NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The premiere of WLAE-TV’s new documentary “AL SCRAMUZZA: THE CRAWFISH KING” – an emotionally compelling story of the rise, fall and recovery of the 97-year-old seafood mogul – will air Sunday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., with an encore presentation at 9 p.m.
Produced by 6th Street Studios, the hour-long biopic traces Scramuzza’s life from his poverty-stricken days growing up in the French Quarter to his rise as one of the biggest and most memorable seafood dealers in the country, only to lose it all with his personal iniquities and later finding hope in recovery.
“Al Scramuzza: The Crawfish King” is the story about a depression-era, youngster who started gambling with marbles at five years old, but later built one of the most successful seafood empires in the country.
Scramuzza would eventually roll dice with former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards on the high-roller craps tables in Las Vegas, but then go bust and later find spiritual salvation as a recovering addict and sponsor in Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous. He would ultimately sponsor and mentor thousands of other addicts over a 35-year span and would become one of the longest and winningest Little League coaches in Louisiana history.
“Everyone of a certain age in Louisiana knows who Al Scramuzza is from his outlandish TV commercials and visits to Seafood City, but no one until now knows how Al rose to the top and how he had to lose it all in order to find himself,” said Jim Dotson, general manager of 6th Street Studios and WLAE-TV – New Orleans Public Television, in an interview about the premiere.
“Scramuzza definitely had an impact on the culinary landscape which everyone knows about, but few people up till now with this documentary know the personal story behind the man, his trials, tribulations and redemption,” said Steve Schulkens, the documentary’s producer and Scramuzza ’s longtime friend and mentee.
The documentary’s production team include Ron Yager, Executive Producer; Jim Dotson, Executive Producer; Steve Schulkens Producer, Spud McConnel, Narrator; Stan Gelpi, Supervising Producer; Ted Ochoa, Associate Producer/Editor; and Rene Michel, Director of Cinematography.
