Monday, February 3, 2025

School Ties (1992)






High school senior David Greene is given the opportunity of a lifetime when he receives a scholarship to the prestigious St. Matthew's Academy.  He leaves a depressing Scranton, PA for the sprawling Massachusetts campus and immediately hits it off with his roommate and football teammates.  He also catches the eye of a pretty blonde.  All seems to be going well until they find out David's Jewish.  He quickly becomes the campus pariah and the scapegoat when it's discovered someone cheated on an exam.  When he goes to confess, David discovers one of his peers exposed Charlie Dillon as the real cheater to the headmaster.  He then calls Matt Damon a prick.

School Ties is an excellent film but unfortunately a stellar cast, many who would springboard to stardom, couldn't put it on the dean's list of 1992 movies.  The film didn't quite make back its budget and quickly left theaters.  



Location: The Cemetery
Address: 938 E 4th Street, Bethlehem, PA

St. Michael's Cemetery










Most of the church has been turned into an apartment building.






Location: The Greene House
Address: 1009 E 4th Street, Bethlehem, PA
















Location: Walsh's Tavern
Address: 637 Atlantic Street, Bethlehem, PA







The yellow fire hydrant is still there.  Unfortunately a car pulled up just before I was going to take the photo...














Location: The Mobil Station
Address: 1768 Main Street, Northampton, PA














Location: Chip's Lucheonette
Address: 2015 Main Street, Northampton, PA








Location: The Roxy Theater
Address: 2004 Main Street, Northampton, PA

















Location: The Steel Stacks
Address: 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA












Locations Visited: December 2024


Tuesday, January 21, 2025

The Simpsons (1989-)

 



The Simpson family debuted on The Tracey Ullman Show as short films two years before their own premiere.  In December 1989, their Christmas special hit the Fox airwaves and soon America was enthralled in the weekly shenanigans of Bart Simpson and his family.  36 seasons and almost 800 episodes later, it is the longest-running animated series, American sitcom and scripted primetime series.  The Simpsons was a cultural phenomenon upon its release.  Merchandising had a cash cow man - t-shirts, books, calendars.  And I had them all.  I even drew pictures of the characters and sold them to my friends.  My interest in Fox's animated dysfunctional family waned pretty quickly for reasons I don't seem to recall.  Though it wasn't originally the inspiration, a replica of The Simpsons house was built in 1997 for a promotional contest.  Both exteriors and interiors were recreated in great detail.  Though the winner decided on a cash prize instead, the house was sold as a private residence in 2001.


Location: The Simpsons House
Address: 712 Red Bark Lane, Henderson, NV



















Universal Studios Hollywood dig an amazing job recreating Springfield around The Simpsons Ride...



























Location Visited: July 2024





Tuesday, December 3, 2024

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

 





On Christmas Eve in Bedford Falls, NY, George Bailey is feeling anything but merry.  After his Uncle Billy misplaces $8000, George fears the ramifications for their Building & Loan.  After he's rebuffed for a loan by the miserly Mr. Potter, George gets drunk and heads to the town bridge to commit suicide.  Luckily the prayers of his family and friends have reached heaven and guardian angel in training Clarence Odbody is tasked with saving George in order to get his wings.  Clarence jumps in the river as a diversion and is rescued by George.  When he wishes he was never born, Clarence points out what life would've been like without him.  Having seen enough, George begs for his life back and runs home through the town in a gleeful state.  His family and friends are thankful for his return and have collected enough for the missing money.  And up above, Clarence has earned his wings.

It's A Wonderful Life is based on a short story "The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stern, which was purchased by RKO Pictures.  The town of Bedford Falls was constructed on the RKO movie ranch in Encino, stretching the length of three city blocks.  Upon its release, the film received mixed reviews but has gone on to become a beloved Christmas classic.  Three colorized versions have been released, starting in 1986.  Some residents of Seneca Falls, NY believe their town was the inspiration for Bedford Falls after director Frank Capra visited.  They hold an annual festival and the It's A Wonderful Life Museum opened in 2010.   Philip Van Doren Stern has stated the town was based on Califon, NJ.




Location: High School Dance Gymnasium
Address: 241 S Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA

Beverly Hills High School




















Location: Bailey Park Entrance
Address: Viro Road & Lamour Drive, La Canada Flintridge, CA






Location: The Martini House
Address: 4587 Viro Road, La Canada Flintridge, CA




































Locations Visited: November 2024