MovieChat Forums > The Adams Chronicles (1976) Discussion > A Must Have

A Must Have

posted 20 years ago by JohnAdams1735
22 replies | jump to latest

It sounds like there are quite a few fans of this series out there... we seriously need to find who owns the rights and how we can convince them to release it onto DVD. I need to have this series. It is such a good look into the life of John Adams and his family. Please, if any new news comes up, let me know. [email protected]
I am John Adams. "Swim or Sink, Live or Die, Survive or Perish"

Update 2008-04-18 - The DVDs are here!
Well, the DVDs arrived today. My opinions so far:
Packaging: Great. Four disks in four slim cases and a box for all four. Also included is a booklet with information about Adams. Nicely done.

DVD Menus: Nice and easy to navigate. The DVD does play advertisements for other stuff by the company that put out the Adams Chronicles before getting to the title menu, but that is only a mild annoyance.

Also included are a couple of special features - for example, the first disk contains a photo gallery of Adams’ third house, know by various names, including Peacefield and The Old House.

Video: It obviously isn’t as high quality as more recent movies, but it is a vast improvement over my circa 1981 TV recordings…

Overall I am quite pleased with the set so far. Now all I can hope for is they don’t come out with a “special collector’s edition” in a couple of months with even more extras as some DVD producers tend to do (M*A*S*H for example).

[–] bbgrant 20 years ago

I know that The Adams Chronicles are shown at the John Adams house in Quincy , Mass. Perhaps they would be able to make copies. That is the only other place I have seen this series, other than onTV in the mid 70's

[–] mollyshock 19 years ago

I have been searching for this for 30 years.
Please keep me on sombody's list for DVD or even good VHS copies of the Adams Chronicals series... I have the book, but I really want the vidieo... Thanks TAD Tobitt [email protected]

[–] JohnAdams1735 20 years ago

Mr. Adams here again. I e-mailed the PBS station in New York and they said that I am now on their list of people interested. So, I'm thinking, if we can get an influx of people asking them for this wonderful series, they'll stick it on DVD. Come on, if 1776 is on DVD (another GREAT movie), then this series ought to be on DVD too!
I also was able to watch them again (my professor has a copy he taped in 1987 off of the TV [!]) and I LOVE JOHN ADAMS!!!
By the way, did anyone else notice that Christopher Lloyd plays the Czar of Russia when JQA is there? Hello! He's not credited, but seriously, how could anyone mistake Christopher Lloyd for anyone else?
Also, I think that's Rex Robbins who plays John Langdon (I saw him in episode 5 where JA is vice-president. He might be in more...) Thoughts?
Please give your views on this. All of this. Thank you. Worn out and tired after 269 years this October 30th (October 19 old style), I am your drooping

John Adams

PS: Here is the place to e-mail! [email protected]
GO GO GO!!!

[–] vwbaz 19 years ago

I too suffer from the "weeping and gnashing of teeth". I thought about taping the series the second time it was shown on our local PBS affiliate but thought "nah it will be on again". Oh well, if you could forward me the EMail address I too will write a request. I have been searching for a copy of the Adams Chronicles for some time now with no success. Someone must have a copy somewhere out there. The production was just too good never to be seen again. Let me know if you hear of anything.
Victor Dazbaz
[email protected]

[–] emile102 19 years ago

I agree that it is a must have and am wondering if anyone has tracked down who owns the rights? TV.com says that they have downloadable copies but I am wondering if that is true.

[–] cuzind 19 years ago

I too have fond memories of this great series and now some 28 years later am an elementary school teacher who would love to have it in my school's video library. Anyone had any luck getting a copy? I will e-mail the PBS address you've provided as well!

[–] alanmann-1 19 years ago

I remember the series myself.. It was one of those series that sparked my
interest in U.S. History,. Any word on how to get a copy of this series

Alan Mann
[email protected]

[–] jcrodden 19 years ago

I hope this happens. Another title that was broadcast at that time that I just found in IMDB: "Benjamin Franklin" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363319/

[–] juanita 19 years ago

Chances are the program was produced by WGBH, the Boston PBS affiliate, which is responsible for a great deal of national programing. Given the subject matter I suspect that the seeds of the program started there. Here's the address for their contact page: http://www.wgbh.org/contact/

[–] brianandalice-1 19 years ago

Well, since they're FINALLY releasing "Backstairs at the White House" on DVD, maybe "Adams Chronicles" isn't too far behind! I still have my VHS tapes of this series, but they were taped in 1987, and things are looking pretty grainy!

[–] suessis 19 years ago

Back Stairs at the White House is a great mini, but it was a NBC production. You have to appeal to PBS for Adams Chronicles as I just did! Thank you Mr. Adams for the address!

Glad to see there are some Adams fans out there!

"These are only shadows of the real world..."

[–] juanita 18 years ago

This month American Experience is presenting a newly produced program exporing the relationship between John and Abigail Adams. This might be a great time to remind programers and others in charge, that there is an audience still awaiting the release of The Adams Chronicles on DVD. Here's the address for contacting WGBH, the producer and clearing house for many of the programs aired on PBS stations across the country: http://www.wgbh.org/contact/

[–] juanita 18 years ago

I received this reply from WGBH today:

The reason that WGBH has not and will not be releasing a DVD of the Adam's Chronicle's is because we do not have a rights release for redistribution. Unfortunately its one of those dead end Legal Rights issues where our hands are tied.

Although IMDB does list PBS as the distributor.

[–] mgzimmer 18 years ago

Near the very top of this message stream, "John Adams" indicates that Channel 13 in NY, NY is the "owner" of this property.

Apparently, thy're maintaining a list of those interesed in seeing this excellent program released on DVD.

I'll be adding my name to the list.

From JA's message:

PS: Here is the place to e-mail! [email protected]
GO GO GO!!!

Mike Zimmermann

[–] kollege_katgirl 18 years ago

I wrote Channel 13 Mr. Adams. They need to get it ported over to DVD and out around next Independence Day-with proper press releases and tons of reviewers and newspapers pushing it around the Independence Day Holiday it'd be a commercial success.

About 3 years ago while we were living in Perris, California in the Riverside County Library District, one of the librarians did an InterLibrary Loan search for me and found three public libraries that had it, but they refused to share it, for rather obvious reasons. If someone stumbles in here and lives near one of these three libraries and is willing to tape and share, I'm sure some of us enterprising American History lovers can see it out and about again, like shared on kazaa or the like, or hard media: tape and disk, as they're simply refusing to distribute it. They must think it's too expensive to produce, market and distribute, and that the series won't sell, but I don't believe that.

[–] JohnAdams1735 18 years ago

Hello, Mr. JA here again - what I want to know is WHO THE SMEGGIN' HECK owns the rights to this series, and what sort of provocation do they need to get it released on DVD? Any info is welcome. Thank you. Sorry about using caps. too.

Happy 271, John! (Oct. 30, 2006)

Update November 09, 2006: I went to the Adams National Historic Site and montag63 is right - they seem to have little interest in finding who owns the rights and how to get it released again. *annoying* Also, the guy I talked to said that the book, which was produced in conjuction with the TV series is also out of print and they can't get new editions printed (not sure if that's true). But I will keep trying and will post here when I get more/new news, I promise!

Update 10 April 2008: This miniseries is now available on DVD! I personally ordered it from Amazon, but I know others have it - to date it is a pre-order, but I will try to update this post as soon as I’ve accessed the quality of the DVD set (it’ll be this summer). It’s about time they release it - and all it took was another miniseries on John Adams to do it (the timing is perfect so I doubt it’s a coincidence). That miniseries and David McCullough are a whole different story.

[–] montag63 17 years ago

I too have been waiting forever for the release of this in any findable format. I still have the VHS tapes I recorded off Channel 13 PBS when they re-aired the series in 1987 for the Bicentennial of the Constitution, but I missed the Charles Francis Adams episodes and my copies are wearing out. I don't think they ever reaired the rest of the series; and I could've sworn they went through Henry Adams when I first saw it in 1976-1977. (I Claudius aired around the same time; a good year to be watching Channel 13).
I visited the Adams Historical Site a couple of Springs ago, and was devestated when I found the gift store not only didn't have it, but didn't have any interest in finding out. I couldn't believe I had more books in my home library on the Adamses than they had for sale. Anyone know what ever happened to Volume 2 of the Diary of John Quincy Adams from Harvard? How many decades of prep does it take?? I know Lyman Butterfield is long dead, but geez.
I'll email PBS. Thanks for the tip all.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] morganoneill 16 years ago

please add me tothe list of a devoted fan of george grizzards wonderful performance as john adams in this 13 episode mini series JOHN ADAMS CHRONICLES.
I lived in san fran 40 yrs and taped it off pbs or bbc..but lack the 13th episode//wan to buy this badly...same grizzard died oct 07 without getting the accolades he so deserved for his JOHN ADAMS..THE ONLY AND ONLY..i read McCulloughs John adams and loved it, but the new HBO SERIES presently on is a terrible disapointment!!! costuming ok, acting not!!esp the actor playing adams!!ecch!! please reissue this lovely and great mini series so the world can see grizzard at his finest!!!what an actor..now gone..so sad./ thanks,, [email protected]

morgan oneill

[–] marioncarmichael 16 years ago

It's available on DVD at Olivefilms.com.

Enjoy y'all!

[–] cowboyerik 12 years ago

Just got my copy! Can't believe how much more accurate it is than the HBO John Adams!

[–] spambuck 14 years ago

As to the video quality John, it won Emmys for Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction and Electronic Camerawork & Outstanding Achievement in Video Tape Editing for a Series, so in 1976, they must have taken "the next step" with it. Still holds up, like a classic.