From my M*A*S*H website (http://www.finest-kind.net/):
The Museum of Broadcast Communications, located in Chicago, Illinois (it is currently closed while a new building is constructed) houses a collection that “includes more than 25,000 television programs, 5,000 radio programs, and 12,000 commercials totaling almost 100,000 hours.” Some 7,000 programs (television and radio) have been digitized and as of January 2009 are available for viewing/listening online (the museum was forced to remove the digital files due to technical problems in early 2008).

One of the programs registered users can watch (registration is free) is “Making M*A*S*H,” the 1981 documentary produced by Chicago PBS station WTTW. I’ve written an article (http://www.finest-kind.net/articles/makingmash.php) about the documentary, utilizing a poor quality copy of the documentary from its syndicated run. The version online at the Museum of Broadcasting is the original WTTW broadcast with Mary Tyler Moore as narrator (the syndicated version was narrated by producer Michael Hirsh). The museum’s website states it was broadcast in 1986. I’m not sure why.

The documentary is in two parts, each 45 minutes long, and the quality is quite good. Not DVD quality, certainly, but quite good. After registering, follow these instructions to find “Making M*A*S*H” at the museum’s website:

* Log in here (http://archives.museum.tv/archives)
* Click on TV
* Type “making m*a*s*h” in the search box as either the keyword or series title
* Click on Play under the photographs on the left
* Enjoy

I don’t know if the video will work on Apple computers or outside the United States. I strongly suggest that everyone try to find the time to sit down and watch the entire documentary. “Making M*A*S*H” is a wonderful look at how M*A*S*H was put together.
Again, you have to register before you can search and view anything at the museum's website, but registration is free. There are also several episodes of M*A*S*H available, but no AfterMASH or W*A*L*T*E*R.

I'll be interested to hear what people think about "Making M*A*S*H." I hope everyone is able to the museum's website to work.

I just watched part one. Phenomenal. What I like about this most of all is that it was done while the series was still in production. It's not done from the perspective of 25 years after the fact.

What I also love is how in-depth it goes. Seeing footage of an actual show being filmed really gives a lot of insight into the creative process: The director and actors talking about the scene and how it should be played, etc.

What's great is during a scene where an explosion goes off, startling the doctors in the O.R. Someone off-camera says "Action. Boom!" You realize that the sound of the explosion was dubbed in later in post-production. I know that we all know that, but it's great to watch.

This should be on DVD in better quality. I would pay to get this on DVD.

AWESOME!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! :D

What a great find this is for all fans ! Just finished watching both parts and how very interesting to see the sound stage decorated. Not to mention, some great bloopers with some 'colorful' language from Mr. Morgan. What I wouldn't give to see this released as a M*A*S*H extra but somehow, don't think we'll see it.

Unfortunately, this documentary doesn't seem to be available anymore at the site mentioned above ... :confused:
Is it available anywhere else? Or does anybody happen to have a copy of it?

It could be a rights issue. PBS or the filmmakers probably control the rights and Fox would have to license it to include it on a M*A*S*H complete series DVD set, but that's already been issued.

But there's always a possibility of a blu-ray complete series set and if people petition Fox to include Making M*A*S*H as part of it, maybe that might happen?

Experience taught me this is very unlikely to happen, unfortunately ... (Case in point: E.g., "inside thirtysomething" which aired on Bravo and wasn't put on the DVDs, either.)
In addition to that Fox treats its TV shows in an especially bad way ... :( (See "Alien Nation", "Firefly", etc.)
But maybe PBS could release it on DVD? :confused: