Landscape Architect Articles

Olmsted Hits the Big Screen!05-23-07 | News

Olmsted Hits the Big Screen!

The 37-minute film on DVD tells the story of Frederick Law Olmsted grappling with the design of Central Park.

The Southern California Chapter of ASLA (SCCASLA) has put together a film on DVD about Frederick Law Olmsted and his involvement with the design of Central Park. It stars Don Marquardt portraying Olmsted in a recorded performance of his acclaimed stage performance. Angela Woodward and Stephanie Landregan of SCCASLA screened the instructive and entertaining 37-minute film at ASLA headquarters in Washington, D.C., and won an award for their efforts.

Don Marquardt, who taught landscape architecture at UCLA Extension, was inspired to get in costume and portray Olmsted and the ups and downs of the Central Park project. He performed it live for ASLA Boston Chapter members, as well as at the retreat for the Southern Calif. ASLA chapters at Lake Arrowhead in 2006. Mr. Marquardt recently performed in character on Olmsted?EUR??,,????'?????<

Andy Bowden, president elect of the SCCASLA, told LASN the film project moved forward when he enlisted his film editor friend Woody Schlom. They wrote the script, filmed it in one day at Heritage Museum in Riverside, then spent four months in post production to add the music and do final editing.

Don Marquardt, who taught landscape architecture at UCLA, was inspired to get in costume and portray Frederick Law Olmsted for the film. He recently gave a performance on Olmsted?EUR??,,????'?????<

The film is a frank look at the design challenges of Central Park and Olmsted?EUR??,,????'?????<
The film has gotten some interest from PBS stations in Los Angeles and New York. The idea is to sell enough DVDs to garner grant monies to supply schools across the U.S. with copies.

The DVD is available for $25 plus $5 for shipping and handling. Contact the Southern Calif. Chapter at (714) 838-3615.