Information provided by savemissionsjb.org. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Kim Novak, the star of “Vertigo,” one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most famous films, made a memorable visit to Mission San Juan Bautista on August 20. As “Vertigo” fans know, the Mission is central to the film’s story.
The legendary actor was warmly greeted by community members at a private reception hosted by the Mission and the Mission San Juan Bautista Preservation Fund Board of Directors. She spoke personally with each person present. The purpose of her visit was to include the Mission and its role in the upcoming documentary about her life and work.
She expressed her passion for the Mission and the need to preserve it as a legacy for the benefit of current and future generations.
She agreed to be videotaped at the Mission to help support the Preservation Fund’s current efforts to raise the remaining $220,000 required to receive a $750,000 National Park Service Saving America’s Treasures $1 for $1 challenge matching grant. The $1.5 million total will help fund the seismic retrofit of the Mission church’s Principal Façade, its most vulnerable section, which includes the entrance, baptistry, and choir loft. This project is the first step in the complete seismic retrofit of the Mission church.