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Johnny Depp Visits Revere Beach

Filming for the movie based on the book Black Mass is taking place around Massachusetts. Last week, they did some scenes on the beach I walked daily as a kid.

I was young when Whitey Bulger was enjoying his reign of terror on Boston and the surrounding communities, and I don’t remember much about it other than a couple news reports from the 1980s. I was busy walking Revere Beach every day. It was often the only way I found peace during a childhood of illness, death and family difficulties.

But in the last year or so, I’ve read a bunch of books on the Bulger case, including Black Mass, and I’ve admittedly become a bit obsessed.

When I read that the movie crew had descended on Revere Beach, turning it into 1970s-era Miami Beach, complete with palm trees and a Cuban cafe, I was delighted.

It brought back a little nostalgia, reminding me of my beach walks. And it increased my appetite for the movie, which is scheduled for a September 2015 release.

Particularly awesome are these videos someone shot of Johnny Depp done up as Whitey. The footage captures extras taking their places and Depp walking around the set. The second video shows all the vintage cars used for the shoot.

The best part for me, though, are the regular folks in the background, bantering like the Revere Beach natives I remember and love.

Enjoy.

Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger

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Latest Obsession: Whitey Bulger

I’ve written previously about how my OCD gives me the tendency to latch onto certain subjects and research them obsessively. Examples include the history of the Manson and Amityville murder cases, to the point of getting a closer look at sites related to those cases.

I’ve always considered this obsession harmless. It makes me read a lot of books on the subjects and visit places when the travel schedule permits, but what’s wrong with that? The obsession expands into other areas of America’s past, including White House history. That one got me in trouble once but also led to a West Wing tour for Erin, the kids and me.

Now I find myself captivated by the history of Whitey Bulger, his associates and their arrangement with the Boston FBI.

Mood music:

I’ve always had more than a passing interest in Whitey and his brother Billy, who ruled the Massachusetts statehouse with a corrupt iron fist for decades. But the recent trial of Whitey rekindled my interest. I recently read Black Mass, probably the best one on the subject, and now I find myself Googling everything related to the subject.

Since I live and work in the Boston area, I now have the compulsion to drive around to every place connected to the case: the Lancaster Street garage Bulger and his associates used as a front, the South Boston liquor store he extorted from a husband and wife immediately after they opened for business, the places where his victims were exhumed.

These outings are always more fun with friends, especially those with photography talents.

Who’s in?

Whitey Bulger