right to
>stage-left through the basement and by the stairs along the north wall,
to
>the small exit door at the rear alley. The passageway on stage-right
varied
>in width according to the manner in which the scenery was piled along
the
>north wall to the rear door. Generally this passageway was kept clear to
>provide for an orderly movement of stage scenery and for the unencumbered
>entrance and exit of actors awaiting their cues in the adjoining
greenroom
>in the north wing. “
>
>Reference:
>
>Restoration of Ford’s Theatre (Historic Structures Report, George J.
>Olszewski, Ph.D, Historian, National Capital Region, National Park
Service;
>1963; pp. 36, 47)
>
>“The show (Our American Cousin) has been presented eight pervious time at
>Ford’s . . . . . . .
>
>Face comment:
>
>Our American Cousin was performed seven times prior to April 14, 1865:
Jan
>11 and 12, 1864; Mar 11 and 12 1864; Aug 4, 1864; Aug 6, 1864; Feb 25,
1865
>
>Reference:
>
>Restoration of Ford’s Theatre (Historic Structures Report, George J.
>Olszewski, Ph.D, Historian, National Capital Region, National Park
Service;
>1963; pp. 111 -121)
>
>Chapter 39
>
>“Booth’s second act of preparation that afternoon was using a pen knife
to
>carve a very small peephole in the back wall of the state box. Now he
looks
>through the hole to get a better view of the president.”
>
>Fact comment:
>
>“Despite all attempts to prove, without success, that the hole in the
door
>to box 7 was bored by Booth that same afternoon, a recent letter from
Frank
>Ford of New York City (to Olszewski, April 13, 1962) may clarify the
fact.
>In part, his letter states:
>
>As I told you on your visit here in New York, I say again and
unequivocally
>that John Wilkes Booth did not bore the hole in the door leading to the
box
>President Lincoln occupied the night of the assassination, April 14,
1865
>.
>. .
>
>The hole was bored by my father, Harry Clay Ford, or rather on his
orders,
>and was bored for the very simple reason it would allow the guard, on
>Parker, easy opportunity whenever he so desired to look into the box
rather
>than to open the inner door to check on the presidential party . . ..
>
>Reference:
>
>Restoration of Ford’s Theatre (Historic Structures& Report, George J.
>Olszewski, Ph.D, Historian, National Capital Region, National Park
Service;
>1963; pp.55 -56)
>
>
>
>Final disposition:
>
>Publication (Killing Lincoln) not recommended as a sales item in the
>Eastern
>National Bookstore located in the Museum at Ford’s Theatre National
>Historic
>because of the lack of documentation and the factual errors within the
>publication.
>
>Terry Brasko
>
>
>
>
>
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