Halloween with The Phantom

For Halloween, I am celebrating with “The Phantom of the Opera,” the silent film classic horror film from Universal Studios starring Lon Chaney. One of its most famous scenes is when the heroine, played by Mary Philbin, fails to heed the Phantom’s warning and unwisely removes his mask. Oops.



The Bal Masque sequence of the movie was filmed in two strip Technicolor and still survives today. While the process didn’t record the full spectrum of colors, it was a wise choice for this particular sequence.



Recently I had the pleasure of seeing this movie on the big screen at the Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego.



Cameras were not allowed inside, so my cellphone had to do.



Organist Russ Peck was on hand with a period appropriate musical accompaniment. It was like being transported back to 1925!



Although the film is almost one hundred years old, it is still being celebrated for Chaney’s incredible makeup and performance as well as its spectacular sets and special effects. The Sideshow Toy company released a Premium Format Phantom figure in 1:4 scale:



They also released a smaller version in 1:4 scale; not quite as detailed but still packs a punch!



A separate figure represents Chaney in the Bal Masque sequence:



While some of the acting appears a bit dated and overly dramatic, the movie is definitely worth watching.

See more Phantom of the Opera action figure photos at my main website.

San Diego at 5am

One of my favorite times to shoot is early in the morning, just before the sun comes out. Maybe it sounds crazy, but you get the city ALLLLLL to yourself. Hardly any people, plenty of parking, and while the silence can be a bit eerie, it’s also super relaxing and allows the brain to think better. Ah...creativity! It also helps when you have a friend to shoot with who can climb and has a sense of adventure!



The trolley station is a favorite location of mine to shoot, with its ever-changing rainbow of colored lights.



This bridge near the Convention provided some amazing views of downtown all lit up.





Colors are different this time of day, too. The sky has no sunshine at this time of day, but there’s plenty fo “light pollution” from all the streetlights and signage that have yet to be extinguished.



Horton Plaza was completely empty, save for a security guard or too. The perfect place to get your morning stretch going.



The once vibrant mall there has been completely abandoned, awaiting its next concept. You almost expect a zombie or two to appear.





The final shot of the morning was the marquee for the Balboa Theatre, one of the historic gems of downtown San Diego.



See more San Diego photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter

While staying at San Diego's Keating Hotel a few weeks ago, I was able to explore the Gaslamp Quarter by foot. As a tourist living in Indiana, I almost always stopped by the Gaslamp; as a resident, I rarely go. Traffic, parking, people...all have been deterrents to visiting this popular area of San Diego.

Just like Disneyland, this part of town looks totally different at night.







Sadly, some of its not-so-pretty aspects are plainly visible in the daylight. This once vibrant fountain has slid into a state of decay, typically surrounded by the homeless and the scent of burning weed. It is no longer accessible to the public and has construction walls around the base.





Compare to a photo of the same fountain from the 1950's:



In 2004, it was actually still working (The Grant Hotel is visible in the background):



There are still a few actual gaslamps on the streets; however, the majority are electric. Oh how it makes me appreciate Main Street U.S.A.!





Over the years, the Gaslamp Quarter has had its ups and downs; right now, I'd say it's resting in the middle of the scale, tipping towards the higher side. Some parts need a good scrubbing, and others are absolutely beautiful, fresh from their revitalization.



See more San Diego Gaslamp Quarter photos on my San Diego web page.

Traveling Thursdays: San Diego, Gaslamp District, Balboa Theatre, and Joan Rivers

What a combo! Well, that’s what you get when you go to a Joan Rivers show at the Balboa Theatre in San Diego and have dinner in the Gaslamp District at Seersucker Restaurant (see first photo showing the "EAT" sign). Seersucker is the restaurant of former “Top Chef” contestant Brian Malarkey. The food is creative, tasty, and calorie laden. The space is fun, but don’t expect to have any deep conversations there as the acoustics are terrible and it can get extremely loud in there. Instead, just go for food and fun.

Since the camera goes pretty much anyplace that I go (a photographer should always be prepared!), I clicked a few things on the way to the Balboa Theatre to see Joan.

Cool sign, but wouldn’t want to stay here! Historic, yes; needing a good disinfecting? Yes, also!







The Balboa Theatre is a BEAUTIFULLY restored movie palace from 1924.



I especially like the little waterfall features located to the left and right of the stage.



Not so beautifully restored is Joan herself. Looking pulled back and puffy all at the same time, her face has become masklike. However, I wasn’t really there to see her face.

This woman is a comic legend who makes Kathy Griffin and Margaret Cho look like amateurs.



At 70+, her physical movement, comic timing, and ability to flow with the energy of the audience are more akin to someone at least half her age.



As you probably already know, she can be brutal...but her tirades know no boundaries, as she is an equal-opportunity comic tearing apart every race, creed, and color known. For audiences who are shocked, please lighten up. The woman is not serious; she’s trying to get you to laugh at life, because as the saying so aptly goes, “Laughter is the best medicine.”



Or as Alan Alda once said, “When people are laughing, they're generally not killing each other.”



See more Balboa Theatre and Joan Rivers photos at my main website.

Movie Palaces: The Balboa

I love the old movie palaces; the ones that were even more fantasy-oriented than the movies they used to show. Unfortunately, many have gone into disrepair or faced the wrecking ball. Fortunately, The Balboa in San Diego was recently restored, and unlike the North Park Theater, this one was a first-class job. Even the curtain will take you back to yesteryear:









For more Daveland Movie Palace photos, visit my regular website.