Photographer Helene Gregoire (left), and award-winning reporter, show host and documentarian Cecile Delarue (inset, and right) from French TV. Photo by Joe Ditler.
Last March a film crew from French TV arrived in Coronado determined to capture the magic of our city in a half-hour, prime time television documentary.
Cecile Delarue (reporter, director and editor), and her photographer Helene Gregoire, spent a week here interviewing various people and building a story designed to cover Coronado history from land, sea and air.
The show aired last week on Thalassa/France TV-3 during primetime hours. Thalassa is one of the oldest TV shows in that country, broadcasting for more than 30 years. The Thalassa show on Coronado was picked up throughout Europe and parts of Africa and Asia.
While here, they enlisted my historical knowledge of Coronado, and commandeered the Coronado Brewing Company’s 1924 Model T truck, “Olive Oyl,” to drive around the island. Together we explored many wonderful aspects of our city, both today and from years past.
Along the way they interviewed Kathy Clark, Miss Coronado 1958, about her experience with Marilyn Monroe during the filming of “Some Like It Hot.” And there are others you’ll recognize along the way.
The documentary is in French, so I can only hope they made me more articulate in the translation than I actually am (smile). But it was a wonderful experience to be a part of, culminating with a chartered helicopter ride with the three of us, zooming low over Coronado and capturing stills and film of our city.
The ladies had a particular fascination with the Hotel del Coronado, Marilyn Monroe, beers at the Coronado Brewing Company, and the “gold” in our sand. As you’ll see, the documentary also covers Moki Martin’s Super Frog event. They take a tour of McP’s Irish Pub with a local SEAL Team captain and introduce viewers to the Sandcastle Man, who builds a marvelous tribute to Thalassa in the sand in front of the Del.
Below is the link to the show, which aired throughout France and Europe, Africa and parts of Asia. The second link is a short video/slideshow of our helicopter trip, which shows aerial views of Coronado the general populace just doesn’t get much of an opportunity to see. I hope you enjoy it.
Joe Ditler, writer/historian, after an aerial adventure over the city of Coronado. Photo by Cecile Delarue.
Half hour French TV documentary on Coronado:
http://www.france3.fr/emissions/thalassa/reportage-coronado-d-or-et-d-eau_126386
Short aerial adventure over Coronado:
https://coronadotimes.com/profiles/blogs/french-film-crew-takes-coronado-to-210320131640
This item prepared by Part-Time PR, serving all of Coronado’s PR and history needs. For more information contact Joe Ditler at (619) 435-0767 or [email protected].
