On this day August 13 1984, Call to Glory premiered on ABC. The series starred Craig T. Nelson as Air Force pilot Colonel Raynor Sarnac and was set during the early 1960s, a time of major social and military transformation in America. The show focused on both the professional life of Colonel Sarnac and the challenges his family faced as they adapted to the fast changing world around them. It blended Cold War tension, space race excitement, and civil rights era drama with the personal stories of a military family navigating loyalty, duty, and everyday struggles.
Call to Glory stood apart from other family dramas of the time by mixing historical events with fictional storytelling. The pilot episode featured a recreation of the U2 spy plane incident and future episodes touched on major moments such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the early days of NASA. Despite strong performances and a compelling concept, the series struggled to find a large audience and ended after one season. Still, it earned praise for its ambition, detailed period setting, and thoughtful approach to both family dynamics and American history.
80s insight: Call to Glory captured the intersection of national history and personal sacrifice, showing how families were shaped by the events that defined a generation.
Call to Glory stood apart from other family dramas of the time by mixing historical events with fictional storytelling. The pilot episode featured a recreation of the U2 spy plane incident and future episodes touched on major moments such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the early days of NASA. Despite strong performances and a compelling concept, the series struggled to find a large audience and ended after one season. Still, it earned praise for its ambition, detailed period setting, and thoughtful approach to both family dynamics and American history.
80s insight: Call to Glory captured the intersection of national history and personal sacrifice, showing how families were shaped by the events that defined a generation.
