REXBURG—With Eastern Idaho commemorating 50 years since the Teton Dam failed, Idaho Public Television is releasing a new documentary as part of its "Idaho Experience" series called "The Teton Dam Disaster."
Producers Joan Cartan-Hansen and Aaron Kunz both grew up in Eastern Idaho and know the story of the dam failing very well.
The documentary will have footage many people have seen before, along with footage that's been buried for 50 years.
"What we tried to do is put the viewer there at the scene," Cartan-Hansen said. "Since we have archival footage of the dam actually collapsing and the areas flooding and then the aftermath, we were able to try and do a walk through time so you could see how things were happening and what people were doing. It should give you a feel for what it was like to be there at that time."
Kunz has told the story many times over the years of working in television in Idaho. He was amazed at the wealth of historical footage and interviews Idaho Public TV had available in its 60 years of archives.
"I knew about the Teton Dam," Kunz said. "I've seen pictures of the Teton Dam. I've seen some video of the Teton Dam disaster. I just did not realize that all of it was sitting here on a shelf at Idaho Public Television."
Idaho Public TV worked with Boise State University and BYU-Idaho's Special Collections for the documentary. Some of the 30-minute documentary will include new interviews and information. It also gives the perspective that only 50 years can provide.
"Here we are able to take it from a 50,000-foot level and say, 'OK, what's the important parts? Let's pull it back together. Let's bring people in to what the story is and then how does that relate to what we do today?'" Kunz said.
The documentary will air on Idaho Public TV on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. and again on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. You can also see it at the Romance Theater from 1 - 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday or from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday in Rexburg. It will be available on demand starting Thursday at video.iptv.org.