History is real people, doing real things, in real places at real times. Proving that fact, as well as making it not only fascinating but enjoyable, is the goal of a new television show produced, directed and hosted by a Northern Virginia father and son team.
"Virginia Time Travel" is the brainchild of Stratford Landing resident Charles Mills and his son Andrew L. Mills, a history teacher at Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington. It is an educational, 30 minute, hosted television show broadcast monthly over Cox Cable Channel 10.
Each month the same episode is broadcast in three different time slots. A new episode is aired each month.
Begun in December 2006, 11 shows have been taped thus far. The Mills are now commencing the taping of their second season.
"We talk about a wide variety of events by placing them in their historical context. We also discuss many different subjects such as environmental issues and transportation. But they are always rooted in history," Andrew explained.
"We arrived at the title ‘Virginia Time Travel’ because each show deals with the history of the Commonwealth — past, present and future," said Chuck Mills. "Our aim is to put changes that have occurred and are occurring in Virginia in perspective."
The show is produced by Chuck Mills with Andrew doing most of the hosting on camera. Each episode features different guests discussing varying topics. "We both do hosting. But, I do most of it," Andrew said.
ONE OF THEIR RECENT GUESTS was Pamela J. Cressey, Ph.D., city archeologist, City of Alexandria. "I'm very excited about what they are doing. We have so much history locally and throughout Virginia. People who are interested in history can't find out about a lot of things," Cressey said.
"They have a great idea. It will bring this history and those who study history right into people's living rooms," she said.
Another show guest, Wellington Watts, owner, Alexandria Colonial Tours, views the show as a great opportunity to inform people about local history educational opportunities. "It's really great. They are putting together a lot of history for their audiences. Last month I had the opportunity to talk about Alexandria ghosts and our graveyard tours," he said.
Designed to appeal to a diverse, multi-generational audience, the father/son team is hoping it will become a venue for authors to discuss their books and for the Virginia history community to update the public on historical events, issues and ongoing research. Topics of the first shows included "a modern critical look at George Washington and Patrick Henry as well as an exploration of the world of pirates."
CHUCK MILLS RETIRED after a career with the Department of the Navy and became a realtor with Weichert Realtors in Alexandria. He and his family moved to the Mount Vernon area of Stratford Landing in 1989. He is presently enrolled in George Mason University's history graduate program.
Chuck is also the author of 14 books on various aspects of history. One of those, "Treasure Legends of The Civil War," deals with various stories of lost treasures connected to that devastating internal American conflict.
Andrew is in his third year of teaching both United States and Virginia history at Bishop O'Connell High School as well as an honors program in U.S. Government. He was voted the Arlington Veterans of Foreign Wars' Teacher of The Year for 2006.
He changes his history hat as the author of two science fiction books. A 2003 graduate of George Mason, he also received his master’s degree in 2005.
Their television project got started when they attended Fairfax County Civil War Days reenactment in May of last year. "We met a bunch of re-enactors and started talking about some very significant events of that era," they recalled.
"It became very apparent that there was a need for a way to reach a lot bigger audience than just those that attend such events," Chuck Mills said. "That when it hit me — what about a TV show?"
"There's been a lot of good response to our project within the history community," they said. One of those responses came from Paul Goss, a living historian, as he describes himself, and Civil War re-enactor.
"We talked about Company D, 17th Virginia Fairfax Rifles and the first battle of Bull Run when I was on their show," Goss said.
"I was really impressed with what they're trying to do. It's a great opportunity for people to learn about history in a very
enjoyable way," he said. That interview is scheduled to be aired in May or June, according to Goss.
The Mills are presently trying to secure a grant to distribute tapes of the show throughout Virginia. They supply the expertise and hosting, Channel 10 provides the professional technical support.
"We hope to do a couple of shows on Virginia's 400th Anniversary," Andrew said. Although most of shows have been shot in Channel 10 studios in Merrifield, they hope to begin field shooting which will take them into many venues.
In addition to Cressey, Watts and Goss, they have done shows with James Bartlink, curator, Carlyle House in Alexandria; on the economics of the Confederacy and the search for the lost Confederate Treasury; and the authors of "Braddock's True Gold," an oral history conducted in Fairfax County.
"We began taping our second season in February and we are always looking for show ideas and guests," he said. Mills can be contacted by e-mail at timetravel21@yahoo.com.