It Happened in Florida!

Submitted by Werto on Sat, 06/20/2009 - 18:27
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  • 1. The iconic photograph used for the cover of Elvis Presley's debut album is taken during a performance at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa, FL on July 31, 1955. For a great, detailed history see: http://www.scottymoore.net/FtHomer.html.
  • 2. Robert Altman makes his much-maligned, though rarely seen, 1980 film HealtH (or H.E.A.L.T.H.) at the Don Cesar Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL (http://www.loewshotels.com:80/en/Hotels/St-Pete-Beach-Resort/Overview.aspx). A bootleg of the film exists, taped from a miraculous television appearance (though shown, unfortunately, in the wrong aspect ratio), and reveals it to be absurdly funny, filled with interesting ideas and many memorable images. High among the latter would be the slow zoom to Dick Cavett lying shirtless in bed, sighing forlornly while watching The Tonight Show. And what a cast! Lauren Bacall as a health-obsessed virgin who periodically freezes into a catatonic state, Carol Burnett running amok and in love with James Garner, Paul Dooley breathing comfortably under the water in a swimming pool, plus Glenda Jackson and Henry Gibson! Did Reagan really say this was the worst movie ever? I dunno. Maybe. But if he did, he clearly didn't realize it was (among other things) a satire of the 1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower-Adlai Stevenson election. God Bless Altman!
  • 3. Bob Clark films Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (1973) in Miami, FL and Deathdream (1974) in Brookesville, FL.
  • 4. Frederick Wiseman shoots Zoo (1993) at the Miami, FL Metrozoo (http://www.miamimetrozoo.com) and Domestic Violence (2001) at The Spring (http://www.thespring.org/) in Tampa, FL.
  • 5. Underwater sequences for Jack Arnold's 1954 Creature From the Black Lagoon are shot at Wakulla Springs and Silver Springs, FL. Ricou Browning (b. Fort Pierce, FL) portrays the creature in these scenes. As many may already know, this is popular trivia for anyone taking the glass bottom boat tour when visiting Silver Springs. (Also: there seems to be a revival of 3-D prints of this film going around. If you get the chance, don't miss it.) The sequel, 1955's Revenge of the Creature (also directed by Arnold) which takes place at "Ocean Harbor Oceanarium" was filmed at Marineland in St. Augustine, FL. And yes, this film does contain Clint Eastwood's first film appearance, as a lab worker with a mouse in his pocket. The final movie of the trilogy, The Creature Walks Among Us, was shot in Fort Myers, FL and the Everglades. In 2003 the 50th anniversary of the series was celebrated by the Tallahassee Film Society in Wakulla Springs with Ben Chapman, Ricou Browning, Julie Adams and Ginger Stanley in attendance. More info here: http://www.the-reelgillman.com/news/50thcreaturefest.html.
  • 6. Jerry Lewis directs his first film, the lean, mean 72 minute The Bellboy, at the Fontainebleau Hotel (http://www.fontainebleau.com/gcm/nar/en-us/home/index.htm) in Miami Beach from Feb 8 to March 5, 1960. The telephone sequence alone in this will make a grown man cry tears of joy.
  • 7. Harry Nilsson's father (often referenced in biographical write-ups and in the song "1941" due to his absence) lived in Palatka, FL during the days of his son's initial success. Very interesting info about it here: http://www.nilssonschmilsson.com/harry-nilsson-and-his-father.html. God Bless Nilsson!
  • 8. Typewriter artist Paul Smith lived in Hollywood, FL during his early adult years, until the time of his parents' death. See his work here: http://www.paulsmithfoundation.org/index.html