Centennial Revisited:
An Oral History of the Epic TV Miniseries
About
Centennial Revisited
Centennial Revisited includes more than 75 interviews with cast, crew, extras, locals, experts and fans of the epic TV miniseries. Among those interviewed were Gregory Harrison (Levi Zendt), Barbara Carrera (Clay Basket), Cristina Raines (Lucinda McKeag Zendt), Cliff DeYoung (John Skimmerhorn), William Atherton (Jim Lloyd), Stephen McHattie (Jake Pasquinel), Kario Salem (Mike Pasquinel), Mark Harmon (Captain John McIntosh) and John Wilder, who adapted the novel for television and was the main producer. The book also includes excerpts from more than 60 primary sources.
The miniseries first aired on NBC in 1978-79. The 12 episodes spanned 26 hours. More than 28 million households watched the first episode on October 1, 1978. But due to scheduling and poor promotion the miniseries never received the recognition it deserved and failed to draw an audience like other large-scale productions during that time. This book draws the curtain back. Actors share how they got their parts. The Centennial family also talks about cast members, such as Robert Conrad, Richard Chamberlain, Brian Keith, Chad Everett, Sally Kellerman and others, who are no longer with us. They also share their memories on and off set, along with the legacy of the miniseries. Contact us now to learn more!
Centennial Revisited will be available for purchase in early 2026!
“Charles Clement, who was responsible for scheduling all scoring sessions for the studio, stopped me as I was driving off the lot. He said he was retiring after 35 years at his job and he had to tell me something. He then said he had seen every feature and television film ever made by the studio during those decades, and he was being asked often by friends to tell them what he considered the best picture the studio ever produced. He said he told them there were five he considered the best. ‘The first was Centennial. The second was Centennial. The third was To Kill a Mockingbird. The fourth was Centennial. And the fifth was Centennial.’’
- John Wilder (Creator & Producer of the Centennial Miniseries)
*An excerpt from Centennial Revisited