MIM’s Telly-recognized project, The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon, was original video made for the Musical Instrument Museum’s exhibition of the same name. The exhibition traced the electric guitar’s history through historic instruments, demonstrations, and interviews; Savidge Co lists the project as a 2019 Telly recipient in the Documentary Series category.
The exhibition ran at MIM in Phoenix from November 9, 2018, through September 15, 2019, and was based on guitar historian Lynn Wheelwright’s private collection. MIM said it displayed more than eighty electric guitars and amplifiers, tracing the instrument from early experimentation to its influence on music and culture.
What the exhibition video covered
MIM highlighted the electric guitar’s experimental period in the 1930s and 1940s and its connections to Hawaiian music, dance orchestras, western swing, jazz, and rock and roll. Featured instruments included Alvino Rey’s 1932 Electro A-25, an Audiovox Model 336 Duo double-neck from about 1936, Charlie Christian’s 1940 Gibson ES-250, and Paul Bigsby’s 1949 “Standard.” Later examples included Pete Townshend’s 1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe and Bo Diddley’s 1998 “The Bad Dude.”
MIM described on-camera demonstrations and interviews with Grammy-winning jazz guitarist George Benson, guitar historians and collectors, and friends and family of electric-guitar pioneers. MIM curator Richard Walter, PhD, said the exhibition would reveal the instrument’s history and impact, adding that some guitars “launched entirely new genres of music!”
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What the Telly listing says
Savidge Co lists “The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon, MIM, Producer” under its 2019 Telly Documentary Series awards and identifies Jessica Savidge as producer. The available research confirms that listing; it does not establish an award level or entry number.
Exhibition video and companion book
| Format | What the research establishes | Availability evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibition video | Original video production with historic-instrument demonstrations and interviews, presented as part of the MIM exhibition experience. | The cited research does not establish a standalone film release or current viewing option. |
| Companion book | A 2019 American Musical Instrument Society account says MIM’s gift shop offered an exhibition book with instrument stories and photographs. | The account does not establish current stock, an edition, publisher, or online listing. |
For context, MIM’s 2018 exhibition announcement is the source for the dates, collection, instruments, and video description; Savidge Co’s awards page supplies the Telly listing; and the 2019 American Musical Instrument Society account documents the companion book. MIM’s announcement said the exhibition included more than eighty electric guitars and amplifiers; that figure refers to the exhibition, not the video.
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FAQ
Did MIM make a documentary about the history of the electric guitar?
MIM described original video production with demonstrations and interviews as part of its exhibition, The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon. The research does not establish that it was released as a separate feature-length film.
Where can I watch The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon?
The sources consulted do not confirm current streaming, physical-media, or standalone availability. Check with MIM or the producer for current viewing information.
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Was the project a Telly Award winner?
Savidge Co lists it as a 2019 Telly recipient in the Documentary Series category and credits Jessica Savidge as producer. The consulted sources do not specify an award level.
Is the exhibition book still available?
A 2019 American Musical Instrument Society account says the MIM gift shop offered a companion book, but it does not confirm present-day availability. Verify with the museum or a current retailer before seeking a copy.
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