Was your Family, Neighbor, or Hometown Featured on

The American Trail

Television Series?

Welcome to Video On The Run an Archive of the places and people visited and interviewed on over 800 television episodes in the 1970s and 1980s.

The American Trail was a syndicated television series that aired from September 2, 1978, to September 1983.

This short-form documentary series of 806 episodes highlighted the diversity of American life, focusing on the people, places and stories that defined the country’s cultural and agricultural heritage. With episodes running just over three minutes, the program offered viewers a brief yet compelling glimpse into the lives of everyday Americans, from rural communities to urban centers.

In October 1979, the series was archived in Smithsonian Institution recognizing the historical value of The American Trail.

The Nebraska Trail

1976 - 1977

The American Trail

1978 - 1983

American Snapshots

1983 - 1984

Smeloff Productions

1972 - 1985

Casting Call

Smeloff Productions — Alumni

Were you part of the Crew, Talent, Producers, Editors, or Support Staff?

If you helped make The Series, Commercials, or Documentaries, this call is for you.

We’re assembling the

American Trail / Smeloff Productions Alumni Group
to reconnect, share stories, and preserve the legacy.

Be part of the archive.
Send your Name, Role, and Years involved — that’s all you need.

nick@TheAmericanTrailTv.com

National Syndication

WCSH-NBC PORTLAND, ME

KCBD-NBC LUBBOCK, KA

WPTZ-NBC PLATTSBURGH, NY

WNEP-ABC SCRANTON, PA

WCIA-CBS CHAMPAIGN IL

WDAZ-ABC DEVILS LAKE, ND

KRDO-ABC COL. SPRINGS, CO

KETV-ABC OMAHA, NE

KAYS HAYS, KS

WHAG-NBC HAGERSTOWN, MA

WIBW TOPEKA, KA

KSNG-NBC GARDEN CITY, KS

KVII-ABC AMARILLO, TX

KREY-CBS MONTROSE, CO

WAGM-CBS PRESQUE ISLE, MA

WIXT-ABC SYRACUSE NY

KPLO-CBS RELIANCE, ND

KELO-CBS SIOUX FALLS, SD

KCMO-CBS KANSAS CITY, KA

KCEN-NBC TEMPLE, TX

WRGB-CBS SCHENECTADY, NY

WJAR-NBC PROVIDENCE, RA

KIMT-CBS MASON CITY, IA

KSWS-NBC ROSWELL, NM

KEYC-CBS MANKATO, MN

WFMZ ALLENTOWN, PA

KGNS-CBS LAREDO, TX

KOAM-CBS PITTSBURGH, KS

WPGH-FOX PITTSBURGH, PA

KCMT ALEXANDRIA, MN

KRIS-NBC CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

WSEE-CBS ERIE, PA

KTUL-ABC TULSA, OK

KDLO-CBS FLORENCE, SD

KOMC-NBC MCCOOK, NE

KHGI-ABC KEARNEY, NE

KCMA-ABC ALBION, NE

Syndication History

The origins of "The American Trail" can be traced back to its predecessor, "The Nebraska Trail," which aired from September 1976 to September 1977. Building on the success of this initial series, "The American Trail" launched on September 2, 1978, and continued until September 1983. The series was syndicated on mostly network Affiliate stations. Airing before or in the first break of the early network feeds.

Farmland Industries sponsor of The American Trail series and Smeloff Productions, Inc. of Lincoln, NE., producers of the series , presented video copies of the series to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC the programs will be preserved in the Institution's Community Life Division. At the presentation were, from left, Don Jacks - Jim Rathbun - Ellen Roney Hughes - Larry Cline - Carl Sheele - Nick Smeloff

WCSH-NBC PORTLAND, ME

WKTV-NBC UTICA, NY

WWLP-NBC SPRINGFIELD, MA

KYCU CHEYENNE, WY

KREZ-CBS DURANGO, CO

KOMU NBC COLUMBIA, MO

KSNB-NBC SUPERIOR, NE

WLBZ-NBC BANGOR, MA

WICZ-FOX BINGHAMTON, NY

KOLN-CBS LINCOLN, NE

WHO-NBC DES MOINES, IA

KARD-FOX MONROE, LA