Ivo Shandor
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| Ivo Shandor | |
| Born | Ivo Shandor |
|---|---|
| Residence | New York City, New York, U.S.A. |
| Known for | Being a fictional character |
| Occupation | Architect and Physician |
| Title | Doctor, M.D. |
| Religious belief | Gozer worship |
Ivo Shandor was a fictional character mentioned in the 1984 film Ghostbusters. He was an insane, early 20th century architect and physician, with a penchant for performing macabre and unnecessary surgeries. In the film he is said to have designed the high rise apartment building at 55 Central Park West as a giant altar to the Sumerian god Gozer. The entire premise is fictional, as the building in question was designed by architects Schwartz & Gross for contractor Edgar Levy. Shandor never actually appeared in either Ghostbusters or Ghostbusters 2. His entire background is explained in two scenes, by the Ghostbusters, looking over Shandor's blueprints for the apartment building at 55 Central Park West.
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[edit] Character
In the 1984 film Ghostbusters, Shandor is stated as the architect for the building at 55 Central Park West, an apartment building that is described as "Spook Central." The first mention of the unusual nature of the building comes in a scene featuring Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson). Traveling in Ecto-1 Stantz examined the building's blueprints and noted the cores of "solid shielded selenium 325." He continued, describing the roof, as "fabricated with a magnesium-tungsten alloy." Ghostbuster Stantz further describes the building's "roof cap" as "exactly like the kind of telemetry tracker NASA uses to identify dead pulsars in other galaxies." Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) goes on to note that the building has "cold-riveted girders with selenium cores." When Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), remarks "they don't build 'em like they used to," Stantz hints that the architect of the building may have been insane when he says that "the architect was either a certified genius or authentic whacko." Aykroyd, as Stantz, describes the skyscraper as an antenna for attracting and concentrating psychockinetic energy.[1]
Stantz (Aykroyd) was the Ghostbuster who noted the building's architect was an "I. Shandor," as he looked over the blueprints while in jail for environmental violations related to the Ghostbusters business. Immediately, Spengler (Ramis) recognized the name as one he had seen in "Tobin's Spirit Guide." In the film, Spangler and Stantz went on to explain Shandor's background. Shandor, described as an architect and doctor by trade, decided that after World War I society was too sick to survive. He, and his over 1000 purported followers, worshipped the ancient Sumerian god "Gozer," also fictional, and performed rituals on the roof of 55 Central Park West; "bizarre rituals," intended to bring about the end of the world. As a medical doctor, Shandor is said, in the film, to have performed a lot of "unnecessary surgery."[1]
Shandor's original scheme came to fruition, during the events of the film, in the 1980s, when sufficient energy was collected to cause Gozer's minions to phyiscially manifest in preparation for the opening of the portal for their master, Gozer the Gozarian. The Ghostbusters foiled Gozer's entry and neutralized the god.[1] Early storyboarding for the movie, along with the casting of Paul Reubens as Gozer, indicated that Sumerian god was to take the form of Ivo Shandor, as a thin man in a business suit.[citation needed] This was eventually scrapped due to recasting.
[edit] Shandor Building
The apartment building shown in the film was actually 55 Central Park West, an Art deco structure designed by Schwartz & Gross for contractor Edgar Levy.[2] In the film Shandor is said to have started his secret society, which performed rituals on the building's roof, as early as 1920.[1] The building at 55 Central Park West was not built until 1929.[2] Since the movie used the building in 1984 it has been known as the "Ghostbusters Building," though it was portrayed as much taller in the film.[3][1]
[edit] Inspiration and influence
It is not known if an individual by this name ever existed[citation needed]. Ivo Shandor is also referenced in the third issue of the limited comic book series "Spike - Asylum" as the creator of the cursed grounds upon which the Mosaic Supernatural Asylum is built.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e Aykroyd, Dan and Ramis, Harold. Reitman, Ivan, Director. Ghostbusters [Film]. New York City: Columbia Pictures., 8 June 1984.
- ^ a b "Gray, Christopher. Streetscapes / 55 Central Park West; The Changing Colors of an Art Deco Landmark," New York Times, 11 July 1999. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
- ^ Gaines, Steven. "One Apartment, 75 Years," New York Magazine, 7 November 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
| Ghostbusters | |
|---|---|
| Movies: | Ghostbusters | Ghostbusters II | Ghostbusters III |
| Television: | The Real Ghostbusters | Extreme Ghostbusters |
| Video Games: | Ghostbusters (Activision) | Ghostbusters II | Ghostbusters (Sega) | Ghostbusters (Xbox 360) |
| Technology: | Proton pack | Ectomobile | Ghostbusters equipment |
| Characters: | Peter Venkman | Egon Spengler | Ray Stantz | Winston Zeddemore | Janine Melnitz | Ivo Shandor |
| Ghosts: | Slimer | Stay Puft Marshmallow Man | Vigo the Carpathian | Scoleri Brothers | Samhain | Bogeyman |
| Misc: | Ghostbusters: Legion | Ghostbusters: The Return | Ghostbusters (role-playing game) | Filmation's Ghostbusters |
