52 Interesting Facts About Jax (Jacksonville, Hollywood: house, neighborhood, to live)

[Florida2014]

OK, some aren't so "interesting" but a good read nonetheless:

52 Things You Probably Didn

[NoleFanHSV]

Wow. Kona skate park is still around. Thats pretty cool.

[LordHomunculus]

Jacksonville was having a growing film industry but then the locals interfered.

"A thrilling scene in one movie required a car to barreled down Main Street. Unfortunately, the vehicle accidentally splashed into the St. Johns River at the ferry dock, which was in the vicinity of today's Jacksonville Landing. Townsfolk criticized the badly-shaken actors for disregarding public safety. They also grew concerned when producers called in false alarms if they needed fire trucks to liven up their flicks. And when moviemakers shot bank robberies on Sundays, the churchgoers would shake their heads.

In 1917, many Jacksonville residents made their feelings known during a mayoral contest: They elected an anti-film industry candidate. This vote of "non-confidence," along with other factors, spurred the movie companies to seek greener pastures elsewhere. And the rest is Hollywood history."


"Jacksonville's mostly conservative residents, however, objected to the hallmarks of the early movie industry, such as car chases in the streets, simulated bank robberies and fire alarms in public places, and even the occasional riot. In 1917, conservative Democrat John W. Martin was elected mayor on the platform of taming the city's movie industry. By that time, southern California was emerging as the major movie production center, thanks in large part to the move of film pioneers like William Selig and D.W. Griffith to the area. These factors quickly sealed the demise of Jacksonville as a major film destination."

History of Jacksonville, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Early Moviemaking in Jacksonville

[judeK]

Treaty Oak is an estimated 250 years old, but alas it's not the oldest in Jacksonville:
That distinction belongs to an oak that can be found on Campbell Cir off Atlantic Blvd. The oak tree there has been estimated at 700-800 years old. It takes 15 adults holding hands to circle the trunk.

[EricBoyd]

Yeah, I was looking at that picture of the Treaty Oak and thinking that I've got a few in my backyard that appear to have a similar circumference. Mine aren't near as pretty, though.

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by NoleFanHSV

Wow. Kona skate park is still around. Thats pretty cool.

They do an annual event downtown where they set up HalfPipes at Hemming Plaza.

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by judeK

Treaty Oak is an estimated 250 years old, but alas it's not the oldest in Jacksonville:
That distinction belongs to an oak that can be found on Campbell Cir off Atlantic Blvd. The oak tree there has been estimated at 700-800 years old. It takes 15 adults holding hands to circle the trunk.

Whats the name of THAT tree?

[NoleFanHSV]

I wonder how old the oak tree is at the Cummer Museaum. Its pretty large too.

[fsu813]

Originally Posted by LordHomunculus

Jacksonville was having a growing film industry but then the locals interfered.

"A thrilling scene in one movie required a car to barreled down Main Street. Unfortunately, the vehicle accidentally splashed into the St. Johns River at the ferry dock, which was in the vicinity of today's Jacksonville Landing. Townsfolk criticized the badly-shaken actors for disregarding public safety. They also grew concerned when producers called in false alarms if they needed fire trucks to liven up their flicks. And when moviemakers shot bank robberies on Sundays, the churchgoers would shake their heads.

In 1917, many Jacksonville residents made their feelings known during a mayoral contest: They elected an anti-film industry candidate. This vote of "non-confidence," along with other factors, spurred the movie companies to seek greener pastures elsewhere. And the rest is Hollywood history."


"Jacksonville's mostly conservative residents, however, objected to the hallmarks of the early movie industry, such as car chases in the streets, simulated bank robberies and fire alarms in public places, and even the occasional riot. In 1917, conservative Democrat John W. Martin was elected mayor on the platform of taming the city's movie industry. By that time, southern California was emerging as the major movie production center, thanks in large part to the move of film pioneers like William Selig and D.W. Griffith to the area. These factors quickly sealed the demise of Jacksonville as a major film destination."

History of Jacksonville, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Early Moviemaking in Jacksonville

Yup.

The early movie indistry was mostly centered where the Springfield Historic District is today.

You can take a guided bicycle tour of the neighborhood, with a number of visits to movie related sites, via e2ride Bicycles: e2ride - Home

So you can find the house were Oliver Hardy stayed while he was filming, etc.





And you can find EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about Jacksonville's former film industry at Norman Studios: Norman Studios: Preserving Jacksonville's Silent Film Legacy