Kirk Douglas’ ‘Big Trees’ filmed in Humboldt County
Two of the actresses and one actor featured in the 1952 film “The Big Trees” traveled to Eureka in February of that year to attend the local premiere of the Warner Bros. Western starring actor Kirk Douglas.
Douglas, who died on Feb. 5 at the age of 103, starred as a lumberman in the Technicolor movie, which was filmed in Humboldt County in 1951. According to the Feb. 17, 1952, edition of the Humboldt Times newspaper, Douglas’ co- stars, Eve Miller, Patrice Wymore and Edgar Buchanan, were in Humboldt County for the first local screenings of the film — shown at the State and the Eureka theaters on Feb. 16, 1952. A full slate of festivities led up to the screenings that day, including a parade featuring Roseburg, Oregon’s 25 “Original Paul Bunyans.”
Also appearing in the parade — which took place in downtown Eureka — were five Humboldt State queens who reigned at the college during previous years: Jackie Ambrosini, Shirley Pitlock, Helen Gross, Nancy Jacobson and Kris Brown. Representatives from the Business and Professional Women’s Club rode on a float atop a Caterpillar DW-20. In addition, the Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force recruitment center color guards were on hand, as well as Miss Eureka of 1951 Beryl Sanazzeri and junior horsemen with the Pegasus Patrol. Boy Scouts, representatives from the Pacific Lumber Co., members of the Eagles Lodge and a host of city and county officials took part, too.
Music for the parade was furnished by the Humboldt State College Lumberjack band.
An ax-throwing contest took place right after the parade, followed by a wood chopping contest and a chainsaw demonstration on the north side of Eighth Street between E and F streets.