And thats where the lost city of demille lay undisturbed for 60 years, entombed in what is now the guadalupe nipomo dunes complex. The guadalupe nipomo dunes center in california will unveil a sphinx. The filmmaker begins to research the story in 1982. Archeologists dig up lost hollywood props in the guadalupe. The secret egyptian city buried in the california desert. In that precomputergeneratedeffects era, an epic film needed a truly epic set. Sep 29, 2017 as for the set buried in the dunes, theres still more to uncover. Demille, details his decadeslong quest to locate and excavate the remains of the ten commandments set.
Coast, beneath acres of sand dunes, lay the remains of a lost city. Lost city of demille is a 1923 film set buried in the dunes. Demille 1923 movie set that had been lost and buried in the sand dunes for decades. Behind the scenes of the excavation of the ten commandments movie set. The story of how the sphinxes came to be and how they were forgotten for 60years, then recovered, is well presented. In 1982 peter brosnan heard a story about an ancient egyptian city buried in california. The city of the pharaohs was constructed of wood and plaster in the guadalupe dunes, an 18mile stretch of coastal sand 170 miles north of l. Excavation in guadalupe dunes uncovers rare movieset. Raiders of the lost set excavating demilles city of pharaohs 19232014. The filmmakers quest ends up becoming a part of the. Demilles 1923 epic the ten commandments was buried in the sand dunes of central california, he thought his next. Demilles epic silentmovie set for the 1923 the ten commandments, which the auteur. Archeologists dig up lost hollywood props in the guadalupe nipomo dunes.
Jun 22, 20 this lost city was actually discovered by some movie buff historians who studied demilles autobiography and used groundmapping to identify where the 20th century egyptian ruins might be. The center takes pride in preserving local cultural history while protecting the dunes. In the guadalupe nipomo dunes center, some of the salvaged pieces are displayed. Jul 12, 2018 the guadalupe nipomo dunes center in california will unveil a sphinx head and other silent movie artifacts from the set of 1923 cecil b. Peter brosnans film shows his thirtyyear struggle to prove the existence of a lost city, beneath the sands of the guadalupe nipomo dunes in central california. The ten commandments is the only surviving movie set from the era of early movie. Demille built the largest set in movie history in the dunes near guadalupe, ca, for his silent and early technicolor epic, the ten commandments. Buried beneath the shifting sands of the guadalupe nipomo dunes is a story of biblical proportions. The rest of the artifact, the sphinxs body, remains. Artifacts found in an archaeological excavation of the lost city of demille in the guadalupe dunes will be unveiled at a special event from 6 to 8.
The city of the pharaoh was not so much a movie set as it was a monument to the man who built it. Rancho guadalupe beach and the adjoining guadalupe dunes preserve extend south along 3 miles of coastline from the santa maria river to mussel rock. And this story is located near my home, in guadalupe, ca. Rancho guadalupe dunes preserve california beaches. The flick features those who lived near the dunes when the legendary director filmed the ten commandments just before he left such incredible pieces. The best film by jury award went to the lost city of cecil b. The former movie set is registered archaeological site, removing items is a felony. The ten commandments set was ordered buried by director cecil b demille. Demille, filmmaker peter brosnan traces his 30year mission to excavate the largest movie set built during hollywoods silent era from the dunes of a california beach. Sphinxs head movie prop unearthed in california mail online. Sphinx head discovered from the lost city of demille.
Guadalupenipomo dunes guadalupe, california atlas obscura. Peter brosnan looks over many years of film, still pictures and other materials he used to produce a documentary on the lost city built in the sand dunes of guadalupe, calif. Oct 08, 2015 the city of the pharaoh was not so much a movie set as it was a monument to the man who built it. Demilles 1923 silent film the ten commandments and many everyday items discarded or lost by the cast and crew remain buried in the guadalupe dunes, where. A plaster sphinx head was found during a 2017 excavation of the buried movie set at the guadalupe nipomo dunes. Over the next 30 years, he tries to uncover what happened to cecil b. He found the location but lack the funding for a full scale excavation at the time. Rameses city in the dunes just blogging away doing. Jul 22, 2010 buried under the windswept and shifting sands of the guadalupe nipomo dunes lay the remnants of a lost city. Paramount pictures paramount pictures marjorie lanemangogna is a docent at the dunes center, in the nearby city of guadalupe.
The sets featured four 35foottall statues of the pharaoh ramses, 21 fiveton sphinxes, and city walls over 120 feet high. Californian archaeologists excavate longlost egyptian ten. Lost city of demille is a 1923 film set buried in the dunes curbed. The guadalupenipomo dunes national wildlife refuge, which. Jan 20, 2016 sets made for movies before the age of computer graphics.
Buried under the windswept and shifting sands of the guadalupe nipomo dunes lay the remnants of a lost city. Archaeologists unearth plaster sphinx from the ten. And there it lay, forgotten, for the next 60 years the lost city of cecil b. Nov 29, 2017 archaeologists have uncovered a brightly colored, plasterofparis sphinx from a 1923 hollywood movie set in the guadalupe nipomo dunes. There were 21 sphinxes each weighing 5 tons created for the avenue to pharaohs city. The costs were mounting even before demille arrived in guadalupe to. The story of how the sphinxes came to be and how they were forgotten for 60. Buried in the guadalupe nipomo dunes, california, the 300lb piece is said to be unlike anything else from previous digs. As it disappeared, the movie set became known as the lost city of demille. Theres a fake egyptian city buried in california smart.
Demilles lost city cold case features katya cengel. Unearthing the mysteries of egypt in the dunes of the. Demille built the largest set in movie history for his silent and early technicolor epic, the ten commandments. Today, the guadalupe nipomo dunes, as they are called, are a protected sea coast and wildlife refuge eg, for the endangered western snowy plover and largely unchanged, but for three months in 1923 it was a hive of megabudget movie making activity as demille transformed the empty dunes into a reconstruction of an ancient egyptian city. Demille built the city of the pharaoh in the guadalupe dunes for his 1923 silent film, the ten commandments. A recent excavation of the ten commandments movie set buried. Join the dunes center as we unveil the latest artifacts that will be on display as part of our exhibit entitled the lost city of demille during the 90th anniversary of cecil b.
Much of the detailed artwork for the set of the 1923 silent version of the ten commandments was created in hollywood studios and then transported to the guadalupe dunes where it was assembled on site. The enormous sets of ancient egypt have become a hollywood legend in themselves. Digging up a piece of hollywood history lifestyles. Cant wait for them to move into their larger, historic building in a couple years. Demille was already a towering star in the early days of hollywood, but in 1922 he was recovering. In june 1983, they were able to locate the set, with pieces of neptunian art sticking up out of the sand. The lost city of demille guadalupenipomo dunes center. Lost city of demille unveiling the santa barbara independent. Demille filmed the ten commandments north of santa barbara along the guadalupe nipomo dunes, ferry writes. Dune center unveils ten commandments movie set ca history. Oct 25, 2019 really enjoyed visiting the dunes center. Apr 01, 2006 several restored artifacts uncovered from the guadalupe dunes set of cecil b.
Demilles lost city a feature of guadalupenipomo dunes center. Discover guadalupe nipomo dunes in guadalupe, california. The dunes center has exhibits and artifacts about the coastal dunes nearby and the interesting history of the lost city from the famed 1923 cecil b. It was the biggest set ever built for a hollywood film in the 1920s, and then it was.
Excavation in guadalupe dunes uncovers rare movieset sphinx. Guadalupe dunes ten commandments dig reveals sphinx. Demilles epic silent movie set for the 1923 the ten commandments, which the auteur buried. Now, archaeologists are using aircraft to get a birdseye view of the dunes to unearth more treasures of the movie s set a giant sphinx was found earlier this year, but plenty more remains from. When filming was completed, demille ordered that the entire edifice be dismantled. In the guadalupenipomo dunes center, some of the salvaged pieces are displayed. Strong winds across the dunes have gradually exposed the set s remains. Guadalupenipomo dunes center to debut excavated artifacts. The guadalupenipomo dunes on californias central coast are a national natural landmark, one of the largest remaining dune systems in the. A recent excavation of the ten commandments movie set buried nearly a century ago in the guadalupenipomo dunes revealed a treasure beyond original expectations. Aug 09, 2018 courtsey of the dunes center volunteers excavated a 300pound plaster sphinx last november from the sands of the guadalupenipomo dunes an artifact of a sprawling movie set built in 1923 for cecil b. The set remained hidden until 1983 when peter brosnan, a filmmaker set out to find demilles city using clues in demilles autobiography. A recent excavation of the ten commandments movie set buried nearly a century ago in the guadalupe nipomo dunes revealed a treasure beyond original expectations. Guadalupe dunes and beach californias best beaches.
Nov 29, 2017 a recent excavation of the ten commandments movie set buried nearly a century ago in the guadalupenipomo dunes revealed a treasure beyond original expectations the excavation was aimed at. When the filming was over, demille ordered the set. Another rescued piece of film history is set to debut at the guadalupe nipomo dunes center, a small step in a decadeslong project to save the lost city of cecil b. Mar 01, 2014 then the roommate showed him demilles autobiography and confirmed he did have a giant movie set buried in the guadalupenipomo dunes. This lost city was actually discovered by some movie buff historians who studied demilles autobiography and used groundmapping to identify where the 20th century egyptian ruins might be. In 1999, a nonprofit educational and preservation centre was set up by concerned californian citizens called the guadalupe nipomo dunes center with the. Archaeologists unearth plaster sphinx from the ten commandments at guadalupe dunes. When archaeologists dug up a californian sand dune, they. Archaeologists have uncovered a brightly colored, plasterofparis sphinx from a 1923 hollywood movie set in the guadalupe nipomo dunes. It encompasses an 18mile 29 km stretch of coastline on the central coast of california and extends from southern san luis obispo county to northern santa barbara county the guadalupe nipomo dunes complex is home to a unique dunes.
Demilles film featured 20 sphinxes, each weighing 4 tons, along with towering statues of pharaohs and 100foot bas reliefs. Guadalupe nipomo dunes center 2020 all you need to know. The former movie set is registered archaeological site, removing. The cursed, buried city that may never see the light of. The cursed, buried city that may never see the light of day. The dunes soar to an amazing 500 feet in places, making them the highest sand dunes along the coast. Buried for nearly a century, this hollywood movie set will. To pass the time until more artifacts can be retrieved, film buffs can see some of brosnans work in uncovering the film set in his 2016 documentary called the lost city of cecil b. In 1983, a group of film buffs found a clue to its whereabouts in demilles posthumous autobiography and located the remains. A project to excavate a small portion of a 1923 silent movie set buried in the guadalupe nipomo dunes already derailed sept. The digging continues today to recover demilles set. When recent film school graduate peter brosnan learned that the set of cecil b. It encompasses an 18mile 29 km stretch of coastline on the central coast of california and extends from southern san luis obispo county to northern santa barbara county. Demilles lost city cold case features katya cengel alta online.
Dunes center preparing to exhibit new artifacts local news. Guadalupenipomo dunes center the lost city of demille. Demilles filming of the epic ten commandments in the guadalupenipomo dunes. Even though these dunes blow and shift a few feet every year, sometimes exposing a piece of plaster which might be recognizable or unrecognizable. Demille built the largest set in movie history for his. The guadalupe nipomo dunes on californias central coast are a national natural landmark, one of the largest remaining dune systems in the state, and theyre hiding the remains of the enormous and. Sphinx from the excavation site in californias guadalupenipomo dunes. Demilles lost city a feature of guadalupe nipomo dunes center. In the midst of a modern age of obsession with hollywood culture, the lost city of cecil b. Demilles 1923 set of the ten commandments that was built in the guadalupe sand dunes. The dunes center offers visitors a unique and fascinating exhibit featuring a variety of artifacts from the both the set and the people who were working on the production. Archaeologists on hunt to unearth longburied movie set. Guadalupe nipomo dunes center the latest discovery was announced in november. Aug 05, 2016 archaeologists working in the sands of californias guadalupe nipomo dunes are excavating a sphinx from the set of cecil b.
Demille, filmmaker peter brosnan traces his 30year mission to excavate the largest movie set built during hollywoods silent era from the dunes of a. If youve never taken a biplane ride, theres no better location to give one a try than in oceano. A fake egyptian city is buried in the sands of the. Demille built the largest set in movie history in the dunes near guadalupe, california, for his silent epic, the ten commandments. The lost city of demille, buried in the guadalupe dunes. Guadalupe dunes ten commandments dig reveals sphinx head. Coastal dunes, site of buried egyptian movie set and former utopian colony. Demilles filming of the epic ten commandments in the guadalupe nipomo dunes.