The U.S. Olympic Archive presented by Gordon Crawford Opens at The Paley Center for Media Collection of Olympic Broadcasts from 1960-2012 Now Made Available to the Public
Thursday, January 30, 2014
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, January 30, 2014 — The Paley Center for Media today announced a groundbreaking new exhibit collection drawn from the archival recordings of U.S. broadcasts of the Olympic Games representing more than 1,300 hours of Olympic and Olympic-related programs.
The U.S. Olympic Archive presented by Gordon Crawford, digitally archived to ensure its preservation for future generations, represents the broadcast and cablecast history of the games in the United States—from the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley through the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
The entries in this archive are full blocks of programming as they aired on American television, rather than isolated performances or competitions. Viewers will experience this exceptional collection of original television broadcasts in their entirety, as they initially aired, with commentary by the announcers and often with the original commercials. This allows viewers to relive not just Olympic history, but also television-viewing history. The first 40 visitors to The U.S. Olympic Archive presented by Gordon Crawford at each of the Paley Center’s New York and Los Angeles locations will receive an official gift from the USOC.
“This partnership between The Paley Center for Media and the USOC will give the public access to the first comprehensive archive full of historic Olympic moments, including The United States’ ‘Miracle on Ice’ win over the Soviet Union in 1980 among many other inspiring feats and memorable events – on and off the field of play,” said Pat Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of The Paley Center for Media.
The U.S. Olympic Archive is presented by Paley Center trustee emeritus Gordon Crawford, whose ongoing support for the Paley Center’s mission to explore media’s impact on our culture has made this new collection possible. Mr. Crawford is also the Chairman of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation.
“The Paley Center for Media is the country’s premier archive of television history, and I’m thrilled that this collection of U.S. Olympic broadcasts will now have a home at the Paley Center, in addition to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, so the public will always have access to this shared cultural history,” said Crawford.
"This archive gives us another opportunity to celebrate Gordy’s passion for – and commitment to – the Olympic Movement," said Scott Blackmun, chief executive officer, USOC. "Through his work with both the Paley Center and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation, he is helping ensure current and future generations have the opportunity to share in that passion, and experience firsthand the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games."
About the USOC
Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., the U.S. Olympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. As such, the USOC is responsible for the training, entering and funding of U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, while serving as a steward of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements throughout the country. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.
About Gordon Crawford
During his 41-year tenure at Capital Group, Crawford spearheaded the company’s media investments, beginning in the late 1970s, when he invested heavily in cable just before the industry took off. Once dubbed “consigliere” to some of the most influential media magnates in the world by the Los Angeles Times, he majored in classics at Wesleyan University before getting his MBA from the University of Virginia Business School (now the Darden School). In 1971, following the advice of his professor, he applied for a job with the Capital Group in Los Angeles, where he remained until his retirement as senior vice president in 2012.
A noted philanthropist, Crawford is passionate about the Olympic Movement and has a large collection of memorabilia, including medals and Olympic torches from almost every Game. He serves as the Chairman of the newly formed U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation. He also served on the Paley Center Board of Trustees and its LA Board of Governors for many years.
About The Paley Center for Media
The Paley Center for Media seeks to preserve the past, illuminate the present, and envision the future through the lens of media. With the nation’s foremost public archive of television, radio, and Internet programming, the Paley Center produces programs and forums for the public, industry professionals, thought leaders, and the creative community to explore the evolving ways in which we create, consume, and share news and entertainment. In an era of unprecedented change, the Paley Center advances the understanding of media and its impact on our lives. The Paley Center for Media was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more information, please visit www.paleycenter.org.
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