One of the challenges of our 21st century lifestyle is trying to process the unprecedented amount of information available at any given moment. We are subjected to so much input on so many different topics that it is hard for us to imagine how people got along before the invention of instantaneous communications. It helps, […]
Author Archives: Lance Russell
Lance Russell is an Atlanta-based filmmaker and media communicator who, for over three decades, has been entrusted by clients to tell their stories. A seasoned producer with an innate ability to cut to the heart of the matter, Lance’s instincts are tailor-made for today’s “media bite” culture. Brief, poignant and always entertaining, Lance’s current passion is bringing Atlanta’s colorful and inspiring past to life with his “rest of the story” style video series, Stories of Atlanta. “History’s best communicators,” says Lance, “have always been storytellers. It’s in our DNA. ‘Once upon a time’ is how we got to where we are now.”
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Love in the Workplace
A young man from Cartersville, GA comes to the big city hoping to pursue a career in medicine. He walks the streets of Atlanta, knocking on the door of every drug store in town. As the sun is setting, he is hired on the spot by one of the best-known druggists in Georgia and his […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Community Standards
Shakespeare had it right, “the play’s the thing.” And that was especially true of Atlanta in the 1890s. The theater was the dominant form of entertainment and, as you would expect, it was an industry that gave many people a chance to make money. One such Atlantan was Martin J. Dooley who made a nice […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Not Everyone was Saved
There is no question that Atlanta’s Downtown Connector, when unobstructed, is a benefit to the region’s commuters. There is also no question that much was lost as a result of the construction of the Downtown Connector. Some of that loss was anticipated, some of it was not. Join us for the story of an unintended […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Messages from the past
If you could leave a message, knowing that it would be seen for years to come, what would you say? Thousands of people took just that opportunity before the 1996 Olympic Games came to Atlanta. What they chose to say – and how they said it – is the subject of this week’s Stories of […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Delayed Gratification
With the news this past week of the passing of basketball legend Lenny Wilkens we wanted to rerun one of our earliest Stories of Atlanta videos about the Hawks legendary player and coach. Wilkens was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on 3 separate occasions, once as a player, once as a coach and […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The Manager Gets Managed
In baseball, every number tells a story…but few tell one quite like this. For more than three decades, Bobby Cox was the heart and backbone of the Atlanta Braves. Unwaveringly loyal, fiercely competitive, and never afraid to speak his mind, Cox managed his team the way Atlanta loves its heroes, with passion, grit, and a […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The Skill of the Pen
Throughout history, some of the world’s most enduring companies have been the result of business partnerships. Sometimes, the partnership brings renown to all of the partners, Procter and Gamble, Hewlett-Packard and Ben and Jerry come to mind. But not every partnership can be Rodgers and Hammerstein and, as they say, ‘Fair’ does not always mean ‘Equal’. […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The Resignation that Wasn’t
In 1972, Atlanta’s Symphony faced a crescendo of controversy. Its world-famous conductor, Robert Shaw, had transformed the orchestra into a national powerhouse…but not everyone applauded the changes. When Shaw was suddenly dismissed, the city’s music lovers didn’t take to the streets.They didn’t carry signs.What they did instead was conduct a masterclass in community resolve…a reminder […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
A Matter of Honor
In 1895, Atlanta set out to prove it was more than a railroad town rising from the ashes. The Cotton States and International Exposition would dazzle the world, until the money ran out. As the fair teetered on the brink of disaster, one man stepped forward with an offer that would save the city’s reputation, […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Where Atlanta Grew Up
Atlanta was born beside the railroad tracks—but it didn’t stay there for long. In the years after the Civil War, the city rebuilt itself from the ashes, its heart beating along the rail lines of what is now South Downtown. But as Atlanta grew in wealth, ambition, and confidence, the city’s center began to shift […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
A Few Things Remain
Atlanta may tear down its past, but sometimes it leaves a trace. From vanished libraries to long-lost theaters, Atlanta’s buildings have a way of disappearing. Yet if you look closely, fragments of the city’s history still remain—columns, tiles, chandeliers, even signage—surviving long after the walls around them fell. In this episode of Stories of Atlanta, […]
Posted inMedia, Stories of Atlanta
A Fitting Tribute
Pay a visit to pretty much any cemetery in the world and you will notice that, in addition to the traditional gift of flowers, people leave all kinds of items behind after their visit. Stones and coins are a favored way to show that the departed has not been forgotten, as are pictures and family […]
Posted inMedia, Stories of Atlanta
Degenerating Minds
It is illegal in Mobile, Alabama to spray Silly String. In West Virginia, if you’ve ever fought a duel with a deadly weapon, you can forget about running for office, that would be illegal…as would entering a mine in Wyoming should you be intoxicated. And, if you’re under the age of 18 in the State […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
They Just Wanted Some Gum
One of the most sought-after attributes in our fast-paced, never enough time lives is convenience. As with the mousetrap, create something truly convenient and the world will beat a path to your door. The microwave oven, overnight shipping and drive-thru windows come to mind and, if you think about it, you’d probably agree with the […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
It Started at Oglethorpe
In a moment of national unraveling, one man had the courage to stand against greed, complacency, and the erosion of public trust. This week’s Stories of Atlanta begins in the spring of 1932, as the Great Depression tightened its grip on the country. New York’s governor had come to Atlanta to speak to the graduating […]
Posted inMedia, Stories of Atlanta
A Quiet Architect of Atlanta’s Schools
An unsung name. An unforgettable legacy. Atlanta history is filled with big names etched into its skyline and politics and Stories of Atlanta has covered many of them over the years. But some of the city’s greatest builders worked quietly, shaping lives without ever seeking the spotlight. This is one of those stories. She began […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
A Well-kept Secret
In 1891, Atlanta’s Mayor began spending the City’s money, secretly buying land on the outskirts of Atlanta. It wasn’t a case of embezzlement, just good-old business common sense. In attempting to solve one of the City’s ongoing issues, the Mayor had made a decision, a decision that would not only affect every single Atlantan for […]
Posted inMedia, Stories of Atlanta
He Defied the White House Press Corps
This episode of Stories of Atlanta uncovers a forgotten moment in Atlanta history—when one man, one quiet act of defiance, and an Atlanta newspaper made national headlines. It began with a locked door in Washington, D.C.It ended with a handshake that echoed across the country. Discover the story too few remember—but none should forget. It’s […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Changing Atlanta’s Broadcast History
A clever, under the table move that bent the rules without breaking them left a mark on Atlanta’s broadcast history. This episode of Atlanta history begins in the 1970s – nearly a thousand miles from the City of Atlanta. A struggling college radio station. A government rule that couldn’t be broken. And a wealthy businessman […]
