Bank Bandits at Columbus Get Half-Million

Samantha Bulgerin is a huge crime buff and found this little tidbit from the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune article from Sept 21 1926.

Click to enlarge

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I took this photo last Monday of Emily an Extra and did some playing around.

Thanks Emily
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I wonder if Universal knows how lucky they were with the Columbus shoot. Four months of hard winter with not only record snowfall but a snow event every three days.

Then Universal comes to town, melting starts and for two weeks we have basically clear weather. They finish the Columbus shoot and the VERY NEXT DAY "Snow...heavy at times...with thunderstorms possible. Snow accumulation of 8 to 13 inches."

I do what I can! I could only hold up the weather dome for so long.

For anyone near The Set. Did they get the cobblestone up in time? I'm certain the city can not plow and the faux cobblestone was pretty heavy already WITHOUT a foot of snow on it.
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I'm mention in Vanity Fair. In Bryan Burroughs blog titled "Another Side of Celebrity Worship" he compared ME to Diane Sawyer and Anderson Cooper . . . well sort of!

He writes ". . . . . little Diane Sawyers and Anderson Coopers as they snap and blog away. There’s a fellow named Rod Melotte in Columbus, Wisconsin, where they’re filming most of this week, who, I swear, has forsaken his day job to post around the clock."

OK - let me make one thing clear. I took vacation days! My boss has already fired me for the weather (a golfing tee time issue - I go though this every Tuesday) so now I'm working on Plan "B".

In Mr. Burroughs puts the internet hubbub into three groups "film fans, who argue and interrogate one another on the IMDB movie site; Wisconsinites, for whom Public Enemies has been front page news for weeks; and, especially, the legion of Johnny Depp fans"

I believe my little group of 6000 friends is a mixing of all three groups - sort of a blogging whopatooli. What started off as a Wisconsinites PE blog got the IMDB groups attention when somebody mention they wished ALL movies had this kind of excitement. Then the first Johnny Depp photos arrived and all hell broke loose.

If he thinks he was surprised look at it from my point of view. I had been writing a blog for three years, every day (almost) and had nice little orderly following. Nothing special, just my twisted view of the world.

All of a sudden I'm writing articles for The Isthmus (here and here) getting emails from Japanese Movie magazines asking for help, getting called for interviews from two TV stations and worrying about pleasing 6000 daily readers hitting the blog 10,000 times a day! Then there is that little photo book project in my mind and I also want to help the Columbus Historic Landmark and Preservation Committee get a book together.

And while doing all that I have to consider helping my very new friend Fatima Nasiru from Abidjan, Ivory Coast who has Ten million,five hundred thousand United State Dollars. USD ($10,500,000.00) left in fixed suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan.(Her wealthy cocoa merchant father was poisoned by a business associate) .

NO PRESSURE!!

So yesterday I received an email with Media Event as the headline. Not sure what it was but I figured I should take this offer up. After all the Lt Governor will be there.

I arrive and follow three TV News teams into the Colonial Carriage Shop. I stand there and they look at me like I'm some sort of vagrant. I stand my ground.

The Lt Governor is getting miked up and I'm the only still camera in the place. I'm sort of shoved to the right and out of the way of The Big Boys! Lt. Governor Lawton makes a wonderful speech and answers questions and all goes well. I snap some photos but there is a problem. Right behind the Lt Gov is a horse head.

99.99% of the citizens of Wisconsin would think nothing of this. However I'm afraid that 0.01% will think this is some sort of covert political statement. I'm conflicted. The TV guys have the best spot in the house. I'm stuck with a horses head!

Nancy Osterhaus, the Mayor of Columbus is present and gives the key to the City to Mrs. Lawton. I wonder what it can open and is there more then one key? What of the Fire Department needs it!

I snap some photos of the handing of the key ceremony and Nancy points at me and says "I want a copy of that".

It is at this point when the entire world realizes I'm there and everybody looks at me for the first time. GULP! I feel like smiling and waiving but resist.

A few more photos and all relax. Kate who has no last name (the name Kate comes from Greek origin and means "pure" . . . in case you were wondering) looks at me and says "and who are you from" (or something on that order).

The jig is up. I'm screwed. Lets see, there are now five TV crews and one blogger in the house. Which one does not fit.

BUT WAIT. I have 6000 unique readers every day. I promote Columbus, I promote the movie and instead of having to watch a news piece because . . it's ON TV, people come to the blog ON PURPOSE!

I proudly say "I'm from the Public Enemies Columbus Blog" (feeling like a total geek) and wait for a reaction. I see recognition in her eyes like she has heard of it but perhaps not read it. OK, so far so good.

It's then when Robert Chappell notices me and introduces himself. He is the Communications Director for the Office of Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton (or as some shorten it, The CDOLGBL). It seems he also knows about the blog and he continues to smile so I'm still in the good graces of State Government.

I meet Todd Frey finally who has helped out with common information at times and then David Fulton is pointed out. He is the Publicist for Public Enemies and I do not get the huggy vibes from him as I did the other's. However he is cordial and I have his email address so I can ask questions about The Book we have been talking about.

Adam Boor is there and I believe his title is something like Location Coordinator. Nice guy and he has talked to CP(my step daughter). In fact CP's house is(was) powering Base Camp.

Then Lt Governor Lawton looks and smiles and shakes my hand and I say I'm with the Public Enemies Columbus blog and a special big grin hits her face and I have a feeling she knows about it too!.

I didn't see any special big grin from Mrs Lawton when a guy said "I'm with Channel Three" - yea - take that TV dudes (just kidding, I love you guys, feel free to call me anything for an interview).

And that is my story.

The sad thing is that downtown Columbus is missing the boat here. What the places needs is a modern restaurant in a rustic setting. There is The Capri of course but there is nothing that really creates excitement when it comes to food. If Columbus was like SIM City I would create a tax incentive like the State of Wisconsin did or what I believe Lake Mills did.

There needs to be a reason to open a shop in the downtown area. Now there is an opportunity, the brick buildings are begging for new stores. We have people coming to the town, now we need something for them to do!

Easier said then done I know. How about a graduating scale of taxes. The first year you pay 1%. This gives you a chance to get your feet on the ground. Second year 2% (or whatever). Until the third year you are paying normal tax.

Just thinking out loud! I certainly would not want to have to figure that out. LOL
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ONTO Movie things.

As you know Universal left Columbus. Johnny Depp is presumed to have flown to California. The production team will be in Crown Point Indiana next week. I would love to see photos of anything EXCEPT Johnny Depp (unless it's a REAL good one).

As for this blog - I presume I will be losing a lot of you but I do intend on trying to keep up with the movie as much as I can. I HOPE people will continue to stay active.

I also have The Book to work on and I actually now have A PLAN. I really want this to happen. This weekend I hope to create a web page with details on how you can help.

OK OK - I can see you are all getting bored - this will wake you up!

Johnny and Stephen Dorff

So keep snapping photos - I really need more non-Johnny Depp actors.


Thanks!
Rod Melotte

I am the Press!

I do have PE news - just read through the fluff.
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Calm before the storm.

No really.

Today is the first day of spring and if you live in Southern Wisconsin you know that the Winter of 07/08 was a real bear. We broke a record in not only snow fall but the amount of snow events, every three days it seemed for a while. We are on the verge of breaking the 100 inches of snow barrier.

So what does the first day of spring forecast say? WINTER STORM WATCH 5 to 9 inches of snow Friday!
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Very special note to Emily - fear not - I have not forgotten about you (I took a photo of Emily who was an extra and it turned out pretty darn good - but I want her to see it before you guys).
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I have been "talking" to Christine (not Steven King's car but a human) about writing and history and my mom who has traced one side of our family tree back to 1061 England (about).

One interesting tidbit is in her book Snapshots Along the Way.

Genealogy

My ancestor, Lydia Gilbert
was accused of witchcraft in Hartford
in November of sixteen hundred and fifty-four.
Her son was the Marshall of Hartford.
He arrested and jailed his mother.

Her accusers sat as her jury.
She was convicted and sentenced
to die on the gallows at Albany Street and Vine.

In Hartford the hanging of witches
was one of the duties of Marshall.

There's no written proof of her hanging.
That page has been torn from the records,
but in January her husband left Hartford, along
He moved to the village of Nayuag.
In sixteen-sixty he died there
Without ever seeing his son, the Marshall, again.

E.V.Melotte
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I have a meeting in the "bank" (Columbus Visitor Center) today. Not sure what it is but it seems I am now considered PRESS. AWESOME!

I also got a call from WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. They wanted to interview little ol' me last night, BUT - it was Bowling night!! I think they think I am someone else or something.

I got an email from John Peters. It seems Universal contacted him about his street light. He sent them some photos and within 15 seconds (maybe a little longer) they were knocking on his door to borrow it so they could create eight more like it.

The style was used exclusively in Chicago and he thought it was going to be used in "Chicago" but they are turning up in Columbus.



Johnny Depp is in Columbus today and is filming on the streets as we speak and inside I believe this afternoon.

As told to me by CP, Tuesday night Jerry (body guard) comes out of the trailer and tells the crowd that Johnny will come out and sign autographs for 15 minutes. Form a line, no shoving, no screaming, no photos with Johnny but you can take photos of him signing autographs.

If ANYONE does not follow the rules he will pull Johnny in a flash - case closed.

The crowd was well behaved and Jerry kept saying, "That's enough lets go" and Johnny would say "NO, these are my fans".
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I have gotten a ton of mail lately. If you mail me try to make the SUBJECT something that will catch my eye if it is on one topic. I have been having a little trouble going back to look for people from a few days ago.
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As you all know I'm a weather buff and have my own weather reporting station. Monday we were suppose to get rain in the afternoon. Well, you can thank me for the non-rain event. I used my Grinder force field.


That's right - I did that!! Universal owes me big time.

Have you seen this man - he looks a little shifty to me. I'm grimacing because my beardless face is frozen like a fresh dose of Botox.

Columbus news - they are packing up after todays shoot but do not want to tear down what they have put up. Reason is whatever they take down will need to be put back up in a month or so once weather clears up and they come back for multiple days of shooting.

Personally I think we should make the Hollywood guys try their hand a REAL shoveling of REAL snow. However - I have to say that what these guys do amazing. Working 20 hour days over and over. Yea - exciting but hard.

The cobblestone street will be taken to Oshkosh (if they can find in it tomorrow snow).

I better get a few things done before I leave. I actually have more mindless stuff but I'll save it (or forget it).

Rod

PE Columbus - The Book

I'm back to being ordinary Joe Citizen today. At Hard Heads yesterday I was called, underneath someones breath, a paparazzi. I wanted to turn around and tell the dude that I was really a paparazzo and not a paparazzi. Paparazzi is plural and paparazzo is singular.

Did you know that the word paparazzi was introduced by the 1960 film La dolce vita directed by Federico Fellini. One of the characters in the film was a news photographer named Paparazzo.

And now you get a taste of what my NORMAL blog is all about. Random semi interesting things having to do about nothing.

Also something interesting. 7,400 hits Monday, 9,364 hits yesterday.
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I do have some actual interesting topics today.

First I want to post some photos that Michelle took the last couple days. She is a very good photographer and I wanted to share. Then I will talk about an idea. I woke up last night about 2:00 with it and I think it'll be awesome.

Thanks Michelle

The idea.

I have already been through the process of creating a book. My mom had a collection of poetry that she gave to my brother and I of her writings starting at 16 years and ending when she was 60.

I organized the poems and created "Snapshots Along the Way" and it instantly became a best seller and is still in the top 5,367,625 of all books sold on Amazon. (I think at one time it cracked the top 2 million for a day - somebody purchased one).

The book was just for friends - not for profit (I think she got a check once for $25).

I realized a few nights ago that it is she that gave me my writing style (whatever that may be - she did not give her spelling gene to me- CURSE YOU MOTHER!).

ANYWAY - here is my idea.

There are a lot of wonderful photographs from this event and I think we would be missing a huge oppertunity if we did not put together all the best photos from our group into one collection.

I would then create the book and all procedes of the sale of the book would go to the Columbus Historic Landmarks and Preservation Group. Which I believe is responsible for preserving the look and feel of Columbus.

BUT WAIT - THERE IS MORE.

Once we have the book finished why not have a big party at somewhere and have a meet and greet and sale-a-thon for Columbus and all of you guys! The book will also be available on Amazon, Barns&Noble, Borders and so forth.

People submitting photos would be credited and my thought would be having a photo of yourself with page numbers of your photos.

What cha think???

I have talked to many people in the last few weeks that have come up to me and said this movie has really brought the town together. People meeting other people for the first time. This would be an oppertunity to continue this.

ALSO - it has been suggested to me that in 2009 when the movie comes out. We should get a group together and all go see the movie enmasse. It was even mentioned that perhaps we could rent a theater (it can be done) for this event - JUST for us!

Just repeating what people have suggested.

Another shot I took yesterday.

SO - back to the book.

Any of you that have clear, interesting photos of the building process, filming, breaking down, anything that is interesting and you want to contribute - email me with PE BOOK in the SUBJECT - I'm getting a LOT of emails and I need so seperate this a little.

My goal is to have the book flow like a timeline with basically just photos and intersting tidbits. Mostly photos though.

Don't send photo's YET, I have to get the infrastructure for this ready. Just an email that you are interested.

I will keep information of the project updated here for all others.

Here is a photo from one of the drivers of a 33 Graham. Grahams were used as police cars because they were faster then the average car and had a lower center of gravity. Thanks Scott and Kristie.

So - anyone know what is going on Thursday? I have heard the yare coming back in April and Oshkosh is getting ready for a scene or two.

I've gotten mail from Crowne Point Indiana as they prepare and I'm hoping to have photos from those places in the future.

Cheers
Ordinary Rod.