There’s a question that’s been bugging me for a while and I couldn’t find an answer anywhere (maybe just because it’s a bit tricky to search or maybe it’s a very stupid question!).
Why was Hook and Ladder #8 brown in the movie, while we all know it’s reddish/orangey now? Did it just use to be painted brown way back then? Those being bricks their “natural” color seems to be the current.
Also, does anyone have old pictures of that building? I mean older than the movie.
(I intend to build a Lego model of it. Yes, I’m aware there are a lot already… one mine too, I made it 20 years ago, but it’s terrible and now I want to make a good one.)
Also, notice the darker part on the left… It’s there in all the recent picture… might be what’s left of the old color? Or maybe just a damp patch or something.
I considered the idea of it being a “lie”, too, anyway. Might be!
Keep in mind that in the early 2000s, Hook & Ladder 8 underwent restoration work, which may have affected the colour of the brickwork due to the removal of several decades of grime (not to mention, what remained of the black paint that had been applied for Ghostbusters).
The only pre-Ghostbusters photo I’ve seen is hung up in the engine bay, showing the station back when it used to be twice as wide as it is now, the same photo appeared on a short segment of Secrets of New York centered around the Firehouse, which you can view (along with the photo, and some apparant blueprints of H&8) at Spook Central - The Firehouse
It kind of answers my question too: “The brown coloring of the building from the first movie has faded to reveal a brighter red seen in the second movie.”
So it seems that its “real” color should be the brown we see in the first movie (like an idiot I hadn’t checked GB 2).
the brown/red bricks were painted a dark gray for post-renovation scenes of the first film.
the gray bricks were repainted brownish-red sometime before principle photography of GB2. my guess is the building was repainted after production of the first film wrapped. not nearly as much work was done to the firehouse in prep of GB2-- even the ‘hook and ladder 8’ sign was left uncovered. this was probably due to the NYC portion of GB2 principle photography being only ten days long with a small skeleton crew.
According to the page linked above it would seem that the brown color just faded away between the two movies.
Still, its “dark side” (the one that is never shown in the movies) is still brown. Here’s a pic I took a couple of months ago:
So it does seem that is was repainted (or that the brown paint was actively removed to show the bricks’ original color).
Also, it seems to me that the building remains brown throughout the whole first movie… it’s brown before they buy it and it’s brown post-renovation, isn’t it?
It’s a completely different colour once it’s transformed into their headquarters. Before purchase, the bricks are bare (as has already been mentioned), but somewhat dirty. After it’s been purchased by the Ghostbusters, the brickwork is painted black, I think it only looks brown because of the colour grading in the film.
You were absolutely right and I was absolutely wrong. Dark grey/black it is!
I also found in other threads all the great data and pictures about measures and about the inside (of Firehouse 23). I’ll sure use that info in my model when I get to do it, so thanks for that too!
I’m not convinced by that, as the brickwork on the right side and front appears seemless, given the darker smudge on the left-hand side of the front, and the unmatched wall in the alley I’m convinced the left side of the old configuration was the part that was demolished.
Yeah, I was wondering about that too. It would have seemed logic to demolish the right half, since Varick Street had to be widened. But looking at the building it does seem that it’s the other half that was cut. But how could it be? Did the “move” the left half? I don’t know how these things work (or worked in the 1910s).
(Kingpin, I know the LA Firehouse is longer, I’ll have to compromise and use the main objects)
“Hook and Ladder Company 8, at North Moore and Varick Streets.–This is now a double company, and it is to be reduced to a single company, thus making available one officer and nine firemen. This house is to be moved from its present site to give room with the widening of Varick Street. When removed it will occupy a part of its present site, and a part of a vacant lot adjoining. The cost of removal is to be $20,000. It was first planned to buy a site across the street at a cost of $110,000 and $25,000 for the removal, but by utilizing part of the present site and the adjoining lot, which is owned by the city, and reducing the size of the building, the cost of the entire change has been cut down to $20,000.”
wow you learn something everyday! I never knew it was split in two, Do we have any more pics of this? I don’t think i ever actually clicked that the colour was different I thought it was just something in post production-for what ever reason!! I
slightly off topic, i had always wondered who the plaque was for on the front of the building of gb1? I know the present one is for Lt Vincent g Hollaran who died tragically in 9/11 but they have simply replaced someone elses name. This thread actually motivated me to look and I found this
For other old pictures I found this postcard from 1912: http://www.shilohpostcards.com/p10475.jpg but I’m not sure it’s “our” Hook and Ladder, a lot of things sure look different.
