Spring Break
Historic Palestra documentary to air on ESPNU, Classic
By: Khoa Cao
Issue date: 7/13/07 Section: Sports
Originally published: 7/13/07 at 12:13 AM EST
Last update: 7/13/07 at 12:12 AM EST
Originally published: 7/13/07 at 12:13 AM EST
Last update: 7/13/07 at 12:12 AM EST
Often called the "birthplace of college basketball," the Palestra is the home court of the University of Pennsylvania's men's and women's basketball teams.
It is such a storied arena that ESPN networks are airing a documentary that captures the evolution of college basketball through the rise of the most historic gymnasium in collegiate athletics.
The Palestra is also the site of Philadelphia Big 5 (Penn, Saint Joseph's, La Salle, Temple, and Villanova) men's basketball, and it has also hosted many Philadelphia high school championship games over the years.
The feature length documentary film titled "The Palestra: Cathedral of Basketball," is written, produced and directed by UPenn graduate Mikaelyn Austin. The film was chosen as a Festival Favorite in the 2007 Philadelphia Film Festival. A member of the Varsity Women's Basketball team, Austin graduated in May of 2004 with a degree in Fine Arts.
Also contributing to the documentary are Dr. Eric Zillmer, Drexel University's director of Athletics, and Dan Baker, the coordinator of Broadcast Relations at Drexel. Zillmer has written several pieces about the Palestra and the role that it has played in Philadelphia sports history.
Baker, who is the "voice of the Dragons," is the long-time radio announcer for the Dragons men's basketball team. He has also been the PA announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies since 1972 and Philadelphia Eagles since 1985. Baker, named to the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1997, is the research correspondent for the Palestra documentary.
The Palestra, named by Greek professor Dr. William N. Bates after the ancient Greek term palaestra, opened its doors for the first game on January 1, 1927 when Penn won 26-15 against Yale. The game, played before a then-capacity crowd of 10,000 fans, is sure to be one of the many great moments captured in the documentary.
Other highlight moments sure to be in the film include the 2001-02 Pennsylvania women's team that became the first one in school history to win an Ivy League title and the 2004-05 women's team that also won the Ivy League title. Austin was member of each team, her freshman and senior seasons.
This is the first feature documentary film production headed up solely by Austin and Philly Philms, an independent film and video production company founded in 2003 by Austin.
Drexel played two games at the Palestra this past season, losing the first game 68-49 to Penn. The Dragons won their second game at the Palestra, defeating Saint Joseph's 72-56.
The Dragons will play five games at the Palestra during the 2007-08 season. They will play Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Penn at the renowned arena. Drexel also will take part in the Philly Classic Tournament, which is to be hosted at the Palestra.
"The Palestra: Cathedral of Basketball" premiered Thursday, July 5 on ESPN Classic and was shown again on Wednesday, July 11 on ESPNU. It will be televised again by ESPNU on Monday, July 16 at 9 p.m. and Friday, July 27 at 9 a.m. ESPN Classic will air the film again on Saturday, August 4 at 8 a.m.
It is such a storied arena that ESPN networks are airing a documentary that captures the evolution of college basketball through the rise of the most historic gymnasium in collegiate athletics.
The Palestra is also the site of Philadelphia Big 5 (Penn, Saint Joseph's, La Salle, Temple, and Villanova) men's basketball, and it has also hosted many Philadelphia high school championship games over the years.
The feature length documentary film titled "The Palestra: Cathedral of Basketball," is written, produced and directed by UPenn graduate Mikaelyn Austin. The film was chosen as a Festival Favorite in the 2007 Philadelphia Film Festival. A member of the Varsity Women's Basketball team, Austin graduated in May of 2004 with a degree in Fine Arts.
Also contributing to the documentary are Dr. Eric Zillmer, Drexel University's director of Athletics, and Dan Baker, the coordinator of Broadcast Relations at Drexel. Zillmer has written several pieces about the Palestra and the role that it has played in Philadelphia sports history.
Baker, who is the "voice of the Dragons," is the long-time radio announcer for the Dragons men's basketball team. He has also been the PA announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies since 1972 and Philadelphia Eagles since 1985. Baker, named to the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1997, is the research correspondent for the Palestra documentary.
The Palestra, named by Greek professor Dr. William N. Bates after the ancient Greek term palaestra, opened its doors for the first game on January 1, 1927 when Penn won 26-15 against Yale. The game, played before a then-capacity crowd of 10,000 fans, is sure to be one of the many great moments captured in the documentary.
Other highlight moments sure to be in the film include the 2001-02 Pennsylvania women's team that became the first one in school history to win an Ivy League title and the 2004-05 women's team that also won the Ivy League title. Austin was member of each team, her freshman and senior seasons.
This is the first feature documentary film production headed up solely by Austin and Philly Philms, an independent film and video production company founded in 2003 by Austin.
Drexel played two games at the Palestra this past season, losing the first game 68-49 to Penn. The Dragons won their second game at the Palestra, defeating Saint Joseph's 72-56.
The Dragons will play five games at the Palestra during the 2007-08 season. They will play Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Penn at the renowned arena. Drexel also will take part in the Philly Classic Tournament, which is to be hosted at the Palestra.
"The Palestra: Cathedral of Basketball" premiered Thursday, July 5 on ESPN Classic and was shown again on Wednesday, July 11 on ESPNU. It will be televised again by ESPNU on Monday, July 16 at 9 p.m. and Friday, July 27 at 9 a.m. ESPN Classic will air the film again on Saturday, August 4 at 8 a.m.
