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Showing posts with label Filming Location. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Filming Location. Show all posts

Wednesday 20 December 2023

Chippawa Volunteer Fire Fighters Association

A Christmas Story Leg Lamp In Chippewa Fire Station


Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Address: 8696 Banting Ave
Date: Jan 2016
Website: www.achristmasstoryhouse.com

   It's that time of year again when A Christmas Story is always on TV. We were flicking through the channels and came across the movie. It reminded us of the time when we visited the school where young Flick gets his tongue stuck to a pole. We thought that would be a great blog to write. It turned out that we have already blogged about our visit here. On that same trip, we also went to Niagara Falls Fire Station #4.

A Christmas Story Fire Truck

    When A Christmas Story was filming in nearby St Catherines and needed a period accurate fire truck, Chippawa volunteer firefighters answered the call. They had just recently restored this 1938 LaFrance fire truck after it had been in service from 1938 to 1969.

Chippawa Volunteer Fire Department Truck

    In the movie, you can clearly see the Chippawa Volunteer Fire Department logo painted on the door when help arrives for poor Flick. The truck above can be found in a small museum located next to the fire station. In 2017 the museum was named after a former Fire Chief and is known now as the Gene Somerville Memorial Museum.

Chippawa 1938 Fire Truck

    As well as the beautifully restored fire truck, the museum has its walls and shelves covered with firefighting memorabillia. It also has (as seen at the top of this post) a replica leg lamp made famous in the movie.

Success Fire Extinguisher.

    The fire truck also has some Success brand fire extinguishers made of copper and brass from the 1920s. Actual firefighters also had success removing Flick from his pole. Movie magic made Flick's tongue stick using a plastic covered pole with a small hole in it and a little vacuum pulling his tongue towards it.  

  If you visit the Niagara Falls Fire Station # 4, why not bring some canned goods for the food bank and say hello to some real life heroes who are always giving back to their community. Then spend some time with a truck that had a small part in a classic film, spent 30 years fighting fires and still looks great at over 80 years of age.


Map of Our World
Chippawa Volunteer Fire Fighters Association

Post # 330

Thursday 20 April 2023

Gullfoss

Gullfoss Waterfall Iceland

Location: Iceland
Date: Sept 2015
Website: visiticeland.com

  The landscape of Iceland is unlike any other place in the world.  It is often referred to as the land of fire and ice. It has been formed by the power of nature. Volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls have shaped it into what it is today. We visited one waterfall that is unlike any other in the world.

Gullfoss Waterfall in Iceland.

  Gullfoss translates to mean the Golden Waterfall. We are uncertain how it came to be named, but it is part of what tourists call the Golden Circle.  The Golden Circle of Iceland includes the geysirs of Haukadalur, Thingvellir National Park and the Gullfoss waterfall.


Gullfoss Upper Waterfall

  The Olfusa river flows down to Gullfoss.  The water first flows over an 11 metre drop.

Gullfoss Waterfall Second Drop Iceland.

    The water then takes a turn and goes for another 21 metre drop into a canyon.

Tourists Head Into The Mist of Gullfoss.

  Brave and properly dressed tourists can head along a pathway into the mist of Gullfoss to get an even closer look.

Tourists Stand Near The Edge Of Gullfoss.

    Tourists can go right up to the edge of the falls and watch the water plummet into the earth. 

Canyon Walls Of Gullfoss.

  The walls of the canyon where the Gullfoss water flows stand even taller than the falls themselves..

Cliff Walls Of Gullfoss.
 
  Somewhere down under that cliff the river continues to flow.  So we have been told.

Gullfoss Waterfall In Iceland.

  Iceland in the winter is a dark cold place.  Days may often only have about 4 hours of daylight.  The band Echo & The Bunnymen chose to film the video for their song "The Cutter" at Gullfoss in the winter. The cover of their album Porcupine features the band in front of the falls.

Langjokul Glacier Iceland

   The Gullfoss waterfall left us amazed as to its beauty and shape and the mystery of where all that water goes.  Icleand never disappoints.  As we looked around from the road near Gullfoss we could see the Langjokul Glacier in the distance.  More adventure awaits.


Map of Our World 

Gullfoss Waterfall


Post # 322

Monday 20 March 2023

Kelly & Ryan

Live With Kelly & Ryan Niagara Falls Canada

Location:
New York, New York, USA
Address:  77 W 66th St
Date: June 2017
Website:  kellyandryan.com

  LIVE with Kelly & Ryan is a morning talk show filmed at ABC studios in New York City.  The show has left the studio and travelled to Canada on three occassions.  Back in 1996 the show filmed from Niagara Falls, Ontario and the hosts were Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee Gifford.  In 2006, the show returned once more and this time Kelly Ripa joined Regis as a host. In 2017, the current hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest filmed a pair of episodes and this time we were there.  Ryan Seacrest has announced that he will be leaving the show so we found ourselves looking back.

Sheraton Fallsview Hotel

  We didn't actually have tickets to the show but we obtained ourselves a bird's eye view.  We had a room at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel which overlooks the Oakes Garden Theatre where the taping of the show was to take place.

Sheraton Fallsview View Of Niagara Falls

  The hotel also offers a great view to look across and admire the American and Horseshoe Falls.

Kelly & Ryan Stage Preparations Niagara Falls

     As we looked down from our balcony, we had a perfect view of the stage below.  The day before the taping we could watch the crews getting everything ready for the big day. The proximity to the Falls means that even if there is no rain in the forecast, you always have a chance of mist. The main desk on stage remained under a tarp for protection.

Kelly & Ryan Stage Oakes Garden Niagara Falls

   Since we had arrived the day before, we were able to go down into the gardens and get a close up view of the stage. This is what it would be like to be one of the lucky audience members in attendance when the show went live.

Crowd Wait To Enter Kelly & Ryan Taping Niagara Falls

  The audience members started to fill up the street at the bottom of Clifton Hill, waiting for their chance to enter the gardens.

Kelly & Ryan Live From Niagara Falls

  While the crowd squeezed into the gardens, we admired the beauty of Niagara Falls and were quite happy having our own private viewing area. It may have been way in the back, but we had an unobstructed view. 
 
Kelly & Ryan Lobby Of Sheraton Fallsview Niagara.

   As show time approached we headed down to the hotel lobby.  Rumour had it that the stars themselves were in the hotel and getting ready to walk across to the Oakes Garden Theatre. Next thing we knew we had a front row seat as Kelly & Ryan were greeted to cheers from their fans.

Live With Kelly & Ryan 2017 Niagara Falls.

  We headed back up to our private viewing suite.  We were just in time to catch the start of the show.

Kelly & Ryan And Their Fans Niagara Falls.

  Kelly & Ryan addressed the crowd of mostly Canadian fans.  It is only a short walk or drive across the Rainbow Bridge to get to New York state for any American fans in attendance.

Kelly & Ryan Live From Niagara Falls.

  Kelly & Ryan sat at their big white desk. The desk was nice and dry after being protected under tarps waiting for the hosts to arrive. 

Kelly & Ryan & Justin Trudeau.

  To make the show even more Canadian, one of the guests was Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The highlight of his appearance seemed to be that he wore R2-D2 and C-3PO Star Wars socks.

ABC Studios New York City.

  Since Kelly & Ryan had been nice enough to visit us in Canada, we decided to see more of them when we were in New York City. The show is filmed at ABC studios at West 67th Street and Columbus Ave. in Manhattan.

Kelly Ripa Bench In Central Park.

  If you follow West 67th Street into Central Park you will see a row of benches as you enter the park.  One of those is dedicated to Kelly Ripa.

Kelly Ripa 30 Years With Disney Bench In Central Park

      The bench congratulates Kelly Ripa for over 30 years with the Walt Disney Company which owns ABC. Kelly has been with LIVE for over 20 years and shows no signs of stopping. Her next co-host will be her husband Mark Consuelos.  If they choose to do another taping from Niagara Falls, we know where we will be watching from.


Post # 321

Monday 20 June 2022

Kick-Ass In Hamilton

Capri Pizza Hamilton Ontario

 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Address: 25 John St N
Date: May 2015
Website: capriristorante.ca

    The Capri Restaurant in downtown Hamilton has been there since the early 1960s. We have visited several times through the years and it has undergone some changes.  We were once allowed to take a peek at the famous Blue Grotto room upstairs which is designed like a blue cave.  We have also been lucky enough to visit the site of a historic ass kicking in the parking lot out back.  Sadly, this appears to have been turned into a construction site building new condominiums.

Capri Pizza Old Look Hamilton Ontario

    When we first visited Capri it still had its original look.  A mural on the wall, round tables and bright colours with dim lighting.  It has since been renovated with a more modern look.  Change is always inevitable. 

Capri Pizza & Spaghetti Sign Hamilton Ontario

     The wall at the back of the building was painted to read Capri Pizza & Spaghetti.  In the movie Kick-Ass, this is where Kick-Ass comes across a couple of car thieves and makes his first attempt to be a hero.

Capri Pizza Parking Lot Hamilton

     Unfortunately, Kick-Ass and his baton are no match for the two thieves.  Kick-Ass ends up getting stabbed in the stomach.

Capri Pizza Parking Lot Hamilton.

    As his attackers run away, an injured Kick-Ass stumbles out into the street.  Now for a bit of movie magic.  Note the interlocking brick roadway.  A car hits Kick-Ass and he flies up over the roof.

Mary Street As Seen In Kick-Ass In Hamilton

    Kick-Ass lands with a thud on the ground.  Not only is he now lying on an asphalt road, but he is also two blocks over on Mary Street.  The car that hit him speeds away past the Hamilton Vision Centre.  The movies mix a bit of reality with fantasy.  You can visit what is left of the Capri Pizza parking lot and area, but be sure to come inside and enjoy a very real meal.


Map of Our World
Kick-Ass In The Street , Capri Pizza Parking Lot
Capri Family Restaurant

Post # 312

Saturday 20 November 2021

The News Building

The Entrance To The News Building New York City

Location:
New York, New York, USA
Address:  220 E 42nd St
Date: November 2014
Website:  slgreen.com

  The News Building in New York City is known for both its interesting interior and exterior.  From its art deco entrance to its globe filled lobby, it is in a word... super.

The News Building Entrance New York City

  The front entrance includes a huge, three story tall granite carving.  At the top are the words "The News" and near the bottom, just above a crowd of people it says "He Made So Many Of Them".  This quote is from Abraham Lincoln referring to the common people who would be reading the daily newspaper.

The Giant World Globe Inside The News Building

     The lobby contains a giant world globe that is sunken into the floor.  This truly is the world news.

The News Building Lobby Appeared In The Superman Movies

   The News Building has also played an important part in movie history.  In the Superman movies it played the part of The Daily Planet.  In the original Superman, Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) and Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) walk past the giant globe and out the revolving doors onto 42nd Street.  The exterior of the building is also shown in the movie.  The building exterior plays an increasingly smaller part in the sequels Superman II and Superman III.

The News Building Lobby Floor New York City

    On the floor surrounding the globe are distances to world cities.  We recommend that no matter where you are in the world, you try and find your way to The News Building for a visit.


Map of Our World
The News Building

Post # 305

Monday 25 January 2021

Kim's Convenience

Kim's Convenience In Toronto

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: 252 Queen Street East
Date: February 2017
Website:  www.cbc.ca

  A convenience store changed the outside signage in order to be used as part of a Canadian television show.  That show is Kim's Convenience and it first aired in 2016.  The show is now entering its fifth season and follows the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Kim as they try to run both the store and their family.

Mimi Variety is Kim;s Convenience.

   The real Kim's Convenience used to be known as Mimi Variety.  It is used for some external shots for the show even though most of the taping takes place in a replica store built inside a studio.  When we visited the real life location on Queen Street East,  it looked just like any other variety store in Toronto.

Kim's Convenience In Toronto

   The Kim's have two children, Janet & Jung.  Jung worked at HandyCar Rental.  In one episode Mr. Kim has a life size cardboard cutout of his son advertising the car rental business.  He puts it outside the front door and two neighbourhood kids steal it.  Mr Kim chases them out onto Seaton Street (above) to rescue his son's likeness. 

Kim's Convenience in Toronto

  If you find yourself in downtown Toronto you can pay a visit to the store.  Just don't expect to find Umma and Appa inside.


Map of Our World
Kim's Convenience

Post # 295