BRAM Uncovers Rare Movie Ad

During the course of restoring a 91 year old theatre curtain originally commissioned for Ludlow, the Black River Academy Museum discovered an unexpected piece of entertainment history, a newspaper ad for the 1931 movie, "Dirigible".  The ad was apparently used as backing for the 20 ft by 12 ft curtain that BRAM is in the processing of restoring.  Even more interesting is the fact that Dirigible starred Fay Wray, the actress famous for her role in the original "King Kong" movie of 1933.  Among other facts that make this a historic film are the following facts:  the director was Frank Capra of "It's a Wonderful Life" fame, the film was actually science-fiction in that it featured a battle between dirigible crews and fixed wing aircraft to be the first to fly over the South Pole, and it featured stop-action graphics.  Unfortunately, the film was shot in Los Angeles during a heat wave.  Dry ice was used to simulate the actors' breath in a cold climate.  One the actors, tired of using a can of dry ice hanging around his neck, simply put the dry ice in his mouth; he lost his tongue and most of his lower jaw as a consequence!  Pictured above, Chris Hadsel, Project Director of Vermont Painted Theater Curtains Project, is seen working on the curtain with the ad for the movie Dirigible visible.