The Woodwright's Shop FAQ

Provided by J. Geary Morton

A quick note: J. Geary Morton is the producer of the Woodwright's Shop and was basically badgered into compiling this FAQ by the contributors of the rec.woodworking newsgroup (thanks folks!!). The following was posted on rec.ww 20 Oct., 1995 and Geary has been kind enough to allow W5 to repost it here. Thank you Geary!

EPISODE DESCRIPIONS FOR THE 1500 SERIES

(from the press release)

BOOKS BY ROY UNDERHILL

THERE IS A NEW BOOK IN THE WORKS - AVAILABLE SOON!

All books are published by The University of North Carolina Press and are available in bookstores and libraries. UNC Press has a toll-free order number: 1-800-848-6224, and a toll-free fax number: 1-800-272-6817. 

Their mailing address is:

Customer Service Department
University of North Carolina Press
P.O. Box 2288
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2288

VIDEOTAPES

VHS copies of each episode are available by calling 1-800-441-3000. It is best to know the number of the episode you want before calling (given during the plug at the end of the show). Click HERE to see a detailed list. The operator can usually deal with a good description, though. Episodes are NOT available prior to their original broadcast date (see listing above).

Copies of episodes from earlier seasons, as well as many "collections" of episodes, are available through the North Carolina Public Television Foundation, P.O. Box 12231, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; 1-919-549-7822. Please write or call for a complete listing of what's available or just click above to see the list here.

MISCELLANEOUS

The Woodwright's Shop has been in production since 1979. The series did not go national (PBS), however, until 1981. Hence the fact that this is the 15th season.

There are always 13 episodes in a "season", with each season beginning in early October (usually the first Saturday). That makes 195 episodes in all!

Unfortunately, not all PBS affiliates run The Woodwright's Shop! It is their option whether or not to carry it. It is also their option WHEN to carry it. The dates given above are for the original satellite feeds. Most stations will air it on that same day, while others will time-shift it to a different day/month/week, i.e. check your local listings or call your affiliate station. If your station doesn't run the series (and you would like for them to), COMPLAIN! (Not to me, but to them). PBS stations are obliged to be responsive to their viewership, as they must rely on viewers for support. They DO listen, especially if many people have a similar request. The Woodwright's Shop enjoys an audience of approximately one million viewers, weekly!

Roy Underhill lives in Williamsburg, VA but is from Washington, D.C, originally. He is an alumnus of UNC and Duke University. He visits this newsgroup occasionally, too, but doesn't post, in the interest of preserving his dwindling privacy. The cute kids seen in earlier episodes are Rachel and Eleanor Underhill. They're both teenagers now (16 & 14) and are way too cool for any woodworking toil! Roy's wife, Jane, has also appeared on a few episodes and is quite competent in many traditional crafts.

The 'in-shop' episodes are taped in Durham, North Carolina at a frequency of about one every other week, beginning in April. They are usually "live-on-tape, i.e. one continuous take. In any given series there are typically 2 episodes taped in Williamsburg, and another 2 taped "on location" at various interesting sites around the world. The Woodwright's Shop has been to England, Wales, Ireland, Norway and Germany in past seasons, as well as many sites across the U.S..

-- Geary Morton --

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