Patriotic road trip revisits ‘Rushmore’
Nothing says summer vacation like a road trip to a patriotic roadside attraction. “American Experience” (8 p.m., WKNO-TV Channel 10; WMAV-TV Channel 18) repeats its 2002 documentary visit to the biggest destination of all, “Mount Rushmore.”
Narrated by Michael Murphy, “Rushmore” is really the story of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, a man whose ego and ambition were as large and intimidating as the mountains he carved.
Inspired by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, Borglum’s works were in many of America’s finest museums and most conspicuous public spaces before he turned 40. He was brutally dismissive of his rivals, describing most of America’s public art and monuments as “worthless.” Even by the standards of his times, he was noted for his vicious racism, anti-Semitism and hatred for immigrants.
His penchant for the grand scale made him the perfect artist to tackle Stone Mountain, Ga., the 400-foot-tall memorial to the Confederacy. But his prickly personality and deliberate pace got him fired from the job.
Happily for Borglum, Sen. Peter Norbeck of South Dakota noticed the increased Georgia tourism generated by publicity for Stone Mountain. It was his idea to carve into his state’s Black Hills, but Borglum suggested the presidential panorama.
“Rushmore” chronicles the massive undertaking to complete Mt. Rushmore over the course of decades and at the then astounding cost of $1 million. To put its scale in some perspective, Egypt’s ancient Sphinx would fit between the end of George Washington’s nose and his eyebrow.
Despite the vast scale and difficulty, no workers would die during the massive project. Borglum would die of an embolism in 1941, leaving his son, Lincoln, to complete the project — though not on the scale his father envisioned. Norbeck’s dream was certainly fulfilled. Mt. Rushmore remains South Dakota’s most popular tourist attraction.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
“So You Think You Can Dance” (7 p.m., WHBQ-TV Channel 13).
The third degree on “Pretty Little Liars” (7 p.m., ABC Family).
“Nine for IX” presents “Venus vs.” (8 p.m., ESPN), a profile of Venus Williams.
An unhappy reunion on “Rizzoli & Isles” (8 p.m., TNT).
Robin Givens gueststars on “Twisted” (8 p.m., ABC Family).
One fiasco follows another on “Deadliest Catch” (8 p.m., Discovery).
Alien abductions on “Perception” (9 p.m., TNT).