ABC’s “Pan Am” Filming at Bowery Ballroom Today

The “glory years” of American aviation in the sixties is about to hit the small screen.  As we reported earlier this summer, wheels are in motion on a new television series airing this fall on ABC called Pan Am.  Of course, there had to be some scenes filmed here on the Lower East Side.  Later today, filming activities will transpire inside Bowery Ballroom.  As of this morning, the famed venue is being transformed to resemble a club of an earlier era.  Trucks have parked up the surrounding streets.

Pan Am is a period-piece that hones in on the daily lives of airline personnel in the 1960s.  The Facebook page describes it as basically a female-driven soap opera, with “Passion, jealousy, espionage…at 30,000 feet.”  Think Mad Men meets Catch Me if You Can.  Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Kelli Garner, and Karine Vanasse all stock the leading roles.  The show is written by Jack Orman (ER) and directed by Tommy Schlamme (The West Wing).

Casting duties for Pan Am were helmed by the neighborhood-based Chrystie Street Casting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4DHbcem_uc

This nostalgic field trip begins September 25 on ABC.