I
can’t pass up October 31st without this clip of City Hall getting whacked
by out of town guests from "War Of The Worlds" (1953), the first in a long
line of regional alien invasions. With the film shifting to Los
Angeles in the early 1950s, George Pal had the Orson Welles tale work on
nerves frayed by the Cold War. Looking back, the scenes of streets
emptied of civilization, switching back and forth from a studio to on
location near 8th and Hill, the sci-fi classic is an accidential commentary on downtown being
abandoned in the mid-20th Century, an evacuation during a crisis.
Next year will mark the 60th year since the release of this gem. Grand Park would be a great place for a screening next Halloween.
"War of the Worlds" (1953) trailer
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