Looking for Ang Lee

Last week, while we were touring around Los Angeles, I noticed that there was an area called Larchmont, which also happens to be the name of the town I live in. I took note and later found out it’s where the 1983 film “War Games” with Matthew Broderick was shot, among many others. Apparently, it’s one of the most historical parts of the city with a rich past.

The reason I am thinking about this today is a friend of my daughter’s dad just came by and mentioned that Larchmont was the first Hollywood before the real one existed. I immediately went to the internet to check my facts. I have actually been to Studio Babelsburg in Potsdam, Germany in my days of backpacking around Europe. I spent a day exploring its old studios and dreamed about the days when “The Blue Angel” with Marlene Deitrich was shot there. It was built in 1911 and considered the first Hollywood, so I wasn’t sure how accurate this new info could be.

Sure enough, I could not verify his assumption. Larchmont was, indeed, a resort community well before the Hamptons became what is now is. We live along the Long Island Sound, and it’s views and beaches are stunning, all within a half-hour ride from the city. Alas, it is no Hollywood.

A few summers ago, I had my own Larchmont celebrity sighting. James McCaffrey, from “Rescue Me.” The funny thing was that the night before, I had seen him in a small Indie film called “Broken English” that I liked a lot at the Sunshine Cinema in NYC. So instead of complimenting his portrayal as the deceased fireman on his television show, I commented on the role I had seen the night before. The meeting meant a lot to me. It made my day, seeing a star at the local pool and gave me food for fodder for some time after that.

Other famous residents of Larchmont have included Lou Gehrig, Ang Lee, David O. Russell, Joan Rivers, Edward Albee and D.W. Griffith. Being the film junkie that I am, I used to look for Ang Lee. I can’t believe that in the 7 years that we have lived in this town, I have never bumped into this hero of mine.

It was nice to have thought I was living in the first Hollywood – for five minutes. And I shall continue to look for Ang Lee.

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