FAIRFAX, Va. (By Jolyn Matsumuro/ The Brookes Company) - Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the network television debut of "Kenny Rogers as The Gambler," Rogers has teamed up with Time Life to launch a comprehensive campaign that will make his iconic films available on DVD for the first time ever, culminating with the release of a special 3-DVD box set on May 2, 2006.
Including the original made-for-television movie, the set will also feature "The Adventure Continues" and "The Legend Continues" as well as a bonus package that includes specially designed playing cards and other thematic material housed in a deluxe digipak design complete with cast photos from all of the films. The box set is just one aspect of an extensive promotional campaign driven by Rogers himself, capped off by an online poker championship tournament specifically created for the launch of the collection. Single DVD versions of each telepic will also be made available, beginning with "Kenny Rogers as The Gambler," in stores January 10th, and followed by "The Adventure Continues" later this year.
"'The Gambler' series has always held a special place in my heart," said Kenny Rogers. "I loved making those films that grew out of a character in one of my favorite songs. There is no better way to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 'The Gambler's' debut than this incredible, comprehensive campaign that Time Life has put together."
When it first broadcast in 1980, "Kenny Rogers as The Gambler" immediately became the highest rated mini series on television that year and prompted four additional sequels. It turned Rogers into a pop culture phenomenon, as well as spawned a cottage industry for "The Gambler" with 5 telefilms in all. In fact, "The Gambler" became the longest running mini-series in network television history, spanning 14 years. Rogers even won a Grammy Award for the song that inspired the films.
In each of "The Gambler" films, Rogers stars as Brady Hawkes, a high-rolling frontier gambler who finds himself facing high stakes action both at the tables and away. Linda Evans, Bruce Boxleitner, Linda Gray and Harold Gould join Rogers in various adventures set in the old west.
The popularity of the films can be directly attributed to their broad appeal. Classic family entertainment at its best, "The Gambler" telefilms offered action and adventure with colorful characters and lively storylines. But the ultimate draw was Rogers and his irrepressible charm.
In all, Rogers has won 3 Grammy awards, 18 American Music Awards, 8 Academy of Country Music Awards, 5 Country Music Association Awards, and a staggering 11 People's Choice Awards. He is a seasoned photographer, publishing several books of his work, and has sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
