Project News
We are proud to announce the release of "Step by Step" the soundtrack from the film "From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks."
available now for purchase here.
The CD features amazing tracks from the following artists:
Jackson Brown - "Step By Step" (a world exclusive)
Arlo Guthrie - "Ballad of Harry Bridges"
and Waltzing Matilda" (world exclusives)
Sarah Lee Guthrie - "Harry Bridges" (a world exclusive and first ever recording of the song, written by Woody Guthrie)
Ciro Hurtado - "Tengo Hambre Blues" (a world exclusive composed specifically for the film)
Pete Seeger - "Scabs" and "Step By Step"
Tim Reynolds - "Put the Gas Mask On"
David Mora - "Harry Bridges Mambo"
The CD features extensive liner notes about each track, the song's history and its historical significance.
Ian's Recent and Upcoming Performances
Our new performance piece Sam and Harry
Current Projects
The Drill Team
We are pleased to announce that the California Council for the Humanities has given us a grant to produce a documentary film about the ILWU Local 10 Drill Team.
If you'd like to contribute to the making of this film or to our projects listed below go to our get involved page to make a donation or contact us at ianruskin@theharrybridgesproject.org.
Two New Radio Documentaries
“This Machine Kills Fascists” about the power of music to inspire and organize people.
“A Wild Woman Sings the Blues” about the life and music of singer and activist Barbara Dane.
Both radio documentaries feature interviews with musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Barbara Dane, Tim Reynolds and others (to date).
Education Program
We are also looking for donations to support the deveopment of a series of educational programs/workshops for Community Colleges and High Schools. These workshops will draw from our film “From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks” and our radio documentaries. For more information about this part of the project please visit the education program page. We have just received a grant from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission to help us develop educational workshops.
Other News
"To Make a Long Story Short:" 
The Life & Work of Sam Kagel.
We have finished “To Make a Long Story Short," our film about the life and work of 98 year old Sam Kagel the "Father of American Labor Arbitration." Thanks to your help we have begun screening the film and it's now available on DVD from our store.
Men Versus Machines: Mechanization on the Waterfront, 1955-1965.
An oral history film focusing on members of the ILWU who were involved in the debates and decisions to mechanize the waterfront in the middle part of the 20th century. This Project is made possible by the generous support of the California Stories Project, and the California Council for the Humanities. For more information click
here.
Project Sailed for Harry's Home Port.
The radio documentary "From Wharf Rats to the Lords of the Docks" aired throughout Australia in 2006, on Australian Public Radio. In conjunction with the airing of the documentary Ian Ruskin performed the one man play, "From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks," at the New Theatre in Sydney, Australia. He also appeared as Harry at a meeting of the Maritime Union of Australia in Melbourne, Harry's home town. We're very excited to see international interest in Harry's life and work.