Joel Banow and CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite
Press Club of Southwest Florida member Joel Banow, who directed the CBS News broadcasts of Apollo 11–“Landing on the Moon with Walter Cronkite” in July 1969, is leading the 50th anniversary celebration events in Southwest Florida.
Joel Banow
Banow is bringing together a number of experts and celebrities who were involved in the original space program coverage, including Jim Hansen, author of “First Man,” the biography of Neil Armstrong;“ Bill Harwood, the current CBS News space reporter; and space artists Chris Calle and Paul Calle.
From April 15 to May 15, the art of Astronaut Alan Bean and space artists P
Joel Banow with Walter Cronkite and crew – 1969
aul Calle and Chris Calle will be on exhibit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail East. Artwork will be available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds supporting local scholarship programs, including the Press Club of Southwest Florida’s Terrence J. Miller Journalism Scholarship Fund.
Volunteers are needed to serve as docents at the museum. Visit the website for more information or contact Joel Banow at joelbanow@gmail.com.
Apollo 50 Festival Week will kick off with a reception, sponsored by the Press Club of Southwest Florida, starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at the Sugden Theater, 701 5th Avenue South, in downtown Naples. Media, public officials and the community are invited to attend this free event. Space is limited. RSVPs to the Press Club of Southwest Florida are required: RSVP@NaplesPressClub.org.
Programs for students at Collier County Public Schools and other locations throughout Collier County, including Marco Island, will be held each morning throughout the week. In the evening, special programs will be open to the general public. They include:
Wednesday, April 24:
7:30 p.m. Lecture by Dr. James (Jim) Hansen, author of “First Man,” the biography of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. Location: Lorenzo Walker Technical College, 3701 Estey Avenue, Naples.
Thursday, April 25:
7:30 p.m. Lecture by William (Bill) Harwood, the current CBS News Space Reporter, “The Space Shuttle Program and the Future of Space.” Location: Lorenzo Walker Technical College, 3701 Estey Avenue, Naples.
Friday, April 26:
7:30 p.m. Lecture by Joel Banow, who directed the Apollo 11 broadcasts with Walter Cronkite for CBS News, “Landing on the Moon With Walter Cronkite.” Location: Lorenzo Walker Technical College, 3702 Estey Avenue, Naples.
Saturday, April 27:
3 p.m. WGCU Public Media, a preview of “Racing for the Moon,” the six-hour documentary on PBS “American Experience.”
7:30 p.m. Lecture by Artist Chris Calle on the art of Astronaut Alan Bean, and Paul Calle about his space art. Location: Lorenzo Walker Technical College, 3702 Estey Avenue, Naples.
For details about the month-long art exhibit and Apollo 50 Festival week activities (April 23-27), visit: TheNaplesSpaceFestival.com.