Wipeout: Last Traces Of ‘John From Cincinnati’ Almost Gone

04 Oct 2007, by Nina McDonald, Imperial Beach News

“Like the mysterious stranger John Monad who suddenly materializes and then vanishes, cameras that appeared to film the supernatural surf-noir series, John from Cincinnati, have disappeared from the streets of Imperial Beach. Only a few traces from the show’s pervasive presence of the last year still remain.

Last month, crews from HBO removed the final set pieces from the El Camino Motel, (a.k.a The Snug Harbor in the show) and took down the Yost Board sign above the Surf Hut’s storage building on Seacoast Drive. There are few remaining signs that Imperial Beach was ever center stage for a television show. For almost a year, crew members mingled with locals, and residents became used to rubbing elbows with the stars. The show’s final episode aired Sunday, Aug. 12, and the next day HBO announced the series would not be renewed, much to the chagrin of some local business owners.

“There were so many things that were so fun,” remembered Katy Fallon, owner of I.B. Coffee and Books. Fallon’s shop ended up being the local breakfast and coffee stop for many crew members and the interior set for several scenes in the series later episodes. Fallon may have even inspired director David Milch to create the show’s barista character, Trixie. She misses the production company and remembers the experience fondly…. ” [more]