Historical documentary about the life and work of visionary Kansas City developer, Jesse Clyde Nichols (1880-1950). Nichols constructed the largest contiguous planned community in the U.S.and the first modern shopping center in America. Nichols ranged far beyond Kansas City. He served on the National Parks and Planning Commission in Washington, DC, and lent his expertise to the planning of many other communities, including Beverly Hills and Cleveland's Shaker Heights. The methods and philosophies Nichols championed are now being used by architects, planners, and developers to build towns and combat sprawl. These "New Urbanists" have found a godfather in J.C. Nichols. This film was designed for a national PBS audience and for educational distribution. The program has aired on more than 100 PBS stations nationwide.—Steven C.F. Anderson