Visiting Arlington Cemetery (Arlington Virginia, USA)

Last month I went on a work-related trip in the Arlington/Washington DC area, and had an opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery, spending about 3 hours on a Sunday morning there before having to catch my plane back home. It was my first time visiting.

At Arlington, soldiers from almost every American war and military battle are buried there, including well known  leaders such as General George S Patton.





Some well know movie legends who served in the military are buried there, including Lee Marvin, Charles Durning, and Jackie Cooper. Also buried there are actresses Constance Bennett and Phyllis Kirk, whose husbands were veterans.

I did not have a chance to visit all of their graves (that might have taken all day to do), but I did see the grave of Audie Murphy, who was the most decorated soldier in WWII, and also acted in the autobiographical film of his life To Hell and Back.

Some Presidents of the US are buried there including John F Kennedy. I got to see his grave; next to it is an eternal flame. Nearby his brothers and father are buried there as well. Here are some additional photos.



Overall it was a very emotional and inspiring experience, and I recommend everyone visit if they are ever in the area. Plan for at least a half day or a day, and plan on lots of walking!

Photos from Savannah Georgia, USA

Here are some of my favorite pics from my trip to Savannah last December.  

 

The historic area of Savannah is divided into squares, with each one forming a little community. Here's a picture of one of them. You'll see locals walk their dogs, or even a wedding party's photo shoot.

A good old fashioned brick and mortar bookstore. The E. Shaver Bookstore.

Clary's Restaurant, where 1997's Midnight In the Garden of Good & Evil was filmed.

The wall inside had lots of photos of the cast and crew of the film. Had pecan waffles here. 

I took one of the famous trolley tours around the city, and jumped on and off at various locations. Here's the riverfront. Shops & restaurants are here. 

Bar where Julia Roberts filmed Something to Talk About in 1995.

The square where Forrest Gump was filmed (the Tom Hanks bench scene)

Across the street is the historic Savannah Theater.

Here's the world famous Leopold's Ice Cream. If you are in Savannah, you must stop here. They are famous for their Tutti Fruitti -flavor ice cream. Hollywood producer Stratton Leopold owns this place, and all of his movie posters are on the wall (Wolfman, Sum of All Fears). The line was out the door and the place was packed when I was there.

Right next door is the SCAD theater; film fests and classic movie screenings are held here.

This use to be an old theater but I don't know it's history...will have to research this. 

Also nearby is the Lucas Theater, primarily a performing arts venue, they also show films.

An ad is promoting a Jimmy Stewart film fest! 

One of the coolest statues in the city (and there are MANY of them!) is this one honoring the great songwriter Johnny Mercer who was from Savannah.

The statue is by a bus terminal.

At first I thought the paper he was holding was a songbook, but it's actually a newspaper, as the statue is based on a photo of him leaning against a fire hydrant in New York. 

I had a great time here and would come back again one day. 

There is so much to see, and so much beautiful architecture, such as this lovely home:

 

Movie theaters of Southeastern Georgia, USA (photos)

Note: this post is part of the photo series Vintage Movie Theaters across the USA

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Last month, my friend and I embarked on a road trip, beginning west of Tallahassee and onward to Savannah. On December 28, we made our way through two cities in southeastern Georgia and came across some cool vintage theaters. So what was I do ? Snap, snap away, of course. Here are the pics. Hope you enjoy them.

Driving east on Route 38, we made our way through Valdosta, Georgia...

and came across the Dosta Playhouse, which is now used primarily for live theater shows.

According to Cinema Treasures, the theater first opened in 1941, and showed movies.

One user commented that the theater used to be segregated.

Continuing northeast on Route 38, we passed through Waycross, Georgia.

First we saw the RITZ theater, which is - sadly - closed now. 

But according to Cinema Treasures, it was a thriving theater

in the 1940s and 50s.

A close-up of the relief - don't you just love this? 

Just around the block is another theater - The Ritz. 

Was originally a vaudeville house, and opened around 1913 according to Cinema Treasures.

It had a grand reopening in 1935, and showed movies starring Katherine Hepburn and Claudette Colbert. 

I love these old box office windows!!!!

They are so rare!

Now it is used primarily for community theater.

The Vance Theater in Chipley, Florida (photos)

Continuing  my ongoing series of photos of vintage theaters, today's focus is on the Vance in the small town of Chipley, Florida, which is about 10 miles south of the Alabama border. I was here on a road trip recently.

Unfortunately, the theater, like so many other movie houses of the past, is closed, and there is limited information online. The website Cinema Treasures had almost nothing to offer, but some user comments noted that the the theater had been open since at least the 1940s.

I can only imagine what it was like like to be inside. It seated 475 people, and had a balcony.

The Maltese Falcon lives on at John's Grill in San Francisco

Last night, a colleague and I had dinner at John's Grill in San Francisco, which is my new favorite restaurant in San Fran.

The theme of the 2-floor restaurant is the classic 1941 film. Movie photos and memorabilia throughout the interior, and there was a nice jazz band playing live music upstairs.

To eat, I had the most delicious seafood cannelloni, which was filled with dungeness crab, shrimp, baby spinach, cheese, and cream sauce.

http://www.johnsgrill.com

Highly recommended dining experience for the movie buff.

The Stanford Theater in Palo Alto, California

The Stanford in downtown Palo Alto is host to an all-year classic film festival.
Every weekend a double feature.
I first visited here in 2002 and again last year in 2012 to see Wagon Master and The Southerner.

According to Cinema Treasures, The Stanford opened in 1925

I love the Stanford. It's like stepping back in time to another era.

I'd like to visit again next month when I am in the area.

They are running a new series on Films of the 1950s