Over the Christmas break, I found something that I have been on the lookout for a long time. A report in the September 24, 1952, San Antonio Express-News mentions that Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh are currently shooting the movie Houdini on Stage 4 at Paramount. Specifically, the scene mentioned is the Tony Pastors scene.
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| San Antonio Express-News, September 24, 1952. |
While I knew Houdini (1953) was shot entirely on the Paramount lot in Hollywood, I never knew which soundstage they used. Now I do!
Of course, it's possible they used more than one stage as the movie utilized many large sets. But at least I know one.
Now, if we can just get Houdini (1953) added to the historic plaque listing the films shot on the stage.
Check out the links below for more Houdini-Paramount locations.
Related:
John, I agree. Houdini 53 has to get on there. Thanks to my 5 page proposal, my 3 year very challenging attempt to get a commemorative plaque erected in Jackson Township NJ to remember Amelia Earhart's historic parachute tower test which opened paratrooper training in 1935 and which went missing never to be replaced or found, has succeeded. I did a very convincing appeal based on my research and used my skill typically used to submit TV concept and script pitches (referred to as pitch decks) to accomplish this and it worked. I have the skill, the time and I sure have the incentive to help with this in anyway that I can. Anything for "Uncle Harry." I can send you by email what I did for Amelia and you can work off of it. Must get The Great Houdini's biopic movie listed. Let's do it while we're young.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Khadi. And thank you for your passion! I don't think it would take as much effort to get this added to the plaque. I think it might just be as simple as making the Paramount folks aware.
DeleteHello John, now looks as if there is a very fun complication in the Plaque Quest. However you decide to handle it, you can count on my skills and connection to film industry to help in any way at anytime. I hope you know how to get in touch with Stage 4 but if you don't let me see if I can find a point of contact should you not already have one. Anything for Uncle Harry.
DeleteFascinating topic! If such an odd thing exists as a Houdini-53 soundstage obsessive, I’m your man. It’s interesting that this article describes, sort of, the Tony Pastors scene as being shot on Stage 4, because according to my book "Paramount: City of Dreams," – which I’m now going to proceed to blatantly pillage and plug, it was Harry’s death which was shot on Stage 4. The Tony Pastor scene instead seems to have been lensed on Stage 1!
ReplyDeleteWant more? the London jail escape was shot on Stage 17. Stage 18 housed Schultz’s Dime Museum, Coney Island, and the Berlin courtroom sets. Stage 6 contained the “Von Schweher home,” and Stage 8 hosted a “Berlin hotel lobby.” Most mysteriously, the film shot, on Stage 9, a tantalizing on-camera prologue appearance by Joseph Denninger, later cut, and some assorted montages – shot aptly enough, on Halloween, 1952. Outside, the backlot and the B-Sky process tank were utilized as well!
All of which makes us wonder, just where we need to convince Paramount to put up that plaque, doesn’t it! – Steve Bingen
Wow!!! Steve! How have we never discussed this? Great info! And a cut prologue appearance by Dunninger??? I see a lunch in our future. Which is way overdue anyway. :)
DeleteLet's try to do that one of these days John. There hasn't been enough Houdini in my life lately. And I bet you could help me with that.
Delete- Steve