American Masters

Althea

09/04/2015 | 1h 23m 21s  | Video has closed captioning.  | Video has audio description

This is the story of Althea Gibson (1927-2003), a truant from the rough streets of Harlem, who emerged as the unlikely queen of the highly segregated tennis world in the 1950s. She was the first African American to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals (precursor of the U.S. Open) — a decade before Arthur Ashe. Interviewees include Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt and Billie Jean King.

Aired: 09/04/15

Expired: 04/03/22

Rating: TV-PG

Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning

Funding for American Masters is provided by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Rosalind P. Walter, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, The Blanche & Irving Laurie …

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