Lawrence Cristelli built a lot of things in his career, but his kids liked the movie set best.
Cristelli, 78, who died Jan. 29 after a heart attack, built the set for the movie “Barquero,” not a memorable film, but something that fascinated his kids and a lot of Cañon City residents.
The 1970 Western was set by a river, which actually was a man-made reservoir filmed in such a way as to look like a river.
The set included a lot of extras, such as a church and a barge, the latter kept afloat with huge 50-gallon steel drums, said his son Philip Cristelli of Cañon City. The church was “a skeleton” of a church, said Philip Cristelli, because it had to be torn down in the movie.
Lawrence Cristelli and his company, Cristelli Builders also built Buckskin Joe near the Royal Gorge, which was a re-creation of a small western town that would lure tourists.
The film, starring Lee Van Cleef and Forrest Tucker, had one of its premieres in Cañon City.
The Cristelli family went to the movie, but Lawrence Cristelli wasn’t a film buff. He preferred hunting and fishing.
“It wasn’t much of a movie,” said Philip Cristelli.
Cristelli also built the railroad trestle for a tourist train near the Gorge. His brother, Albert Cristelli, worked with him in the business.
In addition to homes and cabins, and the remodeling on his own house, Cristelli renovated Merlino’s Belvedere Restaurant, a well-known steak house in Cañon City, and a pizza parlor.
“He did everything — dug the hole, built the foundation, did the dry wall and roofing,” said his son James Cristelli of Colorado Springs.
Lawrence Joseph Cristelli was born in Pueblo on Sept. 27, 1932, and was reared in Florence. He graduated from Holy Cross Abbey in Cañon City. He renovated the monastery. The school is now closed.
Lawrence Cristelli married Katherine Marie Procarione on Sept. 26, 1959. In addition to her and his sons, he is survived by two other sons: Joseph Cristelli and Mark Cristelli, both of Cañon City; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. His son Matthew died as an infant.
Virginia Culver: 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com
