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| James Dean Gallery closing Dec. 31 |
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posted by davidt
on Monday December 12 2005, @11:00AM
Jake The Stripper writes:
This may be of interest to the legions of Moz fans who have visited Fairmount:
From David Loehr (dl@jamesdeangallery.com), James Dean Gallery:
James Dean Gallery Closing
Sixteen Years in Business, Indiana Attraction Closing December 31
The James Dean Gallery first opened in September of 1988 in the late actor’s hometown of Fairmount, Indiana and remained in an old Victorian house on tree lined North Main Street for fifteen years before relocating to a modern state-of-the- art Deco style building at a nearby Interstate exit. “It was nice in the old Victorian house, but it was wooden, drafty and damp at times” says Dean archivist and Gallery owner David Loehr. After a small electrical fire in the house Loehr decided the move was necessary for the long term preservation of the World’s largest collection of Dean memorabilia. The new 7,200 square foot facility is temperature and lighting controlled, and is virtually fireproof.
The six room museum exhibit includes a dozen pieces of wardrobe worn by James Dean in his three major films, school papers, paintings by Dean, scores of original movie posters, books and magazines from all over the world, and even the violin that he played with his mother as a young boy. A 35 seat theater shows Dean films and documentaries, and there is a research library which has been utilized by two filmmakers and four authors within the first year.
Since opening in 1988 nearly 100,000 people have toured the exhibit and it has become Grant County’s most popular tourist attraction. With the new facility came higher operating expenses and the foot traffic isn’t generating enough capital to keep it running, so now twenty months after opening the new location the doors will be closing at the end of this month.
“James Dean has influenced so many actors, directors and musicians we were hoping that someone would step forward with the necessary financial assistance that we needed to remain in operation” says Loehr. “People come from all over the world to see the exhibit, the hometown and Dean’s gravesite and it is a shame to for the county and the state to loose this local cultural attraction”.
“The James Dean Gallery has generated a great deal of tourism dollars for Grant County and the state of Indiana over the years. Hotels, restaurants and other local businesses have benefited greatly from the attraction. Unfortunately there has been no type of financial support from those businesses, the town of Fairmount, Grant County or the State for that matter, and I can no longer do all of the promotion necessary to keep the business in operation”.
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Jake The Stripper adds:
From Passions Just Like Mine on the 'Bigmouth Strikes Again' artwork:
James Dean photographed in 1948 by Nelva Jean Thomas. Incorrectly credited to David Loehr in the sleeve notes. Loehr supplied the photo (as well as the one used on the "Strangeways Here We Come" album), hence the mix-up.
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I made the trip to Fairmount for a vacation, and it was the best vacation of my life.
Morrissey is an idol down in Fairmount. All of the little shops have some type of Morrissey memorabilia. One shop owner told me that he sees more Morrissey fans than Dean fans!
You all should go check out Fairmount some time; it is splendid-
Love-
Ken Stavitzke