Huge Keaton fan. Discovered him the year after high school, '75. I knew who he was but had never really seen any of his films, just in commercials, shows like Route 66 and Beach movies. After decades of his work being tangled up in legal battles they were finally under the control of Keaton and partner and were being shown in theaters again. I became hooked, still am almost 50 years later. So big a fan, my son who just turned 37 is named after him. Keaton, not Buster.
He was amazing with stunts, did them for other actors too but always uncredited. Broke his neck, ankles, legs, probably could give Evil Knievel a run for his money for breaks. Took a toll on his body, well that and smoking 3 packs a day, and he died at 70 but looked much older. Never stopped doing his own stunts almost til the end. They used a stuntman for him in 'A Funny Thing Happened to the Forum'. That was the only time and was filmed soon before he died. The single most expensive shot of the entire silent era from his master piece The General. The film was not a hit when released. Today its regarded by some to be the finest film of that era. Orson Wells thought it was the greatest film ever made.
Didn't realize the you tube link said the same thing I did By the way, he filmed most of the film in Cottage Grove, OR which is where they filmed Animal House, another of my favorites.
The Wild One was a movie based on a story about events in Holister California...Or so I've been told.
Hello, Driver Training, behind the wheel vehicles in Long Beach. 5 high schools, a couple of cars at each school for 10th graders or those 15.5 years or older. Older students had first choice of enrollment. These 1957 Ford sedans were the mainstay of the Driver Training program for us, back in Long Beach, CA from 1958-61. When we were finished with the classroom movie screen class, then we were assigned to these cars during Study Hall period. Most of the teachers were really bad drivers and did not know a lick about cars or engines. With their clipboards and the special brake pedal in front of the passenger seat, they were ready to ride along with the teenagers all over Long Beach, away from the high school. Most of the cars were donated by the local Ford dealer, Mel Burns Ford. Well at least the weeks sitting in the seats, rotating in the rear seats and in the driver’s position was in a Plain Jane 4 door Ford Sedan. There was a portable sign on top and on the doors, signifying LBUSD drivers training to warn all drivers of the novice drivers inside the 4 person car, including the teacher. (Not all of us were novices, but had to be inside that Ford Sedan) Even during the day, the traffic around the high school was rather busy. The two main roads running North/South were the top two busy streets from the ocean to the far reaches of inland cities. (Atlantic Avenue and Long Beach Blvd.) But, our teacher kept us off of those two streets until the last week of training for each of us. As we got to the last days of our “behind the wheel” drive time, the teacher allowed us to go to Bixby Knolls on Atlantic Ave. Of course, we cruised by the local drive-in restaurant parking lots during our road trips. For the next several years, we all cruised the local drive-in restaurant parking lots. Ha! All high schools in So Cal no longer have driver education classes as part of the curriculum. The Driver’s Education “behind the wheel” programs advanced over the years. But, they too, got axed from public school curriculum. Now, there are licensed companies (outside of the school programs) that have taken over that part of the student licensing. In high school, one of the requirements was being assigned to “Study Hall” time. (No, it was not for detention) If you were of age, your schedule had Study Hall before or after lunch, giving you two hours to study and/or join in the Driver’s Education behind the wheel program. But, for the hour of sitting in those simulator seats/dash/pedal “thingys,” it was fun, as our friends were also in the darkened room at one time or another. Once the time allowed in the trailer was over for several weeks, the students rotated back to Study Hall, until our time behind the wheel of the 4 door Ford Sedan popped up on the schedule. Jnaki The driver education program was part of the high school curriculum back then. (It was dropped in the 80s). If you weren’t behind the wheel driving, well, there was a lot of time drawing hot rods and reading magazines back at your desk. We had been driving all over Long Beach with the car load of high school kids. Near the last portion of our time behind the wheel (1957 4 door Ford sedan), we took a drive down PCH to the “Traffic Circle.” Of course, I was the first to challenge the circle. I stayed right and ended up at the Circle Drive-In on the next corner. Then the instructor told me to go around the complete “Traffic Circle” and end up going back up the PCH hill, West, to the Java Lanes Bowling Alley at the top of the hill. (Our original direction) At the bowling alley, we all switched seats for the next scary drive. For the first time, sophomore driver, it is a scary journey. Now, it was the hand rail grab for all, not driving and being observers. For the seasoned HS senior three years later, it was not a problem except for the other people in the car with their “Eyes Wide Shut.” For all of the years driving, there were no accidents or tickets on this Traffic Circle. We used it a lot going to the nearby Circle Drive-In Theater, down PCH South to Hody’s Drive-In Restaurant and to all points South for some surfing trips. Note: Can’t wait for the out of state-out of the country folks visiting the USA for the Olympics in Los Angeles, in 2028. One of the main rowing events will take place at the L.B. Marine Stadium. And, yes, the Olympic committee has designated traffic free zones and will attempt to get people to the events in public transportation. The routes to the event have 4 ways to get there. From the Coast Highway down the coastline, the freeways from Los Angeles, the freeways from the eastern cities, and the Coast Highway from the South. Usually, out of the area drivers are in a tizzy when approaching the Traffic Circle. But, as there are car dealers, car washes and restaurants, as well as a big 4 year college close by, the traffic circle gets used daily by thousands of drivers. For most, it is a relatively safe place. New signs have helped and folks that use it all of the time are good and patient. No need to hurry, the traffic flows smoothly. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
