Landmark Miniseries 'Backstairs at the White House' Coming to DVD

Landmark Miniseries 'Backstairs at the White House' Coming to DVD

WASHINGTON, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Acorn Media announces it has secured exclusive North American distribution rights for the 1979 NBC miniseries "Backstairs at the White House." Acorn's DVD release of the nine-hour series will be a four-disc boxed set available in stores on Nov. 1, 2005, priced at $59.99. Pre-book is Oct. 4, 2005.

The series was licensed from Ed Friendly, executive producer and co- creator of television classics "Little House on the Prairie" and "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" and the recent ABC six-hour limited series based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's book "Little House on the Prairie."

Based in part on the autobiographical novel "My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House" by Lillian Rogers Parks, as well as on extensive personal interviews, "Backstairs at the White House" earned 11 Emmy Award nominations for its portrayal of American political history through the eyes of a head maid and other staff living and serving in the White House during eight administrations. This acclaimed series poignantly interweaves the personal stories of servants, presidents, and first ladies against the backdrop of American politics and racial segregation.

Played by Emmy Award-winning actress Olivia Cole ("Roots") and Emmy- nominated actress Leslie Uggams ("Roots"), Lillian Rogers Parks and her mother served a combined 52 years as servants at the White House. Both diligently and loyally performed their duties while acting as reluctant confidantes to numerous first ladies. The large stellar cast includes Louis Gossett, Jr. ("An Officer and a Gentleman") as Levi Mercer the butler, Cloris Leachman as Mrs. Jaffray, and Leslie Nielsen as Ike Hoover, the chief usher. The renowned actors playing presidents and first ladies include: Julie Harris as Mrs. William Howard Taft, Robert Vaughn as Woodrow Wilson, Kim Hunter as Ellen Wilson, Claire Bloom as Edith Galt Wilson, Celeste Holm as Florence Harding, George Kennedy as Warren G. Harding, Lee Grant as Mrs. Calvin Coolidge and Harry Morgan as Harry Truman.

Acorn Media U.S. provides distinctive home video products to the North American market with a focus on high-quality television programming. Acorn Media U.S. is a division of the Acorn Media Group, a home video distributor serving the North American and U.K. markets via wholesale and direct-marketing channels.

Acorn DVD titles are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at 888-870-8047 or http://www.acornonline.com/ .

Contact: Brian Clucas, bclucas@acornmedia.com, (800) 999-0212

Source: Acorn Media U.S.

CONTACT: Brian Clucas of Acorn Media U.S., +1-800-999-0212, or bclucas@acornmedia.com

Web site: http://www.acornmedia.com/ http://www.acornonline.com/

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