Documentary takes on Glendale’s ‘glorious’ past and present
When Velvet Rhodes moved to Glendale from London, she made the Jewel City her home, based off the advice from her aunt, who lived here a short time and suggested that’s where Rhodes should settle.
“When I came to Glendale, I felt like I was home,” she said.
That was in 1986.
She has lived happily in the city ever since and recently finished a new edit of a documentary she made titled “Vintage Glorious Glendale,” highlighting the city’s past and present.
The word “glorious” is in the film’s title as a reference to the city’s diverse population and long-lasting history, evident in old homes and buildings, such as the Masonic Temple, which is undergoing a renovation to convert it into office space, she said.
“We have the old and the new. I think it’s all a good mix of different cultures, restaurants, lifestyles — a very good place to love and grow in,” she said.
In the vein of Huell Howser’s “California’s Gold,” Rhodes explored 20 sites of historical significance and present-day businesses.
She also interviewed longtime residents and featured rarely seen photographs she dug up from the archives at Glendale Central Library and Glendale Community College.
Rhodes was inspired to create the documentary after seeing the Facebook page “Vintage Glendale ‘The Jewel City,’” where residents post memories growing up in Glendale — of families or old businesses and streets as they were in years past.
After screening the initial version at the Alex Theatre last September, Rhodes opted to make another edit, but she didn’t cut much.
The final version lasts two hours and 20 minutes.
“Now, we’ve got it in ship-shape condition,” she said. “The enthusiasm is what I like about the documentary. It’s very enthusiastic, very positive, very upbeat.”
The film will be screened later this month at MGN Five Star Cinema between Jan. 25 and 31, with viewings each night at 7:30 p.m. and afternoon screenings at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 and 31.
For more information, visit velvetrhodesproductions.com.
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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
