He’s not Jack Black, but every bit as funny. He’s not James Bond, but every bit as debonair. The truth is he’s Lolo Saldana, and it’s a safe bet there is no one in the world quite like him.
And wouldn’t you know it, Lolo is about to himself become a movie star, as the film “Lolo and the Barbershop,” produced by Story Bank and directed Jack Piatt will hold its premiere July 3 at the Catalina Island Museum.
Actually, his real name is Eliodoro, but says “I changed it all just to Lolo; a little more simple.”
Lolo’s Barber Shop is much more than a barber shop. In many ways, the tiny photos pasted and taped to the walls create a living history of his many years on the island and half a century in the barbershop.
“I was born and raised on this island,” says Lolo, “it’s a beautiful little town, still has quaintness.”
Actually, Lolo turns 90-years-old on July 3, the day of the film’s premiere.
“Am I in love with the barber shop,” asks the interviewer, “you might say I am,” says Lolo. “It’s been my life.”
Once and still very much respected as a golfer, Lolo has pictures in his barbershop of Tiger Woods playing golf at 5-years-old. In fact, there are so many celebrities on the walls that have visited Lolo and the barber shop that it would be unfair just to mention a few.
For sure, Lolo has built his own legend on Catalina Island. Not only does Lolo love Catalina, but he loves this country so much that he literally breaks down in tears trying to express it. “I love this country,” he says unapologetically.
In the film, he also speaks glowingly about his parents, who raised 11 children on Catalina. “We took up two places,” he says, “had a little farm area, grew vegetables and fattened up the wild boars.”
His dad came to Catalina in 1919, the year William Wrigley, Jr. purchased the island.
Although Lolo personally remembers the Wrigley owners who came later, he claims they had genuine respect for the men and women working as laborers on the island.
“They would stop and talk to you, just to see how you were doing,” he said in a 2018 interview.
The Catalina Island museum has issued an invitation for the community to join Lolo at the premiere screening of “Lolo and the Barbershop.”
“Join us for an evening with Lolo and his family, the screening of the film in our outdoor amphitheater and appetizers by The Lobster Trap,” according to a museum posting.
For Saldana, Catalina Island represents a “paradise; how can you not love it” and for as much as the island has given him, he believes in giving back. “You can’t just take from Catalina, you have to give something back,” says Lolo.
On that score, his role as a leading man is very well deserved indeed. He has indeed earned his role as a leading man on Catalina Island.
For screening info, contact the Catalina Island Museum at 310-510-2414.
