Godzilla Plaque At Historical Marker Database

Above, the Godzilla plaque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2006, the Godzilla Society of North America and the Platrix Chapter No. 2 of E Clampus Vitus dedicated a plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of Godzilla, King of The Monsters!, starring Raymond Burr.

The plaque marks the spot where the small studio, Visual Drama, that was used for Burr's insert scenes for the movie. The location is now the Frank Del Olmo Elementary School (originally the Belmont Elementary School).

The Historical Marker Database has added the plaque last year and here's the location according to the plaque's page:

Location. 34° 4.413′ N, 118° 17.568′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is on North New Hampshire Avenue north of 1st Street. At Frank Del Olmo Elementary School, mounted to one of the columns at the top of the steps. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 N New Hampshire Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90004, United States of America. Touch for directions.

To see the full page, go here. 

Where's The "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" Plaque?

Above, the Godzilla plaque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, some Facebook Godzilla fan friends asked me about the location of the Godzilla, King of the Monsters! plaque's location in Burbank. Since it has been a while since I've posted anything on the plaque, I figured that if anyone is going to be in the Los Angeles area making a pilgrimage to the plaque and other places of interest, I would post a blog to help them out.

Above, the plaque's location at the main entrance to the school. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

First of all, the plaque is not in Burbank. It is in Los Angeles, in the mid-Wilshire district. It is at the main entrance of the Frank del Olmo Elementary School (formerly Belmont Elementary, as that's the name of the school on the plaque). It is at First Street and Vermont Avenue. But, the actual address is 100 North New Hampshire Ave. (a half block west of Vermont Ave.). The main entrance is on New Hampshire Ave.

It was dedicated in 2006 as a joint project of the Godzilla Society of North America and Platrix Chapter No. 2, E Clampus Vitus to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Americanized version. The school was still under construction at the time of the dedication.

Above, the plaque dedication in 2006. Photo by Jean Carbajal.

Thankfully, when the school is closed, the plaque is protected from vandalism and theft by an iron gate, but visitors can still see it a few feet away.

The location was formerly the little studio called Visual Drama, where Terry Morse directed actor Raymond Burr for the insert scenes for the Americanized version of the 1954 Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd. It was released here and worldwide as Godzilla, King of the Monsters! in 1956. The new Legendary Pictures Godzilla: King of the Monsters movie that is in pre-production pays homage to the Americanized version by its title.

References:

http://www.geekfieldguides.com/sci-fi-sites-godzilla-50th-anniversary-plaque/
http://www.vinylmaddness.com/Plaque.html
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/35337

Criterion's Godzilla: New Developments

The kaiju world is abuzz at the prospect that Gojira (i.e., Godzilla) (1954) will receive a DVD/Blu-ray restoration treatment from Criterion.

Classic Media released a subtitled Japanese version along with the Americanized Godzilla, King of the Monsters! DVD set a few years ago that received a lot of kudos from fans. Having both movies released and restored by Criterion would be the icing on the cake.

Now, there's word that a fine-grain 35mm print of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! has been found. August Ragone has details on this at his blog.

The last version of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! was the closest thing to a restored print released (by Classic Media) to date, but it was pieced together from several sources and some items were edited in out of original order.

Having a fine-grain print available (provided it is still in good shape) on DVD would be tremendous! (August Ragone explains why.)

Above, the "Godzilla King of the Monsters! plaque at Frank del Olmo Elementary School in Los Angeles.

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! was the edited version by Terry Morse that featured Raymond Burr and was filmed at Visual Drama Studios in Los Angeles in 1956. A commemorative plaque has been placed at the location (now an elementary school).

It'll be interesting to see what transpires!

Tokyo-Edo Radio Project Interview

A 45-minute interview with Hans Karlsson of the Tokyo-Edo Radio Project has been completed. The interview tonight was intended as a preliminary "warm-up" interview, subject to approval by the heads of the project (with the broadcast interview to be done later). However, Karlsson did indicate that tonight's interview may be edited/condensed for broadcast. They will let me know what they decide to do in any case, and I will pass the word.

The interview focused on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, the locations/landmarks used in various movies as well as a discussion on how Godzilla, Gamera and other Japanese monsters became popular in Western countries.

We went into detail on the Americanized Godzilla, King of the Monsters! and its importance in making the Godzilla character popular in countries outside of Japan. We also discussed how Raymond Burr was directed by Terry Morse at Visual Drama studios in Los Angeles and that a plaque now marks the site's historical significance.

I had fun with the interview.

"Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" Released 55 Years Ago

This is Tokyo. Once a city of six million people. What has happened here was caused by a force which up until a few days ago was entirely beyond the scope of Man's imagination. Tokyo, a smoldering memorial to the unknown, an unknown which at this very moment still prevails and could at any time lash out with its terrible destruction anywhere else in the world. There were once many people here who could've told of what they saw... now there are only a few. My name is Steve Martin. I am a foreign correspondent for United World News.

55 years ago today, Godzilla, King of the Monsters! was released to theaters in the United States.

This was the Americanized version directed by Terry Morse that inserted actor Raymond Burr into the movie. The original was produced by Toho Co., Ltd. in 1954 and released in Japan in November 1954.

It was this version that was released around the world that made Godzilla an international star. A new American Godzilla movie is now in pre-production by Legendary Pictures.



Burr's scenes were filmed at tiny Visual Drama studios in Los Angeles on Vermont Avenue near First Street. The Frank del Olmo Elementary School now occupies the site and a commemorative plaque honoring Godzilla, King of the Monsters! is mounted at the school's entrance (above photo). The plaque was funded by fan contributions and co-sponsored by The Godzilla Society of North America and Platrix Chapter No. 2 of E Clampus Vitus. Terry Morse Jr. attended the plaque dedication.