Dirty Dancing Hotel Fire to Disrupt Film's Remake (VIDEO)
A fire that broke out in the New York Catskills has destroyed whatever remained of a hotel that once inspired the popular 1980s hit "Dirty Dancing."
The plot of "Dirty Dancing" is centered around the idea that the main character, Baby, played by Jennifer Gray, is an innocent rich girl. The persona derived for her influential and wealthy family was developed based on a popular vacation area in the Catskills that frequently served wealthy families at the time.
The Grandview Palace condominiums, formerly known as Brown's Hotel, was a central location for some New York city residents who took to vacationing in the summer. While "Dirty Dancing" was actually filmed predominantly in Mountain Lake Hotel in Pembroke, Virginia, some scenes were actually filmed at Brown's Hotel, the initial inspiration for the film.
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A fire at the former Brown's Hotel took place over the weekend, leaving few remains of the once-extravagant vacation spot. Residents displaced by the flames were taken to the local Sullivan County Community College fieldhouse.
"Dirty Dancing" debuted in 1987, making a name for Patrick Swayze, the leading actor who plays the working class role of hotel entertainment. The project began as a low-budget film but eventually became a box-office hit and has earned over $214 million.
Brown's Hotel opened in 1944, and served as a place where famous comedian like Jerry Lee Lewis would often entertain vacationing New Yorkers. The fire began at 6 p.m. on Saturday and eventually required the help of over 300 firefighters from over 43 companies. According to the Times Herald-Record, the fire marked the "largest fire in Catskills history," although no residents were harmed.
A remake of "Dirty Dancing" is set to debut in 2013, but director Kenny Ortega- who also contributed to "High School Musical" and "Michael Jackson's This Is It"- may now have to look for alternative inspiration.
