| | The Atlas 50th Celebration vastly exceeded not only my personal expectations, but my wildest fantasies.
An amazing group of prominent and talented people attended -- from business, the media, universities, the arts, the sciences, you name it. The speakers were all knowledgeable, energetic, insightful, funny, and impressive, paying due respect to every aspect of the enormous achievements of Atlas Shrugged. The headliners -- John Stossel, Charles Murray, Barbara Branden and Nathaniel Branden, and the Atlas movie production people (especially Michael Burns, the Rand-fan vice president of Lionsgate, and director Vadim Perelman) -- more than lived up to their advance billing.
Add to that the fact that the Marriott Renaissance Hotel was a terrific venue, the food excellent, the staff and service utterly impeccable. The staff of The Atlas Society (and I mean all the others on staff, not me, because I was engaged in magazine efforts and could do very little to help out) deserve enormous credit for their tireless work to make this happen, and at such a high level of quality.
I can tell you right now that the taping by C-SPAN 2, to air on October 13 ("Book TV"), can't begin to capture the excitement, scope, and quality of the occasion. For one thing, I don't think they filmed several of the key events -- for example, the reception at Cato, or the evening banquet gala with John Stossel and the movie panel. (WE filmed EVERYTHING, however...and you can be sure we'll be making it all available.)
THIS was the tribute Ayn Rand so richly deserved for her incomparable literary and philosophical achievement. I was privileged to be there as a participant, and it has left indelible memories for a lifetime.
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