The Glass Bottom Boat View of Santa Catalina Island

1929 Catalina Casino in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island glows with each tiny street light pinhole and dramatic architectural up-lighting. Each street light lamp was individually punched out of the backdrop and lined with China silk to enhance the glowing effect. The color changes in the downtown district achieved by taping colored gels onto the back of the drop gave the art director the ability to quickly transform the look. Fun fact, the historic casino structure built by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. was the first theatre designed for films with sound, 'Talkies." Studio moguls would yacht out to Avalon to take in early screenings of their newest cinematic productions.

'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat
'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat, detail shot
'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat, detail shot
'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat, detail shot
'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat, detail shot
'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat
'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat, detail shot
'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat, detail shot
'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat, detail shot
'View of Santa Catalina Island' backdrop from The Glass Bottom Boat, detail shot
Director
Frank Tashlin
Studio
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Art Direction
Edward Carfagno, George Davis, Carroll Clark, Marvin Aubrey Davis
Scenic Art Supervisor
Scenic Artist
Description
Exterior view of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island 1966, Day/Night, Translucent
Place
Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, in 1966
Date
1966
Dimensions
35’-10” x 19’-10”
Medium
Dry color and gelatin binder on cotton muslin
Style
Landscape
Credit
Gift of J.C. Backings Corporation
Photo Credit
ADG Archives, Melinda Sue Gordon and Texas Performing Arts, Robert Silver

Doris Day, Spy Comedy

The Glass Bottom Boat (1966), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer