Good Morning Gentle Readers,
I Am Legend struck me as Night of the Living Dead on steroids (and in color). Before it was a cult film I mean.
Saw Night of the Living Dead at one of those downtown 1930's movie palaces that even then was well past its prime. It was still a couple of years away from non-stop Spanish language porn films and it would be a decade before eminent domain and the bulldozers rearranged Broadway in Santa Ana into something less recognizable.
My girlfriend lived in Silverado Canyon and after the movie I had something in mind that would take her mind off scary things, but she was ready to go home.
These days Santiago Canyon Road is a commuter highway bordered by upscale gentleman ranches. At least those that survived last year's fire storms. Back in the day, it was winding narrow two lane canyon road that didn't really go much of anyplace, except to Cook's Corners, Silverado Canyon, and Modjeska.
I swear to you, Gentle Reader, there was a hitchhiking Living Dead, backlit by the harvest moon, lurking at the edge of every curve. They were peering at us from the chaparral and Sycamore dotted creek bed and staggaring around behind every granite outcropping on that narrow and desolate canyon road. It was like Disney's Haunted Mansion, except more believable.
And of course, that was one of the nights when her Ma didn't invite me to sleep on the couch in front of the fire. I was dodging Living Dead for an hour before the sweat cooled on my (then) less wrinkled forehead and I caught the cloverleaf at Chapman and the (two lanes) Newport Freeway.
Thank the Lord for small favors. Amen.
As Always,
TWC
Let us not forget Christine and Madam Modjeska. Ikes!
Posted by: Brianp | July 07, 2009 at 02:46 PM
The "I Am Legend" video has been removed due to terms of use violation according to Youtube. What was it anyway?
sasob
Posted by: smartass sob | July 07, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Those goofy "living dead" movies never really did anything for me, and I haven't seen more than a couple of 'em. I guess I'll save my cult fandom for Firefly and the like.
I couldn't begin to recall the number of times I've kroozed Santiago Canyon, Silverado, Trabuco and Modjeska either by car or bike. I hiked up to Trabuco Peak once and was involved in a survey party that relocated the Orange County Line from peak to peak up there.
Those were good days, and I'm going to find time to do some of that stuff again!
Posted by: Col. Hogan | July 07, 2009 at 08:58 PM
SA, I am Legend is a remake of Omega Man. The original is far better but Will Smith is pretty good in this one.
Posted by: TWC | July 07, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Col, Santiago Canyon will never be the same. My children's children may see it the way we once did, but it is gone for us.
I wonder if that little market where Trabuco Canyon Rd splits off is still there. Used to stop and get Delaware Punch. Do they still have Delaware Punch?
Posted by: TWC | July 07, 2009 at 11:29 PM
SA, I am Legend is a remake of Omega Man.
I guess that shows how well up I am on popular culture any more. Yeah, I remember now that they did a remake of The Omega Man, but I haven't seen it. I've always thought the original was really good - one of Heston's better efforts.
sasob
Posted by: smartass sob | July 07, 2009 at 11:53 PM
How'd you like a nice Hawaiian Punch?
I'm sure there are folks older than us who said Santiago Canyon was gone, even when we were kroozin' the place. It's been 7 or 8 years since I last darkened the doorway of Cook's. I hear it too, has changed since then.
Nowadays, I often find myself Kroozin' Hollywood and trying to imagine what it was like when Bogart was escorting Lauren Bacall down Hollywood Blvd to one of their favorite restaurants. It's changed a lot, too!
Posted by: Col. Hogan | July 09, 2009 at 09:32 PM