The Classic Film Fan USA Travel Guide: Over 500 Destinations for Road Trips and Online Exploration

By Kendahl Cruver

A travel guide for classic movie fans, with suggestions for road trip destinations and online exploration in the USA. It includes gorgeous vintage theaters, places to see classic films, museums both dedicated to old Hollywood stars and with exhibitions of interest to film fans, landmarks, cemeteries, road

• Language: English
• Publisher: Watching Classic Movies
• Release date: Nov 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798868997211

Book preview

The Classic Film Fan USA Travel Guide

Over 500 Attractions for Road Trips & Online Exploration

Kendahl Cruver

Copyright ©2022 by Kendahl Cruver

www.watchingclassicmovies.com

The author made best efforts to ensure that the information in this book is accurate, but disclaims liability for damages, loss, or inconvenience that can result from inaccuracies, omissions, or other issues in the text. The author makes no warranty for completeness or accuracy.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form, or by any mechanical, electronic, or other means without the prior written permission of the author.

Cover design: Paula Guthat

Introduction

How This Book is Arranged

Acknowledgements

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California (Los Angeles)

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York (City)

New York (State)

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Washington D.C.

Wisconsin

Photo Credits

About the Author

Introduction

This book began as a personal project. For years I kept files of classic film-related destinations that I wanted to visit. When the Covid-19 pandemic cleared my schedule, I decided to organize all those wish list items into one place. These were the things I wanted to see when I was ready to travel again.

Once I started though, I realized this would be a great resource to share. I knew the dozens of places I’d saved in my files would be of interest to classic movie fans. If social media is any indication, I’m far from the only one who will search out an old theater simply to gawk at a gorgeous marquee. So I looked for more things to see: theaters that show vintage films, museums, landmarks, cemeteries, anything I could think of that had offerings related to classic cinema.

I gathered as much information as I could online and from my own experiences and those of my friends, in addition to a good collection of photos. Then I expanded my search to the people responsible for running these destinations. I made hundreds of connections to confirm facts and gather additional images. It was a wonderful way to become acquainted with a lot of people who love movies.

Sadly, there were many businesses, theaters and other destinations that closed permanently as I wrote this guide. Many more have seen changes such as different ownership, a dramatic drop in finances, and other issues that have necessitated operating in a different way. While I’ve made every effort to keep these entries updated, it is likely that there are some changes I will have missed or that have happened since publication. It is an ever-changing landscape.

Many of these places are still in flux, while others require that visitors either purchase tickets or call before visiting. It always pays to check ahead to ensure that you can access whatever place you wish to see.

My goal has been to find something of interest for classic film fans in every state: a gorgeous theater, a tribute museum, a special landmark, or perhaps something more unusual (I didn’t fully succeed with each state. Sorry Wyoming). Some of these places are destinations to plan a trip around; others are curiosities worth a look for travelers in the area. In places like Los Angeles and New York where there are exponentially more places for classic film fans to enjoy, I have been more selective as to what to include.

One of the best things about researching this book was that I learned that many of these attractions can be enjoyed on the Internet, via features like remote galleries and theater tours, online events, and digital screenings. If you can’t hit the road, there are still many ways to enjoy these special places and even give them some financial support via things like streaming rental fees and gift shop purchases.

How This Book is Arranged

The entries in this guide are arranged alphabetically by state and fall into three basic categories:

-Attractions that are made for classic film fans

-Attractions that have some elements of specific interest to classic film fans

-Attractions that aren’t specifically about film, but are generally of interest to the typical classic film fan

Compiling these entries was a labor of love and I bring them to you in that spirit. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did putting it together, whether you set out on a trip or embark on a little armchair travel.

Acknowledgements

I want to offer a special thank you to the many people who responded to my queries about your theaters, museums, and other fascinating destinations. You were all immensely kind and helpful as I tried to get my facts straight and pull together a useful book. It amazed me how many of you not only answered my questions but suggested other places to include. I am grateful for your generosity.

Thank you also to my readers Kristina Dijan and Paula Guthat (who also did double-duty as cover designer) for your helpful input.

Kendahl Cruver, 2022

Alabama

Alabama-min

Alabama Theatre

1817 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL

205-252-2262

https://alabamatheatre.com/

Built in 1927 and restored in 1998, this theatre has the feel of a grand movie palace. There are ornately carved details in the auditorium and a Wurlitzer organ still in operation after many decades. The Alabama hosts screenings of classic movies on Fridays and Sundays in the summer and each night for two weeks prior to Christmas. A Valentine’s Day screening of Casablanca (1942) has been a tradition at the theatre for years.

Alaska

Goldtown Theatre

171 Shattuck Wy., Ste. 109, Juneau, AK

907-586-2875

https://goldtownnick.com/

This intimate, single-screen theatre is in a building that once housed an industrial laundry. Now it is Alaska’s only art-house cinema, showing both new and classic independent, foreign, and documentary movies. The theatre also runs a drive-in location that screens classic Hollywood blockbusters.

Wizard of Oz metal sculptures

Reliable Sheet Metal

5441 Glacier Hwy., Juneau, AK

When a group of workers at this sheet metal business assembled a Tin Man made of real tin and placed it on the top of the building, it was just the start of rooftop sculpture garden full of characters from the Wizard of Oz. In addition to Dorothy, witches, and the Scarecrow, the collection includes a large green Wizard’s head, flying monkeys, and a model of Dorothy’s Kansas house sitting on top of a tornado.

Arizona

Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum and Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame

150 N. Railroad Ave., Willcox, AZ

520-384-4583

[e-mail]

https://www.rexallenmuseum.org/index.shtml

This hometown tribute to singing cowboy movie star and prolific Disney documentary narrator Rex Allen packs a lot of memorabilia into a small space. The collection includes costumes, instruments, recording awards, and ephemera such as an extensive collection of Allen comic books.

Rock Springs Café/Jean Harlow Museum

35900 S. Old Black Canyon Hwy., Rock Springs, AZ

623-374-5794

https://rockspringscafe.com/

The proprietors of this roadside café and former hotel between Sedona and the Grand Canyon advertise it as a former getaway for stars like Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Tom Mix during the Prohibition era. This is likely due to the operating still that was on the property at the time. A sign announcing Jean Harlow Museum points to a gift shop with an adjacent bedroom which is said to be like the kind of room the star stayed in. There’s also a wooden tub that Harlow supposedly used during her visits.

Superstition Mountain Museum

4087 E. Apache Trail, Hwy. 88, Apache Junction, AZ

480-983-4888

http://superstitionmountainmuseum.org/

This area of the Arizona desert has been a location for films, television shows, and music videos for decades. The collection here focuses on the history of the area and includes a couple of buildings used in various film and television productions. The Elvis Chapel, Gallows, and the Audie Murphy Barn were all props for Western movies and shows filmed on the Apacheland Movie Ranch.

Tom Mix Monument

AZ Hwy. 79, Florence, AZ

There’s a marker on the roadside near the spot where cowboy movie star Tom Mix had his fatal car crash in 1940. Set between Oracle Junction and the town of Florence, the stone structure has a plaque in the front and a metal statue of a horse with its head bowed down on top. There are a couple of laminated newspaper articles about Mix’s accident attached to one of the covered picnic tables at the rest area.

Arkansas

Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum

250 Central Ave., Hot Springs, AR

501-623-5836

https://www.hotsprings.org/places/activities/josephine-tussaud-wax-museum/

There’s a good reason the bedraggled, but fascinating Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum is far less famous than that of Madame Tussaud, but if you have a sense of humor, it may still be worth a look. In addition to a chamber of horrors (with an Alfred Hitchcock figure standing guard at the entrance), there are some figures from old Hollywood included in the collection. Right inside the door, Steve McQueen leans on top of his motorcycle. Just past the entry a Staircase of Stars which is the now not-functioning oldest escalator in Arkansas, holds Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, a figure in Gay Nineties attire that approximates Mae West, but is a dead ringer for comedian Jennifer Coolidge, and what is supposed to be Clark Gable in his Gone with the Wind (1939) costume though he looks a lot like Zachary Scott.

Oak Ridge Cemetery

821 Owens, Malvern, AR

Though she was born in Iowa, Julie Adams (Actress, Creature from the Black Lagoon [1954]) was raised in Arkansas. She won Miss Little Rock at age nineteen before she moved to California to pursue a career in the movies. Now she is laid to rest here in her hometown.

California (Los Angeles)

The Academy Museum

6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

[e-mail]

323-930-3000

https://www.academymuseum.org/en/

In the interest of creating a community gathering place open to all, the official museum of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was built to have multiple levels of access. Visitors can go to the ground floor piazza, restaurant, and a small exhibit about the history of film for free. Other areas, including the two-story Stories of Cinema exhibit and the museum’s Geffen and Ted Mann theatres require an admission fee. The Academy’s collection includes thousands of props, costumes, posters, screenplays, and millions of photos. Items from each of the galleries can be viewed online.

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza

5220 Lankershim Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

818-754-2800

https://www.emmys.com/

The expansive plaza of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences building is full of statues erected in tribute to the most important names in television. Many of these greats, such as Angela Lansbury, James Garner, Burns and Allen, and Jack Benny have also made an impact in movies.

American Society of Cinematographers Museum Camera Collection

ASC Clubhouse

1782 N. Orange Dr., Los Angeles, CA

323-969-4333

https://theasc.com/

Active since the age of silent films, the ASC has acquired an extensive collection of camera equipment over the years. The group’s clubhouse displays vintage cameras that date back to the first days of cinema, including a camera cinematographer Gregg Toland used to film Citizen Kane (1941). Non-members can view the room, but call ahead for access.

Angel’s Flight

Top entry: California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave.

Bottom entry: 351 S. Hill St.

Los Angeles, CA

213-626-1901

[e-mail]

https://www.angelsflight.org/

Opened in 1910 and in operation today after decades of inaction, this funicular hillside train is a longtime fixture of both Los Angeles and Hollywood cinema. It is an especially familiar feature in film noir and crime movies like Kiss Me