Saturday, November 22, 2008

I ain't 'fraid of no ghosts

Seems like wherever I went in the city I could see the top of this tower, The Tower Life building. It's really cool with its' metal framework spire, green tiled roof and graduated structure which made it the tallest building in San Antonio up until 1988 when Marriott put up a hotel. The white and tan brickwork glows deep green when it is lighted at night. (SO wish I had a good photo of that, Fabulous! But there is no way with my camera!) It is so tall that my eyes couldn't really focus at the top; but around the facade there are amazing Gothic sculptural details - scroll work, florals and leaves, and faces! Creepy faces.


When sis and her family came to San Antonio to give me the insider's tour, I asked about the Tower. Cathi told me this is the building where they shot the last scenes in Ghost Busters! As soon as she pointed it out I remembered all the gargoyles and there they were, way up at the top, lunging over the edge and spewing whatever down onto the unsuspecting public below. They were everywhere once I began to look for them.

While on the river tour our guide informed us that back in the day, two brothers, Ayres& Ayres, built the Tower, purposely adding the gargoyles to ward off evil mojo and/or spirits and bad luck. The building was finished in 1929, the same time as the Great Depression...when the brothers lost everything, including the Tower.

So much for those gargoyles. Hopefully the Ayres Brothers were still around to bask in the glory of their beautiful Tower life building making it onto the big screen.



add to sk*rt

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Cool.

S'mee said...

way.

Geek+Nerd said...

S'mee - thank you so much for your sweet comment. I believe that Liam and I will meet again too. Until then I 'm enjoying life and trying to be the best person that I can be. That's what we all do, right? Take care, -S

S'mee said...

Sarah, there are times when I wish I could crawl through the wires and end up in your neighborhood. I can't tell you how much joy and love I get from you! Thanks.