Save Ferris Bueller’s Room

Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck publicity portrait for the film 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', 1986. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)

Bueller… Bueller… Bueller…?

Joseph Clement and Sarah Keenlyside are on a mission to save Ferris — his room at least. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was one of the most memorable movies to come out of the ’80s. The John Hughes classic featured Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller. Bueller just wanted to take the day off from school, and in the end showed us all how to make the most of a day.

Ferris Bueller's Bedroom

Ferris Bueller had an unforgettable bedroom filled with all the coolest ’80s technology and gear. It was the envy of anyone who saw it and wanted to be cool, like Ferris. Local Toronto artist Joseph Clement and Sarah Keenlyside want to bring back the cool by recreating this iconic movie set.

Joseph Clement and Sarah Keenlyside worked tirelessly to locate all the now vintage stereo gear, ’80s music posters and even Ferris’ computer. It will all come together January 21. If you are in the Toronto area, you can see this recreation yourself at the annual Come Up To My Room event at the Gladstone Hotel. The event costs just $10 and allows you to see not only Ferris Bueller’s room but a host of other art exhibits as well. The event runs from January 21 until 24.

Ferris’ awesome ’80s gear includes:

  • E-mu Emulator II Synthesizer
  • Sony TV
  • Carver M-500t Stereo Component Amp
  • Audio Source EQ-ONE Stereo Component Equalizer
  • Carver DTL-100 Ster Component CD Player
  • Red Touch Tone Northern Telecom Phone

Some Now-Vintage Band Posters including:

  • Simple Minds
  • Blancmange’s Mange Tout
  • Brian Ferry
  • Cabaret Voltaire

An impressive list and this is only a small sample of all the gear needed to be found – no wonder Ferris didn’t want to go to school.

Ferris’ computer was an IBM 5160. The computer is being supplied by the Personal Computer Museum in Brantford, Ontario – check them out here.  Here is the museum curator Syd Bolton programming the beast to get it ready.

 

Personal Computer Museum's Syd Bolton Programming the IBM 5160

Personal Computer Museum’s Syd Bolton Programming the IBM 5160                          – from Facebook

Ferris was doing okay for a high school teenager in 1986.

It can be hard to find a room full of memorabilia from 30 years ago. ebay is an obvious source but sometimes you find things in the oddest places.

Joseph Clement: We were really having trouble identifying one of the posters in his room until I stopped by my mom’s work one day.  There, hanging in her office, was a painting of King Francois the 1st of France, and lo and behold the Ferris poster was an art print of this painting!

Read more from this interview here.

For the full story on this incredible movie set recreation check out their indiegogo page here. Or follow them on Facebook. For more about the original movie set check out this great site here.

If you can’t make it to see the exhibit. catch Ferris one more time on the big screen. This year is the 30th anniversary the movie. To celebrate, select theatres will be showing the classic on May 15 and again on May 18. Be sure to catch Ferris when you can, check your local listings.

I am sure it is just a matter of time until someone recreates Matthew Broderick’s other iconic bedroom set. This, time from the 1983 movie Wargames.  I mean how hard could it be?

Matthew Broderick's bedroom from the 1983 Movie Wargames

Matthew Broderick’s bedroom from the 1983 Movie Wargames

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