As previously reported, Atlas Film Corporation established a film studio in and around Cold Spring Park about 100 years ago and made silent films, including westerns, for several years. Now, a century later, Paramount will come to the same location on April 8, 9, and 16 to film scenes for a new Apple TV series based on Newton resident William Landay’s book, Defending Jacob — a murder mystery set in, yes, Cold Spring Park. The upcoming filming has been reported in Patch and on notices taped to front doors of homes in the neighborhood. It will require closing of part of Plymouth Road on those days and the dog park on April 16. Subsequent filming will take place elsewhere in Newton Highlands April 15-18 and on the campus of UMass Amherst Mount Ida in late May. And just like 100 years ago, there may be opportunities for local residents to be cast as extras (apply via Boston Casting).
I don’t believe our family Miniature Schnauzer, Spritie, or Australian Cattle Dog, Alo, are going to be too happy to learn of the Cold Spring Dog Park closure on April 16.
I generally consider myself quite astute and aware of my surroundings especially when it comes to things like local history, but after all the years of playing pickup basketball at Cold Springs Park, I never knew it was the former site of the Atlas Film Corporation