Buddy Bregman

'Ride to Heaven: An Existential Theme Park Mystery,' a documentary film with elements of retro Americana and the history of Old Hollywood, will be available on demand through Time Warner Cable starting April 1, 2016. This coincides with the 55th anniversary of the planned opening of the Disney inspired theme park called Bible Storyland. 'Ride to Heaven' is a quirky documentary film that follows a Los Angeles art dealer, Harvey Jordan, on his obsessive decade long quest to uncover the mystery of an ill-fated theme park designed by Disney creatives and backed by Jack Haley (Tin Man 'The Wizard of Oz'). The 220-acre park was to open April, 1961 in Southern California and intended to compete with Disneyland. The theme park blended the imagination of an Ex Disney VP (Nat Winecoff) and a Disney animator (Bruce Bushman) with themes from biblical times. The park was to feature Rides to Heaven and Hell, Chariot Races and eateries selling lion burgers. (Hear a reading of the 1960 Press Release at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zst8ekmOOm0) 'We are very pleased to have our film available to a much wider audience that will surely enjoy this story that includes elements of Disney, The Wizard of Oz, Hollywood films and Yo-Yo's,' said Harvey Jordan, the film's main character. 'You will have to see it for yourself to understand the common link between all these cultural icons. I'm sure you will be drawn into the mystery just like I was.' Stephanie Hubbard, the film's director, is a Los Angeles-based author and award winning documentary film editor & producer whose work has shown on PBS, the Discovery Channel, and History Channel. Her latest production was the short film 'Improv Death Ice Age.' 'Creating Ride to Heaven,' says Hubbard, 'was a personal self discovery that mirrored Harvey's existential journey as he faced life's travails against the backdrop of the enveloping vision of Bible Storyland Theme Park. My love of films of the 1950's came in handy - films like 'Ben-Hur' and 'The Ten Commandments' were pivotal to the development of the park. Exploring the politics of religion was also a fascinating aspect for me.' 'Ride to Heaven' includes interviews with Charles Phoenix (pop culture humorist), Rev. Malcolm Boyd (author, prominent theologian), Buddy Bregman (producer for Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland) as well as many scholars and experts on theme park history. The film's co-star, Debi Derryberry, is a prolific film & TV Voice Actor (Jimmy Neutron, Speedy Alka Seltzer, Disney & Pixar films.) 'Ride to Heaven: An Existential Theme Park Mystery' distributed by Cargo Film & Releasing, 611 Broadway, Suite # 630, New York, NY 10012, (212) 995-8139, www.cargofilm-releasing.com. An extended version of this film, with extras, is available on DVD thru the website. This film, previously released as 'Bible Storyland, The Movie' has screened at numerous Film Festivals and named Best Documentary at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival. Website: www.RideToHeaven.com 'A marvelous Drama, wrapped in a Comedy, folded around a Documentary, twisted into a Detective story and squeezed into a Valentine.' - Chris Epting, Pop Culture Author 'A real investigative eye-opener and fun to watch!' - Huell Howser, Host/Producer of 'California's Gold'

Each year, the Tony Awards release a list of names of friends and colleagues in the Broadway community who have left us during the past year.

Today's big news: The national tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL launches in Utica!

Composer, musical director, arranger and orchestrator Buddy Bregman has passed away at the age of 86.

Ella Fitzgerald's vocal style was as incredible and diverse as the material that she sang. She started out a swing singer, moved to bebop, sang perfect scat, was an extraordinary jazz vocalist and had no fear of modern material as the 60s and 70s came along