Films in Sacramento
Have never been to Sacramento and know absolutely nothing about the region (except it's the state capitol of California). So figured why not write a column for the ITJ with tourist information.
I will be surfing the Internet on the look-out to extend some help to those of us who haven't a clue about the Sacramento area, but are very much looking forward to attending the convention and perhaps a few days before and after.
As many Sons of the Desert members also appreciate Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, it is interesting to know that they both traveled to our next International Convention destination.
Buster's famous film STEAMBOAT BILL, JR includes many scenes filmed on location in the Sacramento area. According to the web site www.filminamerica.com filming locations included:
Freeport, Sacramento County: The scenes at the River Junction train station were filmed in the little town of Freeport.
Broderick, Yolo County: The rest of the movie was almost entirely at what is now Broderick, just across the Sacramento River from downtown Sacramento.
Sacramento, Sacramento County: Discovery Park, today crossed by Highway 5 just east of the panorama below, is in Sacramento.
Charlie Chaplin's THE GOLD RUSH was filmed in many Northern California locations including locations along the Delta in Sacramento County
Other movies with location filming in and around Sacramento include: Her Minor Thing (2005); Threading Over Dark (2005); The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004); Love Comes Softly (2003); Lucky Numbers (2000); American Beauty (1999); The General's Daughter (1999); Life (1999); Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane (1998); Letters From a Killer (1998); Retribution (1998); Breakdown (1997); Phenomenon (1996); The Trigger Effect (1996); Panther (1995); What's Love Got to Do With It (1993); American Me (1992); Diggstown (1992); Frankie and Johnny (1991); Pink Cadillac (1989); director Clint Eastwood's Bird starring Forest Whitaker as Charlie Parker (1988); River's Edge (1987); Wisdom (1986); Howard the Duck (1986); Goldie Hawn's comedy Protocol (1984); The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn starring Eddie Hodges (1960); Dixie starring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour (1943); The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn starring Mickey Rooney (1939); Steamboat 'Round the Bend starring Will Rogers (1935); Mandalay with Kay Francis (1934); John Wayne's The Big Trail (1930); Cameo Kirby with Myrna Loy (1930); Winds of Chance (1925); Cameo Kirby with John Gilbert (1923); The High Hand (1915).
Couldn't find any mention of Sacramento Laurel & Hardy film locations on the web site, but the area sure has had it's share of visiting movie crews on location.
Go to the FilmInAmerica web site, find a film you're interested in and begin your locations search adventure. By convention time you'll be a movie locations expert like Bob Satterfield. Well, maybe not that good, but you'll have fun.
The next International Sons of the Desert Convention will be held in June 2010 from Wednesday the 16th thru Sunday the 20th. See you in Sacramento!
Henry "Butch" Sorenson
Grand Sheik
Going Bye-Bye! Tent of South Florida
Last Update: February 6, 2010