“Cultural Liason” Ed Leydecker, John McEuen, Steve Robbins Jr., and Brian Robbins- photo by Tim Lamar/Z-80 Films

Last week, regular site contributor Brian Robbins participated in an event at the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine Orono. The evening celebrated the 20th anniversary of the documentary film Salt of The Earth. Directed by Randy Olson, a Harvard Ph.D. in Coral reef ecology who went on to direct Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus, Salt explores the experiences of two Maine lobstermen: Brian and his brother Steve. The night concluded with the Robbins brothers performing some music alongside special guest John McEuen, who worked on the soundtrack to Olson’s last documentary, Sizzle! A Global Warming Comedy.

When asked for some thoughts on the film Brian offers, “As far as the original “Salt of the Earth” movie goes, it aired on public television and has been shown to audiences that range from farmers in Kansas to retirees on a cruise ship up in the North Sea – and everybody seems to “get it.” Randy Olson, the film maker, says that it may be an evening with 3 lobstermen, but the soul of it is universal. As far as my brother Stevie and I are concerned, if nobody else ever saw it, it’s a great gift to have the footage of our father with us. (Pa passed away in ‘95.)”

Robbins had this to say about performing with McEuen: “Great guy; impressive talent:ego ratio. They could’ve told us to go home after the afternoon jam we had with him and my brother and I would’ve been happy. The whole deal about having us hidden behind the movie screen (which retracted into the ceiling) could’ve been a train wreck, but the effect (fading out the closing movie and fading us in) worked perfectly. Even Tigger (my wife) didn’t realize it was us until she heard my harmonica. The screen came up and bang- they hit us with the spots. A total hair-standing-up-on-your-arms thrill to be up on that stage with my big brother alongside of me, turn to say, “Take it, John” – and realize you’re saying it to John McEuen. (Who I introduced by saying, “This is not our father, by the way.”) By the time we left the Collins Center stage, I figured it was just 5 hours past my brother’s bedtime (he normally gets up around 1-1:30 to go lobstering).”

As for the photo above, Robbins adds, “‘Cultural liaison’ Ed Leydecker was the man who brought the box of donuts aboard the boat in 1991.”