The 1986 Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts

The year 1987 will mark the end of the first decade of this distinguished series which celebrates the contributions of America’s foremost artists, composers and performers. In its lifetime, The Kennedy Center Honors has blossomed into a premier event, marking for the world the unique contributions of leaders in American arts and letters. Moreover, it has evolved into an excellent television production. Never tedious, self-congratulatory or falsely sentimental, the program sparkles in performance and tribute. Co-producers George Stevens, Jr. and Nick Vanoff, along with director Don Mischer, have achieved two honorable and difficult goals. They have produced a valuable visual record of the giants of American culture. Secondly, they have produced an evening of television for CBS Entertainment that is both educational and entertaining. For The 1986 Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, a Peabody Award.