A look back: American Masters, the most successful biographical series of all time began in 1986 as the vision of Creator and Executive Producer Susan Lacy and with an unprecedented look at the life and work of Charlie Chaplin, as well as an observational profile of Martin Scorsese at work.
Excerpted from “Pioneers of THIRTEEN: The 80s – Trusted Voice” airing on THIRTEEN — New York’s Public Television station. For more about the 50-year history of the station’s extraordinary programming, visit thirteen.org/thirteen-fifty-years.