'Graffiti' revisited

It’s the most memorable scene from “American Graffiti” — a teenager attaches a cable to the rear axle of a parking police car, then gets in a car and goes tearing down the street in front of the cop car, which begins a pursuit only to have its axle and rear tires ripped off by the cable.

The scene was filmed in the parking lot between the McNear and Lanmart Buildings on Petaluma Boulevard in 1972. And early Thursday morning, the scene was re-created as the kickoff to the weekend-long 35th anniversary “Salute to American Graffiti” celebration. George Lucas’ classic coming-of-age movie was released in 1973.

Dozens of people paid $100 apiece for a VIP seat in temporary bleachers to view the proceedings, which started at 4:30 a.m. Police closed the Boulevard between Western Avenue and B Street for a couple of hours. The early-morning hour coincided with the time that Lucas filmed the original scene.

The “Jerry’s Cherries” car lot facade was re-created as closely as possible to the original one seen in the film. Academy Award-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, the film’s visual consultant was on hand, along with assistant director Ned Kopp and director of photography Ron Eveslag. The event was filmed and will be included on a DVD of the “Salute to American Graffiti” events.

Al Mossi, owner of a local garage, was behind the wheel of the 1961 Ford Galaxie police car, and when he gunned the engine and pulled out of the parking lot the first time, the cable on the axle snapped and recoiled over the brick wall at the back of the lot and smashed into a car parked on the other side.

Butch Smith, a city employee who witnessed the scene, said it was fortunate the cable did not strike anyone, because they would have been seriously injured.

On the second try, the scene went as planned and the cable pulled off the axle just as the police car hit the gutter of the street. But not before police had to intervene and intercept an apparently inebriated man who had wandered into the lot from Fourth Street.

Ron Walters, a former disc jockey for KTOB radio station in the 1970s, interviewed people over a PA system before the re-enactment started, including one man who had worked on the sound crew of the movie, and Mayor Pamela Torliatt.

Asked if she remembered the movie being filmed here when she was growing up, Torliatt replied, “No, I was only 5 years old then.”

While the empty lot hasn’t changed much since 1972, the adjacent McNear’s restaurant used to be Guy’s furniture store, the Mystic Theater was the State Theater and Center Park did not extend out as far toward the parking lot.

“Salute to American Graffiti” activities continue Thursday with a sold-out $85-per-plate dinner at Cattlemen’s restaurant with “Graffiti” actors Candy Clark, Paul Le Mat, Bo Hopkins and others.

A kickoff party and cruise-in will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Plaza North and Petaluma Plaza shopping centers on North McDowell Boulevard.

The big event is Saturday, when downtown streets will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. for a classic car cruise, 1960s bands playing outdoors and other activities. The main cruise will be from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

For a full schedule of events and entertainment, visit www.americangraffiti.net.