Sam J. Olson is an inspiring self-taught film maker from the historic City of Elgin, IL. He is best known for his short tours of local parks, small businesses and city events. Sam has also worked on several veteran-related projects, documentaries on local historical landmarks, and films and photographs private events. Sam also occasionally will document his work as a stringer, capturing the work of first responders in the Chicago suburbs. Sam creates these short films primarily as a volunteer, doing it as a passion and hobby. Sam hopes to one day be able to make a career out of his short films and documentaries.
River Bluff Studios was used as the branded name for all of Sam's work during his high school years. The channel has been renamed as such in remembrance of Sam's father who has since passed away. The name River Bluff Studios is inspired by Elgin's Gold Coast, River Bluff Road.
In June of 2024, River Bluff Studios officially became an LLC owned by Sam J. Olson
I was there it was amazing so many cars waving the Mexican flags. I think the city of Elgin needs to bring back the Mexican Independence Day parade. They used to have it back in the '80s and '90s
I remember going to the Elgin Amtrak train station 60 years ago to get my grandmother coming in from Cedar Rapids. Also remember playing against Elgin Larkin HS in baseball in 1969-70. This is a great video with a fantastic soundtrack!
No it was the purchase of the mall by Kohan that ruined the mall. That owner is notorious for mistreating malls, the theature is the only draw the mall has and its 5 bucks a movie roughly. Wouldn't call that overpriced at all
Sam, please keep doing what you're doing. I'm 51 and grew up in Elgin. Without your catalog of our history and celebrations, this would all be lost to time and history. You are very appreciated for what you're doing. Thank you.
"Great video!!!" 🤗❤️🤗❤️🤗❤️ I live in now in Rockford, Illinois I moved here withy husband and now 32 year old twin son's in 2007 I had lived in Elgin, Illinois for the past 21 years since I was born and raised in Chicago and when I lived in in Elgin in my early 20s and working at the Eagle Food I used to go to this mall before I met my husband and my 32 year old twin sons were born. I would go to this mal and go trick or treating I even but my first Enya album at the Musicland after I got my first check working at the Eagle as a bagger and after I met my husband and I even trick or treated at the mall when I was pregnant with my twins as a clown and when my twins where young I was dressed up as a shower for Halloween and I entered the contest and I won the costume judging contest and I got a gift certificate for KB Toys and I remember getting my boys and I the Nintendo 64 Game System with the certificate I had won and during the fire safety event in the mid 90s I remember my twin sons who were 6 years old at the time also got their name in the local newspaper paper. Ihad great memories of this mall even whem.my best from that had past away 9 years ago in 2015 had a great time at the mall when she used to visit me too. My twins are on their own now and my twin is in the us army living with his wife and my 4 year old grandson in Pyeongtaek, Korea and they're be coming back here to the states to live in the fall in North Carolina on the base and he misses this mall like when I told his twin brother about they closed up. Plus and my I remember when my twin son almost gotten lost in the mall twin young teenagers found him at the center court and I also I remember in October of 2011 I found $11.00 dollars at the mall too. I wanted to get to visit it last year but my 2014 Kia Soul got stolen by the Kia theft ring I got my car back but the insurance tolled my car and is sitting in my garage waiting to be fixed. I now have a 2011 Ford Escape but the alternator causes the car the stop for a second but if I knew it was going out of business I would filled the car up with gas and took my twin son from is apartment and we would have visited it just like when I just found out about Stratford Square Mall even though I never visited that mall. I had found memories of Spring Hill Mall and I so hope that really bad company know as Kohan does something with it but we all know when Kohan buys something they let it sit and a this New York firm is probably not going to do anything for the mall too and thats so sad. ☹️☹️🤔
Most of them aren’t public anymore. A while ago I decided to clear off some older ones that just weren’t as good. Have a lot in the works for this year
❤❤ Was born and raised in Elgin. Worked at the downtown Osco and on rt.58 or Summit St. Grandparents had a grocery store in 40's and 50's. Dundee Ave. Had family that worked at the watch company. Lot of great memories. Thank you for sharing! ❤🇺🇸🥰🙏🦋
Family is raising money for the clean-up efforts as they did not have homeowners insurance at the time of the fire. Please consider donating. www.gofundme.com/f/2pwqk-edwards-family-fire?+share-sheet&
Yikes! I live about a block and a half away, and went out to see what all the noise and sirens were about. Saw and smelled the smoke for a while, but didn't get closer or go back out. Sorry to see this confirming the fireworks I thought I heard. I'm resigned to hearing them around the neighborhood all summer, but not to folks storing them, let alone lighting them, in this tinderbox weather. 😒 Second fire in the neighborhood in a couple weeks - we were sitting at the Dairy Queen on Villa when several engines came through, and a few minutes later saw the smoke and actually had cinders blowing over to where we were! Looked like maybe one of the auto repair businesses on Willard between Villa and Chicago. Dangerous time!
Neighbors heard fireworks just before the fire started, and there were fireworks going off as the fire continued. No official cause from the Fire Department yet
@@RiverBluffStudios thanks. Those darn fireworks they are ice and everything but then again if you store soo many it can be very dangerous as well. Hope everyone was safe.
