Our March gathering will be an evening event held at the Wichita Orpheum Theater. We’ll be screening a new educational and informative documentary produced by KPTS that examines how Wichita became the Air Capital of the World. It will look at what is happening now in our city, and explore what the future holds for Wichita. WAC attendees, enjoy a special reception at 5:30 prior to the screening. The public will join us after our reception!
Wichita: The Air Capital is a new, locally-produced documentary that takes viewers back to the beginning of aviation in our community when the dreams of dare-devil pilots and the dreams of community boosters worked together to make Wichita the place to build airplanes, and make dreams of flying come true for the world. This film, written and produced by KPTS – Channel 8, looks at the history of aviation; what’s happening now in our city; and explores what the future holds for Wichita.
“At KPTS, we are always looking for good stories to tell, and nobody does it better than local, public television,” said KPTS President and CEO Victor Hogstrom. “With Wichita’s rich aviation roots, it just made sense to explore the city’s history and what the future holds for the “‘Air Capital of the World!’”
On Friday, March 6, Wichita Aero Club attendees will enjoy a private reception at 5:30, prior to the doors opening to the public. The debut screening is at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) at the Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway.
The documentary will also air on KPTS during the Station’s Spring Pledge drive on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. or Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m.
At this screening and during the on-air pledge drive, KPTS supporters will be able to make a contribution to the station, and help make it possible for KPTS to continue to bring the community quality programs like this unique film. With a pledge of $84 ($7 per month), people will receive a copy of Wichita: The Air Capital as a thank you gift. At the $108 ($9 per month) pledge level, supporters will receive a copy of the Greteman Group’s new book Wichita: Where Aviation Took Wing. And, for a pledge of $156 ($13 per month), supporters will receive both the DVD and book – what a great way to celebrate Wichita’s rich aviation history, and support KPTS at the same time. Anyone, who becomes a member of KPTS at the screening event on March 6, at the $40 level, will receive six vouchers to the Orpheum’s 2020 Anniversary Film Series.
In addition to airing this ground-breaking documentary, KPTS plans to provide copies of the DVD to schools and libraries across Kansas, as well as providing the DVD to the Kansas Aviation Museum for educational purposes.
