FS: Lawrence Ritter - The Glory of Their Times DVD! - SOLD

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Not casting any aspersions whatsoever on this transaction, which is legitimate in every way. HOWEVER, as someone who was very close to both Larry Ritter and his "Glory" projects, I find it astonishing that someone would have the gall to put this out with no mention of either Ritter, whose work it is based on entirely, or Bud Greenspan, who produced it. I assume that Doak Ewing of Rare Sportsfilms, which claims the copyright to this DVD, knows his law well enough to feel safe to issue this product, either that or that with the passing of Ritter and Greenspan he figures there is little chance that anyone will care enough to come after him for it. I've long admired Ewing's work in finding and issuing great old films that otherwise would have been lost or ignored and never become available to the public. I met Doak at a national many years ago, we had a long chat, and he seemed like a good guy. And I'm actually thrilled to see Greenspan's wonderful film out on DVD, it's been many years since the VHS version went out of print and obsolete. I just wish credit had been given where it is due.

I know Doak very well. I was the first person to list his DVDs on Amazon, including The Glory of Their Times. When I stopped selling on Amazon (a long, sad story) I hooked Doak up with my longtime friend Brent Lee, who sells Doak's products on Amazon now.

Incidentally, I wrote the first review of Larry's book on Amazon, and he wrote to thank me, and sent a signed, first edition hardcover copy of the book to me! We corresponded a bit, with Larry sending me some articles about those old players, especially one of his favorites, Chief Meyers. Keith Olbermann once told me that he attended Larry's funeral, and there were many, many people there, from all over every imaginable spectrum (he mentioned Paul Voelker specifically.)

I still have a nice, long, hand-written note from Larry to me, and I call Doak once or twice a year to visit, so my opinion of both are pretty high. While Doak didn't mention Bud Greenspan on his DVD presentation, he does clearly state on the back cover, in bold: "The Glory of Their Times (Based on the book by Lawrence Ritter)"

I believe Doak wants Larry to have the credit he is due, and my strong guess is that Larry wants this DVD to be enjoyed and appreciated by as many people as possible; not for Larry's glory, but for the memory of these great players, and the fascinating story of their lives and times.

[Knoxy24]

This movie is available on YouTube for free if anyone is interested in seeing it.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Mark17

While Doak didn't mention Bud Greenspan on his DVD presentation, he does clearly state on the back cover, in bold: "The Glory of Their Times (Based on the book by Lawrence Ritter)"

You barely address my real bone of contention with Doak's edition of the video: zero mention of the man who made it, the very famous sports documentarian Bud Greenspan, and one meager parenthetical reference to Ritter on the back of the package. That is hardly enough credit, in my opinion, given to these two legendary figures whose work Ewing has repackaged and sold as if it came out of nowhere. This DVD isn't "based on the book" at all, in fact, but is a brilliant and highly original production of Greenspan's that includes some of Larry's recordings. You went to great lengths to establish your history with and regard for Larry and "Glory," which I don't doubt for a minute, so I'll give you mine: I co-produced and edited, with Neal McCabe, the audio edition, published by Highbridge in 1998 and currently available for download wherever audio products are sold. I wouldn't be thrilled to think that, once our work moves into the legal realm of public domain, it would be issued without any mention of those who made it, as Doak has done to Greenspan on his DVD, and scant reference to the man who recorded the interviews in the first place. And I don't imagine Larry would be, either.