Walter Cronkite Memorial – News

Walter at 10: Missouri Western to celebrate anniversary of Cronkite Memorial

kheier — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 21:09:33 +0000

Kathy Cronkite, daughter of Walter and Betsy Cronkite, speaks at the dedication of the Walter Cronkite Memorial at ��߲�� on Nov. 4, 2013.

Oct. 31, 2023–��߲�� will host a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the from at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6. The celebration will include a brief program, light refreshments and activities with a chance to win prizes. It is free and open to the public.

Cronkite was born in St. Joseph on Nov. 4, 1916. He went on to anchor the “CBS Evening News” from 1962 to 1981 and was consistently named “The Most Trusted Man in America” in public opinion polls. He first rose to fame as a UPI correspondent during World War II, and went on to bring news of major events to generations of Americans, including the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights movement, the moon landing, Vietnam, Watergate and the Iran hostage crisis.

The Walter Cronkite Memorial was dedicated in the atrium of Leah Spratt Hall on the Missouri Western campus on Nov. 4, 2013, on what would have been the legendary newsman’s 97th birthday. It was the vision of Dr. Robert Vartabedian, who was then president of ��߲��, to create a fitting memorial to St. Joseph’s native son and one of the most towering figures in public life in the 20th century.

The centerpiece of the memorial is a 21-foot tall photographic display featuring 39 images of world and national news events Cronkte covered during his career. A nearby kiosk gives visitors the opportunity to view Cronkite’s news reports of the depicted events, as well as Cronkite’s memories and reflections on those events. The memorial also features a replica of the newsroom from which Cronkite broadcast the CBS Evening News in the late 1960s and early 1970s, numerous displays of personal and professional memorabilia, a tribute to Cronkite’s passion for the exploration of space, a timeline of his life and much more.��

Admission to the Walter Cronkite Memorial is free. It is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday except for major holidays and scheduled university breaks.

For more information about the Memorial or the anniversary celebration, contact Bailey McCulloch, university curator, at bmcculloch2@missouriwestern.edu.��

��߲�� is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Planetarium shows, Cronkite exhibits celebrate moon landing

kheier — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 15:40:18 +0000

July 11, 2019—��߲�� is celebrating this month’s 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon with special shows in the Bushman Planetarium and exhibits in the Walter Cronkite Memorial.

The Bushman Planetarium, located inside Agenstein Hall, will show “Future Moon” and “We Choose Space” beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, July 19. “Future Moon” honors the Apollo astronauts who first landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, and the children of today that may return to the moon. The show features a realistic voyage to the moon narrated by Walter Cronkite. “We Choose Space” is a show for all ages who dream of space and wonder about the future of human spaceflight, also narrated by Cronkite.

Planetarium tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children, students, military and seniors. Tickets must be purchased in advance, online at missouriwestern.edu/planetarium or in person at Agenstein Hall, room 140 during regular business hours (8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday).

The Planetarium also has public shows scheduled at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 (“Stars of the Pharaohs”) and at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 (“Wonders of the Universe”) as part of Family Fun Day at Chiefs Training Camp.

The Bushman Planetarium features a Digistar 4 projection system and a dome that is tilted slightly, rather than directly overhead, making viewing easier. A 17-channel stereo sound system enhances the viewing experience.

As his narration of the planetarium shows suggests, legendary journalist and St. Joseph native Walter Cronkite was long associated with the space program, and was the only person not employed by NASA to win the space agency’s Ambassador of Exploration Award.

The Walter Cronkite Memorial, located inside Spratt Hall, has a number of items on display to celebrate Cronkite’s coverage of the space program, including photographs, the Emmy Cronkite won for his broadcast about the moon landing, space artifacts on loan from the Cosmosphere space museum in Hutchinson, Kansas, and more. The special exhibit will be on display through late August. There are also space-related permanent displays, including video footage of Cronkite’s broadcasts and a 34-foot tall sculpture, “We Came in Peace” by artist-in-residence Eric Fuson, which depicts the launch of Apollo 11 on the Saturn V rocket.

The Walter Cronkite Memorial is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

��߲�� is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

News-Press NOW: Cronkite Memorial sees update to celebrate Apollo 11

kheier — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 13:55:16 +0000

By Daniel Cobb News-Press NOW, Jul 3, 2019

Missouri Western’s Walter Cronkite Memorial in Spratt Hall is highlighting some of the more astronomical aspects of the famous journalist’s career to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.

On July 16, 1969, NASA successfully launched both Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon.

And through it all, Cronkite was there: educating viewers using models, building the knowledge of the American public through his close connections with NASA. It was a newscast that would go down in history, and Cronkite would earn an Emmy for his efforts.

“Walter Cronkite was a huge space fan; he was really legendary in that regard. He had a great relationship with NASA and was able to convey scientific principles to the American public in the 1960s during the bulk of those space programs,” said Amanda Morrow, the curator at the Walter Cronkite Memorial. “Cronkite really believed that the space travel in the ’60s was one of his most important stories.”

Read the rest of the story and see a video version at .

Eclipse-related events at Missouri Western

kheier — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 20:25:07 +0000

The total solar eclipse is nearly here. Below is a recap of information we sent in a��news release��earlier this month about eclipse-related activities at ��߲��, with some additional information regarding where to watch streaming video.

Planetarium show “Totality” will be shown nine times over the weekend. All shows are SOLD OUT.
The Walter Cronkite Memorial inside Spratt Hall will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, and includes a space-suit photo op on loan from NASA.
Talk with the Experts at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday in the Potter Hall Theater. Guest speakers include Michael Bakich, senior editor of Astronomy magazine; Brian Busby, chief meteorologist at KMBC-TV in Kansas City; Mike Reynolds, professor of astronomy at Florida State College at Jacksonville; and Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Those unable to attend will be able to view the presentations on YouTube by 10 p.m. Aug. 20 at��.
Eclipse!, a family-friendly musical revue featuring live performances of music with solar or lunar themes woven together with stories and legends associated with the solar eclipse, at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 in the Potter Hall Theater.
SOLAR, an exhibition of solar-themed art, can be viewed in the Potter Art Gallery before and after the guest speakers and musical revue Sunday. The exhibition will remain on display through Sept. 15.
On Monday, Aug. 21, images of the eclipse viewed through an H-Alpha telescope will be streamed live at .

For more information, visit��www.missouriwestern.edu/eclipse2017.

Missouri Western plans eclipse-related activites

kheier — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 20:20:34 +0000

St. Joseph is one of the largest cities on the path of totality for the Great American Eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017, and ��߲�� has several activities planned to help educate and entertain the public about this astronomical phenomenon.

The Bushman Planetarium is showing “Totality,” a new show about all kinds of eclipses, at various times, including two showings on the morning of the eclipse, at 9 and 10 a.m. Aug. 21. Check for show times and to purchase tickets, which must be purchased in advance.
This artwork by Tim Brown of Kansas City, Missouri, is part of the SOLAR exhibition in the Potter Art Gallery.
The Potter Art Gallery inside Potter Hall presents SOLAR, an exhibition of solar-themed artwork from, Aug. 7 to Sept. 15, with a closing reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15. Admission is free, and the gallery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Walter Cronkite Memorial inside Spratt Hall will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, with space-themed special displays and a space suit photo-op. Admission is free.
Talk with the Experts at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Aug. 20 in the Potter Hall Theater. Guest speakers include Michael Bakich, senior editor of Astronomy magazine; Brian Busby, chief meteorologist at KMBC-TV in Kansas City; Mike Reynolds, professor of astronomy at Florida State College at Jacksonville; and Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The talks will be free and open to the public.
Eclipse!, a family-friendly musical revue with live performances of music with solar or lunar themes woven together with the stories and legends associated with the solar eclipse, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, in the Potter Hall Theater. There is no admission charge, but donations will be accepted. The show is directed by Dr. Bob Willenbrink, founding dean of the School of Fine Arts, with musical direction by Lory Lacy Zuptich, adjunct faculty of flute. The production is funded in part by a grant from the David H. Morton Memorial Fund for the Arts.

For all eclipse-related activities, please check the University’s Eclipse 2017 website, www.missouriwestern.edu/eclipse2017. The website also will feature spectacular images of the total solar eclipse via a livestream broadcast with an H-Alpha telescope. On the actual total solar eclipse day, Aug. 21, Missouri Western’s campus is closed so our employees can experience this once-in-a-lifetime event. For more information about St. Joseph activities surrounding the eclipse, please visit��.

‘Cronkite’ performance scheduled April 8

kheier — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 21:27:15 +0000

The Walter Cronkite Memorial at ��߲�� will host a performance of the live multimedia production “Cronkite” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8 in the Kemper Recital Hall, adjacent to the Memorial inside Spratt Hall. The performance is free and open to the public.

“Cronkite” is a 24-minute live presentation that recreates some of the most memorable moments covered by Walter Cronkite during his career as reporter and news anchor. Award-winning actor Jim Korinke brings Cronkite to life on stage, while video, still photographs and audio depict the events he is discussing. The show was conceived and edited by Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president.

Saturday’s performance is part of the Missouri College Media Association Convention at Missouri Western April 7 and 8.

Walter Cronkite was born in St. Joseph on Nov. 4, 1916. He went on to become arguably the most influential journalist of the twentieth century, serving as the anchor of the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981. The Walter Cronkite Memorial was dedicated at Missouri Western on what would have been his 97th birthday in 2013. The Memorial includes images and videos of Cronkite’s life and the many historic events he covered, unique memorabilia, and a replica of the newsroom from which he broadcast the news.

Open house marks Walter Cronkite’s 100th birthday

kheier — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 21:05:54 +0000

The Walter Cronkite Memorial will honor the centennial of the legendary journalist’s birth with an open house from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at the memorial inside Spratt Hall on the campus of ��߲��. The open house will include a monumental new sculpture reflecting Cronkite’s close ties to the exploration of space, screenings of the memorial’s original “And That’s the Way It Is” trilogy, guided tours and an opportunity for visitors to record their own memories of Cronkite. The open house is free and open to the public.

The newest addition to the Memorial is a 34-foot tall sculpture titled “We Came In Peace…” by Missouri Western’s artist-in-residence Eric Fuson. It depicts liftoff of the Apollo XI mission, the first manned moon landing. Cronkite is remembered for his simple on-air exclamation of “whew…boy!” when the lunar capsule landed on July 20, 1969, and he later wrote that “the first landing on the moon was, indeed, the most extraordinary story of our time.”

“And That’s the Way It Is” is a trilogy of live multimedia presentations: “Harry & Walter: Missouri’s Native Sons,” starring Jim Korinke as Cronkite and Ken Remmert as Harry Truman; “King & Cronkite,” starring Korinke and Walter Coppage as Martin Luther King Jr.; and “Cronkite,” starring Korinke. In honor of Cronkite’s centennial, the shows have been performed earlier this year at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri; Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri; the Lincoln Center in New York City; and the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The live performances have been recorded, and will be played in the Kemper Recital Hall at noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Guided tours of the memorial will be held at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The 6,000 square-foot display features images and videos of Cronkite’s life and the many historic events he covered as a journalist. It also includes unique memorabilia and a replica of the newsroom from which Cronkite broadcast the news.

In 2014, the Missouri Division of Tourism honored Dr. Vartabedian and Missouri Western with the Spotlight Award, which recognizes significant contributions in promoting tourism in Missouri by an individual, business or organization that is not normally considered to be part of the tourism industry. It was also recognized as a “Travel Treasure” by AAA Midwest Traveler magazine. The live multi-media performance “Cronkite” was entered in the 2015 Pulitzer Prize competition by several scholars and journalists.

For more information about the memorial and the Nov. 5 open house, visit www.waltercronkitememorial.org or call 816-271-4100.

Cronkite shows going to New York and Washington, D.C.

kheier — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 16:29:45 +0000

Live multimedia performances that are a part of the Walter Cronkite Memorial at ��߲�� will travel to New York and Washington, D.C. for performances this month. The special engagements are in honor of the centennial of the legendary newsman’s birth in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Nov. 4, 1916.

“And That’s the Way It Is,” a 90-minute trilogy, will be performed for invited guests, including members of Cronkite’s family, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 at Lincoln Center’s Stanley Kaplan Penthouse in New York. “Cronkite,” a 25-minute show, will be performed at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Newseum in Washington.

“We have taken the show on the road twice already this year, and I’m gratified that the performances have been very well received,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “The hard work and extraordinary talent of our cast and crew will reach a larger audience with these performances in New York, where Walter Cronkite lived for much of his life, and Washington, where he covered many historic events. I’m also pleased that we’ll be able to take a group of students from our journalism program and student government to Washington to see the performance, the remarkable Newseum and the other sights of our nation’s capital.”

Missouri Western dedicated the Walter Cronkite Memorial in 2013, on what would have been the longtime CBS anchor’s 97^th birthday. The memorial is a 6,000-square-foot museum featuring video kiosks, memorabilia, interpretive displays and a replica of the newsroom from which Cronkite broadcast the CBS Evening News.

As a part of the memorial, three live performances have been developed. The shows combine video, still photographs, music and live actors. They are each between 20 and 25 minutes long and can be performed separately or as a trilogy titled “And That’s the Way It Is.”

“Harry & Walter: Missouri’s Native Sons” explores the parallel lives of President Harry S. Truman and Walter Cronkite. Starring Ken Remmert as Truman and Jim Korinke as Cronkite.
“King & Cronkite” features the words of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the reflections of Cronkite on the civil rights movement. Starring Walter Coppage as King and Korinke as Cronkite.
“Cronkite” is based on an interview of Cronkite on CNN’s “Larry King Live” one year after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Cronkite reflects on that event and other events he covered during his career. Starring Korinke as Cronkite.

The shows were conceived and written by Dr. Vartabedian. “Cronkite” is directed by Dr. Bob Willenbrink, founding dean of Missouri Western’s School of Fine Arts. “Harry & Walter” and “King & Cronkite” are directed by Dr. Vartabedian. Tara Stoll is the multi-media producer and director. Jake Kelly is the technical director. Ryan Menley is music supervisor.

Earlier this year, “Harry & Walter” was performed at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, as part of the Harry Truman birthday celebration on May 8. “And That’s the Way It Is” was performed at Union Station in Kansas City on July 11.

The trilogy will be performed for a private audience on Cronkite’s 100^th birthday, Friday, Nov. 4, in the Kemper Recital Hall, adjacent to the memorial inside Spratt Hall at Missouri Western. Videos of the trilogy will be shown during a public open house the following day, Saturday, Nov. 5.

Special performance of ‘Cronkite’ open to public Sept. 12

kheier — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 15:04:14 +0000

In commemoration of the 15^th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, ��߲�� will present a free live showing of the live multimedia performance “Cronkite” at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, in the Kemper Recital Hall inside Spratt Hall. The performance is open to the public.

“Cronkite” is a one-man show adapted from an appearance by the legendary newsman Walter Cronkite on CNN’s “Larry King Live” in September 2002, one year after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The 23-minute show incorporates live performance, audio, video and still photographs to evoke memories of 9/11 and other major events Cronkite covered, including World War II, the Vietnam War and the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

The part of Cronkite is played by Jim Korinke, a member of the Actors’ Equity Association. The show was conceived and edited by Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president, and is directed by Dr. Bob Willenbrink, founding dean of Missouri Western’s School of Fine Arts.

“Cronkite” is part of a trilogy of shows developed by Dr. Vartabedian to complement the Walter Cronkite Memorial on Missouri Western’s campus. The other shows include “Harry & Walter: Missouri’s Native Sons,” exploring the parallel lives of Cronkite and fellow Missourian Harry Truman, and “King & Cronkite,” featuring the words of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the reflections of Cronkite on the civil rights movement. Ken Remmert stars as Truman and Walter Coppage as King. The three shows can be performed separately or as a 90-minute trilogy with a brief intermission.

Walter Cronkite was born in St. Joseph on Nov. 4, 1916. The Walter Cronkite Memorial, in the atrium of Spratt Hall on the Missouri Western campus, was dedicated in 2013 on what would have been his 97th birthday. The 5,000 square-foot display features images and videos of Cronkite’s life and the many historic events he covered as a journalist. In 2014, the Missouri Division of Tourism honored Dr. Vartabedian and Missouri Western with the Spotlight Award, which recognizes significant contributions in promoting tourism in Missouri by an individual, business or organization that is not normally considered to be part of the tourism industry. It was also recognized as a “Travel Treasure” by AAA Midwest Traveler magazine.

‘And That’s the Way It Is’ to be performed at Union Station

kheier — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 16:44:51 +0000

“And That’s the Way It Is: Cronkite’s Journey,” a live multimedia performance exploring key moments in history through the eyes of legendary journalist Walter Cronkite, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 11 on the H&R Block City Stage at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. The performance is presented by the Walter Cronkite Memorial at ��߲�� in St. Joseph, Cronkite’s hometown.

“And That’s the Way It Is: Cronkite’s Journey” is a 90-minute trilogy of multimedia performances combining video, still photographs, music and live performance.

“Harry & Walter” explores the parallel lives of Missouri’s celebrated native sons President Harry S. Truman and Walter Cronkite. Starring Ken Remmert as Truman and Jim Korinke as Cronkite.
“King & Cronkite” features the words of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the reflections of Cronkite on the civil rights movement. Starring Korinke as Cronkite and Walter Coppage as King.
“Cronkite” is based on an interview of Cronkite on CNN’s “Larry King Live” one year after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Cronkite reflects on that event and other events he covered during his career. Starring Korinke as Cronkite.

The shows were conceived by Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. From July 1-13, Union Station is hosting a special exhibit on Cronkite, created by Missouri Western’s artist-in-residence, Eric Fuson.

Tickets to the show are $5, and may be purchased in advance at http://griff.vn/UnionStn.

Walter Cronkite, perhaps the most influential journalist of the 20th century, was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Nov. 4, 1916, and the Union Station production is one of several special events honoring his centennial year. In September, “And That’s the Way It Is” will be performed in New York City and “Cronkite” will be performed at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The Memorial will also host special events in November.