Skyjacked

The sky is falling at Paramount--literally.

The studio has been slowly dismantling its “skywall” backdrop. One of the most beloved landmarks on the lot, the vast expanse of painted sky blue canvas-- stretched against the wall of a prop storage building--was erected in the ‘40s and has been a backdrop for scenes in films ranging from Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments” to “Star Trek IV.” Not to mention TV’s “The Winds of War.”

A memo, issued to studio employees in early August about plans to build a new film and tape storage facility, made only a passing reference to the sky’s dismantlement. This prompted some calls to Outtakes from studio personnel who were worried that Paramount would no longer find a place for the sky in its universe.

Our call to Paramount brought assurances from a spokeswoman that the sky would be rebuilt after the renovation. Coincidentally, the very next day, a second studio memo was issued emphatically stating that point.

And so, after completion of the storage facility in June, 1990, Hollywood preservationists can rest assured that, at Paramount, the sky also rises.