Bid Time Return

I was lying in bed with my MP3 player plugged into my ears, just watching the clock tick by when the theme from Somewhere in Time came on.   It is otherwise known as " Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" by Rachmaninoff.   No, I did not immediately know that.  I looked it up long ago when I first was mesmerized by that 1980's movie staring Jame Seymour and Christopher Reeve.

A struggling,  young writer is mystified when an old woman comes to his first play, places an antique pocket watch in his hand and says "Come back to me." Intrigued, Richard Collier investigates and learns that she was a famous stage actress from the early 1900's named Elise McKinna. Through self-hypnosis Richard travels back in time to find this woman and falls in love. 

 It was filmed on Michigan's Mackinac Island, accessible only by passenger ferry, which means, there are no car allowed.  For the filming of this movie Richard drives up in a car, which was the only time an automobile was allowed on the island.   Being from Michigan, I have walked these grounds many times.  I have walked the porch of this fabulous hotel.  Inside the lobby is a plain white door to a small room that still holds the photo of Elise McKinna.  Well, maybe.   Terry and I were last inside,  shortly after we were married in 1981, right after the movie came out.   It was there then.  Now the porch is off limits unless you are registered at the hotel, so maybe it's not there anymore.  I'm pretty sure it is though.    (That far different than when Terry was a teen and he and his friends would ride the ferry over and then go swimming in the hotel pool.  Something tells me they weren't supposed to be there then either.)

This haunting photo of Elise McKinna can be found in high end gift shops, all framed and ready to be loved.

                           The hotel has hosted a Somewhere in Time Weekend since 1991.

Somewhere in Time Weekend  at The Grand Hotel- from the hotel website........

Arrive: Friday, October 26, 2012
Depart: Sunday, October 28, 2012

Somewhere In Time was filmed at Grand Hotel and on Mackinac Island in 1979 and released in 1980. This special weekend includes a screening of the film, discussions of the movie’s production process, visit with cast and crew that are invited back, and hotel guests are invited to make a cameo appearance in costume at the cocktail receptions, costume promenade, and Grand Luncheon Buffet. A full breakfast and five-course dinner are included daily.

Package Includes:

• Accommodations (package room only)
• Breakfast and dinner daily
• Thursday evening Welcome Reception
• Friday evening reception
• Saturday Grand Luncheon Buffet
• Saturday evening reception
• Special showing of Somewhere in Time Thursday and Friday evenings
• Free golf green fees (cart fee required, subject to course availability)
• Special discount on ferry boat tickets
• No tipping within Grand Hotel

Package Price:

• $985 per couple
• $885 single
• $299 third and fourth adult

Thought I would give you the information to drool over like I do.  This has to be a stunning event with guests all in their period costumes.

The book on which this movie was based is called "Bid Time Return" by Richard Matheson.  You may know him from writing science fiction such as the Will Smith movie,  I Am Legend, which is as far from romance as you can get.  He was inspired to write the book after a visit to the Virginia City Opera house where he saw a photo of  Maud Adams.   She was real.  (1872-1953)

In the book, he uses the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego (which is fabulous)  as the location.  Otherwise, it follows it exactly.


This is my movie choice and as Paul Harvey would say, "and now you have  ....the rest of  the story."