It’s been said that Schroon Lake is the cross-roads of the world, and the more we spend time here, the more we believe it. There are so many small world connections that continue to amaze us. So it’s no surprise when Emily Rossi-Snook recently wrote to us to tell us about a Schroon connection to the Grammy’s Miami, Hollywood and Marlon Brando. Read on. From Emily:
“Any Schroon Lakers going to be in Miami after March 4? The History Miami Museum is hosting the traveling Frank Sinatra exhibit, curated by the Grammy Museum. It originated in New York at Lincoln Center, then on to LA to the Grammy Museum and will open in Miami on March 4. It will also be in Brazil for the summer Olympics. What does this have to do with Schroon Lake? Look closely at the title cards for the Sinatra movie posters; "From the Rossi Collection, Strand and Paramount Theaters, Schroon Lake, NY.
OK, this is a stretch for Schroon Lake and you have to be an "Old Timer", but the documentary film "Talk To Me Marlon", about the actor Marlon Brando is on the "short list" for best documentary film" for the Oscars. Watch the trailer by clicking here.
It was also on David Edlestein's Best Ten Films of 2015. I hear that it is now available on Showtime. Again, what does this have to do with Schroon Lake? The home movie footage from the filming of "On the Waterfront" with Brando horsing around off screen has a clear shot of Charlie Rossi, long time Schroon Laker and owner /operator of the former Paramount Theater on Main Street (Check out the plaque at the community garden, site of the Paramount ).
It was Charlie's home movies of the screening of "Waterfront" that was used for this documentary. NOTE: for those of you who don't remember Charlie, he's wearing his cap backwards in the clip. This footage with Brando and Charlie Rossi was used a couple of other times; Feb 20, 2013 on ABC news, "Mad About Oscar" with Katie Couric, has the clip with Marlon and Charlie.
The Rossi's lived in Schroon Lake and Hoboken, NJ. Charlie loved all aspects of the movies and when Hollywood came to his two hometowns, he was there with his 16mm camera. He was an extra on the set of "Waterfront"; you can spot him in several scenes in the movie. He was also a stand-in for Lee J. Cobb to prepare for several shots”.
Editor’s Note: The Rossi’s also have footage from behind the scenes of the filming of "Marjorie Morningstar" at Scaroon Manor in 1957 which Emily’s daughter Elena Rossi-Snook, a film archivist encouraged her mum to deposit with the Academy film archive in Hollywood, where they oversee preserving and lending out of the footage.
