cudak888 

These two scenes are stills from Starz's new "Magic City" drama, set in 1959-era Miami. In these shots, you will see a 1962 (Yep, not period correct - I recommended that they use it anyway so long as the Starburst headbadge wasn't visible) Schwinn Corvette in the background. I believe someone had the foresight to swap out the chainguard to the earlier style:





Need it be said that I was the last person to set the seatpost height on that bike? Heck, it is about time the world sees a Schwinn middleweight with the seatpost set at a sensible height, as opposed to being slammed down into the frame - which is how I found it. Surprise.

Of note, this was also the first bike I've experienced with a 2-speed Bendix kickback. Better than I expected, if a bit fiddly. I'll say one thing in its favor though - after having been mothballed and unridden in a collection prior to the purchase of this bike for the series, the Bendix was ready to go - unlike the two Sturmey AW-equipped Schwinns that were there.

-Kurt

cudak888 

More seatposts on the two best bikes they have in the prop shop - a 1957 Schwinn Jaguar Mark II (the black tank bike) and a Flamboyant Green '58 Corvette (behind the Jaguar). There's a 24" Schwinn in Flamboyant Green behind both of them. The '58 Vette was the absolute best rider of them all, and the Jaguar the biggest pain with a sticking 3-speed cable:


(Sure isn't the University of Miami - it's the Bacardi building off Biscayne Boulevard).

I can't quite make out the one that the rider is on - probably the '62 Corvette with the seatpost slammed down - it's the only other red middleweight Schwinn that I can recall was in the fleet.

EDIT: Caught sight of anomaly #2 - the '62 Schwinn Debutante:



Same bike is hanging up in this pic, to the right. The background shot doesn't do the absolutely perfect condition of this bike one bit of justice:



-Kurt

Michael Angelo 

Great shots, now they have to put you in the credits.......

cudak888 

Hardly. The propmaster is the only one to get credited. I was a subcontractor under two other gentlemen from the industry, and I don't believe either of them received credit either.

Ditto for a lot of the unsung fellows behind the scenes. I met a fellow on the set - Chip Mena is his name - who was building the elevator interiors (amongst other set pieces). That fellow does excellent work, and had been breaking his back for months before I arrived, building the sets. Has he been credited? Nah. Just another subcontractor.

-Kurt

FlatTop

Perfect flavor for that period. What's that bike hanging next to the Debutante? I suppose it's meant to be somebody's Grampa's bike.

cudak888 

The propmaster had brought it with him; supposedly used in a movie about 6 years ago. The fellows at the CABE say it may be a Tribune or a Fenton. It was not used in Magic City, to my knowledge.

I believe he planned to sell it at Copake, for we discussed sales venues for it about 5 months ago.

-Kurt

Drillium Dude 

Who's the bad girl smoking the cigarette? She's purty

Pretty cool deal there, Kurt - kudos to you for your contribution!

DD

pastorbobnlnh 

Kurt,

The bikes look really sharp! Great to know the guy who contributed to the smooth running cycles. Can't wait to start watching the show. Our DVR is set to record.

cudak888 

Just another face on Magic City being chased by one of the hotelier's sons.

I enjoyed working on the fleet, I must say. My only regret is that I didn't get a chance to put an offer on that turn-of-the-century machine; I would have liked to own it.


Thanks, Bob. I'm only sorry to see that they aren't getting as much use as I'd like, given the amount of time I spent getting them rideable. If I recall right, I stripped one of my own bikes to fix the 3-speed cable on the Jaguar; if only due to time constraints. The '73 Raleigh Sports donated its brake pads to one of the 24" Schwinns too.

Let me warn you about the show's content though - It's sometimes rude, occasionally crude, and flagrantly nude. Not a family show by any means, and not my cup of tea either. I'll admit, it's worth tolerating for the cars (and for me, especially, the bikes).

-Kurt