Village Lights Bookstore

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If you are in front of the Village Lights Bookstore, you’re standing in the footsteps of some very famous actors. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine all starred in a movie filmed in Madison called “Some Came Running.”

The town was transformed into a Hollywood set in 1957 with many of the local citizens involved in the production. The story was about a troubled Army veteran, Dave Hirsh, played by Frank Sinatra, who returns to his Midwestern hometown after being away for 16 years, to the irritation of his wealthy, social-climbing brother, Frank Hirsh. Several buildings in Madison were used as locations, including this one, which was converted into the Frank Hirsh Jewelry Store.

The movie, directed by Vincente Minnelli, was a hit and resulted in several Academy Award nominations including Shirley MacLaine’s first nomination for Best Actress. And it was the first time Dean Martin, who had recently ended his partnership with Jerry Lewis, acted with Sinatra.