A bit of 'Hollywood' history right here
In the April 28 edition of the Wisconsin State Journal, the Local section has a banner that reads "'Public Enemies' (the movie starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Marion Cotillard) is a friend to state" due to all the expected revenue and tourism expected to be brought in.
I think that the opposite is true. I think that our state, Wisconsin, has always been a friend to the movies.
Silently, without applause, Wisconsin has made its contributions. Anyone remember the scenes of the State Capitol in "I Love Trouble," the 1994 movie starring Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts? What about the 1986 Rodney Dangerfield movie, "Back to School?" Anyone forget that the exterior shots, as well as the diving scenes, were filmed at UW-Madison?
Not only has Wisconsin's backgrounds contributed to the entertainment industry, but so has some of our state's more notorious residents. Besides John Dillinger, other anti-heroes have included Ed Gein, who Hitchcock inspired to write "Psycho," and Jeffrey Dahmer, who inspired "The Unauthorized Biography of Jeffery Dahmer."
Beaver Dam alone has spawned some significant contributions. Where would the industry have been without the cult classic "The Pit," Burger King's Herb (alias John Mennick), or favorite son, Fred MacMurray?
Wisconsin has never gotten any award for its contributions and probably never will. Silently, without applause, our state keeps giving as any good friend does and, given a chance, it always will.
Meanwhile, congratulations to Roger Noll and the staff for all their hard work they put into the Fred MacMurray Museum at Heritage Village Mall. The "My Three Sons" display was particularly impressive. If they haven't exhibited every bit of memorabilia including, videos, movie posters, articles, and magazine covers, about Fred MacMurray and June Haver, it's not because they didn't try. There are even movies shown in the back.
This is probably the biggest tribute Beaver Dam has given "Bud," since 1997, when two of his best known movies, "Murder, He Says" and "Double Indemnity," were shown at the Beaver Dam High School with June Haver and her daughter, Kate MacMurray, making an appearance.
This "Bud" is for us.
— Kurt Baumann
Beaver Dam