Published: Jan. 20, 1998

A 30-minute documentary video produced by the University of Colorado at Boulder has received an award of distinction in a national communications contest.

“The Little Kingdom: Central City, Colorado,” was recognized in The Communicator Awards 1997 Video competition with a second-place award in the history category.

There were 2,912 entries from 47 states and five other countries in the competition, which recognizes outstanding work in the communications field.

Credit for the video goes to CU media specialist Bud Leonard, producer, director, videographer and editor; CU history instructor Leanne Sander, executive producer; CU media specialist Richard Borkowski, sound and lighting; and outside script writer Paul Stranahan.

The program, which was two years in the making, explores the spirit of the people who have made their home in the mountain community west of Denver since it was founded during the 1859 Gold Rush. Using interviews with long-time residents, breathtaking photography and historical photographs, the program captures the survival spirit of the early miners and their descendants through the legalization of gambling in 1991.

The video aired on KRMA-TV Channel 6 in the fall of 1996. Videotapes are still available through CU-BoulderÂ’s Information Technology Services office and through the town of Central City, the primary supporter of the project.