Walking around Glasgow’s city centre is a familiar sight for us all, with the ground-level shops, restaurants and bars below offices, flats, and public buildings.
While the famous grid layout has never been altered, we’ve seen some considerable modern additions and changes to the cityscape.
But on a stifling hot summer in 2021, Glasgow was transported back in time – and to another city altogether.
The sun was beating down on film crews as they assembled sets and arranged props to turn St Vincent Street into New York City to shoot a massive Hollywood blockbuster, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Set in 1969, the latest chapter in the thrilling action franchise followed archaeologist Indy as he tried to find a magic dial said to transport explorers through time.
Along with Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen, Glasgow had a starring role in the 2023 film.
American flags were draped over windows, vintage street signs adorned modern shopfronts, and New York yellow cabs were parked in the street instead of our usual black Hackneys.
Usually teeming with office workers heading for a post-work drink or groups of friends enjoying some al fresco dining during the (rare) good weather, St Vincent Street’s bustling businesses were closed to make way for the incredible film set.
There was hardly any sign that we could still be in Scotland, let alone Glasgow, as red, white, and blue bunting was plastered all over the shopfronts to set the scene for a ticker-tape parade celebrating the Apollo 11 crew.
Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins made the trio of heroes on board the spaceship which first landed on the moon in 1969.
In amongst the bunting were vintage barbershops, sandwich delis with prices in dollars and cents, American fire hydrants and classic Coca-Cola adverts.
Some of us may be getting used to seeing our city transformed into a Hollywood movie set, with Glasgow becoming Gotham for recent projects Batgirl and The Batman. But it’s always a special moment to see the film in its final form and instantly recognise your own home on the big screen.
From World War Z to Indiana Jones, what’s your favourite film with Glasgow as a supporting actor?
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