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{{for|the Hungarian-born Hollywood screenwriter|Andrew P. Solt}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Andrew Solt
| name = Andrew Solt
| caption = Andrew Solt
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Andrew W. Solt
| birth_name = Andrew W. Solt
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1947|12|13}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1947|12|13}}
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| nationality =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| other_names =
| occupation = President of sofa entertainment
| occupation = President of SOFA Entertainment
| known_for = Television documentary production
| known_for = Television documentary production
}}
}}


''' Andrew Solt''' (born 13 December 1947) is an American producer, director, and writer of documentary films. Solt has had a long career in television.<ref>[http://www.inbaseline.com/person.aspx?person_id=3586906 Andrew Solt Filmography – InBaseline] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713022705/http://www.inbaseline.com/person.aspx?person_id=3586906 |date=13 July 2011 }}</ref> A frequent focus of his documentaries is [[rock and roll]] music, its history and star performers.<ref name="edsullivan.com">[http://www.edsullivan.com/andrew-solt Andrew Solt, Official Ed Sullivan Show site]</ref>
''' Andrew Solt''' (born 13 December 1947) is a British-born American producer, director, and writer of documentary films. Solt has had a long career in television.<ref>[http://www.inbaseline.com/person.aspx?person_id=3586906 Andrew Solt Filmography – InBaseline] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713022705/http://www.inbaseline.com/person.aspx?person_id=3586906 |date=13 July 2011 }}</ref> A frequent focus of his documentaries is [[rock and roll]] music, its history and star performers.<ref name="edsullivan.com">[http://www.edsullivan.com/andrew-solt Andrew Solt, Official Ed Sullivan Show site]</ref>


Solt owns the rights to ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' library, and has produced more than 100 hours of new programming from the archive.<ref>[[Gerald Nachman (journalist)|Gerald Nachman]], "Right Here on Our Stage Tonight: Ed Sullivan’s America,” p. 402</ref>{{clarify|date=March 2016}}
Solt owns the rights to ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' library, and has produced more than 100 hours of new programming from the archive.<ref>[[Gerald Nachman (journalist)|Gerald Nachman]], "Right Here on Our Stage Tonight: Ed Sullivan's America", p. 402</ref>{{clarify|date=March 2016}}


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==


Solt was born in London and spent his early years in South Africa before moving to Los Angeles in 1959.<ref name="edsullivan.com"/> Solt graduated from [[Hollywood High School]] before attending [[University of California, Los Angeles]] where he received a B.A. in Spanish. He also earned a master's degree in broadcast journalism from U.C.L.A. Solt is married to Claudia Falkenburg. She is the daughter of 1948 [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] men's singles tennis champion Bob Falkenburg and the niece of 1950s actress-model-TV personality Jinx Falkenburg. He and his wife have two children, Joshua and Dakota. Solt is the nephew of Hungarian-born screenwriter Andrew P. Solt (The Al Jolson Story, Joan of Arc, In a Lonely Place).<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0813584/ Andrew Solt (II) – IMDb]</ref>
Solt was born in London and spent his early years in South Africa before moving to Los Angeles in 1959.<ref name="edsullivan.com"/> Solt graduated from [[Hollywood High School]] before attending [[University of California, Los Angeles]] where he received a B.A. in Spanish. He also earned a master's degree in broadcast journalism from [[U.C.L.A.]] Solt is married to Claudia Falkenburg. She is the daughter of 1948 [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] men's singles tennis champion [[Bob Falkenburg]] and the niece of 1950s actress-model-TV personality [[Jinx Falkenburg]]. He and his wife have two children, Joshua and Dakota. Solt is the nephew of Hungarian-born screenwriter [[Andrew P. Solt]] (''[[The Al Jolson Story]]'', ''[[Joan of Arc (1948 film)|Joan of Arc]]'', ''[[In a Lonely Place]]'').<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0813584/ Andrew Solt (II) – IMDb]</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
In 1970, Solt began working at [[David Wolper]]'s production company.<ref>[https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800041266/bio David Wolper Biography – Yahoo! Movies] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628201825/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800041266/bio |date=28 June 2011 }}</ref> He worked with the [[National Geographic Society]] on their various other network specials; while there, he began a longer-term collaboration with the award-winning producer. Wolper executive-produced two of Solt's documentaries, ''[[This is Elvis]]'' (1981) and ''[[Imagine: John Lennon]]'' (1988). Solt speaking at the memorial service for Wolper, who died 10 August 2010, described the many producers who cut their teeth there as having attended "Wolper U."<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118023587 David L. Wolper memorialized at WB] Variety, 9 January 2010</ref>
In 1970, Solt began working at [[David L. Wolper]]'s production company.<ref>[https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800041266/bio David Wolper Biography – Yahoo! Movies] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628201825/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800041266/bio |date=28 June 2011 }}</ref> He worked with the [[National Geographic Society]] on their various other network specials; while there, he began a longer-term collaboration with the award-winning producer. Wolper executive-produced two of Solt's documentaries, ''[[This is Elvis]]'' (1981) and ''[[Imagine: John Lennon]]'' (1988). Solt speaking at the memorial service for Wolper, who died 10 August 2010, described the many producers who cut their teeth there as having attended "Wolper U".<ref>[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118023587 David L. Wolper memorialized at WB] Variety, 9 January 2010</ref>


In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Solt worked on television projects with [[Jacques-Yves Cousteau]], the pioneer underwater explorer. He wrote and produced ''Oasis in Space'' (1976–77),<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335642/ Cousteau: Oasis in Space (TV Series 1976) – IMDb]</ref> a six-part half-hour series executive produced by Cousteau and his son [[Philippe Cousteau|Philippe]]. Solt received the first of nine Emmy nominations for the show's "Calypso's Search for Atlantis" episode. He also produced ''Cousteau Odyssey'' (1977–78), four one-hour specials about deep-sea explorations shot in the waters off [[Greece]].;<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076996/ The Cousteau Odyssey (TV Series 1977) – IMDb]</ref><ref>Movie and film review from Answers.com</ref> and ''The Mississippi—Reluctant Ally.'' (1984)<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/cousteau-mississippi-reluctant-ally Cousteau: Mississippi – Reluctant Ally 1985]</ref> The two-hour documentary about the nation's longest river won the 1985 Emmy for Outstanding Informational Special.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000223/1985 Emmy Awards (1985) IMDb]</ref> The award was shared by Solt, Cousteau and his son, [[Jean-Michel Cousteau]].
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Solt worked on television projects with [[Jacques Cousteau|Jacques-Yves Cousteau]], the pioneer underwater explorer. He wrote and produced ''Oasis in Space'' (1976–77),<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335642/ Cousteau: Oasis in Space (TV Series 1976) – IMDb]</ref> a six-part half-hour series executive produced by Cousteau and his son [[Philippe Cousteau|Philippe]]. Solt received the first of nine Emmy nominations for the show's "Calypso's Search for Atlantis" episode. He also produced ''Cousteau Odyssey'' (1977–78), four one-hour specials about deep-sea explorations shot in the waters off [[Greece]];<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076996/ The Cousteau Odyssey (TV Series 1977) – IMDb]</ref><ref>Movie and film review from Answers.com</ref> and ''[[Mississippi River|The Mississippi]]—Reluctant Ally'' (1984).<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/cousteau-mississippi-reluctant-ally Cousteau: ''Mississippi – Reluctant Ally'' 1985]</ref> The two-hour documentary about the US's longest river won the 1985 Emmy for Outstanding Informational Special.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000223/1985 Emmy Awards (1985) IMDb]</ref> The award was shared by Solt, Cousteau and his son, [[Jean-Michel Cousteau]].


In 1979 Solt teamed with producer/director Malcolm Leo<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502422/ Malcolm Leo – IMDb]</ref> on ''Heroes of Rock and Roll''.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248084/ Heroes of Rock and Roll (TV 1979)]</ref> One of the first comprehensive documentaries to be made about rock music, the two-hour television special was broadcast on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. [[Time Magazine]] music critic [[Jay Cocks]] called the show "a first-rate primer of rock history" and said the producers had paid "particular attention to getting the roots—in country and rhythm and blues—right."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,920124-2,00.html Music: Good Rocking in Store] – Time Magazine, 12 February 1979</ref> Solt and Leo also produced the 1982 film ''[[It Came from Hollywood]]'', a compilation of over 100 "[[The Golden Turkey Awards|Golden Turkey]]" movies, featuring [[Gilda Radner]], [[Dan Aykroyd]], [[John Candy]] and [[Cheech and Chong]].<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084156/ It Came from Hollywood (1982) – IMDb]</ref>
In 1979, Solt teamed with producer/director [[Malcolm Leo]]<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502422/ Malcolm Leo – IMDb]</ref> on ''Heroes of Rock and Roll''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248084/ ''Heroes of Rock and Roll'' (TV 1979)]</ref> One of the first comprehensive documentaries to be made about rock music, the two-hour television special was broadcast on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine music critic [[Jay Cocks]] called the show "a first-rate primer of rock history" and said the producers had paid "particular attention to getting the roots—in country and rhythm and blues—right."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110628232648/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,920124-2,00.html "Music: Good Rocking in Store"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 12 February 1979.</ref> Solt and Leo also produced the 1982 film ''[[It Came from Hollywood]]'', a compilation of over 100 "[[The Golden Turkey Awards|Golden Turkey]]" movies, featuring [[Gilda Radner]], [[Dan Aykroyd]], [[John Candy]] and [[Cheech and Chong]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084156/ ''It Came from Hollywood'' (1982) – IMDb]</ref>


Solt again examined rock and roll in 1995 as executive producer of [[Time-Life]]'s ''The History of Rock and Roll''.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148284/ The History of Rock 'N' Roll (TV 1995) – IMDb]</ref> The series, divided into 10 one-hour episodes for home video, was also syndicated and later shown on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] and cable. It chronologically documents rock music from its roots in the early 1950s to [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[U2]] in the 1990s. Other music-themed Solt productions include ''25 x 5: The Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones (1989)''<ref>[http://www.inbaseline.com/project.aspx?project_id=4822930 Continuing Adventures of The Rolling Stones: 25X5 TV – InBaseline] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713022720/http://www.inbaseline.com/project.aspx?project_id=4822930 |date=13 July 2011 }}</ref> and ''Elvis: The Great Performances'' (1989).<ref>[http://www.inbaseline.com/project.aspx?project_id=4669239 Elvis: The Great Performances TV Special – InBaseline] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713022956/http://www.inbaseline.com/project.aspx?project_id=4669239 |date=13 July 2011 }}</ref>
Solt again examined rock and roll in 1995 as executive producer of [[Time-Life]]'s ''[[The History of Rock and Roll]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148284/ ''The History of Rock 'N' Roll'' (TV 1995) – IMDb]</ref> The series, divided into 10 one-hour episodes for home video, was also syndicated and later shown on [[PBS]] and cable. It chronologically documents rock music from its roots in the early 1950s to [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[U2]] in the 1990s. Other music-themed Solt productions include ''[[25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones]]'' (1989)<ref>[http://www.inbaseline.com/project.aspx?project_id=4822930 Continuing Adventures of The Rolling Stones: 25X5 TV – InBaseline] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713022720/http://www.inbaseline.com/project.aspx?project_id=4822930 |date=13 July 2011 }}</ref> and ''Elvis: The Great Performances'' (1989).<ref>[http://www.inbaseline.com/project.aspx?project_id=4669239 Elvis: The Great Performances TV Special – InBaseline] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713022956/http://www.inbaseline.com/project.aspx?project_id=4669239 |date=13 July 2011 }}</ref>


== Ed Sullivan Library ==
== Ed Sullivan Library ==
In 1990 Solt purchased the exclusive rights to the complete library of ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' from [[Ed Sullivan]]'s daughter Elizabeth and her husband Bob Precht, paying between $5 and $10 million.<ref>Richard Turner, Wall Street Journal, 17 November 1990</ref> The collection consists of 1,087 hours of [[kinescopes]] and videotapes broadcast by CBS on Sunday nights from 1948 to 1971. Solt bought the entirety of the one-hour shows believing he was "acquiring a priceless piece of Americana.”
In 1990 Solt purchased the exclusive rights to the complete library of ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' from [[Ed Sullivan]]'s daughter Elizabeth and her husband Bob Precht, paying between $5 and $10 million.<ref>Richard Turner, ''Wall Street Journal'', 17 November 1990</ref> The collection consists of 1,087 hours of [[kinescopes]] and videotapes broadcast by CBS on Sunday nights from 1948 to 1971. Solt bought the entirety of the one-hour shows believing he was "acquiring a priceless piece of Americana".


Included are more than 10,000 live performances by virtually every popular entertainer of the post-war era. Best known are appearances by Elvis Presley and the Beatles that have become part of television and cultural history. Three Sullivan shows from the 1950s featured Presley. On the final one, he was only shown from the waist up because CBS censors viewed his pelvic gyrations as sexually suggestive. The American television debut of the Beatles on 9 February 1964 attracted 73 million viewers. The Beatles also appeared the following two weeks and did a fourth Sullivan show on 12 September 1965.
Included are more than 10,000 live performances by virtually every popular entertainer of the post-war era. Best known are appearances by Elvis Presley and the Beatles that have become part of television and cultural history. Three Sullivan shows from the 1950s featured Presley. On the final one, he was only shown from the waist up because CBS censors viewed his pelvic gyrations as sexually suggestive. The American television [[The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show|debut of the Beatles]] on 9 February 1964 attracted 73 million viewers. The Beatles also appeared the following two weeks and did a fourth Sullivan show on 12 September 1965.


Solt's production company, SOFA Entertainment, catalogued, organised and cleared performance rights for the original shows. Over the years, they have been edited into various formats including network specials, half-hour series (airing on TV Land, PBS, VH1 and Decades), and home video compilations. There are also video and audio downloads and an app on iTunes.<ref name="edsullivan.com"/>
Solt's production company, SOFA Entertainment, catalogued, organised and cleared performance rights for the original shows. Over the years, they have been edited into various formats including network specials, a half-hour syndicated series (airing on TV Land, PBS, VH1 and Decades following its broadcast run), and home video compilations. There are also video and audio downloads and an app on iTunes.<ref name="edsullivan.com" />


The first show produced by Solt, ''The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show'', aired on [[CBS]] 17 February 1991, 20 years after the original series went off the air. The two-hour collection of highlights was the second highest-rated special of the year after the [[Academy Awards]]<ref>"'Sullivan' helps CBS to really big week," The Hollywood Reporter, 20 February 1991</ref> and helped revive Sullivan's reputation as one of the key figures from television's golden age. "It was by almost any measure the last great TV show," wrote New York Daily News television critic. David Hinckley, "one of our fondest, dearest pop culture memories.”
The first show produced by Solt, ''The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show'', aired on [[CBS]] 17 February 1991, 20 years after the original series went off the air. The two-hour collection of highlights was the second highest-rated special of the year after the [[Academy Awards]]<ref>"'Sullivan' helps CBS to really big week," ''The Hollywood Reporter'', 20 February 1991</ref> and helped revive Sullivan's reputation as one of the key figures from television's golden age. "It was by almost any measure the last great TV show", wrote [[New York Daily News|New York ''Daily News'']] television critic David Hinckley, "one of our fondest, dearest pop culture memories."


Following its success, Solt continued to mine the archive, producing sequel specials and thematically-organized broadcasts along with video and DVD releases such as ''Rock 'n Roll Revolution'', ''A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan’s 50th Anniversary'', ''Ed Sullivan’s Rock & Roll Classics'', ''Great Moments in Opera'', ''Rock 'n' Roll Forever'', ''The Best of Broadway Musicals''.<ref>[http://www.edsullivan.com Official Ed Sullivan Show Site]</ref>
Following its success, Solt continued to mine the archive, producing sequel specials and thematically-organized broadcasts along with video and DVD releases such as ''Rock 'n Roll Revolution'', ''A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan's 50th Anniversary'', ''Ed Sullivan's Rock & Roll Classics'', ''Great Moments in Opera'', ''Rock 'n' Roll Forever'', ''The Best of Broadway Musicals''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.edsullivan.com/ |title=Official Ed Sullivan Show Site |access-date=17 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220015832/http://www.edsullivan.com/ |archive-date=20 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


SOFA has brought out individual DVD sets of the Beatles and Elvis appearances: ''The Four Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Featuring the Beatles'' and ''Elvis—The Ed Sullivan Shows''. Each consists of restored versions of the entire shows on which the Beatles and Elvis appeared, including all the other acts as well as commercials. ''The Ed Sullivan Show – The 4 Complete Shows Starring The Beatles'' was reissued in September 2010 with additional footage.<ref>[http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/130755-the-4-complete-ed-sullivan-shows-starring-the-beatles/ The 4 Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring the Beatles': A Generational Divide] By Crispin Kott, 13 September 2010, PopMatters</ref>
SOFA has brought out individual DVD sets of the Beatles and Elvis appearances: ''The Four Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Featuring the Beatles'' and ''Elvis—The Ed Sullivan Shows''. Each consists of restored versions of the entire shows on which the Beatles and Elvis appeared, including all the other acts as well as commercials. ''The Ed Sullivan Show – The 4 Complete Shows Starring The Beatles'' was reissued in September 2010 with additional footage.<ref>Kott, Crispin (13 September 2010). [https://web.archive.org/web/20100916160123/https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/130755-the-4-complete-ed-sullivan-shows-starring-the-beatles/ {{"'}}The 4 Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring the Beatles': A Generational Divide"]. ''[[PopMatters]]'' (archived from [https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/130755-the-4-complete-ed-sullivan-shows-starring-the-beatles/ the original] 16 September 2010)</ref>

SOFA has been widely criticised for not releasing any complete episodes, beyond the four show [[Beatles]] collection, on either DVD or VHS. Despite wide outcry for the show to be available in its original context, Solt's production company has no desire to do so due to the cost involved.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}


== Awards ==
== Awards ==
Solt won an Emmy for ''The Mississippi – Reluctant Ally'' sharing the Outstanding Informational Special award with Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Jean-Michel Cousteau.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0813583/awards Andrew Solt (IMDb) – Awards]</ref>
Solt won an Emmy for ''The Mississippi – Reluctant Ally'' sharing the Outstanding Informational Special award with Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Jean-Michel Cousteau.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0813583/awards Andrew Solt (IMDb) – Awards]</ref>
He won a Grammy in 2001 for Best Long-Form Music Video for producing and directing ''Gimme Some Truth – The Making of John Lennon's Imagine Album'', shared with Yoko Ono, Greg Vines and Leslie Tong.<ref>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2001/grammys.htm 43rd Annual Grammy Awards – 2001]</ref>
He won a Grammy in 2001 for Best Long-Form Music Video for producing and directing ''Gimme Some Truth – The Making of John Lennon's Imagine Album'', shared with [[Yoko Ono]], Greg Vines and Leslie Tong.<ref>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2001/grammys.htm 43rd Annual Grammy Awards – 2001]</ref>


== Books ==
== Books ==
* ''John Lennon: Imagine'' (MacMillan Publishing, 1988) <ref>https://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Lennon-written-foreword-preface/dp/B0026Q37UG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297370409&sr=1-3</ref>
* ''John Lennon: Imagine'' (MacMillan Publishing, 1988)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Lennon-written-foreword-preface/dp/B0026Q37UG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297370409&sr=1-3|title=Imagine: John Lennon|date=November 1989}}</ref>
* ''A Really Big Show: A Visual History of the Ed Sullivan Show'', co-edited with Claudia Falkenburg; text by John Leonard (Viking Studio Books, 1992)<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Really-Big-Show-Entertainment-1948-1971/dp/B000R9ZUOU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297370231&sr=8-2</ref>
* ''A Really Big Show: A Visual History of the Ed Sullivan Show'', co-edited with Claudia Falkenburg; text by John Leonard (Viking Studio Books, 1992)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Really-Big-Show-Entertainment-1948-1971/dp/B000R9ZUOU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297370231&sr=8-2|title=A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan and the Panorama of American Entertainment, 1948–1971|date=January 1992}}</ref>


== Selected Credits ==
== Selected credits ==
* The Explorers series, ABC, 1973
* ''The Explorers'' series, ABC, 1973
* 8 [[Wide World of Entertainment]] specials, ABC, 1975{{Which|date=March 2012}}
* ''[[Wide World of Entertainment]]'' eight specials, ABC, 1975{{Which|date=March 2012}}
* Oasis in Space – 6 Jacques Cousteau specials, PBS, 1976–77
* ''Oasis in Space'' – 6 Jacques Cousteau specials, PBS, 1976–77
* Cousteau Odyssey – 4 Jacques Cousteau specials, PBS, 1977–78
* ''Cousteau Odyssey'' – 4 Jacques Cousteau specials, PBS, 1977–78
* Heroes of Rock 'n Roll, ABC, 1979
* ''Heroes of Rock 'n Roll'', ABC, 1979
* Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope’s Overseas Christmas Tours I & II (6 hours), NBC, 1980
* ''Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's Overseas Christmas Tours I & II'' (6 hours), NBC, 1980
* This Is Elvis, Warner Bros., 1981
* ''This is Elvis'', Warner Bros., 1981
* It Came From Hollywood, Paramount, 1982
* ''[[It Came From Hollywood]]'', Paramount, 1982
* E.T. & Friends–Magical Movie Visitors, CBS, 1982
* ''E.T. & Friends: Magical Movie Visitors'', CBS, 1982
* Those Wonderful TV Game Shows, NBC, 1983
* ''Those Wonderful TV Game Shows'', NBC, 1983
* Primetimes, 1983
* ''Primetimes'', 1983
* Donald Duck’s 50th Birthday, CBS, 1984
* ''[[Donald Duck's 50th Birthday]]'', CBS, 1984
* Cousteau: Mississippi, Emmy winner, Turner 1985
* ''Cousteau: Mississippi'', Emmy winner, Turner 1985
* America Censored, CBS, 1985
* ''America Censored'', CBS, 1985
* The Honeymooners Reunion, NBC, 1985
* ''The Honeymooners Reunion'', NBC, 1985
* [[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]], CBS, 1986
* ''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]'', CBS, 1986
* Great Moments in Disney Animation, ABC, 1986
* ''Great Moments in Disney Animation'', ABC, 1986
* Disney's DTV Valentine (A.K.A. Romancin'), NBC, 1986
* ''Disney's DTV Valentine'' (A.K.A. ''Romancin{{'}}''), NBC, 1986
* Disney Goes to the Oscars (Academy Awards), ABC, 1986
* ''Disney Goes to the Oscars'' (Academy Awards), ABC, 1986
* Great Moments in Disney Animation (Emmy nomination), ABC, 1987
* ''Great Moments in Disney Animation'' (Emmy nomination), ABC, 1987
* Disney's DTV Doggone Valentine, NBC, 1987
* ''Disney's DTV Doggone Valentine'', NBC, 1987
* Disney's DTV Monster Hits, NBC, 1987
* ''Disney's DTV Monster Hits'', NBC, 1987
* Remembering Marilyn (documentary), ABC, 1988
* ''Remembering Marilyn'' (documentary), ABC, 1988
* [[Imagine: John Lennon]], Warner Bros., 1988
* ''[[Imagine: John Lennon]]'', Warner Bros., 1988
* Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women, CBS, 1989
* ''[[Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women]]'', CBS, 1989
* 25 x 5: The Continuing Adventure of The Rolling Stones, Sony, 1989
* ''[[25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones]]'', Sony, 1989
* Elvis: The Great Performances, Buena Vista Home Video, 1990
* ''Elvis: The Great Performances'', Buena Vista Home Video, 1990
* The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show, CBS, 1991
* ''The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show'', CBS, 1991
* Elvis: The Great Performances, CBS, 1992
* ''Elvis: The Great Performances'', CBS, 1992
* Holiday Greeting from The Ed Sullivan Show, CBS, 1992
* ''Holiday Greeting from the Ed Sullivan Show'', CBS, 1992
* TV Guide: 40th Anniversary Special, FOX, 1993
* ''TV Guide: 40th Anniversary Special'', FOX, 1993
* The Andy Griffith Show Reunion, CBS, 1993
* ''The Andy Griffith Show Reunion'', CBS, 1993
* ''The Knots Landing Block Party'', CBS, 1993
* [[Sesame Street’s All-Star 25th Birthday: Star and Street Forever!]], ABC, 1994
* ''Sesame Street's All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!'', ABC, 1994
* The Best of Broadway Musicals from The Ed Sullivan Show, 1994
* ''The Best of Broadway Musicals from the Ed Sullivan Show'', 1994
* Grammy' s Greatest Moments, CBS, 1994
* ''Grammy's Greatest Moments'', CBS, 1994
* All My Children's 25th Anniversary, ABC, 1995
* ''All My Children's 25th Anniversary'', ABC, 1995
* [[History of Rock 'n' Roll (TV series)|The History of Rock 'n Roll]], Syndicated Series, 1995
* The Ed Sullivan All-Star Comedy Special, CBS, 1995
* ''[[The History of Rock 'n' Roll]]'', Syndicated Series, 1995
* The Hunt for Amazing Treasures, NBC, 1995
* ''The Ed Sullivan All-Star Comedy Special'', CBS, 1995
* ''The Hunt for Amazing Treasures'', NBC, 1995
* Rock 'n Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, CBS, 1997
* ''Rock 'n Roll Revolution: The British Invade America'', CBS, 1997
* 50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the TV Academy Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997
* ''50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the TV Academy Golden Anniversary'', HBO, 1997
* Great Moments in Opera, PBS, 1997
* Elvis: From the Waist Up,VH1, 1997
* ''Great Moments in Opera'', PBS, 1997
* Rogues Gallery, TLC series, 1997
* ''Elvis: From the Waist Up'', VH1, 1997
* ''Rogues Gallery, TLC series'', 1997
* Intimate Portrait- Mary Tyler Moore, 1998
* CBS: The First 50 Years, CBS, 1998
* ''Intimate Portrait: Mary Tyler Moore'', 1998
* A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan’s 50th Anniversary, CBS, 1998
* ''CBS: The First 50 Years'', CBS, 1998
* Rock ‘n Roll Forever: Ed Sullivan’s Greatest Hits, CBS, 1999
* ''A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan's 50th Anniversary'', CBS, 1998
* ''Rock 'n Roll Forever: Ed Sullivan's Greatest Hits'', CBS, 1999
* DJ Games (series), 2000
* Things That Go Bump: Facing Our Fears, 2000
* ''DJ Games'' (series), 2000
* ''Things That Go Bump: Facing Our Fears'', 2000
* Ed Sullivan’s Rock ‘n Roll Classics, VH1 series, 1999–2001
* ''Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n Roll Classics'', VH1 series, 1999–2001
* Gimme Some Truth: The Making of John Lennon’s Imagine, Grammy Winner, 2001
* ''Gimme Some Truth: The Making of John Lennon's Imagine'', Grammy winner, 2001
* Bellbottoms to Boogie Shoes: The 70's, 2001
* ''Bellbottoms to Boogie Shoes: The 70's'', 2001
* 50 Years of NBC Late Night, NBC, 2002
* ''50 Years of NBC Late Night'', NBC, 2002
* "Smallville" Backstage Special, 2004
* NBC’s 75th Anniversary Special, NBC, 2002
* ''"Smallville" Backstage Special'', 2004
⚫
* ''NBC's 75th Anniversary Special'', NBC, 2002
* Las Vegas Then & Now, Destination: The Strip, 2002
* ''Las Vegas Then & Now, Destination: The Strip'', 2002
*[[The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments]], Lifetime, 2003
* ''[[The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments]]'', Lifetime, 2003
⚫
* CBS 75th Anniversary Special, CBS, 2003
* ''CBS 75th Anniversary Special'', CBS, 2003
* Elvis: The Ed Sullivan Shows, 2006
* Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock 'N Roll Revolution – The British Invasion, 2011
* ''Elvis: The Ed Sullivan Shows'', 2006
* ''Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock 'N Roll Revolution – the British Invasion'', 2011
* Elvis: The Great Performances, 2011
* ''Elvis: The Great Performances'', 2011
* The Four Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring The Beatles, 2011
* ''The Four Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring the Beatles'', 2011
* Motown Gold from The Ed Sullivan Show, 2011
* ''Motown Gold from the Ed Sullivan Show'', 2011
* The Best of "The Temptations" on The Ed Sullivan Show, 2011
* ''The Best of "The Temptations" on the Ed Sullivan Show'', 2011
* The Best of "The Supremes" on The Ed Sullivan Show, 2011
* ''The Best of "The Supremes" on the Ed Sullivan Show'', 2011
* All Six Ed Sullivan Shows Starring "The Rolling Stones," 2011
* ''All Six Ed Sullivan Shows Starring "The Rolling Stones"'', 2011
* Steve Martin: The Television Stuff (Box Set—6 Specials and Bonus Disc), 2012
* ''Steve Martin: The Television Stuff'' (box set—6 specials and bonus disc), 2012
*[[The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles]], CBS, 2014
* ''[[The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles]]'', CBS, 2014
* Great Broadway Musical Moments from The Ed Sullivan Show, PBS, 2015
* ''Great Broadway Musical Moments from the Ed Sullivan Show'', PBS, 2015
* Elvis: The Searcher, HBO, 2018


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Solt, Andrew}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Solt, Andrew}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:English emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:English screenwriters]]
[[Category:English male screenwriters]]
[[Category:English television producers]]
[[Category:English television producers]]
[[Category:English film producers]]
[[Category:English film producers]]
[[Category:British documentary film producers]]
[[Category:British documentary film producers]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:People from London]]
[[Category:Writers from London]]

Latest revision as of 19:07, 27 October 2022

For the Hungarian-born Hollywood screenwriter, see Andrew P. Solt.

Andrew Solt
Born
Andrew W. Solt

(1947-12-13) 13 December 1947 (age 76)
London, England
OccupationPresident of SOFA Entertainment
Known forTelevision documentary production

Andrew Solt (born 13 December 1947) is a British-born American producer, director, and writer of documentary films. Solt has had a long career in television.[1] A frequent focus of his documentaries is rock and roll music, its history and star performers.[2]

Solt owns the rights to The Ed Sullivan Show library, and has produced more than 100 hours of new programming from the archive.[3][clarification needed]

Personal life[edit]

Solt was born in London and spent his early years in South Africa before moving to Los Angeles in 1959.[2] Solt graduated from Hollywood High School before attending University of California, Los Angeles where he received a B.A. in Spanish. He also earned a master's degree in broadcast journalism from U.C.L.A. Solt is married to Claudia Falkenburg. She is the daughter of 1948 Wimbledon men's singles tennis champion Bob Falkenburg and the niece of 1950s actress-model-TV personality Jinx Falkenburg. He and his wife have two children, Joshua and Dakota. Solt is the nephew of Hungarian-born screenwriter Andrew P. Solt (The Al Jolson Story, Joan of Arc, In a Lonely Place).[4]

Career[edit]

In 1970, Solt began working at David L. Wolper's production company.[5] He worked with the National Geographic Society on their various other network specials; while there, he began a longer-term collaboration with the award-winning producer. Wolper executive-produced two of Solt's documentaries, This is Elvis (1981) and Imagine: John Lennon (1988). Solt speaking at the memorial service for Wolper, who died 10 August 2010, described the many producers who cut their teeth there as having attended "Wolper U".[6]

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Solt worked on television projects with Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the pioneer underwater explorer. He wrote and produced Oasis in Space (1976–77),[7] a six-part half-hour series executive produced by Cousteau and his son Philippe. Solt received the first of nine Emmy nominations for the show's "Calypso's Search for Atlantis" episode. He also produced Cousteau Odyssey (1977–78), four one-hour specials about deep-sea explorations shot in the waters off Greece;[8][9] and The Mississippi—Reluctant Ally (1984).[10] The two-hour documentary about the US's longest river won the 1985 Emmy for Outstanding Informational Special.[11] The award was shared by Solt, Cousteau and his son, Jean-Michel Cousteau.

In 1979, Solt teamed with producer/director Malcolm Leo[12] on Heroes of Rock and Roll.[13] One of the first comprehensive documentaries to be made about rock music, the two-hour television special was broadcast on ABC. Time magazine music critic Jay Cocks called the show "a first-rate primer of rock history" and said the producers had paid "particular attention to getting the roots—in country and rhythm and blues—right."[14] Solt and Leo also produced the 1982 film It Came from Hollywood, a compilation of over 100 "Golden Turkey" movies, featuring Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy and Cheech and Chong.[15]

Solt again examined rock and roll in 1995 as executive producer of Time-Life's The History of Rock and Roll.[16] The series, divided into 10 one-hour episodes for home video, was also syndicated and later shown on PBS and cable. It chronologically documents rock music from its roots in the early 1950s to Nirvana and U2 in the 1990s. Other music-themed Solt productions include 25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones (1989)[17] and Elvis: The Great Performances (1989).[18]

Ed Sullivan Library[edit]

In 1990 Solt purchased the exclusive rights to the complete library of The Ed Sullivan Show from Ed Sullivan's daughter Elizabeth and her husband Bob Precht, paying between $5 and $10 million.[19] The collection consists of 1,087 hours of kinescopes and videotapes broadcast by CBS on Sunday nights from 1948 to 1971. Solt bought the entirety of the one-hour shows believing he was "acquiring a priceless piece of Americana".

Included are more than 10,000 live performances by virtually every popular entertainer of the post-war era. Best known are appearances by Elvis Presley and the Beatles that have become part of television and cultural history. Three Sullivan shows from the 1950s featured Presley. On the final one, he was only shown from the waist up because CBS censors viewed his pelvic gyrations as sexually suggestive. The American television debut of the Beatles on 9 February 1964 attracted 73 million viewers. The Beatles also appeared the following two weeks and did a fourth Sullivan show on 12 September 1965.

Solt's production company, SOFA Entertainment, catalogued, organised and cleared performance rights for the original shows. Over the years, they have been edited into various formats including network specials, a half-hour syndicated series (airing on TV Land, PBS, VH1 and Decades following its broadcast run), and home video compilations. There are also video and audio downloads and an app on iTunes.[2]

The first show produced by Solt, The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show, aired on CBS 17 February 1991, 20 years after the original series went off the air. The two-hour collection of highlights was the second highest-rated special of the year after the Academy Awards[20] and helped revive Sullivan's reputation as one of the key figures from television's golden age. "It was by almost any measure the last great TV show", wrote New York Daily News television critic David Hinckley, "one of our fondest, dearest pop culture memories."

Following its success, Solt continued to mine the archive, producing sequel specials and thematically-organized broadcasts along with video and DVD releases such as Rock 'n Roll Revolution, A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan's 50th Anniversary, Ed Sullivan's Rock & Roll Classics, Great Moments in Opera, Rock 'n' Roll Forever, The Best of Broadway Musicals.[21]

SOFA has brought out individual DVD sets of the Beatles and Elvis appearances: The Four Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Featuring the Beatles and Elvis—The Ed Sullivan Shows. Each consists of restored versions of the entire shows on which the Beatles and Elvis appeared, including all the other acts as well as commercials. The Ed Sullivan Show – The 4 Complete Shows Starring The Beatles was reissued in September 2010 with additional footage.[22]

Awards[edit]

Solt won an Emmy for The Mississippi – Reluctant Ally sharing the Outstanding Informational Special award with Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Jean-Michel Cousteau.[23] He won a Grammy in 2001 for Best Long-Form Music Video for producing and directing Gimme Some Truth – The Making of John Lennon's Imagine Album, shared with Yoko Ono, Greg Vines and Leslie Tong.[24]

Books[edit]

  • John Lennon: Imagine (MacMillan Publishing, 1988)[25]
  • A Really Big Show: A Visual History of the Ed Sullivan Show, co-edited with Claudia Falkenburg; text by John Leonard (Viking Studio Books, 1992)[26]

Selected credits[edit]

  • The Explorers series, ABC, 1973
  • Wide World of Entertainment eight specials, ABC, 1975[which?]
  • Oasis in Space – 6 Jacques Cousteau specials, PBS, 1976–77
  • Cousteau Odyssey – 4 Jacques Cousteau specials, PBS, 1977–78
  • Heroes of Rock 'n Roll, ABC, 1979
  • Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's Overseas Christmas Tours I & II (6 hours), NBC, 1980
  • This is Elvis, Warner Bros., 1981
  • It Came From Hollywood, Paramount, 1982
  • E.T. & Friends: Magical Movie Visitors, CBS, 1982
  • Those Wonderful TV Game Shows, NBC, 1983
  • Primetimes, 1983
  • Donald Duck's 50th Birthday, CBS, 1984
  • Cousteau: Mississippi, Emmy winner, Turner 1985
  • America Censored, CBS, 1985
  • The Honeymooners Reunion, NBC, 1985
  • The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years, CBS, 1986
  • Great Moments in Disney Animation, ABC, 1986
  • Disney's DTV Valentine (A.K.A. Romancin'), NBC, 1986
  • Disney Goes to the Oscars (Academy Awards), ABC, 1986
  • Great Moments in Disney Animation (Emmy nomination), ABC, 1987
  • Disney's DTV Doggone Valentine, NBC, 1987
  • Disney's DTV Monster Hits, NBC, 1987
  • Remembering Marilyn (documentary), ABC, 1988
  • Imagine: John Lennon, Warner Bros., 1988
  • Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women, CBS, 1989
  • 25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones, Sony, 1989
  • Elvis: The Great Performances, Buena Vista Home Video, 1990
  • The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show, CBS, 1991
  • Elvis: The Great Performances, CBS, 1992
  • Holiday Greeting from the Ed Sullivan Show, CBS, 1992
  • TV Guide: 40th Anniversary Special, FOX, 1993
  • The Andy Griffith Show Reunion, CBS, 1993
  • The Knots Landing Block Party, CBS, 1993
  • Sesame Street's All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!, ABC, 1994
  • The Best of Broadway Musicals from the Ed Sullivan Show, 1994
  • Grammy's Greatest Moments, CBS, 1994
  • All My Children's 25th Anniversary, ABC, 1995
  • The History of Rock 'n' Roll, Syndicated Series, 1995
  • The Ed Sullivan All-Star Comedy Special, CBS, 1995
  • The Hunt for Amazing Treasures, NBC, 1995
  • Rock 'n Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, CBS, 1997
  • 50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the TV Academy Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997
  • Great Moments in Opera, PBS, 1997
  • Elvis: From the Waist Up, VH1, 1997
  • Rogues Gallery, TLC series, 1997
  • Intimate Portrait: Mary Tyler Moore, 1998
  • CBS: The First 50 Years, CBS, 1998
  • A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan's 50th Anniversary, CBS, 1998
  • Rock 'n Roll Forever: Ed Sullivan's Greatest Hits, CBS, 1999
  • DJ Games (series), 2000
  • Things That Go Bump: Facing Our Fears, 2000
  • Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n Roll Classics, VH1 series, 1999–2001
  • Gimme Some Truth: The Making of John Lennon's Imagine, Grammy winner, 2001
  • Bellbottoms to Boogie Shoes: The 70's, 2001
  • 50 Years of NBC Late Night, NBC, 2002
  • "Smallville" Backstage Special, 2004
  • NBC's 75th Anniversary Special, NBC, 2002
  • Las Vegas Then & Now, Destination: The Strip, 2002
  • The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments, Lifetime, 2003
  • CBS 75th Anniversary Special, CBS, 2003
  • Elvis: The Ed Sullivan Shows, 2006
  • Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock 'N Roll Revolution – the British Invasion, 2011
  • Elvis: The Great Performances, 2011
  • The Four Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring the Beatles, 2011
  • Motown Gold from the Ed Sullivan Show, 2011
  • The Best of "The Temptations" on the Ed Sullivan Show, 2011
  • The Best of "The Supremes" on the Ed Sullivan Show, 2011
  • All Six Ed Sullivan Shows Starring "The Rolling Stones", 2011
  • Steve Martin: The Television Stuff (box set—6 specials and bonus disc), 2012
  • The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles, CBS, 2014
  • Great Broadway Musical Moments from the Ed Sullivan Show, PBS, 2015

References[edit]

  1. ^ Andrew Solt Filmography – InBaseline Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c Andrew Solt, Official Ed Sullivan Show site
  3. ^ Gerald Nachman, "Right Here on Our Stage Tonight: Ed Sullivan's America", p. 402
  4. ^ Andrew Solt (II) – IMDb
  5. ^ David Wolper Biography – Yahoo! Movies Archived 28 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ David L. Wolper memorialized at WB Variety, 9 January 2010
  7. ^ Cousteau: Oasis in Space (TV Series 1976) – IMDb
  8. ^ The Cousteau Odyssey (TV Series 1977) – IMDb
  9. ^ Movie and film review from Answers.com
  10. ^ Cousteau: Mississippi – Reluctant Ally 1985
  11. ^ Emmy Awards (1985) IMDb
  12. ^ Malcolm Leo – IMDb
  13. ^ Heroes of Rock and Roll (TV 1979)
  14. ^ "Music: Good Rocking in Store". Time, 12 February 1979.
  15. ^ It Came from Hollywood (1982) – IMDb
  16. ^ The History of Rock 'N' Roll (TV 1995) – IMDb
  17. ^ Continuing Adventures of The Rolling Stones: 25X5 TV – InBaseline Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Elvis: The Great Performances TV Special – InBaseline Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Richard Turner, Wall Street Journal, 17 November 1990
  20. ^ "'Sullivan' helps CBS to really big week," The Hollywood Reporter, 20 February 1991
  21. ^ "Official Ed Sullivan Show Site". Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  22. ^ Kott, Crispin (13 September 2010). "'The 4 Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring the Beatles': A Generational Divide". PopMatters (archived from the original 16 September 2010)
  23. ^ Andrew Solt (IMDb) – Awards
  24. ^ 43rd Annual Grammy Awards – 2001
  25. ^ Imagine: John Lennon. November 1989.
  26. ^ A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan and the Panorama of American Entertainment, 1948–1971. January 1992.
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