Ours is a wide but sometimes insular hobby. But here's a case where our shared enthusiasms lead to something wonderful for an entire community. And we can all thank Cortlandt Hull, the master artist from Witchs' Dungeon in Connecticut, for helping to take our hobby to a another dimension.
Thirty years ago, Hull was asked to help restore the Rec Park Carousel, a 60-horse wooden carousel in Binghamton, N.Y., that Rod Serling rode as a child. Built in 1925, the memory of the carousel was etched so deeply in Serling's psyche that a similar carousel was used in the seminal TWILIGHT ZONE episode, 'Walking Distance.'
A second more lavish restoration project began in January, and Hull not only helped out again, but transformed the panels above the horses into representations of some of TWILIGHT ZONE's most famous episodes.
"When they told me they wanted me to come back and do the rest of the scenics, I kinda begged,'' Hull told Binghamton's Channel 34. " I wanted to do this. And they were very kind and they were able to clear it that I could do these paintings and I'm so thrilled."
Cortlandt sent these photos to the CHFB, and we couldn't be prouder to show them.
Wrote Cortlandt:
"Here's some examples of the new paintings I did for the Rod Serling Carousel in
Bill Mumy "It's A Good Life" & Gig Young in "Walking Distance"
Thirty years ago, Hull was asked to help restore the Rec Park Carousel, a 60-horse wooden carousel in Binghamton, N.Y., that Rod Serling rode as a child. Built in 1925, the memory of the carousel was etched so deeply in Serling's psyche that a similar carousel was used in the seminal TWILIGHT ZONE episode, 'Walking Distance.'
A second more lavish restoration project began in January, and Hull not only helped out again, but transformed the panels above the horses into representations of some of TWILIGHT ZONE's most famous episodes.
"When they told me they wanted me to come back and do the rest of the scenics, I kinda begged,'' Hull told Binghamton's Channel 34. " I wanted to do this. And they were very kind and they were able to clear it that I could do these paintings and I'm so thrilled."
Cortlandt sent these photos to the CHFB, and we couldn't be prouder to show them.
Wrote Cortlandt:
"Here's some examples of the new paintings I did for the Rod Serling Carousel in
Binghamton, N.Y. (his hometown).
" I did them in the style of the period, "Fairground Art" (like vintage circus posters, but very detailed).
"This makes the third carousel in the Binghamton/Broome County area, which I have done
an entire top border or "crown" of paintings. It was a labor of love for Serling's work.
" I did them in the style of the period, "Fairground Art" (like vintage circus posters, but very detailed).
"This makes the third carousel in the Binghamton/Broome County area, which I have done
an entire top border or "crown" of paintings. It was a labor of love for Serling's work.
Best wishes - Cortlandt"
-- Here's the carousel fully restored:
-- Here's the carousel fully restored:
My paintings of Shatner in "Nightmare At 20,000 Feet" & Richard Kiel in "To Serve Man"
each image area is 6ft. wide, full rounding board panel is 9 ft.
Bill Mumy "It's A Good Life" & Gig Young in "Walking Distance"
Rod Serling portrait, with a bit of "A Stop At Willoughby" in the background (the
band concert pavillion is really from Binghamton & contains a plaque honoring Serling)
Also, Burgess Meredith in "Time Enough At Last".
Just fantastic work, Cortlandt. For decades to come kids will ask what the scenes are, and the legacy of TZ will live on as mothers and fathers say, "But then his glasses break,'' or "He could send grown-ups he didn't like out into a field,'' or 'Turns out it was cookbook!''
david
Detail of "Time Enough At Last" look at the titles of the books - Rick Baker
was also born in Binghamton, so I honored him with one of the books on the
right, plus Mark Hamill, Bill Diamond, June Foray & others.
Here's the plaque:
Cortlandt continues:
Dedication was on Mon. Aug. 29th at Recreation Park, in
Here's a newspaper link as well: 'Twilight Zone' murals added to Rod Serling's carousel in Binghamton, N.Y."The Howling Man" with John Carradine & Robin Hughes as "The Devil"
"Living Doll" with "Talky Tina" & Telly Savalas
Here's the plaque:
Cortlandt continues:
Just sent these to Bill Mumy - he loved it.
Dedication was on Mon. Aug. 29th at Recreation Park, in
Binghamton, N.Y.
Just fantastic work, Cortlandt. For decades to come kids will ask what the scenes are, and the legacy of TZ will live on as mothers and fathers say, "But then his glasses break,'' or "He could send grown-ups he didn't like out into a field,'' or 'Turns out it was cookbook!''
david
