DEATH VALLEY MEMORIES, (Cottonwood Productions, $19.95).
The stories of existence in southeastern California’s Death Valley–thus-named after many prospectors died crossing the area during the 1849 gold rush–are recounted in this video presentation through black-and-white photographs, rare historic film footage, and interviews with the children of the homesteaders. Also explored is the rise of the Pacific Coast Borax Company, an innovative firm that first prospered from the mining of borax, a valuable soap and laundry additive–also used in the making of glass, enamel and other industrial productsthat is found on the valley floor. In 1927, the company turned to tourism, building a luxury hotel and using the train that once carried borax to transport sightseers on tours through the mines.
