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ArmandV101
January 8th, 2006, 09:06 PM
The final text for the Godzilla plaque has been completed (written by Peter H. Brothers). We are looking for a March 25 target date for the plaque dedication. The plaque's text will be:


GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS!

On November 3, 1954, Toho Studios in Japan released a monster movie that was an allegory of the atomic bombings and fire raids visited upon the Japanese during the closing months of the Second World War. Produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka, directed by Ishiro Honda, with special effects supervised by Eiji Tsuburaya and scored by Akira Ifukube, this grim, powerful and moving film -- known as "Gojira" -- was seen by over nine million moviegoers and was one of the top-ten money grossing films of that year. Now considered a classic, the film also ushered-in Toho's Golden Age of Fantasy Films.

The following year, "Gojira" screened at the Toho Theater in Little Tokyo, where it attracted the attention of American film distributor Edmund Goldman, who later paid $25,000 for the theatrical and television rights to the film. To increase its appeal for American audiences, Terry Morse was hired to direct new footage to be inserted into the original Japanese film. The footage starred actor Raymond Burr and was filmed over a 24-hour period at the studios of Visual Drama, Inc., located at 129 North Vermont Avenue. The completed film, now called "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!," was released on April 4, 1956, by Trans World Pictures and introduced Japanese science-fiction films into popular Western culture.

As the Americanization of Godzilla took place at this location in 1956, this plaque commemorates the 50th anniversary of a milestone in motion picture history.---PHB

Dedicated, March **, 2006, by

Eugene Hernandez, Principal, Belmont Elementary School
The Godzilla Society of North America
Platrix Chapter No. 2, E Clampus Vitus





**Actual dedication date to be announced.

ArmandV101
January 28th, 2006, 10:42 AM
The Godzilla Society of North America and Platrix Chapter No. 2, E Clampus Vitus have joined forces to place a plaque at the former location of Visual Drama, Inc. commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the American version of "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" Saturday, March 25 at 11:00 am at Belmont Elementary School, Vermont Avenue and First Street, Los Angeles. The public is invited.

It was 50 years ago that director Terry Morse directed actor Raymond Burr for his scenes in the 1956 science-fiction classic that were edited into the 1954 Japanese film by Toho Co., Ltd. The scenes were filmed in a small studio at 129 N. Vermont Avenue. The site of the studio is now a new elementary school that is nearing completion. Terry Morse, Jr., the director's son, will be attending the plaque dedication.

The funding for the plaque was provided by small donations from Godzilla's North American fans.