GRANITE FALLS, Minnesota, May 1, 2025—Find out how Minnesota filmmakers created a pro-wrestling documentary with reenactments at the famous Minneapolis music venue, First Avenue, on the next episode of Postcards, which airs Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. on Pioneer PBS.
Director Phil Harder grew up watching the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and was scared of supervillain wrestling character Baron von Raschke. Raschke, whose actual name is James Donald Raschke, portrayed a psychotic German who took over the ring with his signature move, “the claw.” “The Claw” is a wrestling documentary/fictional reenactment hybrid featuring the wrestling legend in the lead role, which details the highs and lows of his life and career.
Harder discusses attending punk rock shows at First Avenue and how his experiences at the venue inspired him on his path to music, music videos, and “The Claw.” In a circle-back moment, looking to film recreations for the documentary, Harder thought of the venue and decided to transform First Avenue into a wrestling ring. “All I knew was I wanted it to be wild, high energy, punk rock, [and] scream, to capture the energy of the wrestling, and I think we did that,” said Harder.
The Postcards episode repeats the following Sunday at 7 p.m. and Monday at 1:30 p.m. Tune in for behind-the-scenes interviews with Phill Harder, director of “The Claw,” Karl Raschke, producer, and Patrick Pierson, cinematographer.
Individuals in Pioneer PBS’s viewing area can livestream this episode at pioneer.org/live. All episodes and segments can also be viewed on the PBS app and online at pioneer.org/postcards/, video.pioneer.org/show/postcards/, and youtube.com/@PostcardsOnPioneerPBS/.
About Postcards
Postcards is an award-winning art, culture, and history program produced by Dana Conroy with videography and editing by Kristofor Gieske and Ben Dempcy. The program is made possible by contributions from the voters of Minnesota through a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The 2025 season is made possible by funding from Shalom Hill Farm, Explore Alexandria Tourism, Lake Region Arts Council, KRAM 96.7, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, and members of Pioneer PBS.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing stories from rural Minnesota with the world. Pioneer PBS is headquartered in Granite Falls, Minnesota, with towers in Appleton, Worthington, and Fergus Falls. Pioneer PBS reaches more than a million people in rural areas and small towns in western Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas, and northern Iowa. Pioneer PBS is honored to be your television station—the only station in western Minnesota telling your stories and raising your voices into the media landscape. Our members help make programs like this possible with their generous support. For more information about Pioneer PBS or how you can help us make these stories a reality, visit pioneer.org/support or call 800-726-3178.
