On April 14, 1994, media and movie maverick Ted Turner launched Turner Classic Movies with a vision: to preserve and celebrate classic cinema. Driven by his passion for film, Turner created a destination to present films in their original, uncut form– commercial-free and enriched with historical context and reverence.

Join us on Sunday, May 10th as we honor our founder and champion Ted Turner with the film that started it all, and his personal favorite, GONE WITH THE WIND (1939) at 8pm ET. The evening will feature the special video tribute shown when Turner was in attendance at the 2019 TCM Classic Film Festival.

TCM’s programming was curated from the extensive library of Turner Entertainment Co., which Turner acquired in 1985 with the purchase of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). This library included MGM’s full catalog, pre-1950 Warner Bros. films, RKO Radio Pictures titles, and other classic works. TCM sat as a crown jewel in Turner’s broader media empire, which also included revered networks CNN, TNT and Cartoon Network.

“Ted Turner’s influence impacted every form of global media including news, sports, and entertainment programming. His love of storytelling and appreciation of classic films will live on through one of his greatest achievements, Turner Classic Movies, which stands today as one of his most enduring contributions to history and culture. Ted’s legacy, through TCM, will ensure classic films are kept at the forefront of the entertainment world,” said Charlie Tabesh, SVP, Programming & Content Strategy, TCM.

For more than three decades, Turner’s unflappable commitment to cinema and mission have anchored TCM as it’s preserved, celebrated, and introduced classic film to the new generation of filmmakers and film lovers alike. This special presentation honors not only the visionary who created the network, but also the lasting cultural legacy he helped protect.