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UW Documentary Premiere Marks 60^th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

“Jon Bridgman’s Pearl Harbor: Parallels and Perspectives” Compares and Contrasts Pearl Harbor and 9/11 Attacks

SEATTLE (November 15, 2001) – Jon Bridgman’s Pearl Harbor: Parallels and Perspectives, a heartfelt documentary that explores the people and events leading up to World War II, will premiere on Dec. 7, 2001, at University of Washington Kane Hall marking the 60^th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It will be the first documentary to compare and contrast the bombing of Pearl Harbor with the attacks that happened on Sept. 11, 2001.

Bringing history to life much as he does in his popular lecture series, UW history Professor Jon Bridgman narrates the film with compelling stories and personal anecdotes about the everyday realities behind the historic events that mark time. The one-hour documentary is being presented by the UW College of Arts & Sciences and UW Alumni Association and produced by UW alumnus Robb Weller, executive producer of Weller/Grossman Productions and former co-anchor of Entertainment Tonight.

“Pearl Harbor and the attacks on Sept. 11 are what I call random acts of history,” said Professor Bridgman. “However, the effect both had on the American people is quite similar. These events transformed our country and united our feelings against those that had defiled our

national integrity.”

From debunking urban myths about Pearl Harbor to citing rare quotes from historic figures, Bridgman adds his own brand of storytelling to transport viewers to another time and place. Archival film footage illustrates Bridgman’s narrative, telling the story of transformation that led America through the Pearl Harbor attack and into World War II.

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“You don’t have to be a history buff to lose yourself in one of Jon Bridgman’s lectures,” said Weller. “Just like watching a good movie, an hour just seems to be over in a snap. This film will allow more people to experience his conversational-style of educating.”

The collaboration between Weller and Bridgman to produce the documentary began a year ago to focus on the dichotomy of the United States preparing for war, yet being completely surprised by the attack on Pearl Harbor. When terrorists struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon this year, the film was re-edited highlighting the significance between these two tragedies.

“Hopefully most people only experience a world-changing event like Pearl Harbor or the Sept. 11 attacks once in a lifetime,” said Bridgman. “History is random, it’s inertia that plays a major role.”

Jon Bridgman has been a professor of history in the University of Washington’s College of Arts and Sciences for the past 40 years. Throughout his career, his classes have been among the most popular on campus, influencing about 25,000 students during his years at the University.

Bridgman served as a gunnery officer on a destroyer in the Pacific from 1953 to 1956. He then earned a PhD in history at Stanford University and joined the UW faculty. Although Bridgman cringes as he recalls his first experience teaching a large lecture course at the UW, he quickly developed a reputation as one of the University’s most engaging professors. He received the UW Distinguished Teaching Award—the University’s top honor for teaching—in 1973.

Bridgman has inspired audiences through his annual lectures for the UW Alumni Association (UWAA) since 1987. Much to the chagrin of his devoted audiences, Bridgman has stated that the upcoming UWAA/College of Arts and Sciences lecture series, “National Tragedy - National Recovery,” will be his last. The six-week series will begin on January 9, 2002.

Robb Weller instilled school pride in thousands of Husky fans as a “yell leader” at athletic events. Thirty years later, he’s still one of the University’s best supporters. Weller currently serves on the boards of the College of Arts and Sciences and the University of Washington Foundation. Weller/Grossman Productions aired its first show in 1992, and has since produced more than 3,500 programs for 18 different cable networks. The company now has 140 employees.

The film’s premiere will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at UW Kane Hall. Tickets may be reserved by calling 206.543.3839 or visiting the UW Alumni Association Web site at www.uwalum.com. Video copies of the film are available for purchase for $19.95 from the UW Alumni Association 888.324.1017 and the University Bookstore. All proceeds will go to student scholarships at the UW College of Arts and Sciences.

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