By Nick L. Shrimp
So, have you figured out BTV yet? We’re still working on it ourselves, this two-month-old municipal TV channel. To be sure, it’s a government channel, with a healthy dose of replays of City Council meetings and other public affairs programming, but you’ll also see a slant towards Biloxi’s history and culture.
And, of course, once we latch onto a program, you’ll see it daily – two or three times a day, in fact – for the month. It’s our version of “Groundhog Day,” but without Bill Murray.
Along those lines, here are the highlights of October’s schedule, which begins Tuesday, Oct. 1:
Cemetery, Exhibit A: The Old Biloxi Cemetery gets plenty of small screen time in October, with two back-to-back programs. First is “Old Biloxi Cemetery & its colorful Characters,” with Cree Cantrell, as F. Arbeau Caillavet, previewing this year’s tour and taking a look at the cemetery and a half-dozen of its best-known characters, including George Ohr, Ed Barq and the Hermit of Deer Island. See the 45-minute production daily at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Cemetery, Exhibit B: Longtime videographer August Taconi has crafted a look back at the 2018 cemetery tour, which showcased the leaders of seven of Biloxi’s places of worship set amidst the stately moss-draped oaks of the Biloxi Cemetery. “Biloxi Praise,” is an hour-long program that airs daily at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
More silver-screen gems: Our fascination with the 1951 documentary “Social Change in a Democracy,” which was filmed in Biloxi for audiences in Japan, has helped uncover two travelogues that were tucked in the climate-controlled vault at the Local History and Genealogy Department at the Biloxi Public Library.
“America’s Riviera,” Exhibit A: First up is “America’s Riviera,” a nine-minute production where Mr. Biloxi, the late Anthony Ragusin, turns a lens on the lure of ‘50s life in Biloxi. The nine-minute B&W opus airs daily at 7:46 a.m. and 7:46 p.m.
“America’s Riviera,” Exhibit B: Then, at 9:15 every day and night in October, you can see a 1960s-era look at Biloxi and the Gulf Coast, also titled “America’s Riviera.” The 14-minute, colorful travel piece shows– visitors cavorting at the old Broadwater, the Buena Vista and there’s even a trip to the old Eight Flags and Deer Ranch. It’s gold.
The fixtures: Each day, you’ll find the month’s updates on the East Biloxi infrastructure work, at 6:25 a.m. 6:25 p.m., and Dr. Larry Drawdy updates activities at Biloxi Public Schools, at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Breakfast: The latest edition of Breakfast with the Mayor, recorded at the Golden Nugget, airs at 1 p.m. each day in October.
Miller time: Biloxi Police Chief John Miller, in an address to the Ocean Springs Lions Club, discusses the challenges that faces local law enforcers in a program airing at 1:35 p.m. daily. Top of his list: Dealing with panhanders and transients.
The music: You may have noticed local music every day throughout the day. For October, you’ll see Ray Fournier at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Ronny Broussard at 12:31 a.m. and 12:31 p.m.
Council replays: You’ll find replays of City Council meetings typically on BTV and on the city’s YouTube channel hours after they occur. Council meetings are typically the first, third, and fourth Tuesday of the month. BTV sets aside three-hour blocks for the replays each day, at 9:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. At least one council meeting is shown, followed by other bonus programming to complete the three-hour block.
Video: See a preview of October on BTV
See the BTV October schedule
