Remembering Robert Redford and his impact on the WNY film scene

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — As the nation mourns and honors the life of Robert Redford, who passed away at the age of 89, WIVB News 4 is remembering the time he spent here in Western New York.

In the summer of 1983, Redford and the movie crew of “The Natural” helped set the scene for the film industry in our area for decades to come.

“It lit the fuse, I think for an explosion which later occurred,” said Tim Clark, the Buffalo Niagara film commissioner. “I think Buffalo was very undiscovered at that point and I think what occurred was that people in Hollywood began to see just what we have here as far as architectural assets.”

In an archived WIVB News 4 story from the time “The Natural” was filming, Redford spoke to WIVB News 4 about Buffalo.

“It’s got buildings, I mean the reason we’re here is because it’s the only place that has an available stadium that was built at a time when tradition still meant a great deal so to be able to come to a place that still had some assemblance of tradition means a great deal,” said Redford.

Mike Billioni was working as the publicity promotion and marketing director for the Buffalo Bisons at the time they got the call from filmmakers about the War Memorial Stadium. Once they knew they struck a home run on filming at The Rock Pile, they also found many other Western New York locations to play ball and allow them to film.

“They needed a ballpark and in their mind, they’re going back to California and buildings to build these sets, and then when we took them around,” said Billioni. “Most of it, I think 98 percent of it was filmed here.”

“The Natural” has scenes filmed at the Old Parkside Candy store, the Ellicott Square Building, the Buffalo Central Terminal, All High Stadium and the Armory used as a base camp for the film.

Billioni said they had the pleasure to know Redford personally.

“When you got close to him, I mean he was like, you know–you and I, he just enjoyed life and he was very appreciative of everything that we were able to do for him here,” said Billoni.

“You run into people like Redford and you appreciate it, at least for me. I appreciated what he did for Buffalo at the time or, you know, gave it a real boost of confidence, I suppose, at a time when it needed it,” said Clark. “His legacy, I think, will live on for decades and decades to come.”