Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

[BillVol]

I was talking with my wife tonight about the great Bud Greenspan Olympics series. I haven't seen them in years. Can they be purchased over the internet?

Two stories from this series stand out to me. Both are track related. For some reason, track is always the most dramatic sport in the Olympics.

One is of the marathon. Maybe from '68. The focus was on a marathoner who was battling to just to finish. It was dark by now and he was the only runner left on the course. In the way that only Bud Greenspan can do, the music and filming technique and narration brings any normal viewer to tears. Just awesome.

Another is of a middle distance race. I should know this, but I don't remember the event or the athlete. But he was a former WR holder. However, in this race, he was hurt. He ran the race anyhow, finishing well off his WR time, but the scoreboard had his WR time up there at the same time. Again, the dramatic music and the way the narrator tells the story is very moving.

If anybody knows how these tapes can be purchased, please post. Thanks!

[Guest]

Re: Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

First place one should ever look for commercial video is Amazon. They list two Greenspan things. "Wilma" isn't available, but "100 years of Olymic glory" is:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=video

[Guest]

Re: Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

The series I was referring to is The Olympiad series that was on PBS. I've seen the tape you linked. It is great, but not like the old Olympiad series.

Does anybody remember the two stories I mentioned above?

[Guest]

Re: Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

the olympiad seies is available...i have it at home...dave moorcroft in 1984 was the 'md runner'...anywas i will posy additional info w/in 1-2 days

[Guest]

Re: Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

Thanks, ed gee. I guess the story on Moorcroft was not part of the original Olympiad series. As I understand, the Olympiad was on PBS during the '70s.

[Guest]

Re: Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

the Olympiad greatest moments - centennial celebration. it is a set of eight videos...marathon & decathlon...100m & the african runners...those who endured...against all odds...the magnificent seven...the soviets & east europeans...the east germans & women gold medalists...the 800 & 1500m

moorcroft might be on the 1984 greenspan video, which is not part of the set

the set is available from amazon (used) for ~$10!

[Guest]

Re: Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

Thanks, eg.

[Guest]

Re: Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

>the Olympiad greatest moments - centennial
>celebration. it is a set of eight
>videos...marathon & decathlon...100m & the
>african runners...those who endured...against all
>odds...the magnificent seven...the soviets & east
>europeans...the east germans & women gold
>medalists...the 800 & 1500m

moorcroft might be
>on the 1984 greenspan video, which is not part of
>the set

the set is available from amazon
>(used) for ~$10!>

Check for "Sixteen Days of Glory". I'm not positive that's the one you need but it's worth a look.

[Tvarish]

Re: Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

I have a box set of all the olympiad series. It was given as a gift two years ago but I will try and find out where it was purchased. The only one I am missing, although it's not part of the set, is "Jessie Owens Returns to Berlin" If anyone can help me with that one I would appreciate it. As far as the late arriving marathoner in 68, his name was John Stepehn Akwari of Tanzania. Very moving footage.

[BillVol]

Re: Bud Greenspan Olympics tapes?

I wrote an email to PBS asking if I could purchase The Olympiad. This was their response. Very nice response, but he wasn't able to turn up the series in question here. Still, he sure tried to find it:



Thank you for contacting PBS. Although I searched several databases, there were limited results to both Bud Greenspan and “Olympiad.” Below is a listing of “Olympiad” back in 1968 by NET.



OLYMPIAD



Number of programs: 4

Producer: Leni Riefenstahl/NET



"Olympiad" documents in great detail the dramatic Berlin Olympics, where, in the face of Hitler's attempts to turn this event into a glorification of the Nazi race, Jesse Owens led seven American Negro stars to win gold medals in track and field. Miss Riefenstahl's film classic, made with great technical resources and innovations, is considered one of the finest films ever made, an evocation of human aspiration and endurance. Film critic Andrew Sarris examines the programs from the film aspect, and sports expert Dick Schaap discusses them from the sports point of view. Each part of the series carries some of their commentary.



Olympiad I 1:29:19 9/1/68

Olympiad II 59:37 9/8/68

Olympiad III 59:46 9/15/68

Olympiad IV 59:21 9/22/68



Since this aired in 1968, it was prior to the start of PBS. NET, however, became WNET, our member station in New York. For more information on this program, I would suggest calling them directly at 212 560-1313.



In addition, I found several references to Bud Greenspan. Among the listings, here were the films he made that appeared on PBS:



Episode NOLA: ATOG 000101 Airdate: 11/20/97

Series Title: ATLANTA'S OLYMPIC GLORY Air Time: 0900/502

Producer: CAPPY PRODUCTIONS Length: 111

Presenter: KCET



OB Date: 11/20/97



This is the first half of renowned documentarian Bud Greenspan's film

on the centennial celebration of the 26th Olympiad of the modern era,

held in Atlanta in the summer of 1996. Besides presenting all the

excitement, drama and spectacle of the games, Greenspan also captures

the emotional, personal side of the competition, focusing on ten

athletes, including Michael Johnson and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA),

Michelle Smith (Ireland) and Josia Thugwane (South Africa). Bud spans

the various sports arenas, including weight-lifting, swimming, track

and field, cycling rowing, and gymnastics.



Topics: ATLANTA, BUSINESS, OLYMPIC GAMES, PHYSICAL FITNESS,

SPORTS

Format: Documentary

************************************************** *************

Episode NOLA: ATOG 000102 Airdate: 11/20/97

Series Title: ATLANTA'S OLYMPIC GLORY Air Time: 1100/502

Producer: CAPPY PRODUCTIONS Length: 104

Presenter: KCET



OB Date: 11/20/97



This is the second half of renowned documentarian Bud Greenspan's film

on the centennial celebration of the 26th Olympiad of the modern era,

held in Atlanta in the summer of 1996. Besides presenting all the

excitement, drama and spectacle of the games, Greenspan also captures

the emotional, personal side of the competition, focusing on ten

athletes, including Michael Johnson and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA),

Michelle Smith (Ireland) and Josia Thugwane (South Africa).



Topics: ATLANTA, BUSINESS, OLYMPIC GAMES, PHYSICAL FITNESS,

SPORTS

Format: Documentary

************************************************** *********************************

AGELESS HEROES



AGELESS HEROES captures the spirit, vitality and potential of men and women who have achieved success and continue to do so beyond the age of 65. Among the heroes saluted are football coach Joe Paterno; singer, dancer and actress Eartha Kitt; journalist Helen Thomas; modern dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham; and civil rights activist and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young. The one-hour special airs on PBS, Wednesday, April 29, 1998, 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings).



AGELESS HEROES was directed, produced and written by Bud Greenspan, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker recognized internationally for his inspirational films and books about the Olympics and its athletes.



Featured in the special (in alphabetical order) are:

Iris Alford — After marrying and raising a family of over-achievers, Alford entered college in 1993 at the age of 65 to work toward a degree in history. Her curriculum included a mandatory health course in which she was instructed in birth control techniques along with students nearly 50 years her junior.



Dodo Cheney — A tennis player for more than 70 years, Cheney is reputed to be the most successful player in history, with more victories (285) in her career than Steffi Graf and Pete Sampras. Today, she continues to compete in the 75-plus and 80-plus age group competitions throughout the country.



Merce Cunningham — After more than 50 years of creating dances, Cunningham, at age 78, continues to be in the vanguard of the avant-garde. Mikhail Baryshnikov once said, “Seeing Merce Cunningham was like discovering modern painting. He has reinvented dance and then waited for the audience.”



Carmen Dell’Orefice — For the last 53 years, the model known simply as Carmen has graced the pages of every fashion magazine from Vogue to Vanity Fair. In a business where one is considered “over the

hill” at age 30, Carmen continues to gracefully defy society’s stereotypes of youth and beauty.



Eartha Kitt — This legendary entertainer — who is celebrating more than 50 years in show business —is still a household name as she enters her 70s and continues to reach for new heights in her career. It is said that she can still thrill a room of 20-year-olds with her sultry performances.



Joe Paterno — Paterno is currently in his 48th year as a member of the Penn State football staff and in his 32nd year as head coach at one of the nation’s powerhouse football institutions. He has a career record of 289 wins, 74 losses and three ties, and ranks fourth on the all-time college career victory list.



Dr. Billy Taylor — A jazz pianist/composer, educator, radio/TV personality and winner of two Peabody Awards and an Emmy, Dr. Taylor — more than any other jazz artist — can be credited with bringing jazz to the forums of national radio and television.



Helen Thomas — Currently United Press International and senior White House correspondent, this legendary newswoman has covered every President from Kennedy to Clinton. She is known to viewers as the woman who concludes every presidential press conference with the words, “Thank you, Mr. President.”



Andrew Young — Civil rights activist and former U.S. congressman, U.N. ambassador and mayor of Atlanta, Young marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and was with King when the civil rights leader was assassinated in 1968. Today, he continues to be a moral and physical force in public service.



Joe Wilder — A surgeon, painter and author, Wilder was called “a Renaissance man” by the New York Times. Once director of surgery at New York’s Hospital for Joint Diseases, he is now, at 78, Professor Emeritus at Mt. Sinai Hospital, the author of two books on surgery and a renowned painter.



Underwriters: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Producers: Cappy Productions, Inc. and Age Wave Health Services, Inc. Presenter: KCET Los Angeles. Executive producer: Nancy Beffa, Cappy Productions; and Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., Age Wave Health Services, Inc. Writer/producer/director: Bud Greenspan. Format: CC STEREO

************************************************** ************************************************** ****

16 DAYS OF GLORY: SEOUL '88 (New)



Bud Greenspan, "the Michelangelo of sports filmmaking," highlights stories of triumph and defeat as he profiles athletes of the XXIV Olympiad in Seoul, Korea. The drama of the athlete's personal struggle is what most attracts Greenspan, as he spotlights gold medal favorites Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Greg Louganis, come-from-behind swimmers Vladimir Salnikov of the former USSR and Duncan Armstrong of Australia, kayakers Greg Barton and Norm Bellingham, and Ireland's Eamonn Coghlan, whose dream of an indoor mile medal faded in the semifinals. Other athletes featured are Janet Evans, Louise Ritter, Christa Rothenburger-Luding, and Calvin Smith. The series aired originally on the Disney Channel in November 1989 and airs as a prelude to the Olympic Games in Barcelona. WTTW (#101-#103, SOFTFEED: Sundays, 7/5-7/19/92, 1900-2000/B) Ed.R: 7 days

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Unfortunately, none of these were released during the 70’s. The only other thing I can suggest is that “The Olympiad” program you’re referring to may have been distributed to some PBS member stations by other groups, which happens quite often. When programs come from other distributors, we have very little access to information on those programs, particularly from almost 30 years ago.



I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if we can assist further.

Best Regards,



Bill Stea

PBS Archives

[email protected]