Phantom of the Backlots

Welcome to Season 3…Phantomofthebacklots

Or does it?…

Introduction...I hope all is well with my fans- I look forward to personally reuniting with all of you. I disappeared to focus on my books. Out of the mist, under the cover of darkness-I’ve reappeared. The Uninvited Visitor is now available on Amazon.

On the One Hundredth Anniversary of MGM Studios, I’m proud to go back 50 years with my own stories and experiences at this legendary movie studio that ended up having a major impact on how my life would play out. The MGM Effect is real, I salute you MGM as I would any dear friend I’ve known so long. We shared so much fun together, you’re forever part of my DNA. From hundreds of tiny wooden slivers, a few small yet still distinguishable scars from cuts and stitches from long ago that required a few trips to the ER for repairs. And a tooth that broke and ripped through my lower lip while running through buildings on New York Street. That’s not counting several other…near misses!

A third book detailing MGM’s final years 1977-80 will be my next and final installment. T.U.V will travel back through 1975/1976. A lot happened in these two years including my final stories involving Desilu as it disappears and literally becomes… Gone With the Wind.

Meanwhile a blockbuster film titled King Kong moves in at MGM and that set becomes my home. I will take you to Skull Island. Climb the walls with me in a story titled Dark Side of the Moon. I even briefly go inside Kong, the Robot, as he arrives on the backlot. That story is titled…Welcome to the Machine.

Season Three…Phantomofthebacklots, begins now!

Copperfield Court-The window on left was Filby’s Department Store in The Time Machine.

Young Frankenstein used Copperfield Court in 1974, just for a hanging…

Prior to Mel Brooks’s band of all things fun, this courtyard was used in Soylent Green. The arch had doors on them and was an entrance for a church. Just outside the doors, a shootout took place involving Charlton Heston and Chuck Connors. I watched from these rooftops above while learning how to…Trespass this scary place at Night!

These buildings are funner inside…

1973- One year prior to 20th Century Fox location work here on the MGM backlot.

Lassie Come Home…please girl!

This is just inside the doorway of Filly’s Department Store. The sunset protrudes through windows, doors, and holes in the wall. One side of this structure exits into Copperfield Court while the other exits into Park Ave and Winpole Street, sight of my baseball field. I was always inside here on game days fetching tennis balls that flew through windows.

Art Department vs Living Color for my favorite studio dog besides– my own!

On left, Being There set, 1979-Right, Pandora’s Box, as we called it because sign above door- said so. 1973.

The final call sheet…

Studio Fence line along Montana Street, this is what the backside of Copperfield Court looks like. A Stairway to Heaven high above this Courtyard. Where lights often end up and tarps can create night effects in daylight. Also, rain effects begin the process, up here. Now, don’t be scared…I’ve climbed this at night.

A very easy fence to climb over, but it takes two, one kid lifts the first kid upwards with a tennis shoe in the palm of the others trespassers hand. The first trespasser then reaches down and pulls up the second by there uplifted stretched out arms. This takes 30 seconds, every second counts…

This is the End…My only Friend !

A Salute to MGM at One Hundred Years–Happy Birthday Baby, I miss You!

My Birthday Card to a special place…

I lived this place and I Love it, so who better to reminisce with but me. I have countless stories on every set on this lot, and definitely no shortage here. Where do I even begin. Well, lets try the fence, because how else are we going to get in!

Behind the wooden sets is a 10 foot corrugated, weathered, steel fence that is very favorable to sneak in at. One in we occupy the buildings and climb stairways inside buildings to the rooftops over Manhattan. A place we feel most comfortable occupying, sitting alongside wise old owls. The ancestors of these predators still exist and we still cross paths on early morning walks in the dark on what was the backlot. The backlot doubled as an aviary for several birds, including wild parrots. When Busch Gardens decided to pave their paradise, the birds relocated and have beeb a staple in traversing the skies above Culver City, with stop overs at MGM.

I use to listen to music on this lot, all the time, 93 KHJ was where my AM Dial was set. The L.A Sports also, I was in my own world. I was real comfortable on what seemed like -my own backlot. Although often I entered by myself, I was never alone, between nature and movie spirits, we were all friends. Even my Siberian Husky, “Tashka” was know to trespass on these hallowed grounds.

Over the years, security changed but chases continued, and did they ever. For the film King Kong, the MGM red Bronco was no more and a gang of Heathen’s patrolled the lot, often on motorcycles. Experience some of those moments, in my new book “The Uninvited Visitor.”

Not for the timid at heart, be prepared for…Anything!

When we played baseball in here starting in 1978, home runs landed on this courtyard area after clearing the catwalks. It was almost as fun finding where the balls landed as it was crushing them with my Ernie Banks bat. Like a rubber ball Easter egg hunt. Baseball was so fun, workers would join in, the T.V series Chips was at that time storing crashed cars on the backlot after long afternoons of stunt work, and the guys would hit balls with us. More importantly, they made a clear path, piling cars up with forklifts in away not to block our baseball diamond.

The first thing I ever saw filmed at Copperfield Ct. was Soylent Green. Shortly after, another nighttime film took place titled “A Picture of Dorian Gray.” Horses pulling carriages in thick studio fog created by special effects was what we watched once again from rooftops overlooking the sets. The horseshoe sound on Cobblestone and the smells of all things horses is my take away from that Friday night in 1972.

Chips and that Phantom Cycle” trespasser” filmed on our court, part of a street to street chase from the law, specifically Jon and Ponch.

In 1979, the private security that could never catch me, offered me a job, yes me!

Iv’e come full circle, Public Enemy # 1, to the man in charge of two blockbuster film sets. Hero at Large, starring John Ritter and Being There, starring Peter Sellers.

Many stories took place I will share in full detail in my 3rd book in my anthology to be titled…”The Stuff that Dreams are Made Of”

A book heavy to do with Rock Stars but it doesn’t stop there, it actually stops here, on this set. “Being There”

Hal Ashby will conclude a long list of directors that preceded him on this landscape made up of spirits, castles, never ending roads that twist and turn, practically to my front door. Yes my house became part of MGM with routine patrols…

The stories will never stop, they just get better…

My job is to carry the torch for all things MGM, so it’s never forgotten. Don’t let that Columbia Studios sign fool ya…This place is MGM!

Happy Birthday my baby Lion…

Let David Bowie have the last words “Time can change me, But I can’t change Time”

Written and lived by….Donnie Norden

Hey Everybody, if you would like to meet myself alongside Steven Bingen,Robert Welch and others please unite under the Veterans Park Tower in Culver City, a place Elvis Presley and Ann Margret made famous as we celebrate MGM and it’s 100th anniversary. Special stories by special people- about all things MGM. Experience “The MGM Effect” and how it significantly changed the lives of so many of our citizens. My second book “The Uninvited Visitor,” will also be profiled. We welcome you and all your questions in an All Star Extravaganza involving MGM Studios. See you there, where I will whoosh you back in time, starting in the 60’s and the entirety of the 70’s decade.

Steven will be delivering the decadent side of MGM history while I deliver a specialized version of conquering these backlots, and all the danger and excitement that waits within these barb wire fences.

Join us in a rare opportunity to talk …all things MGM!

Disneyland-1974…

Disneyland and Pacific Ocean Park have something in common. That would be theme parks.

But on closer investigation, we find they were built and designed by scenic artists and built by studio craftsmen. They are like backlots with rides.

P.O.P is a classic and unique park built over the Pacific Ocean. Many of the same artist and engineers worked on both parks, along with their movie studio jobs. P.O.P, sadly became derelict, and worse, a home for derelicts, only to burn down to the ocean’s edge. It can still be enjoyed in the Twilight Zone episode…Praise for PIP, starring Jack Klugman.

Get Smart, starring Don Adams, also filmed at this amusement park…As did Batman, starring Adam West and Burt Ward.

Disneyland, with its huge lake, large paddlewheel boat, canoes, a large New Orleans street, trains, rockets, planes, etc…Exactly like MGM Lot 3.. But these theme park backlots allow you the opportunity to (buy) your way inside.

Instead of tanks, weapons, battlefields, and bombed out villages like most movie studios have in their arsenal, a smaller-family friendly place exists.

50 caliber machine guns are replaced my Muskets…actors in costume are replaced by mascots in worse costumes. Barb wire fences are replaced by tollbooths.

All built by the same folk. Since Jimmy can drive now, we head out this morning in his white VW square back. The Happiest Place on Earth is our destination.

This is the first time either of us do this Kingdom without parents.

Six bucks buys a ticket booklet with passports for twelve rides. Unlike school grades, an A-ticket is the worst letter you can have. Slow and worn-out rides surrounded by screaming kids require an A-ticket.

B-ticket…stands for better than A, but not by much. We have two decent options, the motorboat ride and the Casey Jr train ride.

C-ticket… you receive three… so we strategize a few moments…Autopia, with those cool cars… is a must for beginner drivers like myself. Magic moments with Mr. Lincoln is really cool, that robot guy with a hat and beard…For the third, well that will either be Mr. Toad and his wild ride…or the shooting gallery.

D- tickets…we get three, these look just like my report card.

The clock a top the train station stares down as we stare upwards. We position ourselves to run once these metal gates with mouse ears… open.

It’s 8 am, we charge in…like trespassers. Thousands follow quickly. We grab a seat on a train to New Orleans square. Here is where we will use most of these E-tickets.

No other ticket comes close!

All Aboard: is shouted for the last time as our tiny little steam engine begins jugging towards the Bayou, still a ways away. We pass through a prime evil world which would make a great setting for a movie, maybe Spielberg will make it…call it- I don’t know- maybe Jurassic Park. I’m inspired. This train cost us a C-ticket…

On the way there we can’t help but wonder what it would be like to sneak around here. I am almost certain they don’t shoot kids here…unlike MGM. Having paid an entrance fee, we could always pretend… we’re just lost. We would have to talk are way out of any problems, since running home would be difficult… We live 40 miles away.

All we would need to do is show that we have a Disneyland passport, say we got lost and rely on are innocent looks. How do you think we got in here…some Hole in the Fence? … kiddingly!

We disembark at the New Orleans depot and run to get in a short line at Pirates of the Caribbean.

Without parents is the only way to visit this resort, we quickly agree. “They just slow ya down,” we laugh…”Let’s celebrate”…Yo Ho Yo Ho

After the coolest water ride ever… we move hurridly to the fastest ride ever.

The Matterhorn…Its majestic peak towers above us but a very long line leads you to the bobsleds…we decide to try later. Instead, we decide to jump on board the Aerial Tramway and it’s private little flying baskets.

Two “D” tickets allow us to come sail away, and we head towards the Matterhorn by way of the sky. Alone with just Jimmy in this flying basket, I light up one of two doobies specially rolled for this afternoon. Not just pinners but much larger… bombers!

Acapulco Gold blows from our mouth as we pass inside and through this iconic mountain, like we’re Cheech and Chong…

Bobsleds zip by, as all occupants inside scream for help…. We float by very slowly, silently, and almost effortlessly… above them. A giant wolf growls at us as we approach the entrance at the mountain summit.

As we pass inside the Matterhorn, an abominable snowman with glowing red eyes stares me down…

I stare back with blazing red eyes…smoke bellows from inside our little sky unit… which is being pulled by large steel cables.

Swoosh, more sleds, non-stop…below us. It’s a magic kingdom moment, and it’s more magical stoned. I have never been high around this many people before. It’s groovy!

We come to a soft exit… landing in Tomorrowland. We exit higher than the altitude we just descended from, that’s for sure! This is going to be a fun day on this backlot… theme park style.

We still have one more bomber joint on us as our sky ride concludes. We hurry to catch a raft to Tom Sawyers’ island… where I’m sure another adventure awaits us…

Our motorized raft sets sail after passage of a steamship…

We touch ground on this charted island…I have been called Tom Sawyer often, and I do have my own lake and jungle…mine is named after Tarzan!

We wonder over to the barrel bridge… to cross it…a dozen times. We climb up in the tower of the log fortress that overlooks the lake. Very real looking rifles point out towards the Indians reservation over yonder. We both agree this island may be the last spot we can… kill this doobie. It’s rolled up in my top pocket. Nowhere else will we be able to isolate ourselves.

Just as we are about to spark it, some dam kids climb up. Darn… so we climb down and enter a cave close by… about half way through, we stop. We discovered a small cut out, since no one else is around, I fire it up… here.

It’s a bomber and we are determined to finish it. Needless to say, the smoke can only go two directions in this narrow tunnel. I realize two people are entering at one end, backlit by the light at the end of the tunnel. Their hats quickly catch my attention then next, their uniforms. These are not tourists as I had hoped…it is the U.S. Calvary, in full uniform, complete with a swords on their hips. The only thing missing are their horses.

Extinguish that joint– is commanded of me...

My instincts tell me to run…but my brain says…Your house is 40 miles away.

I am forced to capitulate to these officers… on Tom Sawyer’s Island, no less!

The three men in blue laugh like this is their Up in Smoke moment. Pot smoke was billowing out each end of my underground lair, like a joint that is lit on both ends.

Jimmy is released amazingly since I had the joint in my hands. As I begin the long-escorted trip out of here I think to myself…these guys don’t realize who they have here, this would be huge capture at MGM…. Oh well, I am going to make another security list.

First, we are get our own charter boat across the water, just me and the men in the fancy blue duds. What waits on the mainland is something else, photo ops. By the hundreds, people from all over this small world want a picture with these calvary gentlemen…and me. Cuffs are not being used in public display so, they hold me tight as we all say…cheese!

Never in my life have I had more pictures taken of me than this moment! I now know how Winnie the Pooh must feel.

It gets worse…these characters show up, (above), creating more of a jammed crowd…

Finally, I turn to all the smiling faces, ranging from every walk of life, and say in my best English… “Backoff…I’m headed to jail you idiots, get out of the way, please” … click, click,…flash…click.

We arrive at Disneyland’s City Hall and I realize costumes are the key to security here. Two pirates, also security, sit across from each other at a table. One has a loud walkie talkie stuck on a police channel, the other has on…a sword and cuffs. He is also wearing a wire.

Clever! … I think to myself… undercover Pirate police…whmmm…this is quite the police force…Swords seem the weapon of choice here!

A Tomorrowland land officer walks by dressed like Captain Kirk, he has a laser gun. Different weapons for different criminals…

You can’t trust anyone around here, it appears!

After my interrogation concludes…

Next, I am escorted to the main gate for my official release from the Magic Kingdom. But waiting for me, under the iconic Monorail track is a Anaheim police car. The door is open, and I find out there is yet another leg to this journey I’m on today.

I am quickly stuffed inside the backseat of this police car…just as the Prime Evil World train passes by-stuffed with passengers, staring my way, taking more pictures. Slowly…the Monorail glides quietly overhead…All parties salute!

Next thing you know, I am in jail…I have never been, so this is new. I was in prison, but that was to see my teacher’s boyfriend. I am told I will remain here until my parents can be reached, me being a minor, this is my new home!

Pick up the phone, anyone please… 

I have been just brought a cell mate who can bilingularly cuss…and does so for the next couple of hours. I can see the Matterhorn all lit up from my cell window. It’s dark outside now. I imagine Jimmy riding the bobsled, as we had planned.

Ernesto, is my friend and cellmate now, he is in here for robbing a pharmacy. I am in here for having a roach!

I spend more time with Ernesto today rather than with my pal Jimmy.

Fireworks begin, it’s that late. The show can be seen from my barred window surprisingly good, so there’s a positive…

A negative: I’m still here…” Hello, Please answer the phone!”

The Happiest Place on Earth… is closing.

Finally, I am told, my parents are on their way…Yippee!

As I greet them, we shortly all exit the jail together, as a family…Instead of anger, there is a dead silence. Just three car doors shutting, then the engine starts. I listen to the motor all the way home…no radio, no conversation, just the purr of a new 1973 Caddy engine and it’s quiet ride...extremely quiet, tonight!

I can’t wait to see how Jimmy’s day went…we got some catching up to do!

Written and lived by Donnie Norden… 

1984–O.J carries Olympic torch up California incline in Santa Monica. It’s ‘here after ‘handoff I meet my legend while doing a live interview.

Everybody loved this icon, he had a charm to him, a magnetic personality.This fun picture was sadly, a harbinger of things to come…

The 1984 torch relay began in New York. Traversing 33 states and 9,320 miles. Gina Hemphill, Jesse Owen’s granddaughter, relayed it to the L.A Coliseum from here.

We are at the finish line of passing of torch, I’m one of those people behind barricades. I am sizing him up -his style and grace. I want to tackle him because-I love football. I grew up watching this dude!

At the top of the incline, after handing off torch-O.J begins T.V interviews…I stand directly alongside him, listing to his every word…

The torch arrives at its destination-the L.A Coliseum compliments of Gina Hemphill

O.J on the set of “Frogman,” he received training from actual Navy Seals.

Interestingly, NBC never aired this pilot. I happen to know O.J’s personnel driver who took him from his home in Brentwood to locations. I was shocked by what I was told by Gene Carr, “Driver” and former NHL star in his own right…

In 1987-This NHL Star would begin a post hockey career on films as transportation in Vancouver, Canada. Airwolf was filming across our Northern Border. He was assigned as O.J’s driver when he relocated “once again” to Los Angeles. I met Gene when he arrived at Universal, he was loved by everyone and quickly moved up the transportation ranks. We became good friends. Talked everyday and during the making of a David Cassidy special on the Universal lot, he introduced me to his old friend David Cassidy. Gene was drafted by the New York Rangers to start career and became pals with Joe Namath and Cassidy back sun 1971. Gene is not only a hockey legend, but also a Universal Studio legend.On a Pilot titled “Frogman” these two sports legends unite.

1932 -Los Angele’s first Olympiad…

O’J’s gridiron when he was a Trojan!

O.J, as a rookie in Buffalo, wore number 36. It was when he got back his legendary #32, his career took of running…

“Gotta catch a plane”…

On the California incline, we begin in 1984…

My studio career started at this same time, I was a Glamour Tram driver, living in Santa Monica. What fun that era was. I was being paid to du things-I love! Los Angeles was a buzz about hosting the Olympics once again. Many L.A residents left town, fearing complete gridlock on city streets.

I never expected to be at the location where O.J would be -carrying the Olympic Torch of all things. It’s at the peek of this identifier of all things California I meet my hero. As this lit torch gets handed off, O.J is mobbed, the electricity in the air is shocking. Even O.J never experienced a thrill like this. The news reporters move in –as do I.

I had to touch him and did, I patted him on the shoulder as he was talking in a microphone live… “This is one of the greatest thrills of my life” is his answer to the question on just how he feels.

Q-“Where do you go next from here?”

A-“I’m headed over to Sam Nassi’s house for a party” pointing to a home on PCH.

For those who don’t know, Sam is a billionaire and owned the Indiana Pacers at this time. He loves sports like me-this liquidator of giants companies made him a very rich, yet eccentic man.My brief moment was special as anything, especially looking back-a better than football moment for him and myself.

Fast Forward 1994, Ten Years Later

June 12th, 1994, the day before my birthday. While at work on the Universal lot, the news broke on the events from the night before. Like an eclipse of the sun, the studio transformed itself into a dark shadow. Too hard to believe, more details were needed.

Enter Gene Carr, Teamsters Local # 399 .O.J’s driver on a pilot being done by NBC. Navy Seals were involved in the technical side of making a movie star seem realistic as a soldier, capable of killing with his bare hands. Just showbiz right, it’s how films get made. O.J had to feel comfortable with weapons.

Some more freshly squeezed juice…

My good pal Gene Carr shared with me a story while taking O.J from the set, back to his mansion.Gene begins “we were headed back to his place in Brentwood when he out of the blue had me take him to a shop on San Vicente that sells weapons, it’s here he bought a knife and returned to the vehicle”

“Then this event occurs days after, I expected to be a witness in the investigation that followed!” But Gene was not interviewed by detectives, so I have been sitting with this side bar since 1997.

The Verdict…The time has come today, October 3,1995.

A day at Universal unlike any day ever on the studio lot at Universal. Many people in this industry know or have worked with-Mr Simpson. This drama was watched live all over the lot. Every filming show stopped their clocks and cameras to watch this final saga. Never has such interest captivated this city we call Universal…

I remember where I was -Stage 12 watching a T.V in a Gold room with electricians and grips.A factory whose moniker “The show must go on”-came to a complete halt. It’s as if aliens from outer space have landed. Grimness fills the air both here and in the courtroom.

“The glove don’t fit -got to acquit!”

Johnny Cochrane’s Academy Award performance saved Mr. Simpson from life in prison. Basically, they just slapped his hands. They successfully pulled the table cloth from banquet buffet, damaging nothing.

2-people lay dead and the evidence set forth seemed enough to convict, but this jury had it’s own alternate ending. People would return to their workstations stunned, like a hangover, your body is in one place but your mind is in another.

Fade to Black…

At this point in 2024- this event is what it is. Like him or not he is a legend. Marcus Allen, who I have met at the studio and is total gentleman had nothing to say about O.J when we briefly touched base on his predecessor at USC. Rumors were flying around of an affair with Marcus and Nicole Brown. She knows a great running back -when she sees one.

Just another Hollywood –Unsolved Mystery

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden

Our hero begins its journey…

It’s Temple, not of doom-but life.

Change is underway…

A temple fit for Kings and Queens, built by a caterpillar…

The metamorphosis is taking place.

Transition completed.

A new life form starts it’s life journey

A Caterpillar has evolved into A Monarch Butterfly…Here testing its wings before taking flight.

No-this post is not about Movie Stars…

A phenomenal sequence of events that only nature could create was captured over a span of weeks involving the evolution of a ground crawling, multiple legged creature and its selection of where to build its transitional temple. Of all places, it chose to climb up six feet high, and build its cocoon in the eye of a statue I acquired while in Tulum, Mexico.

To the Mayan Culture, this calaveras figure represents living life to the fullest, it’s a gift that honors those who have passed on with love, courage, and a smile. This is a joyous figure and most recognizable in their culture in the Day of the Dead Festivities. I purchased it deep in the jungle while snorkeling in a crystal clear Cenote.

Immediately, it seemed to exhibit itself as a powerful figure. I felt protected as I dived into underwater caverns in the middle of nowhere. Only Iguana and Parrots looked on besides my tiny wooden figure carved by natives.

Nights on the beach watching Sea Turtles come to shore and lay eggs was “our first” wonderful life experience together. I became infatuated by life in the jungle. Time does not exist…it is infinite. Next, UFO’s seemed everywhere, performing acrobatic ballets as I studied the black sky above the Caribbean.

I was experiencing things that we are not taught in schools but that are part of life and evolution to a Mayan Culture—a people that navigated the world by starlight. I clutched my powerful little figurine like a kid with a Teddy Bear. It sat with me all the way home on our return flight. A symbol of life and inevitable death, as our spirit lives on forever.

Well, as if some superpower called out, this tiny statue took on a life of its own in my backyard. As only nature could possibly explain, a caterpillar was compelled to climb to the top of a cabinet like it was ascending to the top of a pyramid. An arduous journey indeed. On top of the cabinet sat this figure that compelled this adorable accordion looking little insect to reach the highest heights.

Upon arrival to its destination, It created a transformation temple “dead center” of the skeletal eye socket. This is where the transformation took place. Luckily, I was able to be present after the metamorphosis was completed. My now absolutely beautiful baby butterfly had just left its angelic, formerly green temple fit for a Kings and Queens to embark on yet another journey.

My multi-legged friend now sprouted the prettiest orange and black pair of wings anyone would love to have attached to them. After working its way out of a now darkened color vestibule no longer supporting this transition, my new friend was testing its wings out before finally commencing on yet another journey in life.

The world is a powerful place and it’s as if modern man has nothing compared to the gifts nature provides without arrogance, greed and mistrust. We all need to take a lesson from this chain of events. Man needs to live amongst nature, not cannibalize and extort these gifts that we do not fully comprehend.

I felt this powerful experience needed to be shared-with the entire “civilized world.”

Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden

xxxxxx

Leon Askin as General Albert Burkhalter in between scenes July 26, 1966.

The Hammelburg Train Station in the TV Show and the train station today. Notice in the show, the prop department misspelled the city of Hammelburg on the set of the 40-acre backlot.

This same bridge was blown up a dozen times on the show, located on the 40-acres backlot in Culver City, and beaneath it, the trespassing picture I took of the bridge in 74.

The bridge can be seen here just left of the picture and Jefferson Blvd, right, just below Baldwin Hills.

The real Stalag 13 in Germany the series copied, the set gives the impression it’s surrounded by rolling hills. We spent a lot of time on those grassy knolls since the views were good and it’s virtually impossible to get caught up here. We strung up hammocks, slept over, and turned on sprinklers on hot, summer days.

This 40-acre backlot road can be seen in many television shows from Hogan’s Heroes, Andy Griffith and Golmer Pyle to name a few.

Just days after Stalag 13 was removed, I snapped these photos. The shed was to remain, the left picture shows a white truck parked alongside- that’s security as people replaced dogs. I know longer had to worry. “Even the Devil can’t fool a dog.” Picture right side has cots from inside the barracks and two rooftops from those barracks complete with “fake snow” painted on their edges.

The back of my “notebook” depicts my life. Culver City Police usually always got involved in chases, especially right after exiting the backlot. Calls for assistance we be broadcasted throughout the city over police radios. You weren’t safe until you were home. We got to know the entire police force. Usually while looking through …Holes in the Fence. They would pull up their Black and Whites, and ask what we’re doing? “Just looking inside officers is all, looks fun in there” I’d respond. Those moments turned into these penned in memories I’d scribble to amuse myself. I think the police force had as much fun as we did. I actually was close to being a Culver City Police officer, it looked like the funnest job in the city. But as fate would have it- the studios would butter my bread for the decades to come. Let me point out something here-I’ve never been arrested. Yet everything I did was seemingly illegal.

This is the most useful picture to get the “exact lay out” of this iconic set.

As you see with your own eyes, the map Klink and Hogan are looking at is much more dense than actually stood at the 40 Acres Backlot. In this picture, filming is taking place at Stalag 13. Gomer Pyle’s camp is located on the left side of this frame- separated by a row of Eucalyptus trees and a chain link gate that is a set itself. This entrance is frequently used in Gomer Pyle but has also been used a gate in Hogan’s Heroes.

Real deal WW2 rocket…Backlot Mock -Up…Notice my– Artist rendering below-while in school…

Map on left side is very accurate and produced long before I ever saw a real map. The red lines indicate chases and escape routes. The yellow in the map indicate hill sides.The Forgotten Film Vaults are lined up along side the La Ballona Creek. Picture in middle was a fun episode with a missile launcher in the camp. Picture right is how the camp looked in my head “day dreaming” at school. I took map making seriously…I got a ” A ” in that class.

Col. Klink checking to see if the MP-40 prop gun is German made, on the 40-acres backlot.

Publicity photo. Notice Sgt. Schultz is smoking on duty.

Now, let’s take a music break, Who knew they could sing?…EPIC – is the word around camp!– Bob had his own label, so he wasn’t on WW 2 sounds, the Colonel pulled rank once again. Music crosses all borders and languages!

My very first entrance into this Culver City Stalag began in the bushes adjacent to the White House in the left corner of this photo. We had to climb not one, but two fences just to get into these bushes. We briefly hid behind a trailer in a person’s backyard. Talk about the reality of sneaking into a Stalag, the Germans we were worried about were dogs-four legged vicious types. Fifty years later-I returned to this corner located at Lucerne and Higuera to retrace that night only to discover the trailer we hid behind was Hollywood’s First Ever -Silent Day origin-Make up Trailer belonging to…Marion Davies. This entire home connected to RKO-Desilu. This trailer was used for make-up in Hogan’s Heroes. The Barracks doors ended up in that backyard home when demolition of camp started. A third guard tower would later be added in the far corner, closest to this backyard.

Another B&W photo taken in 1974 of Col. Klinks Office being reused for a 70’s sexploitation film, Ilsa She Wolf of the SS. Notice the Red Cross painted of the roof.

A map created by my new friend Daniel from Germany similar to the one that hung in Klink’s office.

Day of liberation at the real Stalag 13-C. This original early POW Dog Tag is from the collection of a friend of mine which shows the unabbreviated name of Stalag.

The real Stalag 13 today, located in the city of Hammelburg.

The second of Klink’s secretaries, Sigrid Valdis, would go on and marry Bob Crane in 1970 while filming the final season of the show. They are today, buried next to one another at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetary.

I love this picture! One of my dear followers, Bruce Mayer, reading my first published book. For more backlot adventures, check out my book on Amazon. Phantom of the Backlots Presents: Hole in the Fence https://a.co/d/eYFJDQu

Eating Breakfast at The International House of Pancakes is how we best begin;

Recently, I received a charming request from a fellow in Germany, Daniel Sokolis, wanting to reconstruct this compound for himself and our German Audience. He has a very popular site “Ein Kafig voller Helden” in Germany and he sent me-“America’s Favorite Trespasser” two pictures of a map used in an episode in regards to the Stalag 13 Culver City lay out. Well that triggered a lot of memories and emotions.

Being the request is from Germany, my hair stood ups a bit, no lie. “I wanted in on this.”

To best assist my new friend”s,” I provided an actual aerial photograph that tells a thousand words on the actual layout of this stalag that was built at a location more famously known as “The Tara Plantation.” That was in 1938-but in 1965 a Prison Camp was built to Imprison…”A Cage Full of Heroes.”

Yes- that’s the title in Germany. How cool is that! I’m one of the last talking, breathing, having lived at this place- persons you can turn to on this subject.

Fun facts of which I was not aware of…

Stalag 13 was a film set recreated from a real camp on the outskirts of Hammelburg, 50 miles from Frankfurt. In 1893, the Kaiser created a training camp for German soldiers in a large forested area. Camp Hammelburg was born and still exists-long out living Culver City’s famous short -lived camp that stood proud for 9 years.

During World War 11, this camp was used to house POW officers and called Oflag 13 B. The enlisted prisoners were held in a different camp called Stalag 13-C, also near Hammelberg.

Maps were my thing in school…

This question prompted me since I made maps of this and every studio, I had to because these items didn’t exist in a land before computers and few books regarding this subject. In school I day dreamed on the things I was missing out on sitting in what are usually…boring class rooms.

So I would sit at the very back of the class room and draw maps and images, unbeknownst to the instructor. I’d imagine I was on some set, often King Kong in 1976. I wall barely able to go to school I trespassed so much and somehow I tricked the attendance office into thinking I was older than I was and my “excuses” became permissible. I was always out with something. That ended “abruptly” as you will find out in my next book “The Uninvited Visitor”

I went to school and developed film I shot at the studios in my photography class. My teacher stood behind me as the developing emulsion turned a blank paper into a real life close up of Jessica Lange and Charles Grodin. My teacher couldn’t help but ask “How do I get these incredible pictures ? ‘

“With a camera is how, Mr Zimmerman” was my response.

I was at school physically – but I wasn’t mentally.

I was on a set, whether an active filming location or just some set to escape inside of all day.

We pack to enter a forbidden- Luft Stalag

I have taken you up in a Guard Tower before with old pal Maureen. That’s where I learned how to “get and give-a hickey.” I took you inside the tree stump, that was before I took the stump home with me as the Stalag was being torn down to become another set. The tree stump fit three inside- barely- and connected to one lucky dog house with a tunnel for two underneath that, where a German Shepard sleeps. You all have all been there with me.

I’m not afraid of being chased or even captured, but I am afraid of being mauled by a pack of vicious dogs on a backlot where no one can intervene. Watch what you wish for everybody!

This prison camp was the scariest by far of all my trespasses ever. We were so concerned about …Dogs on Duty.They looked frightening –to say the least.

We snuck to this set at night for the very first time, the cover of darkness was needed. We picked a Sunday Night which usually is the least non-busy evening of the entire week’ We rolled the dice thats tonights the night. A friend of mine carried mace…just in case. For all we know, we may have to fight our way out of here. We ran so hard, from a grassy knoll to the main gate, like our life depended on it. Just to gain the foothold and security a guard tower would offer us, We had to unlatch the wooden handle, at the main gate to enter, quietly we hesitate, just in case we have to slam this just opened fence shut- in case sleeping dogs have awakened…Satisfied we’re safe to enter, next, we pass guard shack. There, a ladder takes us upwards to the safety of a guard tower. After all, dogs can’t climb ladders.

To experience this set, under moonlight with only the sound of crickets surrounding you- was both extremely scary yet extremely satisfying. We were afraid to even talk in this pitch dark landscape. We made it to a place that greets you boldly in the opening credits. A machine gun and a searchlight are usually the props up top here. The only thing missing tonight is the drum beat opening by Jerry Fielding. It’s as if we’re running through the opening credits. Almost identical, the credits never were the same again. We lived them – with all the thrills and chills any P.O.W would experience, either sneaking in or sneaking out. This night was the most bone chilling version of the simple credits I watched open this series for years. Never has this camp greeted such scared to death…visitors.

This opening song also appeared on one of Bob Cranes albums, his drums and orchestra. Another album exists and is for sale at fine record stores near you. Hogan’s Heroes sings The Best of World War -Two, I kid you not.

Back to the maps I made- and as I pull out a few now and examine-they are extremely proficient! Especially the chase map, chases are in red and many more red lines would happen if I updated that map. I too, like my friends in Germany enjoy maps and in my case, they were vital as we prepared to explore places few dare to challenge. Especially since the lot was protected by German…Guard Dogs on Duty

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden.

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden. “Auf Weiderschen, evre bade”

Rod Serling arrives to work at the front gate of MGM Studios

Today let’s explore some sets used in the episode Person or Persons Unknown S3/E27. I will take you into David Gurney’s home, his work, and his psychiatrist office. So, let’s go together, in search of an identity, into the deepest, darkest corners…of the Twilight Zone.

The streets used most often for the Twilight Zone is MGM’s residential neighborhood New England St., which we call Maple Street, along with New York Street, which we will visit today. I’ve spent more time on “Maple Street” than David Gurney or even Rod Serling. It was a safe and comfortable place to relax. If a guard sees us and starts coming upstairs, we simply jump from the balcony. The fence to exit is right behind this featured set. I had a fort in Andy Hardy’s house, directly across the street. Decorated with chairs, a carpet and a wall picture. It’s from upstairs in the Hardy home I watched in amazement as King Kong arrived on the backlot for filming. It was like a 747 commandeering an airport. No bigger “prop” or “star” arrived with such fanfare and security. A Kong “convoy” in 1976.

The Gurney home, also featured in “The Shelter” episode offered a hidden balcony for fun in the sun. I used to listen to The Twilight Zone regularly on a radio that picked up TV audio. Taking it one step further, we snuck in a TV to watch black and white reruns on this colorful street. That in itself was like its own episode of The Twilight Zone. The show was cancelled by then but it lived on through us. We went over every backlot scene at every set used by this series. We kept the “Grandfather Clock” ticking like Ed Wynn did in “Ninety Years Without Slumbering” also filmed just down the street.

At the time I was trespassing, this series had already been cancelled but was extremely popular in midafternoon and late night reruns. Being able to go where all exterior scenes were filmed of every episode seamlessly, for us anyway, kept this series alive and well. We relived everything. I did this at Desilu with the Andy Griffith series and Combat, where I died a million dramatic deaths. I lived for this stuff-in my own dimension of imagination. I think Rod would have loved to hear how neighborhood kids kept “kicking the can” years after this series stopped production.

The Vet’s Park scenes, filmed across the street from MGM feature “David Gurney’s” bank where “no one knew” this deranged man. A police car whisks him away. At that time, that building was the Culver City Library. I spent a lot of time in there, back when kids read, I favored sports books. Today, after a modest facelift, it’s now a teen center.

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden.

An aerial shot of MGM Backlot 2 where many of the Twilight Zone episodes were filmed. The arrows show the two locations used in this episode and post. The arrow below is New England Street also used  extensively in Stop Over in a Quiet Town. And above, the escape alley on New York Street.

The opening scene from the TZ Episode Person or Persons Unknown and my MGM Art Department Photo of this same set pre-The Twilight Zone on New England Street, Backlot 2.

“And–Who is this strange man?” “That’s me” upstairs, shirt off on a summer day on Mr. Gurney’s balcony. We often hung out upstairs in this set. The stairway upwards is located on the backside of the building. Inside the front door, you’re greeted by a “Wild Wall” that blocks out the interior so you can’t tell this is a set. Usually a carpet, table and picture hanging on the wall creates the illusion this is a complete home. Interiors, such as his “wife in bed’ are shot on stage on the main MGM Lot One.

This view is sitting on the balcony looking upwards at the church steeple. This section burned down in the mid 70’s and will be a story in my upcoming book. After a brief and desolate few months, this entire street would see a massive upgrade for another big feature.

Behind the trees, right of the church- is The Shelter, or David Gurney’s home. I took this picture from New York Street, you can see the wide open spaces we sometimes had to ‘risk” crossing. We waited for the right time to run from one set to another, like some large hand was going to swoop down and get us.

This road sits behind the David Gurney home. A “tug” just passed by and is driving up the road. This transportation vehicle pulls a trailer behind it and is used to move props from one place to another. On the right hand side is the fence that separates the train tracks from the backlot. Across the street, a rock throw away, is Vet’s Park, which was used in this episode. Everything is that close…

The former Culver City Library “doubling’ as a bank for this episode. This is now the “Teen Center.”

A scene from the episode entering the bank and the Teen Center entrance today.

Driving away from the former Culver City Library “, you can see Vets Tower in this scene.

They didn’t have to go far to film the Bank scene in this episode. Above shows MGM Studios Lot 1 & 2 and the arrow pointing to the Bank next to Vets Tower.

The MGM famous alleyway set. A man in need of an “escape”. This set is basically a wall with a window, was built in this alley way for the scene when David decides to exit his forced “observation study” by taking off out a window.

My picture below was taken right after the filming of “Uptown Saturday Night” starring Bill Cosby and Sydney Poitier. The “B” on the Red Sign is Bunky’s Pool Hall. This is set decorations for a Taxi Cab scene in that MGM Feature -1974.

Ed Wynn, Rod Serling, and “Mr Death” on stage. What a moment this is… I will take you on all the sets used in “One for the Angels” in a future post you won’t want to miss, I have all the angles covered that were used in that wonderful tale.

This show will never disappear as long as this clock -“keeps ticking”

Thanks for reading! For more backlot adventures, check out my book on Amazon. Final edits are taking place on my second book, “The Uninvited Visitor.” We hope to have it ready for Christmas. This book will take you on active movie sets that span the decade of the 70’s. Before computers and cell phones, back when special effects were very- real deal. Probably the best era ever in motion picture and television history. Join me on set for these colorful, music influenced backdrops and larger than life stories where money was- no object. No other book on film history takes you where we’re going. Risks are everywhere-but you’re in good hands…follow me, keep low, let’s go!

Phantom of the Backlots Presents: Hole in the Fence https://a.co/d/eYFJDQu

Located on Vine Street-near Sunset

Pedro was discovered by John Wayne on this episode of You Bet Your Life. Google this episode -it’s priceless!

Rio Bravo–Pedro costarred 7 times with John Wayne,who has visited his home.

John Wayne was so many things, he spotted talent, developed it, owned The Legendary Culver Hotel which he reportedly won in a game of poker from Charlie Chaplin, and played football for USC.

Publicity Photos-Talk about a shooting star, this man became a super Nova, overnight…

“Hostile Guns” 1967. Tab Hunter, Robert Emhardt, and Pedro.

Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood,– “Come back boy, you’re needed more than ever!”

A little known, golden nugget on a spoof of Hollywood. Pedro played a Mexican projectionist in his cameo. King Kong took up much of the Paramount Lot at this time. Kong, a movie so big, it took over most of MGM also. Dino De Laurentiis occupied Louis B. Mayer’s office during this period. Pedro Gonzalez’ house was a fence hop away from the Skull Island/Shea Stadium sets at MGM. “The Uninvited Visitor” will take you there.

Pedro, working with The Monkees on the Columbia Ranch… Music fact: David Bowie’s real name is Davey Jones. He changed it to Bowie because Davy Jones from The Monkees “owned it.” My friends and I loved the Monkees! We would play their albums and pretend we were them. As a result, I like to think that I can play a pretty mean tambourine. Let us never forget the music that accompanies this generation of TV. The Partridge Family was also on this backlot.

These two character actors are side by side in a previous picture with Tab Hunter. Two of the all time best character players ever in film. In Adam-12, Pedro sees everything, he’s driving a Taxi on this episode. “Did you see any kids run by here?”-“MGM just called us.”

Pedro as a farmer in -The Flying Nun

A legend, he will live on forever! Seen here with his wife Leandra. He is buried in Culver City.

Actor Clifton Collins Jr. Grandson of Pedro Gonzales Gonzales, Pedro’s wife Leandra and Samuel Jackson. Pedro sadly already deceased before this well earned star was cemented in.

Pedro owned this entire corner, a main house with a pool, and four stone covered rentals. This was his casa across from the MGM Backlot. I was often chased down this street by Studio Security, chases didn’t always end just by jumping the fence. They came outside and continued down public streets since I was like ‘Big Game”

Backlot, trespassers entering (actors playing the part of… me!) Pedro owns the orange home other side of fence. How it was in- 1973.

This picture is the public side of the studio fence those kids are climbing over. ” Reverse Angle” Taken at Maureen’s apartment, that’s her sister’s car. Popular hangout for Our Gang of trespassers, that’s why the film used this entrance- across from Pedro’s property.

The front entrance of Pedro’s old place as it stands today. Very little has changed.

This light was Pedro’s, given to him by John Wayne. This was from and used in one of John’s films, not sure which film…Magnifico! A Special Thanks to Alex and Bethannie for opening up their home to me. They are well aware of the history preceding their ownership and help history live on. Alex is a lawyer at NBC Universal and his office is in the famous Black Tower.

“Trick or Treat Pedro“…Maureen and I wore similar costumes in 1973, We always stopped here on Halloween. I was Caesar. She was a Partridge. The following year, ironically, I wore the real deal on the set of Planet of the Apes at the MGM Backlot. Didn’t see that coming. One of the funnest sets I’ve ever been part of… Roddy McDowall, who plays the role of Caesar, befriended me and several other kids visiting the set. Read more in “Hole in the Fence,” come on the set with me. “A little bit -too much lipstick here Caesar!”

This statue was Pedro’s, it sat outside the back door of his home facing MGM Lot 2. He owned property directly across from the backlot I snuck into everyday. This sat next to a sidewalk for decades, I would touch its head for “Good Luck” before trespassing into a backlot, which had its own Lion Logo looking down over all things MGM. My own lucky Lion. This stone fella saw me run home while being chased by MGM security- regularly. A MGM guard named George Barner lived a few houses down from Pedro. Every story has a villain and George was the neighborhood villain. I cherish my history with Pedro’s “Good Luck” statue.

Today we Salute a Dear Neighbor and Friend and begin in the Mid Sixties;

We all know this man if you own a television. His career took off overnight, thanks to a guest appearance on You Bet Your Life. Mr. John Wayne was captivated by this guest, as was Groucho. This appearance turned out to be a screen test. His innocence could melt your heart. Soft spoken with wit and charm, yet not trying to be anything other than the man he is …Pedro Gonzalez Gonzales.

Following Mexican tradition of the time, he was given not only his father’s last name but also his mother’s maiden name. Coincidentally, they were the same. At age 7, he left school to join his family act called “Las Perlitas”. He married his wife Leandra in San Antonio. They were both performers and they met while playing on the same bill. She was a fifteen year old dancer, he was 17 and only death separated them. Nothing like teenage love affairs that last a lifetime.

Pedro became a stock player in John Wayne’s company for nearly two decades, until 1974. His first film was Wings of the Hawk, 1953. Pedro often played comic relief roles in Westerns. Hollywood would type cast him and he would almost always play a Mexican in a service job. I’m in no way saying this with disrespect, but Hollywood tends to categorize. Pedro was an extremely talented entertainer and one of the best loved character actors. He played the roles that were available to him and he played them well. This “branding” translated into characters that fit in almost every show for however brief the role may be. His best parts were big roles side by side with the legends of film.

He became one of the era’s few recognized Mexican Americans on the big screen and television. Pedro has been credited with influencing stars like Cheech Marin and Cuba Gooding Jr. to pursue a career in acting. Latino actors as well as African Americans were up against a wall in trying to break into Hollywood. It would seem you needed to have something Hollywood could exploit to command interest. Rudolph Valentino was known as “The Latin Lover”, but he was Italian. This title was invented by Hollywood moguls, just for him.

As a teenager at MGM, I saw two major breakthroughs. The first was “Shaft” the television series starring Richard Roundtree. It filmed on the MGM backlot, and was one of the first times an African American carried a gun and badge to bust bad guys, rather than being the “Bad Guy.” Well acted, you have to wonder why it took this long to represent a culture in a positive way. Shaft was a smashing success and revolutionized how blacks should be perceived and respected.

The second series involved a a Latin cast, starring Hector Elizondo. I’ll take you on that set in my next book. Hector played a Puerto Rican widower raising his kids in a Brownstone on the backlot. The composer was Carlos Santana…” Now we’re talking.” Only ten episodes were produced before MGM- Television pulled the cord. The series was gaining a good following, but the time slot competed with “Happy Days”. Yet “Popi” can be credited as being ahead of the curve and MGM had a role in shifting the cultural tide on T.V.

My experience with Pedro was usually just a “Hello, Nice to see you today Mr. Gonzalez” as we would pass his house on the way to MGM’s backlot. He owned an entire corner of housing. His house has a pool. The only one around this neighborhood. The next closest pool was Esther Williams’, located across the street in MGM. Two pools, two legendary actors.

Pedro had the coolest statue of a Lion, it stared toward MGM. I loved it so much I would tap it on the head for “Good Luck” on my way to another trespassing adventure. This became a custom of mine, I would sit on a tiny wall alongside and talk to it, telling it MGM stories. Something about this statue, who owns it, and how it looks toward MGM. Pedro always said “Hi” politely as we passed him to begin our backlot escapades, but we had no-time for chit chat often on return trips home, because we were often being chased. He stayed busy on his property and was always out front.

Pedro saw more than once a Red Bronco speed down his street, chasing me. The guard also lived down the street, “Hey Pedro, did you see some teenagers just run by?” would be the question of the day. Luckily Pedro knew us and liked us, instead of answering their question, he went straight into character “No hablo Ingles Senor.” Pedro never ratted us out, no one liked Big George anyway…

“Gracias Pedro!”

Pedro was like a costar in my adventures too, and Maureen lived directly across the street, my other costar and forever friend. We enjoyed “trick or treating” at his house on Halloween night in vintage costumes over the years. I remember appearing in his doorway in a Planet of the Apes mask. The kind that makes you sweat but you leave it on to stay in character. Every kid knew this well decorated house where a movie legend and his wife would politely greet you and give out a whole hand full of candy and a freshly made tamale!

Thanks for the memories you two, we will never forget your graciousness…

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden and Maureen Miller.

Post-fire aerial view of the Columbia Ranch in 1970.

It is with disheartening news that I share my personal tales of Columbia Ranch… It is now known that this lot is currently being demolished. This wonderful, western-style, movie playground will go the way of so many other former studio backlots, such as MGM, Fox, and Desilu, which have all seen this sad movie playout before: Quick cash, in the form of real estate development, will overide the movie history that has played out both inside and outside the backlot. Paving paradise once again.

Hidden within the city of Burbank is The Columbia Ranch movie facility, surrounded on all four sides by residential property. Two story homes and apartments can easily see inside this fabricated world… Right from their living room windows, residents can have a peek over the ivy covered fences that secure this iconic movie location. It’s as if they are part of famous movie sets that sit right across the street. Like having a balcony seat for a fine play. Except this play never ends… until now.

It seems escalating property values overide history every time. Who needs these old buildings and mature forest areas that lie inside this lot? 

You may think you never have seen this lot or experienced it… ahh, but you have! You have watched TV episodes that were done entirely on this lot. In the back of your mind, you might’ve wondered, just where these neighborhoods exist. The Columbia Ranch… that’s where!

The future is here, sadly…

The sprawling 32 -acre Warner Brothers Ranch Backlot complex at 411 N-Hollywood Way in Burbank, California will be overhauled to make way for the largest studio development in the United States complete with 16 new soundstages, a multi level parking structure, support facilities, and a 320,000-square foot office building.

Hollywood can’t get enough sound stages. Fairly recently, Universal also tore down the Spartacus area to add stages. Old wooden sets have an expiration dates, apparently. The lush landscape surrounding these sets falls victim to circumstances. Large mature trees and jungle settings will no longer provide shade for a Fantasy Island and will be replaced a cement parking structures.Not the fantasy I would have wished for… All my wonderful memories on this lot will now forever be preserved in the steel can my mind has become, containing Hollywood’s Golden Age memories.. I feel more than ever like a old, smokey projector, complete with the sound film makes being advanced until the final frame tells you it’s ….”The End.”

My First of many Trespassing Tales on this Backlot-New Years Day 1976

My boots first touched ground on this movie backlot in the mid-seventies.

We begin… In the shade of large forested area located behind a super market in beautiful downtown Burbank. We park just a few feet from the wall we will scale. Every trespass at every studio begins and ends with fences to climb. There are warning signs telling you to ” stay out.” We sit in Jimmy’s VW staring at our objective, the Columbia Studios backlot. We ‘”brave up” by listening to songs on the Radio. Led Zeppelin’s “Gallows Pole” is blasting through the Blaupunkt speakers. As the song concludes, we are motivated begin this entirely new to us –backlot adventure.

The three of us, Jimmy, Pat, and myself touch down on pay dirt, large trees and grass berms provide shade and places to hide at while we take in the landscape. The thrill has begone, it’s like being on another planet, like some Space Cowboys. A space capsule sits hidden and isolated like it secretly landed. We see several four-story tall buildings not too far off. Those buildings can be seen driving down Hollywood Way, a street the locked main gate is located on. The locked gate is an indication this place is probably empty.

Each set and street need to be examined. If we get chased, security has an advantage of knowing the place, and that takes time, diligence, and some luck for us to accomplish that goal. We advance like we’re in an episode of Combat, building to building, trying to avoid battle, we hope today is entirely reconnaissance. Being inside now is how we will verify, we are hoping for the lot to be empty and for the taking! Everything we see is stationary- empty streets, abandoned up scale homes, and parked cars, as if someone hit a pause button. Time has frozen still for us, it’s like we’re climbing into a picture or matte painting. We three boys are the only live action going on here today, it appears. It’s like entering -The Twilight Zone…”Where is everybody?”

Nothing so far is recognizable from things on TV, because we came in through a backstage entrance, so to speak. But after a half hour in this forested area, we head toward the big city with the tall buildings over yonder. Weaving in and out of what the studio calls “picture cars”, a huge selection of cars could double as Cal Worthington and his dog Spot’s used car dealership. Jimmy and I pull Pat by the arm so to keep toward our goal, Downtown- Columbia Ranch.

Pat has a thing for cars, he would stay here all day if we let him. But we’re going to the highest vantage point on the backlot. It offers not only great views, but a 360-degree observation of any and all activities on the lot. Following proven effective methods used on all our other lots, we sit on rooftops four stories high. A fountain sits below us, and a pool with crystal blue water, in a park setting. We have a pool at MGM, but it’s drained now, so we use that old Esther Williams pool to skateboard in. This pool below us is perfect and ready for entertaining as is the fountain just opposite it.

We are on top of the world, or Columbia anyways. We bask in our glory, another successful backlot adventure is taking place, we three sit on the roof and dig into the depths of our collective brains that are TV sets at this moment. Each of us adjust our own set rabbit ears- pointing out things that slowly are being remembered or identified from TV shows from the sixties. This truly is- TV Land.

The Monkees used this fountain in their music video “”I Wanna Buy Me a Dog”. Jimmy and I loved the Monkees and now here we are. “This is the Partridge Family Studio, I’ve seen that bus drive by here.” Before follow up with another series, we take a brief Susan Dey time out moment, teenagers have a thing for her you know… But wait, their’s more- Bewitched used that fountain also. This fountain is like the center of the universe on this backlot. We sit above all this reflecting fondly, what a cool way to start the year. Off in the distance we see the “The Stevens house” a sling shot from Dennis the Menace’s house.

We are zipping through the sixties on classic TV memories, like we do at Desilu, the studio where Superheroes come alive.

A typical western street usually has gallows at one end, a church at the other, a Gunsmith in between. A saloon, livery stables, and a chicken ranch are within walking distance. Wooden gang plank sidewalks frame a dirt road. Horse tie offs make us wish wish we had a saddled up horses. A sheriff office and a bank trim out all you could possibly want or need.

Inside these buildings are treasures, ancient lighting equipment sits ready and willing to be re-energized. Thick cobwebs cover the bulb inside the housing. This street is everything you could want in a real Ghost-town. But these ghosts are captured on film to forever display themselves when called upon.

Today, we visited two old west deserted ghost towns, the first trespass was on the CBS backlot, close by in Studio City, that was earlier this morning. We have a thing for The Wild ,Wild West and we only had to go to the valley to go back in time.

As we make our way back across the entire lot to get back to our climbing spot, Pat finds an unlocked door in a steel covered one story storage facility, it’s the property department. Small hand props are packed inside here- we touch everything. It’s like the biggest curio shop ever, odd, strange yet cool things…I am in love with a brass container in the shape of a Scorpion. It opens up to put things inside. As tempting as this is, the Robin Hood in us says “Don’t take anything.” We still have a long way to go to exit and we are already carrying camera equipment. “You would think they would lock this place”…

As neat as this room is, it really is all about these wonderful backlots. Today, January 1, 1976…we conquered two more. We head back to Culver City together this New Year’s Day-no chases, no watch commanders, just a relaxing trip back in time- to the good old days…

A priceless moment that is as fresh as the day it happened. The beauty of memories is… they can’t be bulldozed.

For more stories such as these, follow me around Hollywood’s iconic backlots. A “”Hole in the Fence is how you can enter in on these adventures and you to can become the “The Uninvited Visitor” Detailed trespassing diaries, all studios…Coming soon.

Written and lived by Donnie Norden…

Bewitched Home A utility road is behind this set along with an ivy covered fence that has Warning Signs-No Trespassing. Always how my stories begin.

Home of Mr. Wilson’s Home in Dennis the Menace, and in 1954 it also served as the Anderson Family home in Father Knows Best. And then Jeannie’s house in I Dream of Jeannie, to name a few. Trespassing at Universal, I met Barbara Eden on the set of “Harper Valley. ” She was struggling to get to get her boots on as she sat on her trailer stairs. I had just exited the Munsters House when I saw her dilemma, as any well rounded-trespasser would do, I assisted her in completing this task. My Jeanie moment !

Donna Reed & Dennis the Menace home

Partridge Family Home–What a wild family of stars- in real life.This family had a number hit song on Billboard -“I think I Love You” David Cassidy performs with Shirley Jones, his real life step mother.

Fantasy Island Home on the backlot. The second house is located at the Los Angeles Arboretum. I took this picture on later visit. Notice a slight remodel to the arches in the columns compared to the earlier pictures I took below.I met these two men while filming the second episode ever of this series, on the MGM backlot. One of my greatest tales for you to live also, in my upcoming book.

My tresspassing buddy Jimmy walking up to the Fantasy Island Home.

We have arrived, but no planes!

The Griswolds house in Christmas Vacation (center).

High Noon was filmed here on Western Street, starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly

A scene from High Noon filmed on Western Street and picture I took below. I took this picture 20 years later. After the fire in 1970, some sets were Rebuilt using the original blueprints.

Another shot of Western Street nearly the same angle, I took later in color.

Pat Rich, my old Catholic School buddy, we were a couple of renegades, dating back to elementary days. We both were told to ” Do not comeback for 8th Grade.” I celebrated being liberated and moving on to public school where I could be with my girlfriend Maureen.. Pat, on the other hand was sent to Loyola High, a very strict private school.

“Boots on the ground are boots in the air as Pat enjoys pretending he’s on a horse. More on this lad- “he always volunteers on dangerous backlot assignments. He was my most trust worthy side kick. As a private early in our trespassing days, he exhibited guts and determination. He quickly moved up the ranks after being shot at twice by an MGM Guard branching a fire arm out the window of the Bronco security jeep. Bronco Bob was the guard and the term that became widely used was coined on that day being chased off the set of Soylent Green. Pat is no longer with us and is swinging up in heaven where all Catholic School boys end up. ”

My other partner in crime, Jimmie with his camera. Although I’ve taken hundreds of pictures here, I would love to get a hold of the ones my pal Jimmy took.I’m in his pictures, he’s in mine, I have a message in a bottle hoping to someday reunite. I can’t count how many times we have had to hide face to face behind some object as security attempts to hunt us down.Several studios this came up, after all, we are trespassers. The last time that happened was on this backlot after MGM was torn down. We were seen on western street and hid inside a barn, face to face, for the last time ever it turns out and it happened on this street. We got away but security gave this place a “once over” and we could hid for the final time “”Face to Face”

Here’s some of the 100’s of pictures I took on this backlot that I’ll post soon on a future post, if anyone is interested. All these pictures are mine and trespassing is how I achieved my library

Jimmie playing with the spotlight

Columbia Ranch pool. Above right is a scene from the Patridge Family and below, a scene from the Monkees. This pool had underwater window installed for filming.

A scene from the Monkees and a picture I took that’s nearly the same angle.

Before and after showing the location of the Partridge Family Bus location.

Famous courtyard fountain. This fountain has been used in may famous telivision productions.In 1967-The Monkees out sold both the Beatles and The Rolling Stones on L.P sales.

Some of my photos are beginning to fade away. Here’s a chariot scene from Hooper in 1978.I was a guest of a bit actor and trespasser-Tim Gray. He to is no longer with us. I was sitting in a wood chair with Cowboys and Romans all around me in video village. Hal Needham was directing and watching replays of the chariot races. I asked him “what was the your favorite all time stunt?” His response was”I hold the record for the most for the most car rolls-23″ he boasted proudly. It was then “Sonny Hooper” aka “Burt Reynolds” chimed in. “Tell him the rest of the story Hal” After a pause Hal says ” I was in the hospital for three months, I had a broken spleen, collar bone, damaged ribs” as Burt begins laughing as only Burt can. My favorite ranch memory.

The Partridge family bus in front of the European Church. My picture 10 years later, below.

Two and three wheelers once raced down these streets. Marlon Brando in the Wild One and Dennis the Menance.

“Valley of the Giants”. Kids become Giants after taking a drug called Goo and terrorize the backlot. Needless to say, this could be us. Been there Done that!

The Community church seen in Valley of the Giants was rebuilt after the fire. This church separates these two iconic residential streets.

This street is what’s behind the residential street with all the iconic homes and is featured in a few Fantasy Island episodes.

It’s up here that offers the best views of this backlot. Before exploring the sets below-we analyzed the topography for both who may be on the lot but also what shows took place here.Before computers and Steven Bingen’s fantastic books-we had to do old fashioned research. This roof is where to set up your vintage T.V antenna that pulls in signals from the past.

Before starting my first trespass on this lot, we listened to “Gallows Pole” by Led Zeppelin. Unknowingly, we ran into one. Once again, backlots incorporate hill sides into their western streets. Warner Brothers, Universal, and Columbia all have this hill side gateway into the old west. This is pertinent for how the west is presented. The Hollywood sign is on the other side of that hill top.

Another angle of a turn of the century village.

Front yard view from Dennis the Menace home.

The corner intersection of two iconic residential streets.This neighborhood is the real…T.V Land.

The main gate takes you here to this area first -if you have a drive on pass. We had-No credentials.

This spaceship would make a great fort!

Another Fantasy Island set pic I took.

1981 Under the Rainbow Oz set.

Columbia Ranch boneyard. The trees yonder is the Fantasy Island sets.

Jimmy, once again, a sword in one hand and a camera in the other. We sometimes wear costumes when we run into them. Like we stepped into a movie.

This picture is a public street right behind The Bewitched home. My invitation for a challenge is posted everywhere along these very hard to climb fences. I’ve learned by doing- there is always a weak link in a chain of fences.

Before/After. A conception of the 16 new soundstages, multi level parking structure, and 320,000-square foot office building. THE END….

The Andy Griffith show filmed many episodes at Franklin Canyon Park (Meyer’s Lake) including the opening title theme song.

Many of you may remember the opening credits of The Andy Griffith Show where Opie is skipping a rock in the water or Sgt. Saunders leading his squad through a forest with lakes in the T.V. series Combat!, or even Captain Kirk falling in love with an Indian maiden on Star Trek. There is one thing all these scenes have in common: They were all filmed at Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills.

In the 1930s the studios began the frequent use of the canyon for filming. The movie industry discovered Franklin Canyon’s unspoiled beauty and lack of palm trees, and made arrangements with the Department of Water and Power to use the area for filming. It was an ideal site, with its proximity to the studios, but far enough from urban development and at the time, off-limits to the public.

Private Lives (1931) was the first to film here followed by It Happened One Night in 1934. Other famous films were Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), On Golden Pond (1981) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Purple Rain (1984), Platoon (1986) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991) to name a few.

Nearly every Classic Television show filmed a scene or two here from The Rifleman, The Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza, The Brady Bunch, Wonder Woman, Combat, Green Acres, Dynasty, Lassie, Star Trek, and The Waltons. If you didn’t already know about this place, you will now be able to spot this location when it appears in a scene of your favorite show.

Unlike many of the studio backlots of the past, not much has changed here other than the receding waterline and the trees have grown. If you look closely, you can even find a shell casing in the dirt left from a battle long ago.

Today, about 25 films are still shot here annually. This park, which is open to the public, is located at 2600 Franklin Canyon Dr, in Beverly Hills and is a 605-acre backlot, nearly 3 miles long.

If you live in the area and haven’t visited this park, I recommend you spend a Saturday morning here exploring this famous backlot. And best of all, it’s a backlot you can visit without being chased out by security guards!

Written and lived by Donnie Norden

Star Trek even visited the park in the episode “The Paradise Syndrome”.

America’s favorite Hollywood TV family filmed an episode here in “Camping We Will Go”.

All five seasons of Combat filmed episodes here, including nearly every episode of Season 5.

Clark Gable was here, taking orders from Frank Capra for “It Happened One Night.” Seen here is Claudette Colbert’s famous hitch-hiking scene. I’d give her a ride…

Franklin Lake, in a scene from Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). Why is that little red haired kid always fishing in my spot?

In the episode Andy and Helen Have their Day, Andy gets a ticket for no fishing license. Colin Male (right) who plays the Game Warden is also the announcer who opens every episode with “The Andy Grith Show, starring Andy Griffith”.

Instead of bringing money to pay Andy’s fine, Barney mistakenly thinks Andy and Helen are going to tie the knot at the Justice of the Peace.

The Justice of the Peace house today

The Rifleman episode “Old Tony” was filmed here in 1963

This episode was just on TV last week. Another scene from The Rifleman shot at FCP.

One of our followers, Kami Cotler is pictured on the right, from a scene from The Walton’s episode “The Collision”

Exploring this backlot is worth the trip to Beverly Hills, especially since no security guards are chasing you.

Another scene from Combat then and now. This backlot hasn’t changed at all other than the trees are larger.

A friend of mine clowning around, reenacting a scene from Combat.

In 1964, the park was used by photographer Guy Webster as a background for the following album covers: (Sounds of Silence), Simon & Garfunkel and Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass), The Rolling Stones.

The Beatles and The Rolling Stones both toured Los Angeles in 1965. The Beatles played to a sold out Dodger Stadium. They had hotel issues so Lew Wasserman, founder of MCA Universal put them up in the Universal lot. They visited The Munsters set and all became one big happy family. MCA stands for Music Corporation of America. The Stones played at The LA Sports Arena in their first LA show. The second US Tour began October 29 and ended up concluding 41 shows later, December 5th, 1965 in Los Angeles. That’s the time of this album cover photo. The British Invasion is underway…

Exact locations photographed, a bit blurry because Rock Stars never sleep, they just crash hard!

Little did they know when filming this opening scene, this show would go on to do so well for so many years.

Original B&W and later the Color opening credits filmed at FCP.

The Griffiths are not the only characters to fish here. Albert Einstein is seen here in an episode of The Rifleman.

Speaking of Rock Stars- Here’s Prince in a scene from Purple Rain filmed at Franklin Canyon Park.

Another scene from the Brady’s first family vacation.

Jodi Foster can be seen here in Silence of the Lambs.

This concrete barrier that aligns the road can be spotted in many famous television shows.

You can drive or walk down these roads at the park. Just don’t get out of line!

The concrete barrier can be seen spotted in the right hand corner during a fishing trip in TAGS.

Concrete barrier used in a scene from Combat.

Shell casings from prior battles which took place here can still be found buried in the dirt.

The original post is still there in another scene from Combat, showing Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow) on the move.

Another scene from Star Trek showing the lake in the episode “The Paradise Syndrome”.

Thanks for reading! For more backlot adventures, check out my book on Amazon. Phantom of the Backlots Presents: Hole in the Fence https://a.co/d/eYFJDQu

Toes Beach Bridge…this connects Playa Del Rey to Marina Del Rey

Ooops!

Larry Hovis from Hogan’s Heroes fame became a photographer in this role, Venice Pier is behind the actors. This “citation” is for not having her bathing suit on as cops arrived. A year later, in 1974, Venice would become a nude beach. The only one of i’s kind. A freak show of sorts, I remember well-I was 14.

This area is jurisdiction of Pacific Division, LAPD. Our Cops are Tops!

Three camera rig that captures our stars for interior car scenes, is mounted on the hood. The things you don’t see on television.

A mega condo complex, and a park precede that apartment unit pictured above/below.

The only thing that changed in todays shot from 1973… is the rent!

1973 “Person of Interest” in Dune Buggy, where Culver Blvd. meets the Beach in Playa Del Rey

The oldest place left at Playa with a front row view of the Pacific Ocean.

Street today with a three story added home now completing the corner.

A Jeep today is parked where the Dune Buggy stop was made in 1973.

Wouldn’t you know it, more trouble on this side of the street! …We don’t even have to move Basecamp.

1973/2023

Suspect on rooftop…

Tanners Coffee, across street today.

“to protect and to serve” all this background still stands..

The white apartment behind The Shack Restaurant is the rooftop Officers Reed and Malloy are searching. The white “box” on the roof is the stairway up to this roof.

The suspect sat on Reed’s sandwich in the back seat of the squad car. A very fun beach episode.

Two-Locations at play;

We begin not anywhere near Universal Studios, this episode is titled Venice Division. Actually, Pacific Division is who responds to calls in this jurisdiction. This is one episode that’s not in need of a backlot. TV Shows, both crew and actors, love when writers put them out west along the Pacific Ocean. Who doesn’t like a day at the beach?

Starsky and Hutch would make a habit of filming in Venice Beach beginning in that series.

This happens to be the closest beach to my house and I love being down here. The planes at LAX are not only visible, they come complete with audio as the reverse thrust of engines permeates over this landscape. “CHiPs” would often film around here being close to MGM and these streets were often scouted for car stunts, as there is enough space for flipping or rolling cars on. “Baywatch” also made the leisurely drive through the wetlands from their stages at Culver Studios.

But in 1973, this was the police show to watch. It’s hard to believe but this series started in 1968. It is considered a spinoff of Jack Webb’s Dragnet. Reed and Malloy characters appeared in episodes of the parent program. 174 episodes are in the can and stored in a film vault at Universal.

“Internal Affairs” is the episode where Reed and Malloy testify in court in a case involving Police Brutality being worked by Friday and Gannon. A year later, they would have their own series. Crossovers occur because Emergency, Adam-12, and Dragnet are all Mark 7 Productions on the Universal Lot. Jack Webb was the man behind all three series.

Kent McCord played a police officer 4 times prior to Adam -12. The production of Adam -12 was to accurately depict all aspects of police procedures. Jack Webb insisted the Police Cruiser itself be considered a character. The studio purchased the cars from a local dealership and the studio prop department outfitted them to LAPD cruiser specs.

Driving scenes were filmed on public streets, but the most ambitious calls and pursuits often ended up on the Universal Backlot. A platform was developed that held three cameras and was mounted at the head of the cruiser. The center camera captured the two stars in one shot. The left and right camera captured each star respectively.

Reflections on the window became the next problem, so the glass was removed. This made the actors hair blow and created unwanted audio intrusions. Property then devised an overhang and reinstalled the glass windshield along with additional black boxes on each side side of the patrol car. This allowed for a controlled filming environment.

The script supervisor laid down on the back floor-feeding the officers lines. The director and the sound guy sat in the rear of the station wagon that is towing this police rig. This is the sequence of events needed for car interior shots-Director and sound in station wagon, remote cameras on hood, and stars appear to be driving and talking on radio. More complicated than it looks on television.

The early years of this series were mostly on the Universal Backlot. Season three started more location work off lot. In 1973, several episodes involving several different Police Divisions are depicted.

Today, well today’s a beach day episode, Venice Division style. So put on a bathing suit-otherwise a beach patrol may “cite you,” and enjoy another sunny afternoon in the summertime.

Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden