In honor of last night's (very lengthy) Hollywood prom, we're kicking off our new micro Q&A feature, Three Questions For?, with a Lincoln Park real estate developer who splits his time between historic restoration and old Hollywood nostalgia. Dwight Cleveland recently donated more than 1,000 classic movie posters to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (not that it will leave much of a dent in his collection of 35,000). Curbed contributor Gwendolyn Purdom caught up with the dedicated hobbyist as he prepped his own Oscar party:
Curbed: When you're not collecting movie posters, you're a real estate developer in Lincoln Park. Can you draw any comparisons between the world of real estate and the world of Hollywood?
DC: The rules are: there are no rules.
Curbed: Your firm, Longstreet Renovation, focuses on restoring historic properties and your movie poster collection features rare vintage pieces. What is it about the past and its art and architecture that interests you?
DC: There is a certain consistency and confidence many of us derive from timelessness, those things that stand the test of being interesting throughout generations. Buildings that are always there as they have been and have that certain visual stature, give our community of sense of self-respect. As a restorer of historic properties I consider myself just a custodian, hoping that I can bring back some of the visual magic that neglected properties may have suffered. Sometimes I am able to create a great blend, tipping my hat to the past by restoring all those great three dimentional highlights of homes (fireplace mantels, moldings, stain glass, banisters, and fretwork) while combining the benefits of modern technological advances. Film posters pique that same visual curiosity. I was first drawn to the strong graphics of the early 20th century posters.
Curbed: Out of all the movies featured on your posters, which one would you award an Oscar to for "Best Architecture"?
DC: Fistful of Dollars (1967, Japanese) - Classic, streamlined, and clean. Clint is so good we recognize him even when he has his back turned. No need for questions, his gun has that residual smoke of success. The sun will set on another fine day.
[Photo via Brooks School Alumni Profile]