KCRW To Broadcast “From Wharf Rats To Lords Of The Docks: The Life And Times Of Harry Bridges”
Documentary About Labor Leader Airs Two Consecutive Tuesdays, August 22 and August 29, from 2:30 to 3 pm as a “Politics of Culture” Special
In 1920, a young Australian seaman named Harry Bridges arrived in San Francisco, destined to become one of the most influential labor leaders of the 20th century. His life, legacy and profound impact on the American labor movement and its relationship with the rest of the world is explored in the two-part radio documentary “From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks: The Life and Times of Harry Bridges,” airing on KCRW (89.9 FM, KCRW.com) on two consecutive Tuesdays: August 22 and August 29, from 2:30 to 3 pm, as a special edition of The Politics of Culture.
“From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks” chronicles Bridges’ early life, the creation of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) where he served as president for over 40 years his campaigns for social justice, and the four trials of his quest for citizenship. Produced by stage and screen actor Ian Ruskin and distributed by Public Radio International, the documentary features excerpts from Bridges’ dynamic speeches, as well as interviews with union members, his lawyers and personal friends. Rare union and folk songs are interwoven with Bridges’ story including songs written and performed by Pete Seeger. Seeger is also interviewed throughout the documentary.
Ruskin’s documentary captures the dignity and spirit of a man who always put the rank and file first, and never backed away from controversy. While his views from time to time differed from those of ILWU members, they nonetheless respected his honesty, and considered him a great teacher and negotiator. Shortly after his death in 1990, ILWU pensioners and locals raised $1,000,000 to create the Harry Bridges Chair at the University of Washington. And just this May, an area in front of the Ferry Building in San Francisco was officially named the Harry Bridges Plaza to honor a man who had a far-reaching impact on workers throughout the world.
The radio documentary along with a one man play and a multimedia traveling exhibition comprise “The Harry Bridges Project” a project designed to promote Bridges’ legacy and educate future generations about his extraordinary life. For more information about “The Harry Bridges Project,” please check the website:
http://www.theharrybridgesproject.org
KCRW-FM, licensed to Santa Monica College, is National Public Radio’s flagship station for Southern California. The station serves Los Angeles and Orange Counties at 89.9 FM, Ventura County at 89.1 FM on KCRU/ Oxnard-Ventura, the greater Palm Springs area at 89.3 FM on KCRI/Indio-Palm Springs and Kern and Northern LA Counties at 88.1 FM on KCRY/Mojave/Antelope Valley. Translators carry the signal to the Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley areas at 90.7 FM, Gorman at 89.7 FM, Banning at 90.9 FM, the Antelope Valley at 88.1 FM, the Ridgecrest area at 107.1 FM, the Santa Paula, Moorpark, and Fillmore areas at 102.3 FM, and Ojai at 102.1 FM. Every week, more than 400,000 listeners tune to the station for its eclectic and innovative non-commercial program schedule. KCRW can be found on the World Wide Web at KCRW.com.
