About the Film
It’s not easy for us who live in heavily landscaped urban areas to remember a time when magnificent trees on the rolling North Texas prairie were the source of stories and legends.
Through present-day footage and the use of historical photographs, moving images and sound, Million Dollar Monarch tells the story of a beautiful 143-year-old pecan tree that was once a landmark on the Preston Trail.
Today, the pecan presides over a busy intersection in Highland Park, surrounded by the noise of modern life. But for those who know its secrets, the tree offers a glimpse of history — and of the way nature quietly reflects the promise of life.
About the Filmmaker
Rob Tranchin is a senior producer, writer and director of documentaries and outreach specials for KERA, where he also serves as executive producer. His national productions for PBS include Sweet Tornado: Margo Jones and the American Theater (co-written and produced with Kay Cattarulla), Roy Bedichek's Vanishing Frontier, Wildcatter (for American Experience), Who Cares about Kids? with poet and author Maya Angelou, For a Deaf Son, and Peacemaker.
In 1999, Tranchin won a national Emmy Award as writer and co-producer of KERA’s four-part nationally televised PBS series The U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848). In 2000, Tranchin was nominated for another national Emmy Award as writer and co-producer of KERA’s documentary Matisse & Picasso, a compelling portrait of two giants of 20th century art.
Watch Million Dollar Monarch
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