64 Years Ago Today…

Sixty-four years ago today James Dean was killed in a car crash as he was driving his Porsche 550 Spyder to a car race in Salinas, California. He is probably best known for playing the title role in “Rebel Without A Cause,” released shortly after his death. His birthplace in Marion, Indiana is marked by a rock and a plaque, as the house has since been torn down.



Dean’s childhood was spent in sunny California until he turned nine. His mother had died of uterine cancer, and his father thought it best for the child to be raised by his Aunt and Uncle back in Fairmount, Indiana. Here’s the farmhouse where he lived:



The High School he attended in Fairmount, where he first got bitten by the acting bug:



…and the stage where it all happened:



After graduation, Dean attended UCLA where he pledged the Sigma Nu fraternity:



He dropped out of school in 1951 and pursued acting full-time, eventually moving to New York City when his career was going nowhere in Hollywood. This is the apartment he lived in:



Want to see his sink?



A classic shot of Dean in NYC:



After studying method acting at the Actors Studio and performing in a few plays and TV shows, Dean returned to Hollywood in 1954 for his first starring role in a motion picture, “East of Eden.” This is probably my favorite Dean movie of the three major motion pictures that he made…and the only one released while he was alive. It is a timeless film that has not become dated, unlike “Rebel” and “Giant” which both seem a bit dramatic and overblown when watched today.



In early 1955, Dean returned to Fairmount for a visit, taking photographer Dennis Stock with him to record the trip. Here’s a shot of him back on the Winslow farm where he was raised.



The last movie he completed before his death was the George Stevens production of the Edna Ferber novel, “Giant.” Here, Dean’s character has passed out at the party given in his honor.



Many of the exterior scenes were shot in Marfa, Texas. Despite having done a Pepsi commercial, Dean is shown drinking a Coke! He is standing next to Bob Hinkle, Rock Hudson's dialogue coach for the movie. He also taught Dean how to operate a lasso for the movie.



The marquee at Grauman’s for “Giant,” which was also released posthumously.



It would have been interesting to see what direction Dean’s career would have taken had he lived. It is a tragedy that he died so young at age twenty-four before his full potential was revealed.

See more James Dean photos at my main website.

2018 Reflection

Like any other year, 2018 had its ups and downs. It was an amazing year for Daveland with the usual travel (I keep saying I'm going to slow down) and growth opportunities for my photography. Here goes my Reader’s Digest version of the last year.

In an attempt to get back into shape, I ramped up my running, completing a few short ones and doing my first half marathon in over a year. While my time was not impressive, it still felt good to be back in the game.



It seemed like a good year for love as I did one surprise engagement shoot:



And two weddings:





So much for “I don’t shoot weddings!”

I climbed to the top of the California Tower to observe some incredible views of Balboa Park:



A number of shots from my vintage collection were included in the Taschen published book by Chris Nichols' titled “Walt Disney's Disneyland.”



Here I am seeing the book at the Taschen store:



...and the actual image from my collection featured on the two-page spread:



As the official Going To Guides photographer, my work was included in Shannon Laskey’s DCA update book. Here are a few of the images:



How about this blast from the past?







The biggest thrill was running into Shannon at the Chateau Marmont of all places!



My shot of a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Marion, Indiana made the cover of Indiana Preservation magazine:



A number of my photos were purchased over the year as well, including these from New Orleans:



Indianapolis:



and Santa Rosa:



Favorite trips included New York City where I met the bestie, Christy, and also got to lunch with super talented artist and Gene Marshall creator Mel Odom:



I also did my best to recreate a classic James Dean shot. I don’t think modeling is in my future. I can hear Mr. Mackey now: “Smoking is bad!”





Shooting with Broadway and film dancer/actor Julius Anthony on the steps of St. Thomas Church was another highlight of NYC:



A visit to the actual house used in “A Christmas Story” when I visited Cleveland:



My first trip to Miami yielded a magazine cover from one of my shoots:



The late Shirley Temple’s 90th birthday provided the opportunity to meet her daughter Susan:



...and son Charlie:



They had come to Santa Monica to celebrate the reunion of Shirley’s scepter, crown, and gown from the dream sequence of 1939’s “The Little Princess.” Members of Shirley’s Army (including Melissa, aka “The Colonel”) pose proudly by the display at the Santa Monica History Museum:



Melissa’s return to California in November gave us the opportunity to visit some of the locations used in Shirley’s films:



Of course there were a number of visits to my favorite place on earth, the Chateau Marmont, where I got to stay where it all began back in 2001, Room 16:



Actress (and friend) Amanda Kruger visited for breakfast and a few photos during this particular stay:



Willis continues to enjoy his visits to the Chateau, which is his hotel of choice:



A home in the Hollywood hills provided the perfect backdrop for my last photo shoot of the year:



What’s in store for 2019? With three trips already on the docket, I know there will be posts about those as well as the usual vintage shots that I collect along the way. It’s been two years since my last visit to Disneyland, and chances are slim that 2019 will see my return. As my mom says though, “Never say never!”

I have really enjoyed exploring other things that this wonderful universe has to offer. Thanks for the visits, comments, and continued encouragement! See you on the next post!

View more of my photography at my main website.