BajaNomad

"VIVA BAJA" Film 1975

Bat2210 - 9-19-2014 at 12:05 PM

Saw an request about this film from many years ago. Did anything ever come about? I was one of the pilots on that film. Roger Tilton director and Barry Herron filmed it. Thanks

DENNIS - 9-19-2014 at 12:32 PM

Wait til David K sees your request. If he doesn't have your answer, probably no one will.

David K - 9-19-2014 at 09:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bat2210
Saw an request about this film from many years ago. Did anything ever come about? I was one of the pilots on that film. Roger Tilton director and Barry Herron filmed it. Thanks


Hi Bat... It was me who asked about the Omni-Max film shown at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater in San Diego. I was friends with Mitch Fleet who wanted me involved in the locations to be filmed... but that was already done when that idea came up. My 1975 Baja Road Guide was sold at the Space Theater gift shop when that film ran... thanks to Mitch (Reuben's grandson).

I hoped after all these years and the Internet, for sure I could find that great short film "Viva Baja" to see again... My web site http://vivabaja.com reflects the enthusiasm for adventure in Baja that film inspired... made shortly after the Baja highway was completed.

I hope you have some news that we can see the film on You Tube or some other way???

Thank you and welcome to Baja Nomad!
David

Bat2210 - 9-20-2014 at 06:14 AM

David, boy I wish I could find a copy of the film (only 11 minutes) years ago somebody at RHF said they could get me a video but never happened. Knew Mitch well he did not go on the Viva Baja film. A few months later we did an IMAX film on the Rivers of North America. Mitch went with us on that one we were roommates and drank a lot of beer. If Mitch is still around he might be able to help with Rueben H Fleet Space center. Larry.

David K - 9-20-2014 at 07:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bat2210
David, boy I wish I could find a copy of the film (only 11 minutes) years ago somebody at RHF said they could get me a video but never happened. Knew Mitch well he did not go on the Viva Baja film. A few months later we did an IMAX film on the Rivers of North America. Mitch went with us on that one we were roommates and drank a lot of beer. If Mitch is still around he might be able to help with Rueben H Fleet Space center. Larry.


I lost contact with Mitch back in the late 70's... He came with me to watch the Baja 500 once and we used to communicate on CB radio regularly... we both lived in the Escondido area. Last I heard he was a bartender (I think?)! That would have been a dangerous career for him, I think! lol

When his dad was promoting and building Organ Power Pizzas, I used to go to the locations with Mitch and hear the organist play those giant organs... Pizza was good too! Guess that didn't last... ? We went to the one in Clairemont Mesa, by the 163, but I recall he had one in Point Loma, Solana Beach, and ???

If you ever come across that video, remember my web site "VivaBaja.com" and use the email link there to contact me (or here on Nomad), please.

Thank you and "Viva Baja"!!!

Bat2210 - 9-20-2014 at 05:24 PM

David, the heir to the Fleet fortune probably wasn't a bartender very long. I went to an Organ Power Pizza opening in Mission Bay, good fun. Next week I'm going to contact the IMAX people at RHF space theater and see if they can help. Problem is it was in old film format and needs to be converted. Thank Larry

elgatoloco - 9-20-2014 at 05:50 PM

I am having dinner tonight with the longest tenured employee at RHF. She started the first day they opened and is still there. I will ask her about the film when she gets to the casa. Maybe she can track it down. You never know.

David K - 9-20-2014 at 05:57 PM

Thanks Matt, that would be awesome! Reminds me of when we shared Bajo California video.

Bat2210 - 9-28-2014 at 10:29 AM

During the filming of VIVA BAJA the director of photography Barry Herron took many personal pictures during filming. We went down the west coast to Cabo the up the east coast. While in Scammons Lagoon we saw Gigi the whale they let go years earlier. Barry Harron passed this April I'm trying to get in touch with his family to get some copy's of the Baja pictures. It would be nice if RHF converted that old film to digital.

Bat2210 - 9-28-2014 at 10:54 AM

Here are the aircraft we flew on the filming of VIVA BAJA 1975. A Beech AT 11 and a Beech Staggerwing the first was in La Paz March 1975 and the second was just north of Ensenada along the coast you can just see the Staggerwing ahead of me and the IMAX camera mounted in the nose of the AT11.

[Edited on 9-28-2014 by Bat2210]

David K - 9-28-2014 at 11:59 AM

email me the photo file and I will post it here! info @ vivabaja.com .

c311647 - 9-28-2014 at 02:10 PM

Sadly, it appears Mitch passed away quite some time ago. Here is the link.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31...

Bat2210 - 9-28-2014 at 02:44 PM

Sad, Mitch was a good kid, passed way to young.

elgatoloco - 9-28-2014 at 03:24 PM

My fri md from the fleet said that Viva Baja was the second film ever screened at RHF. She was going to talk to the current head projectionist who is the son of the original projectionist and see what can be found. She mentioned what a great guy Mr. Tilton was and how he would always come to the fleet when one of his projects was playing and whenever they had anniversaries and such.

Bat2210 - 9-28-2014 at 08:17 PM

Roger Tilton was a great man. We had fun doing VIVA BAJA and the unfinished Rivers of North America. I'm a retired airline pilot. I was building my flight time during the filming. Please let me know if they can get the old film to digital. Thanks Larry

rts551 - 9-28-2014 at 08:26 PM

Viva Baja should have been copyrighted by the film maker. or maybe it was????

BajaNomad - 9-29-2014 at 07:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
Viva Baja should have been copyrighted by the film maker. or maybe it was????


What's the issue regarding copyright concerns? Only certain parts of a movie may be copyrighted. Not seeing the relevance here. If you're referencing trademarks, it's even less of an issue.

Bat2210 - 9-29-2014 at 07:19 AM

Having been one of the pilots on this film, it shows Baja in its infancy 1975. With many aerial shots it would be a great film to see now. Hopefully RHF can or already has converted it from film to digital.

rts551 - 9-29-2014 at 08:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaNomad
Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
Viva Baja should have been copyrighted by the film maker. or maybe it was????


What's the issue regarding copyright concerns? Only certain parts of a movie may be copyrighted. Not seeing the relevance here. If you're referencing trademarks, it's even less of an issue.


you are correct titles can be trademarked but not copyrighted.

Photos from Bat2210

David K - 9-29-2014 at 09:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bat2210
Here are the aircraft we flew on the filming of VIVA BAJA 1975. A Beech AT 11 and a Beech Staggerwing the first was in La Paz March 1975 and the second was just north of Ensenada along the coast you can just see the Staggerwing ahead of me and the IMAX camera mounted in the nose of the AT11.





EdZeranski - 9-29-2014 at 10:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
I was friends with Mitch Fleet who wanted me involved in the locations to be filmed... but that was already done when that idea came up.(Reuben's grandson).
Thank you and welcome to Baja Nomad!
David


I knew Mitch and Sandy too!. Mitch and I worked together with Del Shoberg building pipe organs.

EdZ

David K - 9-29-2014 at 10:59 AM

Small world of Baja...

Sad to hear that young Mitch died so long ago and only a dozen or so years after he and I were at Valle de Trinidad watching Mickey Thompson, and the rest race by.

I am naturally interested in what happened, and also what was the fate of Organ Power Pizza? Great that the Space Theater continues on...

Organic

EdZeranski - 9-29-2014 at 02:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K


I am naturally interested in what happened, and also what was the fate of Organ Power Pizza? .....


I helped Wendell Shoberg haul the PB organ to Long Beach where it was shipped to Australia.

EdZ

David K - 9-29-2014 at 03:38 PM

There were several at a one time... I recall the Clairmont & 163 one of course, where I went... and others in Solana Beach, Point Loma, ??? etc. Preston (Mitch's dad) was most excited about them... and had Mitch and I give our input (as teenagers or early 20's).

elgatoloco - 9-29-2014 at 08:00 PM

From my friend at the fleet on Viva Baja

" Created 1975. Last ran 1988 in film festival. Has 6 trac mag sound; can't run anymore since we're all digital. 11 min long. Currently in Fleet vault and last checked in 1999. It has not been digitized. Not likely to be. Print/film quality is not comparable to what we have today"

David K - 9-29-2014 at 09:10 PM

Thanks Matt .. maybe some Baja fan film expert will save it somehow?