Bob Griggs, aka Sailor Bob, may not be all that well-known amongst younger denizens of Richmond, but his children's television program was a local institution for nearly two decades, running on local television stations in various incarnations from 1959 until the mid-70s. The Sailor Bob Story is a documentary film that tells this story in great detail, a loving tribute to a man who's work influenced an entire generation of local children and adults. The documentary will be broadcast on WCVE-TV (PBS channel 23) in February, but this weekend, there will be a one-time theatrical premiere event at the Byrd Theatre.
WHAT: The Sailor Bob Story Premiere
WHEN: Saturday, January 22, 2 PM
WHERE: The Byrd Theatre (2908 W. Cary St.)
ADMISSION: $10 in advance (advance tickets available here), or $12 at the door
The Sailor Bob Story was put together by VGO Productions, a local film production group, who mixed new interviews together with archival footage that Sailor Bob had saved for decades in order to create the finished documentary. The soundtrack to the film was created by a variety of local musicians, including Forrest Young (The Emergency Drummer), Charles Arthur (The New Belgians); Daniel Clarke (K.D. Lang, Modern Groove Syndicate); Stefan Demetriadis (No B.S. Brass); Chris Fuller; Randall Pharr (Professor of jazz at VCU); John Winn (Professor of jazz at VCU); and Frank Coleman (Composer of TSBS music & recording engineer for the project). Young describes the soundtrack as "a jazzy Vince Guaraldi Trio type thing that is the perfect back drop to Bob's story," citing the legendary jazz pianist and Charlie Brown Christmas composer. The film should be a treat for newcomers and longtime fans alike, and what better venue in which to experience it for the first time could there be than the Byrd Theatre? Be sure to come check it out.