Hollywood’s lights, cameras and action came to the Lehigh Valley 25 years ago.
“The Florentine” wasn’t the only movie filmed here — and it would unfortunately become known as a direct-to-video flop — but it was exciting nonetheless when it was announced that the film would be entirely shot locally with a talented cast that included Luke Perry, Chris Penn, Michael Madsen, Jim Belushi, Jeremy Davies and others.
The story had been teased for days in The Express-Times. When the filming location was confirmed, the newspaper reported the story on Oct. 24, 1997:
The authenticity of Easton and Bethlehem is what drew director Nick Stagliano, production supervisor Bernadette Lee and [writer and native Philadelphian Tom Benson] to the region.
“(Easton) is really a canvas of Americana, which is what ‘The Florentine’ is,” said Stagliano, also a Philadelphia-area native.
The Lehigh Valley had beaten out locations in six other states and Canada.
MORE: 21 movies filmed in the Lehigh Valley
The Express-Times report credited then-Gov. Tom Ridge with an initiative to draw moviemakers to Pennsylvania, and then-Northampton County Executive Bill Brackbill with setting up a committee to do the same for the Lehigh Valley. “The Florentine” was the first in the committee’s 18-month effort to commit here.
“The Florentine” was described by its writer as a “coming-of-age story about a group of friends in an authentic American town,” where characters frequented the titular bar.
Most scenes were shot in Bethlehem and Easton over five weeks starting in November 1997. Mothers Bar and Grill, just off Easton’s Centre Square, served as the Florentine’s exterior while the Old Mount Vernon Ale House, now Two Rivers Brewing Co., was the interior. Other recognizable locations include Bethlehem’s Minsi Trail Bridge, Holy Infancy Church and Nisky Hill Cemetery.
“The Florentine” was released direct to video in 1999. It is rated 5.6 out of 10 on IMDB and has an audience score of 46% on Rotten Tomatoes.
• 10 YEARS AGO | Oct. 24, 2012: Eyes on Sandy. What would become Superstorm Sandy gets its first front-page forecast headline in The Express-Times that reflects the uncertainty in the outlook at the time: “Severe storm a hit or miss.” The tropical storm had formed just two days earlier, and a Jersey Shore landfall was considered within a wide range of possibilities.
• 20 YEARS AGO | Oct. 24, 2002: Speedway shakeup. Staff at Nazareth Speedway is reduced to seven as transfers and pink slips are issued to consolidate resources with Watkins Glen International. “The sky is not falling,” track President Craig Rust tells The Express-Times. The racetrack would close for good two years later.
• 25 YEARS AGO | Oct. 23, 1997: Judge Koury dies. Michael Koury, a well-regarded district judge in Wilson Borough, is mourned in the Easton community after his death days before his 61st birthday. “He could find you guilty and you would thank him,” Easton attorney Gary Asteak tells The Express-Times. Today, his son, Michael J. Koury Jr., is president judge in Northampton County.
• 50 YEARS AGO | Oct. 23, 1972: ‘Killer 31.’ A front-page Easton Express editorial demands action from New Jersey authorities to address what had become a deadly stretch of Route 31. “Thirteen lives in thirteen months. Thirteen lives in eight fatal crashes since last October. Thirteen lives in the 28-mile stretch between Buttzville in Warren County and Flemington in Huterdon County. … Action by the state no longer is a matter of political responsibility. It is a moral imperative.” Two days later, N.J. DOT diverts $13.5 million to widen the road to four lanes.
This story is part of Lehigh Valley Then, a periodic series that recalls historical headlines from lehighvalleylive.com, The Express-Times and their predecessors from 10, 20, 25, 50 and 100 years ago. Stories are pulled from microfilm at the Easton and Bethlehem area public libraries.
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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
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