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California: From Hollywood to Silicon Valley

The story of preacher Aimee Semple McPherson who vanished one day in 1926. And, Hattie McDaniel, who won an Oscar in 1940 for her role in Gone With The Wind.

Actor Stanley Tucci imagines the story of modern California as a movie screenplay, tracing the dramatic history of the state from Hollywood to Silicon Valley.
In this episode, he tells the story of celebrity revivalist preacher Aimee Semple McPherson who vanished one day in 1926. And he remembers Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win an Oscar in 1940, criticised by civil rights groups for her role in Gone With The Wind.

Academic consultant: Dr Ian Scott, University of Manchester
Producer: Laurence Grissell

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 28 Jun 202021:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Wed 24 Jun 202010:32GMT
  • Wed 24 Jun 202012:32GMT
  • Wed 24 Jun 202015:32GMT
  • Wed 24 Jun 202019:32GMT
  • Wed 24 Jun 202021:32GMT
  • Wed 24 Jun 202022:32GMT
  • Sun 28 Jun 202017:32GMT
  • Sun 28 Jun 202018:32GMT
  • Sun 28 Jun 202021:32GMT