SERIES I: How Does Your Garden Grow?

Abstract
Episodes and elements related to John Nash Ott's television show How Does Your Garden Grow?.
Series identifier
S.2022-09-0001
Description
Ott began hosting the weekly gardening show on Chicago TV in 1948. It included advice about growing flowers, time-lapse films of plants growing, and answers to readers’ mail. One reporter wrote in 1952 that How Does Your Garden Grow? was “a combination of the Fountain of Youth, a trip to California, and a sunny 70 degree morning in May. … The program is the very stuff of life for hog tied Chicago area gardeners who spend winters despondently riffling fingers thru the barren earth of a window box. Ott not only feeds house plants, he nourishes twitching green thumbs, too.” An article in an April 1954 issue of TV Guide titled “His Treasure’s in a Jam Closet” begins, “No Chicago TV star is looking forward to color television more than WNBQ’s wizard of time-lapse photography, John Ott. The striking films of blossoming plants and flowers that enhance his popular show How Does Your Garden Grow? are impressive even in black-and-white. Transmitted in color, they’ll carry a powerful impact.” In March 1955, How Does Your Garden Grow? was the first show broadcast in color by Chicago’s NBC affiliate.
Extent
66 reels

Series Items

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[How Does Your Garden Grow Excerpt] Delphinium II
Film
[How Does Your Garden Grow Excerpt] Delphinium II
circa 1952
[How Does Your Garden Grow Excerpt] Delphinium II
Film
[How Does Your Garden Grow Excerpt] Delphinium II
circa 1952
How Does Your Garden Grow: African Violets
Film
How Does Your Garden Grow: African Violets
1953
How Does Your Garden Grow: Dahlias
Film
How Does Your Garden Grow: Dahlias
circa 1953
How Does Your Garden Grow: From Blossom to Bottle
Film
How Does Your Garden Grow: From Blossom to Bottle
1953
How Does Your Garden Grow: Introduction
Film
How Does Your Garden Grow: Introduction
1952
How Does Your Garden Grow: Iris
Film
How Does Your Garden Grow: Iris
circa 1953
How Does Your Garden Grow: Peonies
Film
How Does Your Garden Grow: Peonies
circa 1953
How Does Your Garden Grow: Roses
Film
How Does Your Garden Grow: Roses
circa 1953
Dr. Tilden Roberts Archer Fish Intro
Film
Dr. Tilden Roberts Archer Fish Intro
circa 1955
Dr. Tilden Roberts Archer Fish [Outro]
Film
Dr. Tilden Roberts Archer Fish [Outro]
circa 1955
Time-Lapse African Violets
Film
Time-Lapse African Violets
circa 1952
The Story of Wheat
Film
Story of Wheat
1955
Wheat Farmer Neg.
Film
Wheat Farmer Neg.
circa 1955
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