UP anniversary event: Video Remake Contest

As part of the launch of its 150th anniversary celebration website, Union Pacific Railroad says it will award more than $35,000 in prizes to the top entries that remake the company’s classic 1970s television commercial, “We Can Handle It.” 

Video remake contestants can find information, rules, sheet music to the commercial’s Great Big Rollin’ Railroad theme song, and other resources at www.up150.com<http://www.up150.com>. Entries are encouraged from all music genres including blues, reggae, pop, country, rock, hip hop, rap, jazz, and others. The grand prize winner will receive $15,000, two finalists will receive $5,000 each, and six runners up will receive $1,000 each. One entry each month also will win receive $1,000, UP says. 

Entry deadline is July 1, 2012, and contestants must be 18 years of age or older.

The original We Can Handle It television spots featured hand-clapping, foot-stomping employees from across the Union Pacific network singing the Great Big Rollin’ Railroad lyrics in a variety of settings, some more on key than others. Several different versions of the commercials were produced and aired. Still popular today, the Great Big Rollin’ Railroad ring tone has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.

UP also says rail enthusiasts, Abraham Lincoln fans, students, history buffs, and employees will enjoy visiting the railroad’s interactive and resplendent historical timeline published at www.up150.com. Combining history and high-tech, the timeline highlights in detail 60 milestones in Union Pacific’s history and features more than 100 photos from Union Pacific’s archives.