Recreation of Laurel and Hardy's Culver City
Pop culture historian Piet Schreuders consulted historical records to design a digital version of Culver City as it looked in 1920s-era Laurel and Hardy films and other motion pictures from the Hal Roach studio. The Shortest Main Street In The World (Thanks, COOP!)
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Next task: add synthespians and create an all-new Laurel and Hardy film.
The Boys would be proud.
Just wanted to say, maybe my computer is too old or something, but it's just annoying that the flash ads compete with the videos you post so I can never watch inline boingboing vids without jumping to some other site to watch without flash ads on the side (or sometimes I just block ads.)
The music is nice too.
Ah...tears almost came for this fan of "The Boys". I used to watch L&H with my Dad. (sniff) So many nice memories... Thanks for posting this.
I can only imagine how it was to watch Hal Roach films if you lived in Culver City. Impressive? Or not? I had a similar experience (of movies made in my hometown, San Pedro, CA) and I started a blog about it (linked in my profile.)
Glorious Obsessive!
Schreuders also designed the CD packages for The Beau Hunks Orchestra recreations of all the Hal Roach music where they went back to the original scores and re-performed all the music note-for-note using period instruments. Fascinating and delightful stuff.
I do dread the day when someone decides to do a CGI Laurel & Hardy or Marx Brothers film ala that Beowulf movie last year.
That is really cool. Now that I'm an adult it's fun to see The Little Rascals, with an eye on the decor of the homes, what the kitchens were equipped with, the clothing and shoes.
There is one episode where the kids have some kind of race down a residential street. It's funny to see the 1920'/30s Los Angeles.
I work at the corner of Washington Blvd. and Ince St. which is a block from Main St. I've walked through these streets everyday for lunch over the past three years and it's interesting to see what things used to look like 70 years ago. It's hard to believe that almost nothing in Culver City has been retained over the years except for The Culver City Hotel. The Hotel is a bit of a dump.
Thanks for posting this.
Almost 10 years ago, John Bengston did similar for Buster Keaton with his book Silent Echoes. If you like Buster Keaton or LA history it's a must, but even just movie fans would like it. Bengston's attention to detail in figuring out the location for nearly EVERY shot from Keaton movies would seem to take a crazy person. (but I did see a live presentation once and he was far from crazy)
http://www.busterkeaton.com/Silent_Echoes/sehome.htm#
Ah, the music, the music!
I was going to mention the Beau Hunks, but somebody beat me to it. They also do some nifty Raymond Scott covers.
Yummy.