Author and adventurer Jeff Belanger explores the folklore of New England.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – October 20, 2014 – New England is full of ghosts, monsters, and other mysteries that are more than just campfire tales. These legends and lore are as much a part of New England History as are the famous ancestors whose names grace our towns and schools today. Just in time for Halloween, WGBY in Springfield, Massachusetts, Rhode Island PBS, and Vermont PBS will be broadcasting the series including “Miracles and the Missing”—the latest episode of New England Legends.
In 2015, the “Maritime Mysteries” episode of New England Legends was nominated for an Emmy under the “Magazine Program/Special” category. This was the second Emmy nomination for the series in as many years.
“Miracles and the Missing” explores some of the greatest haunts and mysteries New England has to offer. The episode opens with the legend of Lucy Keyes, the story of a young Colonial girl who went missing in the vicinity of Mt. Wachusett in 1755. Her mother’s spirit has been looking for her ever since. Next, viewers see a nineteenth-century advertisement for Shaker Medicinal Spring Water. “This water smites disease and death,” the ad claims. Could the fountain of youth be right here in New England? A trip to the local cemetery reveals some startling findings. Finally, we travel to the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts to hear about a 1969 UFO encounter that just made history as the first UFO experience to be incorporated into an Historical Society’s official records.
“We tell stories of miracles and profound human experiences because we’re still finding our place in the universe,” said Host and Executive Producer Jeff Belanger. “From missing children to out-of-this world accounts from first-hand UFO witnesses, our region is full of legends that are more than just stories. Something significant is happening here in New England, and we’re thrilled to document as much of it as we can.”
New England Legends is a joint venture between Jeff Belanger and Tony Dunne. The two have been working together since 2009 when Dunne wrote and produced the documentary Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England for PBS. Belanger was featured prominently in that first documentary, which went on to national acclaim.
“To earn an Emmy nomination two years in a row is a huge honor,” said Director and Executive Producer Tony Dunne. “With ‘Miracles and the Missing,’ we’re taking this series to a higher level with better story-telling, camera work, and editing. We want to show New Englanders the mysteries that many walk by every day without noticing.”
Belanger and Dunne are currently working on future episodes of New England Legends and are actively seeking sponsorship to turn the program into a regular feature across more New England PBS affiliates.
About Jeff Belanger
Jeff Belanger (www.jeffbelanger.com) is a New England native, author, adventurer, and one of the most visible and prolific explorers of the unknown out there today. Since 1997, the journalist has interviewed thousands of eyewitnesses to unusual occurrences. He’s the author of more than a dozen books on the paranormal (published in six languages) including the best sellers: The World’s Most Haunted Places, Weird Massachusetts, Our Haunted Lives, and Who’s Haunting the White House? (for children). He’s the founder of Ghostvillage.com, the Web’s most popular paranormal destination according to Google.com, and a noted speaker and media personality. He’s also the host of the cable/Web talk show, 30 Odd Minutes which is available in over 9 million homes in the United States. Belanger has written for newspapers like The Boston Globe and is the series writer and researcher for Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. He’s been a guest on hundreds of radio and television programs including: The History Channel, The Travel Channel, Biography Channel, PBS, NECN, Living TV (UK), The Maury Show, The CBS News Early Show, FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates, National Public Radio, The BBC, Australian Radio Network, and Coast to Coast AM.
About Tony Dunne
Award-winning television producer Tony Dunne has called New England home his entire life. After studying film and television production at Emerson College and the University of Massachusetts, Dunne has spent the past 15 years working as a producer in news, commercial, independent, and most recently public television at PBS honing his storytelling skills. He has produced magazine programs, nightly newscasts, quiz shows, lifestyle and health programming, as well as the nationally-distributed documentary Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England for PBS.
About New England Legends
New England Legends is a partnership between Tony Dunne and Jeff Belanger. The series premiered in 2013 on PBS affiliate WGBY in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2014, the initial episode was nominated for an Emmy under the “Magazine Program/Special” category. “Miracles and the Missing” will air on WGBY Thursday, October 29 at 10PM, on Vermont PBS, Thursday, October 29 at 7:30 PM, and on Rhode Island PBS, Saturday, October 31 at 12:00 PM. For more information, visit: www.ournewenglandlegends.com
