Glenwood Springs could have been a star. But it landed on the cutting-room floor.
In March last year, the second unit of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” commandeered Glenwood Canyon for a scene that would pit Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie against each other. At the time, then Colorado Film Commish Stephanie Two Eagles told me the moviemakers were talking about shutting down a tunnel on Interstate 70 to shoot the chase scene, but decided to have “rolling breaks” and not affect traffic as much.
Neither Pitt nor Jolie came to Colorado for the four-day shoot – they were to be put in the scene digitally along with some snow. God knows what they were really doing.
But what was to be the hit flick’s pivotal scene, set in Glenwood with SUVs and a helicopter, was moved to a desert location. After all the fuss, Glenwood Canyon only gets a few seconds of face time, a shot of Jolie rock climbing.
Not that Glenwood Springs isn’t making the most of it. “It’s not really about the time on the big screen,” says Glenwood’s Chamber boss Marianne Virgili. “Filming brings a lot of money to the economy when the crew is here.”
And Glenwood landed the cover of Locations magazine. “We’ve gotten a lot of interest,” Virgili says. “It’s good that people know we’re film-friendly.”
Going once
Michelle Beisner, former Denver apheerleader, Dollhouse Revue dancer and budding starlet, was auctioned off as “Dinner with a Doll” for $150 Wednesday night. And that included dinner for two at Ruth’s Chris! Such a deal.
It was a fundraiser to promote Colorado filmmakers and actors, but scarcely attended. Beisner, who you can see on the new Elway car commercials, was happy a friend bought her. He’s going to eat the steaks with his fiancée; Beisner gets to stay home.
Flix
Cocktails and movies? Not my favorite combo, but it’s on the docket this summer through the Denver Film Society. Summer Circuit will feature six flicks screened at themed cocktail parties hosted by high-profile supporters. Henry Ansbacher will screen “Out of Sight.” Chinese food and “Chinatown” at the home of Lu and Chris Law. And “The Big Lebowski” will be shown at Lucky Strike Lanes, hosted by Hayden Hirschfeld and Matt Keeney.
Call 303-595-3456, ext. 15.
Garrison
Every show at Botanic Gardens is sold out this summer – except Garrison Keillor’s “Live Rhubarb Performance” Tuesday and Wednesday.
Whyzat? Could be that tickets are $70, while in other cities they cost as little as $18.
But I think it’s the venue. People like to sip wine and kick back and listen to jazz, not pay attention to Keillor telling stories.
City spirit
Sightem: Jewel having dinner at Barolo on Wednesday night after her uneven Botanic Gardens show … Campo serving an HK Martini, in honor of Holly Kylberg … Cherry Creek North Gourmet Series features Aaron Sanchez (the hit at Aspen Food & Wine and son of Zarela Martinez) July 23; Martin Yan on July 30; Rick Bayless on Aug. 6 … Sez who: “Ouch! That felt good!” Karen Elizabeth Gordon
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears on Fox 31 News. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
