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Author
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Topic: Neil Armstrong: First Man on the Moon (BBC Two)
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dom
Member Posts: 391
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-31-2012 12:21 PM
   
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Has Aldrin ever suggested anything different? I don't think I've ever heard him say that he didn't feel confident in Armstrong's command.
He might have been confident in Armstrong's command abilities but he's made a good job of making his views known for the last 40 years on who REALLY should have been the 'first on the moon'.Also, I find it hard to respect a man who charges hundreds of dollars to sign something for his "fans." At least Armstrong had the class to stop signing autographs when it became too commercial... |
Buel
Member Posts: 89
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 12-31-2012 12:27 PM
Have you met him, Dom? |
dom
Member Posts: 391
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-31-2012 12:31 PM
Okay, I'll admit I haven't met Aldrin in person (I did meet Armstrong!) but Buzz's apparent obsession with money put me off when I had the chance and I decided not to... |
Buel
Member Posts: 89
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 12-31-2012 12:48 PM
I shared those fears but took the plunge and struck up a conversation with him at the dinner at Autographica in Birmingham. I have to tell you that he was polite, friendly and answered my questions with no problems.I know that people have told stories of how rude/arrogant, etc. he has been, and they might well have a point... but I thought it fair to report my experience. Regarding the fees for his autograph, this may sound harsh but I do agree with the argument that is — Those that feel it is worth it, pay it. Those who don't, don't. To me, it is that simple. Just remember those other guys (Duke, Bean, Scott, etc.) don't exactly give them away either, you know. Now, if THEY had been the second man on the Moon, maybe their prices would be different. Finally (and I don't mean to go on), if you were famous and you signed autographs for free and people were selling them and making a profit... wouldn't you start charging? Honestly? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 26042
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-31-2012 01:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by dom:
Also, I find it hard to respect a man who charges hundreds of dollars to sign something for his "fans."
Aldrin continued to sign freely for thousands of fans (sometimes at just one event) for years after Armstrong stopped signing and in fact, was the only Apollo 11 astronaut willing to sign (for a fee or otherwise) for about a decade. He did that because he respected his fans. He started charging in part because he saw the free autographs he was giving away appear for sale almost immediately, and in part to help control the demand for his autograph (he still commands a line, even at his current fees). quote:
Buzz's apparent obsession with money
Just to come full circle, to many Armstrong appeared to be a recluse; appearances can be deceiving. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 939
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 12-31-2012 01:49 PM
Of course he played Risk. The lyrics of REM's 'Man On The Moon' quote '..let's play Risk'Absolute proof...  |
Buel
Member Posts: 89
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 12-31-2012 01:51 PM
Ooh that's good!!!
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Buel
Member Posts: 89
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 12-31-2012 02:04 PM
I wonder if this would be a good moment to share some scans of the LIFE commemorative magazine I purchased in the U.S and got Glynn Lunney, Dave Scott and Ed Mitchell to give me thir opinions on Mr Armstrong.I hope you enjoy them as much as I do: Lunney | Scott | Mitchell |
dom
Member Posts: 391
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-31-2012 02:10 PM
Well, my initial post was actually positive when it came to Aldrin's thoughts about Neil Armstrong, so a few more modest comments like that might make me warm to him! It's not too late for him to turn his image around - just look what Armstrong did to his public profile in the last decade of his life. |
Whendall
New Member Posts: 1
From: Peterborough, UK
Registered: Dec 2012
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posted 12-31-2012 03:59 PM
Aldrin was a very entertaining guest on a recent edition of the Radio 4 (UK) show The Museum Of Curiosity. The premise is that three interesting people put forward exhibits for a fictional museum that can take anything (e.g. the Big Bang). Aldrin's object was the Aldrin Mars Cycler. |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 1429
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 12-31-2012 05:15 PM
Perhaps we should appreciate, enjoy and reminiscence and not analyse? |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 915
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 12-31-2012 06:36 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Tykeanaut:
Perhaps we should appreciate, enjoy and reminiscence and not analyse?
If only. For what it's worth, I've never regarded Armstrong as a "recluse," "hermit," etc...just a man who, despite his singular place in human history, chose to ration his public profile in a way that's perhaps difficult to comprehend for so many of us, given that the currency of "fame" today is so devalued. As for Buzz, I also make no judgements. His personal difficulties post-career are well known here, and perhaps I cut him some slack because of that. In any case, I'm not sure why anyone might be offended by his charging for autographs. I really couldn't care less. Like any other transaction of value, either it's worth it to you, or it isn't. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 939
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 01-01-2013 08:50 AM
Enjoy Tyke.You're spot on. Funnily enough my favourite bit of the whole programme was just 'a man', sitting at a piano and singing... |
Apollo14LMP
Member Posts: 149
From: UK
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 01-01-2013 03:35 PM
I am fortunate to have met Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin an honour to have met them albeit 40 years after their mission.I found both to be brilliant and answered my questions and gave some of their time to me. Buzz gave me two autographs and Neil was very polite pleasant — cannot fault either of them. Or indeed any other Apollo astronaut (cosmonauts) I have had the good fortune to meet — I have found a polite attitude, approach with a friendly smile has worked wonders! I have heard stories of people demanding signatures, pushing pictures in front of them — little wonder some people have had poor experiences. Dublin - 2003 - Neil told us that wherever possible he will always pose for photographs with people who ask him to do so - and that's what he did when I met him...
Aldrin and Armstrong complete gentlemen and the USA should be proud of them. |
issman1
Member Posts: 866
From: UK
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 01-02-2013 01:55 PM
The programme was compelling and confirmed my suspicions that we, as part of our human nature, need heroic figures like Neil Armstrong.Armstrong was probably the right man to be the first man on the Moon, but he was not as reclusive as previously suggested. We are all entitled to our privacy but I feel Armstrong owed it to human space travel to be more in the limelight like Buzz Aldrin. Curiously, the programme either discounted or ignored his vocal criticism of the cancellation of Constellation and of commercial spaceflight in the months prior to his death. I would like to have known why he was so passionate about this then, rather than when NASA was forced to retreat to low earth orbit a few years after he departed the Sea of Tranquility. |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 1429
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-02-2013 03:24 PM
If anyone did miss the programme or wants to watch it again? It's repeated on BBC2 this coming Sunday at 8pm. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 2952
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-03-2013 03:19 AM
Compelling... and moving.The personal tributes from Buzz and Dave Scott (amongst others) were heartfelt, as was the respect for his piloting abilities. This was one of the best biographical programmes I have seen. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 758
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-03-2013 07:02 AM
Has anyone heard if there are any plans for a DVD or Blu Ray release for this documentary? |
Philip
Member Posts: 4711
From: Brussels, BELGIUM
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-03-2013 10:58 AM
Chances for a DVD are slim (keep checking the BBC webshop), although the docu might pop up on YouTube.com  |
Buel
Member Posts: 89
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 01-03-2013 12:29 PM
I seen a tweet to Chris Riley asking if it will be released on DVD and in reply he tweeted: ...that would be great wouldn't it... ask endemolukpress'. So I guess that it isn't up to Mr. Riley? |
Paul23
Member Posts: 758
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-03-2013 01:46 PM
I recorded it onto my sky box from the BBC HD channel when it was on the other night but I always prefer to have things like that as a DVD or Blu Ray then I know I have a copy of it whatever happens.Maybe I'll fire off an email to the firm responsible at the weekend. This feels like too good a documentary to be left at the whim of the BBC as to whether it gets shown again. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 939
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 01-03-2013 02:13 PM
Always a good possibility that with a DVD there will be added material that didn't make the original broadcast due to time constraints etc. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 26042
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-03-2013 02:23 PM
According to Reuters, the documentary was produced in partnership with PBS NOVA and will "air in the United States later this year."I suspect if a DVD/Blu-ray/digital download is to be available, it will happen after the show airs in the U.S. |
Buel
Member Posts: 89
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 01-03-2013 04:39 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Procter:
Always a good possibility that with a DVD there will be added material that didn't make the original broadcast due to time constraints etc.
On that note, I hope everybody is aware that there is nearly 90 minutes of 'extras' of James May on The Moon on the BBC archive site. 30 minute interviews with Bean, Schmitt and Charlie Duke. Edit- I can't seem to find them on there anymore. |
pollux
Member Posts: 44
From: London, England
Registered: Dec 2005
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posted 01-04-2013 11:58 AM
They're still there at the bottom of the page. |
Buel
Member Posts: 89
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 01-04-2013 02:27 PM
Brilliant, thank you!! |
Apollo 8
Member Posts: 152
From: Vienna, AUSTRIA
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-05-2013 02:20 AM
I am afraid they would not air that documentary in Austria... Are there any real plans for a DVD release now? |
crash
Member Posts: 161
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 01-05-2013 11:27 AM
Excellent documentary and like others I did just wonder at Dean Armstrong's recollection.For those who have the programme sitting on their Sky+ boxes you can apparently copy it to DVD via a DVD recorder, if you have one. I haven't tried it myself but it may help some others to get to see it. |
Philip
Member Posts: 4711
From: Brussels, BELGIUM
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-06-2013 06:55 AM
Re-run of this docu on BBC-2 this evening 06th January 2013... |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 2952
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-07-2013 05:37 AM
I watched it again.I thought a most interesting comment came from Jan Armstrong who said "Neil never said very much but when he did it was usually meaningful." I think explains a lot why some people considered him an "enigma" and why the programme had very little on his inter-personal relationships with family, friends, etc, beyond matters pertaining to flying or space. Those of us who attended the Dublin interview/meeting however, know how heartfelt Neil's feelings were at the losses of daughter Karen and Ed White. I still came away with a feeling that I wanted to know more about "Neil the man", as opposed to Moonwalker #1. |
Buel
Member Posts: 89
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 01-09-2013 03:06 AM
Agreed.You/all of us fans may want to read the brilliant Dwayne A. Day's article which describes what it was like working with Armstrong. Also, going back to the 'Did he, Didn't he' (heated) discussion, Andy Chaikin has written a very good editorial on it. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 2952
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-09-2013 05:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Buel:
You/all of us fans may want to read the brilliant Dwayne A. Day's article which describes what it was like working with Armstrong.
Thanks - that's an outstanding article. |
Kite
Member Posts: 205
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 01-09-2013 02:49 PM
Thank you Buel. Two fascinating articles to bring to our notice. In my mind Neil Armstrong was a marvelous first man, so humble, and always emphasised the importance of everybody involved in the Moon landing project. |
Buel
Member Posts: 89
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 01-09-2013 05:33 PM
Hi Kite, it is a pleasure, you're welcome. I agree with your thoughts!! |
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