The Calvin B. Taylor House Museum in Berlin is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of “Runaway Bride,” starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, with an exhibit and showing of the movie this week.
A portion of Main Street in downtown Berlin is pictured.
File photo
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
The Calvin B. Taylor House Museum in Berlin is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of “Runaway Bride,” starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, with an exhibit and a movie showing this week.
The movie was filmed in Berlin in 1998 and released on July 30, 1999. Paramount Studios produced the film, turning the downtown area into Hale, Maryland, the motion picture’s setting.
On Saturday, July 27, Worcester GOLD (Giving Other Lives Dignity), a group dedicated to providing emergency financial assistance to county residents in need, is hosting a “Fun Run/ Walk” through Main Street to commemorate the film’s release. The race will begin at 8:15 a.m., and participants are encouraged to wear wedding and bridesmaid dresses and tuxedo t-shirts to remain on theme. The event will start and end at the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum.
Attendees are encouraged to stop into the Taylor House Museum following the run. According to museum President Melissa Reid, inside the facility is an exhibit with donated items from the film, including a script and an extra costume. The museum is also hosting a lawn viewing of “Runaway Bride” on July 27 at 8 p.m. Soda and popcorn will be for sale.
Reid maintained that the museum’s mission statement is to keep the stories of Berlin alive. Continuing to celebrate the Hollywood movie that “rejuvenated” the town aligns with that goal.
“In the late 1970s and early 1980s … businesses were small and just starting to open again on Main Street,” she said. “’Runaway Bride’ provided so much to both the town and many of those small businesses … it gave the town economic stability to allow us to build a thriving small town and America’s Coolest Small Town. The movie gave us a platform to continue sustainable growth.”
The museum president also noted the movie increased tourism, as so many people wanted to check out the spots where Roberts and Gere lived and filmed.
The idea for the movie on the lawn was conceived when museum officials learned that the Town of Berlin Arts and Entertainment District arranged one-hour guided walking tours that pass iconic locations and buildings from the movie. These events are scheduled for Aug. 8, 13, 20 and 27. Reservations can be made by calling 410-629-1716.
Reid said that many buildings were empty when she was growing up in Berlin, and the historical architecture was covered up. “Runaway Bride” renewed a sense of community that has remained everlasting since. The town even received movie copies early and had its premiere.
The museum president said much of the town rode on school buses into West Ocean City to watch the film for the first time.
“The first scene shows an overhead shot of Main Street, and when that came up on the screen, the whole theater was clapping and cheering,” Reid said. “It was so fun to see the movie and see Berlin and the changes from then to now. It is a time capsule of Berlin history.”
Berlin citizens and residents of the surrounding areas are encouraged to visit the pop-up museum and come out to watch the movie on the Taylor House lawn. Both events are free and open to the public.
“Berlin is thriving because we still have that sense of collective community,” Reid said. “’Runaway Bride’ is the perfect way to keep that community going.”