Bringing Harry Home earns Emmy for Wipe Out

 

PHILADELPHIA, PA  - Wipe Out Productions has received an Emmy Award from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the documentary, Bringing Harry Home, which chronicled the grass roots efforts and events that led to the placing of the Harry Kalas memorial statue at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia.

 

Kalas, the legendary Hall of Fame Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster, died suddenly of a heart attack in Washington DC on April 13, 2009, shortly before broadcasting a game between the Phillies and Nationals. Fans spearheaded the effort to build and erect a bronze statue in his honor.

 

“This had everything to do with the fans’ efforts, led by Dear Harry, Inc., which helped raise the money, find the sculptor, and deliver the finished product. Philadelphia fans loved Harry, and wanted to do something to immortalize him. This is their story,” said Wipe Out Productions founder Scott Graham.

 

The film establishes the unprecedented connection Kalas had with the fans of Philadelphia.  Sculptor Larry Nowlan is seen creating the image at his studio in Vermont. The figure of Kalas is later cast at Laran Bronze in Chester, Pennsylvania, and finally unveiled in a special ceremony at the ballpark.

 

Graham, who also directed and narrated the film, was a Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster for nine years, and worked in the Phillies radio booth for sixteen seasons.  “Harry was a colleague who taught me a lot,” Graham said, “but he was also a dear friend, who treated me like family. When the movement began to create the statue, I offered to help in whatever way I could.  As it turned out, creating this film was the best way.”

 

“There’s no way the film could have been made without the help of the Phillies organization,” Graham added.  “David Montgomery and his staff gave us their time and access to footage which made the story complete.  We also owe a debt of gratitude to the Delaware Valley Toyota Dealers, whose sponsorship allowed the film to be presented with limited commercial interruption.”

 

The film originally aired in October, 2011 on Comcast Sports Net Philadelphia and The Comcast Network. Following the Emmy announcement, additional airings were scheduled.

 

“Scott Graham and his team at Wipe Out Productions have become an important part of our Villanova Basketball Family,” Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright said. “Their ability to go beyond game footage and tell the stories of our program with spectacular imagery has taken Inside Villanova Basketball to another level. During the course of the season, people stop me often to tell me how much they enjoy our show and that is a testament to the work of everyone at Wipe Out.”