JOHNSTOWN – Four decades later, the iconic movie "Slap Shot" remains a big hit in the hockey world, as well as in Johnstown.
The crazy cast of characters still resonates with viewers.
Hollywood came to Johnstown in the spring of 1976 to begin filming "Slap Shot," a movie starring Paul Newman that was based on some of the antics of the old Johnstown Jets of the former Eastern League and North American Hockey League.
Those who lived through it in Johnstown said it wasn't always pretty, but it was a lot of fun, especially with the zany Hanson Brothers involved.
WJAC-TV spent considerable time combing through the film archive to find footage when then cast and crew made their way to Johnstown.
Nancy Dowd, the sister of former Jets player Ned Dowd, wrote the screenplay and incorporated many of her brother's stories into the R-rated script.
When art director Henry Bumstead surveyed the city as a possible site for the movie, he loved the hills, Central Park and small-town feel. He convinced director George Roy Hill to film here.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Hill took advantage of many such locations in the movie, whether a local bar or restaurant or scenes shot inside the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, where hundreds of extras took part and still look for themselves when they see the movie.
Newman and Hill had worked together often and Newman would take on the role of aging player-coach Reg Dunlop to lead a bunch of misfits to an unlikely title in a town struggling through tough times. Even Newman knew during the filming in 1976 that this movie was different that others in which he had starred.
“This is the raunchiest film I've ever done,” he said.
NBC broadcaster Bob Costas had the chance to see some of those fascinating people first-hand as a young play-by-play man for the Syracuse Blazers during the 1973-74 season while still in college.
"I loved the movie it was more or less accurate,” Costas said. “In fact, Ogie Oglethorpe was based on Bill Goldthorpe of the Syracuse Blazers.”
Ned Dowd portrayed Ogie Oglethorpe in the movie.
Based on the real-life Carlson brothers --- Jack, Jeff and Steve -- the bespectacled trio were playing for the Jets in the mid-70s when Jack Carlson was called up to the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Association and couldn't take part in the movie, Another Jets player, Dave Hanson, filled the role as one of the brothers.
On Saturday, "Slap Shot" turns 40.
Steve Carlson and his wife have organized a reunion called, The Boys are Back in Town, complete with a celebrity hockey game at 3 p.m. Saturday as part of many daylong events tied to the movie.
Prior to that at noon, the Hanson Brothers will drop the ceremonial first puck at the Johnstown Tomahawks’ game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights.
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