In Search of... - Season 5 (1980)

A look at thrill-seeking daredevils from Harry Houdini through "pickup pilot" Chuck Strange. A peek into the stuntman-training school of Hollywood veteran Kim Kahana.

What exactly is death and what lies beyond it? Three survivors share their testimonies of near death experiences (NDEs). Doctors and a theologian offer their explanations.

Can the full moon drive men mad? Once dismissed as a myth, scientists are reevaluating the effect exerted by our nearest neighbor.

Volcanoes, spotlighting Mount St. Helens, which erupted on May 18, 1980. Local law enforcement, a volcanologist, and an earthquake-sensitive woman are interviewed. A simulated evacuation of Mount Shasta, California is demonstrated.

Investigative reporter Anthony Scaduto presents startling new evidence that exonerates Bruno Richard Hauptmann, the man convicted and executed for the March 1932 kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's baby son.

East meets West in this exploration of acupuncture, filmed on location in Peking, China. Chinese medicine's fight for acceptance in America. Graphic scenes of brain surgery and of the inserting of needles.

The rise, fall, and mysterious disappearance of legendary Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa. Authors and associates speculate on what may have happened that fateful July 30, 1975.

The Fountain of Youth of legend is fast becoming reality thanks to modern science, nutrition, and cosmetic surgery. A report on the many ways America's aging population seeks to regain its waning youth.

Is laughter the best medicine? Entertainers old and new offer their thoughts along with researchers into the placebo effect, biofeedback, and laughter therapy.

A celebration of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts featuring rare looks at coven rituals and an initiation ceremony. A scientist suggests a rational explanation lurks behind the hysteria that sparked the Salem Witch Trials of 1692-93.

Are child prodigies born or nurtured? A day in the life of a gifted ballerina. Visits to schools for gifted students and a computer camp. Educators suggest every child possesses tremendous untapped potential.

The history, challenges, and cultural significance of the Great Wall are explored. In addition, other significant Chinese artistic endeavors are highlighted including the Terracotta Warriors and Forbidden City.

Edward Leedskalnin built a Coral Castle in Florida City, Florida during modern times. The stones weigh up to 5 tons. Yet he used simple tools and a tripod. The mystery he once said "it is all there in the Egyptian texts" . Join Leonard Nimoy In Search of The Castle of Secrets to see and marvel at what one man accomplished.

A look at the lives of the great lovers Casanova and Don Juan. Did they have true feelings for their conquests or were they instead fools attempting to slake a never-ending thirst?

"In Search of..." explores the claims that the chalice used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper may have been found.

What was the cause of Marilyn Monroe's untimely death? Did she commit suicide? Was she the victim of an accidental overdose of medication? Was she murdered? Each of these possibilities is examined, yet none can be substantiated.

Did explorers from China arrive on the west coast of North America in 458 A.D. and then proceed to Central America? This episode examines both the facts and myths that surround this subject.

A examination of the last great passenger dirigible and the question of whether its explosive destruction was by accident or sabotage.

Large meteors have caused massive destruction in the past. Will one also cause the end of the world? Conversely, instead of a threat, will outer space prove to be a boon to mankind via the colonization of other planets and solar systems?

An examination of the British ocean liner torpedoed during World War I and possible reasons for why she sank so quickly.

An exploration of the social, religious, and technological relationships between human beings and the sun, emphasizing the exploitation of solar energy through photovoltaic cells, hydrogen fuel cells, and biomass fuels.