FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2024-151

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (August 13, 2024) – In this edition of Fun with Maps we celebrate the birth of a legendary filmmaker who placed the audience on the edge of their seat.

Suspense

Alfred Hitchcock was born 125 years ago in an east London suburb.

While he originally studied engineering, the early death of his father caused him to abandon that path and to work to support his mother.

After various jobs in the creative fields, he started to direct and produce silent films in England by 1923.  He moved to Hollywood in 1938 with his wife and daughter upon reaching his peak in Britain.

There he became the true master of suspense with many films to his directorial credit.  However, Hitchcock never won the Oscars for Directing.  Side note – but he got Knighted by the Queen.

He was a consummate prankster, despite his straight look.  Many were to scare folks, like having innocents suddenly see a doll lie face down in a coffin.

His films include: North by Northwest, Psycho, The Birds, The Man Who Knew too Much, Vertigo, Dial M for Murder (stage adaptation is coming to the Playhouse in the Park soon), and more.

This government map shows the population density of Los Angeles in 1953, a gentler time out there.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.