In Search Of Leonardo DiCaprio

 

“The whole of life is just like watching a film. Only it's as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no-one will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues.”
~Terry Pratchett,

  Moving Pictures

So what if I told you that last Tuesday, Leonardo DiCaprio came all the way to Stockton to film a movie? If I heard myself say those words out loud, I would have to say back to myself, umm... what? Leonardo DiCaprio? Why the HELL would he come to this GOD FORSAKEN place to film a movie? At first I thought it was a joke, because really, and I can't stress this enough, why would he be in a film that has anything to do with Stockton? But low and behold, it was no joke, he was actually in town filming a movie! In fact he was just a couple miles away!

 

 The movie will be based on the bestselling book,Vineland, by Thomas Pynchon, and aside from that, I don't know a lot about the project. In 2012, when we followed Woody Allen around San Francisco as he was filming Blue Jasmine, we managed to find out a partial cast list, Alec Baldwin and Cate Blanchett, and that on the days that they filmed, there were signs taped up along the blocks that read, W.A.S.P., which stood for, Woody Allen's Summer Project. I have always wondered it that was a joke, or a funny oversight? Either way, it gave us a bit of a giggle. Just from small clues, we were able to watch a couple days filming, and I got to photograph Woody Allen in action. I had the time of my life!

 

Anyway, this film crew has permits in Sacramento through at least the 20th of February. There were several Warner Brothers trucks lining the streets surrounding the courthouse here in Stockton and the capitol in Sacramento. I know Sean Penn will co-star in the film. I don't know if I am too late to get just a glimpse of Leo, but I am trying to do a little lite stalking of where they might be filming next! Social media and Google maps are excellent for that, but it isn't easy. You have to get as much information as you can, and in then check the maps for closed off streets. Wish me luck! As demonstrated by these photos, I am way less than 100 percent on my game. It's February. It's cold, I am old, we are in the middle of redecorating, and it hasn't just been cold, we had an atmospheric river come through! Did I tell you we picked out a nice shade of green for the hallway up stairs? I need more energy than this if Hollywood is going to be visiting Stockton!

 

 

 

 

Buildings In Time: The Bob Hope Theater (Formerly The Fox Theater) Stockton, Ca

"When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things... not the great occasions that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness."

~Bob Hope

As I said in a previous post, Stockton has some amazingly beautiful historic old buildings. This is my favorite. The Bob Hope Theater! Previously the Fox Theater, it is a true gem that shows movies, as well as features musical concerts, such as Ringo Starr, coming up later this month! Originally the Fox theater opened in 1930 and was one of just two movie houses in the Central Valley. It was an immediate hit, and was, at the time, one of the largest Vaudvillian venues. Over time the movie house began to not just show motion pictures but began to feature musical and comedy acts like Al Jolson, and the comedy of the Marx Brothers. 

Over time, the theather began to feel the pangs of progress and change, as it was replaced with Drive-in movies, multi-screened theaters and even television began to impact going to movies! The small independant theaters took a serious beating during this time, despite their rich histories and beautiful architecture inside and out! The Fox Theater closed in 1974 due to the steep decline in business. Over the next 35 years the theater went through many different owners and attempts to bring it back to it's once great existance. But in the late 1990's, the theater sprang back to life, with the help of the mayor of Stockton, and the City Councel, which made a commitment to restore and renovate it back to greatness.

Now it is a stunning part of the downtown cultural scene. It stands out for it's character, and really adds a beautiful smile to the downtown! Who doesn't smile when they think of all the joy Bob Hope brought so many people through his movies, and how much he did for soldiers during wartime and peace! After the Fox went through it's last restoration it was renamed after Bob Hope who had many friends who lived in Stockton. He actually spent a good deal of time here, when not filming a movie, or on the go entertaining the troops in USO shows! The theater is listed on the National List of Historic places. Come see it... it's FABULOUS!

I really love that when the city of Stockton worked so hard to restore this fine old theater, they didn't sacrifice it's past, in order to bring it into the future! Well done Stockton!

 Leaf Of The Day

November 5th 2016

Mood: Happy

~Me :)