Documentary Will Air O'Day Short Family History
A new film about the O'Day Short family will air on PBS, NPR, and FNX beginning this fall.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Documentary
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The documentary O'Day Short: An Act of Justice will reach television and radio audiences through a new five-year public media partnership. The film examines the legacy of the O'Day Short family, who perished in a 1945 arson attack in Fontana.
Why it matters
The documentary seeks to ensure that the tragic history of the O'Day Short family is preserved for future generations. This media project follows recent community efforts to formally honor the family within the Fontana school district.
The production secured a five-year distribution deal across PBS, NPR, and FNX. This follows a grassroots campaign that successfully gathered 132 signatures for the school renaming petition.
The players
O'Day Short
He was a local resident whose home was destroyed in a 1945 arson fire that killed him and his family.
Cyrus Moss
He initiated the community petition in 2024 to rename the local elementary school after the O'Day Short family.
Fontana Unified Board of Education
The local governing body responsible for overseeing the district's schools and the naming of public facilities.
Equal Justice Initiative
This national organization works to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment while challenging racial and economic injustice.
The details
The project follows years of local efforts to memorialize O'Day Short and his family, who died in an arson fire at their home on Dec. 16, 1945. The film coincides with the 2025 renaming of a local elementary school to honor the family, marking a shift in how the community acknowledges its past.
Timeline
Dec. 16, 1945: The O'Day Short family died in an arson fire.
1950: Randall Pepper Elementary was built on the site.
March 2024: Cyrus Moss launched a petition to rename the school.
August 2025: The school was officially renamed O'Day Short Elementary.
May 2026: The school received a Community Remembrance Award.
Industry Dynamics
The documentary follows a pattern set by the 2025 renaming of O'Day Short Elementary to memorialize a tragic local history. The film acts as a cultural extension of the institutional recognition established by the school renaming.
Viewers can access the film through local PBS, NPR, and FNX stations and their respective streaming services this fall. This five-year agreement ensures the production remains available to the public across multiple broadcast platforms.
The takeaway
This project demonstrates how grassroots advocacy can lead to long-term institutional support for local history education. Residents can engage with the film as a primary resource for understanding the specific events that shaped their local community.
What happens next
The documentary is scheduled to begin airing on the participating networks this fall.
Further reading
For more on local historical storytelling, visit the Documentary archives.
More information
Find additional details on the production by visiting the Documentary and family history information website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fontana Herald News.
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