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Milestones
for Somewhere In Time,
“The Most Romantic Love Story Ever Filmed”
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1975 . . . |
Famed
science-fiction/horror author Richard Matheson publishes his novel, “Bid Time
Return”. He was inspired by having seen the photograph of famous American stage
actress, Maude Adams, in Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City, Nevada. He researches her and finds many interesting, puzzling
facts of her oddly reclusive life, which spawns his theory that it may have been a love
affair . . .
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1976 . . . |
| Studio lawyer Stephen Deutsch (now Simon) reads and loves
the novel and seeks out Matheson; makes a handshake agreement to someday turn the novel
into a film. |
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1978 . . . |
Stephen
Deutsch, Richard Matheson and Jeannot Szwarc team up to revise screenplay, and through
much arm-twisting with Universal, finally get the green light to make the film.
Universal 'owed Szwarc a favor' for saving Jaws II, which becomes the biggest hit
for the studio that year. Szwarc calls in his 'favor', his fervent desire to make SIT. But
studio relents only with the condition that they cut the budget in half. |
1979 . . . |
JANUARY:
Hotel del Coronado is found unsuitable for filming because it has too many modern changes,
including aluminum windows, antennas on the roof, also high-rise convention center on
property and modern tennis courts. From the book, “Great American Hotels”, Grand
Hotel is spotted, and director, producer visit Mackinac Island in February, when it is
covered in ice and snow, to scout locations. The decision is made for movie’s
location.
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Filming of Somewhere In Time, Universal Studios,
starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer (retitled from “Bid
Time Return”)
Filming
begins last week of May in Chicago for five days, and then six weeks (June through July
16) on Mackinac Island, Michigan (Jo Addie falls into working on SIT through unique
circumstances, see her article “Barely in
Time”.)
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1980 . . . |
Cast
and Crew Screening, April 12, Universal Studios back lot.
Premiere
of Somewhere In Time, Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Sept 17, 18, 19, 1980 (during
Actors’ Strike, stars are unable to attend.)
Film
Release, October 3, 1980: This is considered the ‘birth’ of the film.
Somewhere
In Time runs in theatres for approximately three short weeks. Critics mostly trash the
film, though a great review appears in Variety magazine. Actors cannot make public
appearances on talk shows to promote it during a strike, so no positive buzz can be
generated for it.
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1981 . . . |
Film
receives its only Academy Award Nomination, for Best Costume Design, but loses to the
film, Tess.
The film is ‘resurrected’ through then existing
cable stations, first to show it is (now defunct) Z Channel, in California. Audience
reaction is astounding. Cable stations receive countless calls and letters asking to run
it over and over.
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| Soundtrack
sales are phenomenal. (Soundtrack by John Barry) SIT is used as a ‘test’ by
Universal, running it on all cable stations then in existence, to see the impact cable can
have on soundtrack sales market. (Article detailing this appeared in Variety magazine)
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1984 . . . |
SIT
is released in the Orient. It becomes a blockbuster hit in Hong Kong, running in The
Palace Theatre for 18 months straight, to lines waiting to see it. (SIT eventually ranks 6th
in the Top Ten Highest Grossing Films of all time in China, named so in the late 1990s.
Four of the top ten are Chinese, six are American films.) |
1990 . . . |
| APRIL: Bill Shepard founds INSITE,
International Network of Somewhere In Time Enthusiasts, and publishes first issue
of quarterly magazine. |
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1991 . . . |
OCTOBER: First Somewhere In
Time Weekend held at Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan. Celebrities include
Director Jeannot Szwarc, Richard Matheson, Costume Designer Jean-Pierre Dorleac, among
others. |
1992 . . . |
OCTOBER: SIT Weekend is
documented in First SIT Event Video, produced
by Jim and Jo Addie, documenting this phenomenon for all to enjoy. (See the Video section of our online store. Video #1 includes
entire Movie Locations Tour, private interview with actor Bill Erwin ("Arthur"),
among other highlights.) |
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1993 . . . |
| OCTOBER: INSITE unveils its tribute to SIT, a permanent
monument to the film, a nickel/bronze plaque with laser-engraved photo commemorating the
“Is it You?” site. Director and Cinematographer unveil plaque during SIT
Weekend. |
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| OCTOBER: SIT Weekend is documented in Event Video #2, including fabulous Celebrity
Panel, featuring Director Szwarc and Cinematographer, Isidore Mankofsky, and private
interviews with each. (See the Video section of our
online store.) Annual Somewhere In Time
Weekends at Grand Hotel are always sold-out events for the last weekend of their
season.
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1994 . . . |
MAY: Bill Shepard
publishes his book, “The Somewhere In Time Story”, a detailed account of the
history of the film, from Richard Matheson’s inspiration, all the way through
production, to the film’s achieving ‘cult classic’ status. Now in its 5th printing, (updated in May 2002),
this is the one collectible no fan should be without. (See Book section of our online store.) |
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| OCTOBER: Christopher Reeve returns to Mackinac Island for SIT
Weekend. (2-hour best-moments coverage, including fabulous private interviews with Chris,
Susan French and editor on SIT Event Video #3,
see our online store) |
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1995 . . . |
| Jo Addie conducts an interview with Jane Seymour on the set
of "Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman". The interview, which took place the day
before Somewhere In Time's 15th Anniversary Celebration, is featured on
the 15th Anniversary Event Video,
available in our online store. |
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| Jo Addie holds 15th Anniversary Celebration for
the film in Los Angeles. Jane Seymour attends, along with 18 other SIT Celebrities. (Event
coverage on 2-hour SIT Event Video #4) |
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1997 . . . |
FEBRUARY: The Official Somewhere In Time Website
debuts, authored and designed by Jim and Jo Addie. APRIL: INSITE
honors Christopher Reeve with his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Jane Seymour and
Glenn Close are INSITE’s chosen speakers. Afterglow party held in Cheers Bar set,
located in Hollywood Entertainment Museum. (SIT
Event Video #5 covers every moving moment)
AUGUST:
Jo Addie holds Midwest Regional SIT Event in Chicago,
Illinois, at the Art Deco movie palace, The Gateway Theatre. Event gives fans opportunity
to celebrate the film for less expense, and with local Chicago Celebrities who appeared in
the film, such as Tim Kazurinsky.
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1999 . . . |
APRIL: INSITE co-sponsors (with "Dr. Quinn"
fans) Jane Seymour’s Star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame. Jo Addie becomes
Universal Studios licensee for the film, designs and creates Official
SIT Collectibles, for the purposes of promoting the film, making fans happy, and
garnering royalties for her friends, Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. (Neither star
received any royalties for sales of SIT movie videos or rentals, which have been
phenomenal for the studio, yet the stars never got to share in the film’s success.
SIT was released just before home video was an issue, so their contracts didn’t
include it. Chris donates all his royalties to spinal cord research.)
AUGUST: Jo
Addie approaches Universal executives, via an e-mail ‘campaign’ she writes
(detailing the film’s legacy with impressive statistics) asking for creation of a 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD,
plus asking for a limited re-release of the film. By October, Film receives special
treatment for restoration, the creation of an expensive ‘answer’ print, which is
shown at Grand Hotel SIT Weekend, October, 1999.
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2000 . . . |
20th Anniversary of Somewhere In Time.
The film is celebrated at three events: an all-day Chicago fete, in June, coordinated by
Jo Addie; an all-day 20th Anniversary Hollywood Party (also coordinated by Jo
Addie) held at Universal’s Backlot Commissary in August, and the 10th
Annual SIT Weekend at Grand Hotel in October. Universal announces release of the 20th
Anniversary Collector’s Edition DVD, (release date October 31) with 3 1/2 hours of
bonus material, including an unprecedented segment on INSITE, (on which Founder Bill
Shepard and Jo Addie appear), acknowledging all that INSITE has accomplished in making the
film a classic. Hour-long documentary features ALL key creators of the film, including
John Barry, Matheson, Szwarc, Simon, all key Cast, including Reeve, Seymour, even
Christopher Plummer. The best thing
- Universal holds an all-out first-time red carpet Premiere for a DVD in NY (AMC Empire
Theatre, October 24th) to kick off the SIT 20th Anniversary Collectors Edition, at which both
Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, as well as Teresa Wright and Stephen Simon attend. 125
INSITE members attend in period costume. This event is monumental in several ways …
finally, the ‘wound’ of having SIT premiere without its
 stars is
healed twenty years later, Universal heralds INSITE for its efforts to promote the film,
and it is the only SIT Event at which both Reeve and Seymour attend together. (Video
segment of this event appears on the 2002 “Jane
Seymour Returns to Mackinac” video, produced by the Addies.) Universal also
creates three new 35mm prints of SIT, for the limited re-release in theatres. SIT is shown
in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, among other cities, throughout
most of 2001.
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2002 . . . |
12th Annual SIT Weekend at Grand Hotel is
graced by first-time return to island by Jane Seymour. (Every great moment is captured for
all to enjoy on SIT Event Video #6, which
includes bonus segment on NY Premiere of SIT). SIT
Producer Stephen Simon publishes his book, “The Force is With You,” describing
over 70 movies with metaphysical themes. He writes most extensively on Somewhere In
Time, and his other Matheson collaboration, What
Dreams May Come, and debuts the book at the SIT Weekend. (Book available in our online store.)
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2004 . . . |
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FEBRUARY: The
Official Somewhere In Time Website gets a beautiful new design, by fan and website
designer, Holly Jonas.
2004 marks 25
years since the filming of SIT on Mackinac Island.
The Original Somewhere in Time Pocket Watch movie prop was
finally located! A 25-year mystery solved! An extensive
9-page feature story about this special timepiece is published in
1st Quarter INSITE issue! The full amazing story, documentation,
close-up photos and history of the watch company who created it,
included. (to receive this issue, see Fan
Club section)
Christopher Reeve passes away, October 10,
2004, at the age of 52. The world loses a friend, star
and inspirational hero of the highest order. (See News Section for
Tribute to Chris info)
INSITE
presents a Memorial to Chris at the 14th Annual SIT Weekend, Oct
29--31.
INSITE publishes a
special 28-page Tribute to Chris in its 3rd Quarter 2004 issue. |
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2005 . . .
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2005 marks Somewhere In Time's 25th
Anniversary.
Made for the event, this video is a compilation of the previous video highlights plus never before seen clips from previous events.
25th Anniversary DVD #7
See the Online Store
Just in time for 2005, the 25th Anniversary
of the movie, an all-new edition of "The Somewhere in Time Story" by
INSITE Founder, Bill Shepard, comes off the press (October 2004)!
The fan's guide to the film, updated and expanded to include all the
milestones for the movie and over 125 photos, this must-have volume
is now available. (See the online
store for all it offers!)
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2006 . . . |
Faced with the imminent demise of INSITE (due to declining membership), the ardent members rallied to keep INSITE going. The new Tiered Membership Program is instituted.
2010 . . . |
2010 marks Somewhere In Time's 30th
Anniversary.
2013 . . . |
The Somewhere in Time Musical by Broadway Producer Ken Davenport had it's World Premiere at Portland Center Stage Theater, Portland OR, May 31, 2013. The musical production ran for 3 weeks. It's customary for new Broadway productions to debut away from the eyes and spies of Broadway to be tested in advance. Many INSITE members journeyed to Portland to see the musical, and were impressed. Sadly, SIT writer Richard Matheson, who had put his blessing on the musical, died just as it was opening, and never got to see it. The project was ultimately shelved.
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June 23, 2013, Richard Matheson, the creator of Somewhere in Time, both novel and screenplay, passed away at his home surrounded by his loved ones. He was 87.
Somewhere in Time
Jewelry is now available! Sweet designs evocative of the
settings and symbols of our favorite love story--for the first time
ever! (see online store)
2015 . . . |
35th Anniversary of Somewhere in Time. INSITE has special issues all year.
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| INSITE President Jo Addie presented
an engraved crystal piece commemorating
the film's 35th Anniversary
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Jane Seymour attends SIT Weekend, and showed us how much she wanted to join us by having the "Man of My Dreams" gown recreated. She was "Elise McKenna" for us too, and revealed, for the first time, very intimate details and stories. DVD of event is availabe from Online Store.
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2018 . . . |
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Director Jeannot Szwarc with
Editor Jeff Gourson |
Director Jeannot Szwarc attends SIT Weekend, just prior to his retirement and moving to France.
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2019 . . .
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| Jane brought her daughter Katie, twin sons Kris and Johnny and Katie's daughter Willa |
Jane Seymour attends SIT Weekend, fulfilling a long-time dream of bringing her chidren and granddaughter to share the experience. DVD of event is availabe from Online Store.
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2020 . . .
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The 40th Anniversary of SIT and 30th annual SIT Weekend hampered by Covid19. Event is held, but very different and smaller than usual.
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