The Day I Sat in the Johnny Depp Chair - Part 2 - The Movie!

Okay, here it is!  In continuance of my previous photo post, see me in moving picture-like form sit in the very chair that Johnny Depp sat in when he starred as John Dillinger in the movie, "Public Enemies"!
I tag along as Kevin narrates our adventure. While rolling on the bus I took his video and slapped it all together.

On April 8, 2008 filming took place inside the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, IL for the movie, "Public Enemies", starring Johnny Depp.
On September 23, 2010, "Hotel California - A Salute to the Eagles" arrive there for a day of load-in and soundcheck in preparation for the evening's performance.

The Day I Sat in the Johnny Depp Chair - Part 2 - The Movie!

The Day I Sat in the Johnny Depp Chair! - Part 1

Wanted to write something to try and convey the feeling of performing at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, IL, one recent evening in September 2010.  Of course, to get to stand on any stage is a blessing, but there a few throughout the year that our definitive highlights.

You see, for one day in April 2008, some filming for the movie, "Public Enemies" took place in this very venue.  That would mean Johnny Depp (among many other talented people in the cast) worked as well in this same theatre. (Of course, there are other legends who have performed on this very stage, not just "in a seat", but on the stage, such as Tony Bennett, etc.  That's another subject but just the same of a thrill for me.) 

Okay, this is the way I see it. I admire JD's work ( a lot of it, anyway). He's in show business. I'm in show business (Different, uh, "level", I know, but we both entertain for a living). So it's inspiring to be working in the same place as said sometimes-pirate.  Savy? Kind of like a brotherhood of show biz-like types.

Here's a little story: Our stage manager for the night at the Paramount told us that as she was "just doing her job" during the April shoot, making sure the wrong people were not passing into the sacred inner filming sanctum, this guy tried to get in the side door of the theatre, and she was like, "Excuse me sir, can I help you"?  Little did she know, it was Johnny Depp just trying to get to "his seat" (See photo below).  She didn't believe it was him at first until finally to convince her he belonged he had to say to her, "I'm Johnny Depp". [!]

She told me she didn't recognize him without his pirate makeup!

Here are some photos from that day (Once I get my hands on Kevin's video I'll post that in Part 2. Stayed tuned!).

Sneaking away from soundcheck and looking inconspicuous in the Johnny Depp chair (Sorry, looking the wrong way-see below)

Here he is. There I was.

Once again, me....

....Him (Them)

Was that cool or what?!

~ sp

The Day I Sat in the Johnny Depp Chair! - Part 1

In The Shadow of the Two JD's (Depp and Dillinger)

From the "I Was There" files:

Before leaving for yet another tour of HC shows (currently typing this on a ranch in Altamont, UT), I went to see Johnny Depp's latest movie, "Public Enemies".

Now, it so happened one evening in June of last year 2008 I had the priviledge of doing a Hotel California show at "Downtown Alive" in Aurora, IL, where some filming for said movie was recently done inside the Paramount Theatre in Aurora some days before our arrival.

Watch this short video below and notice the parking structure, Subway sign and the alley in back of the theatre. Then take a look at my photos below.

Took this picture on that very spot

And another - the alley behind Paramount Theatre

A shot from stage facing parking structure

The night's show & "sea of people" shot.

In addition, in August 2007, Hotel California performed in Manitowish Waters which happened to be the location of the Little Bohemia Lodge where John Dillinger stayed and where a portion of "Public Enemies" was eventually filmed in 2008. Once again, I was there! :)

Well, not at Little Bohemia Lodge, but we stayed at Voss's Birchwood Lodge who's owner's mother was the sister of the wife of the owner of the Little Bohemia at the time of Dillinger's appearance. Following? For the whole story, CLICK HERE.

Apparently, the set designer for "Public Enemies" may have used furniture from the very room I stayed in at Voss's! Who knows?

"Oh, the places you will go!" ~ Dr. Seuss

In The Shadow of the Two JD's (Depp and Dillinger)