There must be something about Hollywood that brings out the dupes in people. In today’s Globe we read that yet another small time Hollywood huckster has deluded yet another small New England town into believing a lot of hype that a little bit of due diligence would have exposed as claptrap. This time it’s Plymouth, the oldest town in New England, and the huckster is a guy named David Kilpatrick. My very local readers will immediately recall a certain Joe Gentile, who was going to bring that old Hollywood magic to Preston, until sad reality caught up to him and the Town.
At least Preston always maintained a certain amount of skepticism. It looks like Plymouth went into the thing with both eyes shut.
When Plymouth’s Town Meeting convened in October 2008 to pass judgment on Plymouth Rock Studios executives’ grand proposal to bring to town what they called “Hollywood East,’’ the results of the vote were a foregone conclusion. But the studio didn’t skimp on pageantry.
“For us at Plymouth Rock Studios this is all about our kids,’’ declared Kirkpatrick. “There is nothing more extraordinary than the wonder of making stories, making pictures.’’
The lights went down and the video rolled. TV personality Leeza Gibbons smiled on the people of Plymouth, reminding them, “You all are so fortunate that you have right in your midst . . . a brand-new Hollywood.’’
Then came a brief review of the plan and a montage of classic film scenes set to soaring music, ending with Judy Garland and her companions skipping down the Yellow Brick Road.
Soon, it was time for Plymouth’s town meeting members to debate tax breaks and re-zoning a golf course for 2 million square feet of sound stages, office space, retail businesses, housing, and a hotel.
Except there was no debate. Members voted to cut off discussion before it started, and hoots and applause filled the hall.
Yet another River City, sans trombones.
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