Hey guys, check out this great flasback story and video! Earl Hamner Storyteller HEIDI Earl Hamner: In 1967, I was assigned by producers Fred Brogger and Jim Franciscus the happy task of adapting the childrens classic HEIDI as a movie for television. The producers always sought outstanding talent and were extraordinarily lucky to interest the fabled John Williams to write the music for the film. With an excellent script, a splendid cast, and a legendary director, the producers made another sound -- if somewhat challenging -- decision. They would shoot the film in Europe. The writer, at this point, is usually shunted aside unless some rewrite is required. (I once had a producer, after turning in my script, refer to me affectionately but candidly as last weeks writer.) I was lucky. Fred Brogger invited me to explore locations with him. We met in St. Moritz and found lodging at a grand old hotel, Hotel Waldhaus, located in the nearby village of Sils-Maria. We arrived there after dark; and to wake up at first light, go to the window, and discover the towering, close-by, snow-covered Alps was an occasion for awe. Cut now to Sunday evening, November 17, 1968. At seven oclock, my family and I turned on the television set to watch the film. Not being much of a sports fan, I was not aware that in order to start Heidi on time, NBC had cut away from a game between the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets before it was finished. And while the beautiful shots of the Alps and John Williams soaring score filled the screen, all hell broke loose back at NBC. So many outraged football fans flooded the network with phone calls that fuses in the switchboard blew out. When callers could not get through to the network, they called the New York Police Department, The New York Times, and the New York Telephone Company. When it was learned that two touchdowns and two extra points were scored after the game was taken off the air, the anger soared and continued all night and all week. Steps were taken at each of the networks to ensure that such an interruption to a football game would never take place again. The president of NBC, Julian Goodman, issued an apology. Later in the week, the network ran an ad featuring the excellent reviews our movie had earned. The ad provoked a quote from Joe Namath of the losing New York Jets: I didnt get a chance to see it, but I hear it was great! ... Today marks the 46th anniversary of the HEIDI Game. In EARL HAMNER STORYTELLER - Jennifer Edwards looks back on that day, Its the little HEIDI cloud I call it, Ive decided that on my tombstone its going to read -She was a great moment in sports There are seven days remaining to raise the funds needed to license the clips to complete EARL HAMNER STORYTELLER. This is your opportunity to pre-order your DVD. Please contribute what you can. Thank You! https://indiegogo/projects/earl-hamner-storyteller-documentary — with Michael McGreevey, Ray Castro, Tim McAbee, Jan Dobbs Barton, Earl Hamner, Tiffany Hodge, Earl Hamner, Paul Hamner, Nelson Mag, Carolyn Grinnell, Scott Hamner, Caroline Hamner, Edwin Muñiz, Bo Hamner, Pepe Mercado, Cynthia Dunaway Brittain, Vicky Thomas Choudhry, Gabriel Tristan, Chris N Stacie Osborne, Jennifer Edwards, Nancy Jamerson, Kami Cotler, Judy Norton, Eric Scott, Mary McDonough, Waltons Fans, NFL Ticket Exchange, Audrey Hamner, Irene Porter, David Delouchery, NBC LA and Randy Highsmith Ray Castro Earl Hamner Storyteller youtu.be/zJAn3cTMXW8 The Heidi game youtube
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 21:24:27 +0000
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