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Westerhout, Bell, and Blades

See a preview of this Spark episode.

Play Real Media

Spark follows photographer Katherine Westerhout inside a forgotten West Oakland landmark -- the 16th Street Train Station. Once the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad, this Beaux Arts gem has been off-limits since 1989, but that might be about to change.

Next, comedian W. Kamau Bell shares his wry observations on race and his personal stories about being black in an Obama-era America.

Then, meet Wil Blades, a virtuoso at playing a soulful instrument from a bygone era, the B3 organ.

[Original air date: Wed, Apr 01, 2009]

Upcoming Broadcasts:

Wed, Feb 10, 2010 -- 7:30pm
Thu, Feb 11, 2010 -- 1:30am email reminder
Fri, Feb 12, 2010 -- 11:30pm email reminder
more airings»

Featured Profiles:

Katherine Westerhout

Follow photographer Katherine Westerhout inside a forgotten West Oakland landmark: the 16th Street Station.

W. Kamau Bell

Take a look at the world through W. Kamau Bell's eyes with skits, conversations about race, and clips from his sold out show.

Wil Blades

Jam with Wil Blades, the hippest organ player in the Bay Area.

Spark Video Player

Please note that not all of the Spark video segments are included on this playlist. We are adding more weekly, but many more are available individually on corresponding artist profile pages. To find more videos, search the Artist Profiles directory.

Acknowledgments

Major funding for Spark is provided by:

Diane B. Wilsey

With additional support from:

George Frederick Jewett Foundation
Helen Sarah Steyer
Fred Levin and Nancy Livingston of the Shenson Fund

Spark is a production of KQED.

Spark airs on KQED HD9 on Wednesdays at 7:30pm and Fridays at 11:30pm and on KTEH-TV 54 on Saturdays. Repeat broadcasts can be seen on KQED's digital channels and KQET-TV 25.

Spark