World Premiere of ''The Indian Larry Memorial Field Tribute'' Documentary Film

 

Press Release    
Source: Shadowland Theatre

Shadowland Theatre Presents the World Premiere of ''The Indian Larry
Memorial Field Tribute'' Documentary Film by Gary Planken and Roger
Baker

April 19
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060419/20060419005776.html

ELLENVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2006--Twenty months to
the day after motorcycle legend Indian Larry died in August 2004 from
injuries he sustained falling off a moving motorcycle at the Liquid
Steel Classic and Custom Bike Series in North Carolina, Shadowland
Theatre in Ellenville, NY, only 40 miles from the sleepy Hudson River
town where Indian Larry Desmelt was born, will present the world
premiere of "The Indian Larry Memorial Field Tribute", a documentary
by filmmaker Gary Planken and artist, illustrator and
internationally-acclaimed field cutter Roger Baker, on Sunday, April
30, 2006 at 1:00pm.

What began as Roger Baker's personal search for a tribute theme for
his annual field cutting in upstate New York, focused initially on
jazz legend John Coltrane, quickly evolved into a deeply felt
emotional journey from the Catskill Mountain countryside to downtown
New York City, Indian Larry's home and Gasoline Alley, the custom
motorcycle shop he founded. Filmed in director Gary Planken's
up-close-and-personal style, the 85-minute documentary moves from
initial meetings with Indian Larry's widow, Bambi, and his mother,
sister and close friends and colleagues over a six-month period, to
the intricate process of creating the design and preparing the
half-million square-foot field for cutting, as well as the emotional
flyover for family and friends in open-cockpit biplanes to view the
field tribute on the anniversary of Indian Larry's death.

"I am not unique in believing this but Larry was arguably one of the
greatest innovators in the world of custom motorcycles," said Baker.
"The 2005 field cutting turned into our personal tribute to Larry for
the world to experience. The documentary itself is for his family, all
his many friends and the legion of fans throughout the world. That we
are holding this premiere only a couple of miles from the field where
we lovingly immortalized Larry is simply an added personal joy."

According to Brendan Burke, producing artistic director at Shadowland,
"Roger and Gary are extending an invitation to Larry's fans to drive
their motorcycles, cars or trucks that Larry would appreciate to the
premiere and as a gesture to Larry parking in front of the theatre up
and down Canal Street."

The premiere screening at 1:00 pm is being held as a benefit for
Shadowland Theatre. Signed copies of the DVD by Baker and Planken as
well as still photos drawn from the event will be available for sale
in the lobby. "Additional screenings will be offered at 3:00 pm and
5:00 pm based on demand," said Burke. "We are honored that Roger, Gary
and Under the Sun Films selected Shadowland to host their world
premiere."

Admission is $10.00. Ticket reservations can be made by contacting the
Shadowland box office at 845-647-5511 or
shadowland@shadowlandtheatre.org.

Note to Editors:

"Indian" Larry Desmelt, per About.com and Wikipedia, (April 28, 1949 -
August 30, 2004), a noted bike builder, stuntman and innovator in the
world of custom motorcycles, was born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York
and became interested in motorcycles at an early age in New York's
Orange County. A fan of artist Von Dutch, Desmelt later moved to
California to apprentice under legendary hot rod builder and pop
artist Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.

Indian Larry founded the Gasoline Alley custom motorcycle shop in New
York City in 1991. His "old school" choppers quickly won renown in the
motorcycling world. His motorcycle "Grease Monkey" was named Easy
Rider magazine's Chopper of the Year and he was a winner of the
Discovery Channel's Biker Build-Off trophy. He is credited with
re-popularizing the old school of "Bobber" custom motorcycle popular
in the 1950s and 1960s.

He gained considerable fame as a participant on the Great Bike Build
Off on cable TV's Discovery Channel.

Indian Larry was also an accomplished stuntman and actor. He played
himself in the film Rocket's Red Glare and performed stunts for the
films Quiz Show, Muscle Machine, My Mother's Dream and 200 Cigarettes.
He appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.

A famous trademark was a tattoo on his neck, just below his chin. It
read, "In God We Trust - Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord - No Fear",
with the middle two lines in reverse so he could read them when
looking in a mirror.

Indian Larry was performing a motorcycle stunt in front of 8,000
people at the Liquid Steel Classic and Custom Bike Series in Concord,
North Carolina on August 28, 2004. In the stunt, Larry was standing on
the moving motorcycle. The bike began to wobble out of control and he
was thrown from the motorcycle sustaining serious head injuries.
Indian Larry was taken to the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte,
North Carolina. He died there on August 30, 2004 from injuries
sustained in the accident.

Gary Planken is an award-winning filmmaker whose 2005 reality
documentary, The World's Largest Portraits, was premiered at the New
York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF), the
largest film festival in the world. For more information, visit
http://www.underthesunfilms.com .

Roger Baker is the artist, illustrator and internationally acclaimed
field cutter recognized for his 500,000- to 1,000,000-square foot
field art tributes to Elvis, Einstein, Jimi Hendrix and the Statue of
Liberty. His work has appeared on CNN and NBC's Today Show, in TIME
magazine and in publications around the world.

Shadowland Theatre is the leading professional nonprofit Actors'
Equity company in the Lower Hudson Valley/Catskill Mountain region.
Located 90 miles from New York City in Ellenville, NY Shadowland was
named "Best Theatre 2004" in the "Best of the Valley" award program by
Hudson Valley Magazine. For more information, visit
http://www.shadowlandtheatre.org .

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I hated to hear of his death, and God knows I've done my share of
Darwin-esque stunts myself, but jeez, standing on the seat of a moving
bike with no protection is just asking for it.

Larry seems to have been a great guy and had an undeniable talent, but
making him into a demigod after getting killed doiing yet another
stupid stunt seems a bit much.
Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
"I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." - Lily
Tomlin