Phantom of the Backlots

October 3, 1960-April 1, 1968

Star Trek -1966-1969

1968-1971 A series defining (The Purge)

Hogan’s Heroes-September 17, 1965-April 4, 1971

Lassie-1954-1973

That Girl- September 8,1966 to March 19,1971

The television revolution reached a turning point early in the decade of the 70’s. Classic hit TV series abruptly disappeared, despite strong ratings. An ideology swept the industry primarily lead by CBS executive Fred Silverman. Advertisers were interested in enticing younger urban professionals with more disposable income.

Network executives rolled the dice realizing popular hits that contained rural settings representing middle America were skewed to older audiences. Your television set was to change significantly, switching from farmlands and simpler times to the grips of big city life representations. Big cities replaced wide open spaces changing advertising demographics.

Like getting your wisdom teeth pulled for many of us, they didn’t foresee these shows would continue to be hits in the year 2026, 56 years later.

Enter Fred Silverman

He worked as a television executive at all of the “Big Three” television networks. He was responsible for such television shows as as All in the Family-1971-79, The Waltons-1972-81′ Charlie’s Angels 1976-81. Silverman orchestrated this “rural purge” for the baby boomer generation. Somehow-The Waltons was developed by CBS, a series that is…all things rural. The success of that series would prove not everyone wanted modern city life-but advertisers did.

Mary Tyler Moore, M*A*S*H, Cannon, Barnaby Jones, Kojak and Sonny & Cher replaced all things purged. Spinoffs such as Maude, The Jeffersons, Rhoda and Bob Newhart led the way. Good Times was slotted against Happy Days and lowered the ratings for that ABC staple. But wait, there’s more. TV Game Shows sprouted like sunflowers-just what the doctor ordered.

The Price is Right and Match Game, produced by Mark Goodman and Bill Todman, partnered up with Fred for 5 day a week entertainment. The Gong Show and Tattletales would be on against reruns such as The Munsters and Gilligan’s Island. The purged vs.the unpurged. These were my typical TV options when I got home from school, all better choices than homework. Trespassing backlots was always my favorite after school option.

Saturdays are meant for cartoons, get the kids involved. They will pressure their parents into buying toys, cereal, comics etc…

Scooby Doo, Land of the Lost , and my favorite-Jonny Quest are examples of this or what insiders call –The Saturday Morning Phenomenon. I lived that I’m proud to say.

Side Effects

TV Landscapes forever captured on film were no longer needed, or so it was thought. Shows that were still pulling in high ratings – faced the guillotine. The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and Mayberry R.F.D. were the first foreclosures. To refresh its brand, CBS axed over two dozen shows between 1969 and 1971.

A famous quote, spoken by actor Pat Buttram, (Mr. Haney on Green Acres) described this shift best…”It was the year CBS canceled everything with a tree-including Lassie”.

Shows like All in the Family and Mary Tyler Moore replaced farm animals with city life problems as such as politics, race, women’s liberation and Vietnam. So much for Arnold The Pig…

Star Animal unemployment skyrocketed. From Mr. Ed to Lassie, to the German Shepherds that guarded Stalag 13. Many ended up doing gigs like the Animal Actor Stage at Universal Studios. “For the times they are a changin’ as Bob Dylan would say.

Some of the best episodes in all these cancellations almost always featured a variety of animals. Notable Shows disappearing overnight include these stalwarts;

The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Lassie, Lassie, Mayberry R.F.D., talk about a title you don’t want to have at this time and still a top 15 series, Hee Haw, Petticoat Junction, Hogan’s Heroes, Family Affair, and these shows that have nothing to do with the rural brand also ran their course: The Jackie Gleason Show, The Red Skelton Show, and the Jim Nabors Hour which replaced the series Gomer Pyle. Jim Nabors at this time was always Top 10 in everything he was involved with.

That brings us full circle, what happened to these iconic sets?

That’s where I step in…literally. Desilu Studios specifically became an abandoned historic movie ranch. After a long industrious movie history that included King Kong-1933, Gone With the Wind and The King of Kings to name a few, Desi Arnaz made this 40 Acre ranch the home for this burgeoning boom when television replaced going to movies. TV dinners on trays replaced the dining room table in many households. Not only did I watch these shows, I watched the News since Vietnam affected family and friends. The music of the time had passion and reflected our feelings as displayed at Woodstock and other “R.F.D.” concert venues.

Marcus Welby M.D., Here’s Lucy, Flip Wilson, Ironside, Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, Medical Center, Bonanza and The F.B.I. were all at the top. Hawaii Five-O dodged The Hollywood chopping block hiding out in Hawaii for 12 seasons finally being washed away in 1980. That series for many of us was how we first experienced the Big Island. Magnum P.I. knew a good thing when they saw it, and Tom Selleck would become his own Jack Lord.

More than any other studio, Desilu-Culver City was the most severely impacted. A studio I adored for Batman, The Green Hornet, Andy Griffith, Lassie, Star Trek, Gomer Pyle and Hogan’s Heroes now became completely deserted and ghostly. Props, signs, and call sheets sit patiently for their next role. Most important to me was the German Shepherds who used to guard this lot also received their pink slip.

This backlot finally became mine to explore, build forts, and daydream all these cancelled shows that I watched daily as reruns. I watched -then explored, recreating in a childish way the scenes I just watched on TV. I had a radio that picked up television audio and would stand where the scenes where filmed listening to Gomer Pyle, Barney, Opie and Colonel Hogan executed all this history.

The Director most notable- TV wise to this property- to me was Bruce Bilson. I would see his name on all these credits starting with Andy Griffith as the assistant director to the lead director in Hogan’s Heroes. I envied this gentleman, not knowing him at all. Thanks to an anonymous contact, I was given his phone number and was fortunate to talk about his work through the 1960’s and 70’s.

Combine that with working on Apollo 13, then The Grinch, I was able to do a reflective trip down memory lane with Ron Howard, finding he still has a passion for the Desilu Backlot that we both grew up in. He was a star, I was a trespasser. I was so proud to tell “Opie” I took over the Taylor House upon this purge and built a fort upstairs, I was the last resident. Sadly in 1976, the big church and his home burned down in one of the many fires this backlot would experience.

One set that lasted until the bulldozers rolled in, late 1976, was the Mayberry R.F.D. farmhouse. I had a fort upstairs in that home also. For the record- I had two other forts totaling 4 in this 40 Acre property. The oldest set on this lot used in The King of Kings was the first one I built, directly next to the La Ballona creek, so almost all our adventures began at this original of all forts. The last fort- was a saloon on western street. Loaded up with whiskey casks, cots, explosive ammo boxes from Stalag 13, and to top it off…a rolling phone that when you dial 9, you get off- lot toll free anywhere in the USA.

The bill which must have cost a fortune, sent the production company into a tizzy, this phone line had to be confiscated. We even ordered a pizza delivery to this western street as a huge set was being built where stalag 13 had stood. The film was titled…(The Fortune), starring Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson. You would think with that title they could afford the phone bill. I’ll never forget the looks on our faces when we were in a rush to go upstairs to our dialed in saloon to find every window and door covered with plywood, the phone line was no longer running through the buildings so no more-drinks on the house.

Just like the RKO ownership, this lot reclaimed itself for feature films and commercials, television production remained faded to black.

Right place-right time

A studio with a ghost town became completely “Ghostly”. This place became mine to bask in, rarely seeing security as ownership switched from Desilu, to Laird Studio, and The Culver Studios. After a couple years of private ownership-by me-the landscape became wild with trespassers of every age and size, The behavior of many was destructive and in my effort to preserve this kingdom, many fights occurred. Many of my friends were Marines…Real ones!

I would meet soldiers, mostly Recon Rangers and give tours of this lot. Gomer Pyle’s Camp Henderson was always our first stop, usually at night since we had limited off duty time. The reaction of several different groups was always the same, stunned astonishment!

Turns out, every guy lived this set on their TV’s prior to signing up for a real military commitment. Stalag 13 and the Hogan’s Heroes Bridge were where most those nights ended up. Marines don’t need much of an invitation to kick some ass, I can proudly say when we heard or saw vandalism taking place-I unleashed these dogs on the unsuspecting “white punks on dope in this -teenage wasteland”.

Without this 70’s purge, I never would have been able to own my own movie backlot. MGM was still a busy studio, Medical Center, Shaft, Hawkins-starring Jimmy Stewart and Movies of the Week kept MGM busy even after the famously sad MGM Auction in 1970. All the major studios carried on, adapting to series that conform to this aspiring decade of the 70’s.

The other backlot most affected by this epidemic was the Columbia Ranch- a studio we all grew up in- if you watched Dennis the Menace, The Monkees, The Partridge Family and Bewitched. Columbia Studios would serve TV and features 50 plus years more – keeping up with the evolution of what you would see on TV.

Desilu all but disappeared as I stumbled inside of this desolate environment of abandoned, iconic movie sets. Signs, call sheets and props remained-unknowingly never to be used again. This “Purge” affected the 40 Acre Backlot more than any other studio lot. Although filming would continue sporadically until 1976, commercials and feature films was all that kept the Arc lights glowing until finally when this backlot was…Gone With the Wind.

This is real.

Simulation…

I ended up spending a lot of time in these guard towers…

Studios can now live forever through -A.I. MAGIC

A recreation of a real life event I lived out in 1966. Desilu-Culver City. The set of Batman..

You can’t “Purge” Artificial Intelligence-The Future is here. Push Play to come alive…

Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden

The MGM sets most used by the TV Series-Man from U.N.C.L.E

Block 37- UNCLE Headquarters- Block 35 (Singing in the Rain)- (American in Paris)= sets

1964- MGM Lot 3 episode-“The Finny Foot Affair” Kurt was 13. Aired Dec 1-1964-Directed by Marc Daniels. Classic TV with a classic director…

This guy is that kid–Kurt Russell-The busiest kid in showbiz. I met him on “Escape From L.A’ and he is like a grown up kid playing Snake Plissken with a patch covering his eye. ShowBiz Kids-nothing quite like it!- John Carpenter was the Director John Carpenter handled the Snake Plissken version of Kurt Russell.

Napoleon Solo–

Exactly the set prior to the fiery ending. Notice hand rails after fire scattered in debris.

I often saw Police on this lot- This vehicle is Big enough for me and my trespassing friends, even room for my dog.

Directly across from fire- on Brownstone Street. A “zip cord” is tucked along curb to feed or energize the “street light” needed for a night scene.

A close up I took of the crest above the Officers Quarters-a set used in Combat.

Upstairs in this building on Brownstone. Notice the fire damaged front of this set. Below-those stairwells now occupied the Uncle Headquarters Brownstone area. Last filming was Soylent Green. The shootout between Charlton Heston and Chuck Connors took place below me in a cemetery. That cemetery was moved to 5 different locations while also being used in Young Frankenstein, Logan’s Run, and The Phantom of Hollywood to name a few. Originally located by Esther Williams pool.

Where those trailers are parked is Brownstone-1972. That open dirt area was the Brownstone Tenements and Waterfront Street, only the sidewalks, curbs and fire hydrants remain-5 years later. The white two story building is The Filmways Building- formerly-MGM Cartoon Building. A very important “save” by the responding fire departments. This was an expose of how to fight a backlot fire. The challenge of 4 story all wood buildings being extinguished without jumping elsewhere is slim to none. Sparks carry everywhere-blocks away – like fire flies. Everything in this picture is extremely flammable, like a book of matches.

Soylent Green – this tent is set up on the old UNCLE Headquarters spot. Real studio employee bikes with big baskets used by various departments. This film fed the crew in the old backlot commissary. The backlot had its own commissary next to main gate on Overland.

Backlot Commissary in front of that van. Pardon me-I’m hiding -peeking down N.Y Street-I was scared when I took this-so you know. A guard was located in close proximity, this was as close as I could get. A very scary hobby- so much can go wrong inside here. Thank God my mom constantly prayed for my safety.

Alley to Brownstone in 1977–What use to be all tenements–4 story building.

Cemetery used in Soylent Green stands where Brownstone sets were. This was where Chuck Connors (The Rifleman) took on Charlton Heston (The Omega Man) in the memorable chase seen done in October 1972- Halloween Night!

Brownstone- tenements behind cars…

Brownstone dressed for Comrade X-1940

Night shot in daylight-the street is tarpped to block sun. Notice above the streetlight-a seem in the tarp job. The catwalks are the tallest perches on the backlot. This is where the owls overlook all things below. Daylight is cheaper for hourly employees, no night premiums. Much of MGM New York Street “night scenes” done in daylight. This is an example of how the studio can control their surroundings. Water pipes run up here in the catwalks for rain effects. Another advantage is- actors dislike working all night.

This is the easy way up- ladders are another option. Rickety old 4 story ladders. You can’t be a grip, set lighting, or effects and be afraid of heights. Part of this catwalk burned down in 1967.

Used also in-several Twilight Zones…

“The Self-Improvement of Salvador Ross” and “A Penny for Your Thoughts”

” Yes – I need a cab…Quickly!” …”The Jungle” starring John Dehner

Brownstone Street MGM Lot 2- Uncle Headquarters location. Pre 1967 fire…The Blackboard Jungle.

The truck is a work truck – the cars are picture cars. Electrical rigging uses trucks like this. Cable is constantly being added and removed-24/7 Electric rigging took place striking and prepping sets. 3 shifts non-stop.

Then this happened- I was there with my dad. A former Tacoma Fire Man. We saw the smoke and rushed from Market Basket at Culver Center and ran over like first responders. My dad was so pumped up, I never got to see him fight fires in Tacoma, but this was the closest I would get to seeing him in action. We were right where this photo was taken- Next to the Filmways Building-MGM Cartoon Studio formerly. This is the Montana Parking lot for employees. The entire fence you see along Montana Avenue would be knocked down for full containment. A marvelous job limiting this fire to one square block. I would later in life see two entire New York Streets burn to the ground completely at Universal Studios.

Brownstone Street, only the cobblestone street and sidewalk remain. Picture in 1979, 12 years post fire. The cars in background are wrecks from the TV series “CHiPS,” each night, crashed cars would be brought from various locations and disposed of here on lot 2. Each car heavily modified to protect “stunt drivers.” The backlot became a vehicle dumping ground. MGM also parked its fleet of outdated transportation. The Blue trailer behind the 40′ stake bed trailer is a star dressing room. No longer in use. Inside was a bed, a couch, closets and mirrors that light up. Air conditioned and luxurious, This is where T.V stars in the 60’s would be assigned. This very well could be a trailer used by the series “Man from U.N.C.L.E” for the lead actors. All the MGM transportation fleet was painted blue, truck wise. Just out of view is a 6 door luxurious car-white in color, with a lion logo and letters MGM. I can only imagine what this car has been privilege to!

What was Brownstone-That’s my highly trained to trespassing dog, here running from security -Tashka. “Lets get out of here!”

Fire damage never repaired – the set across the way on the cobblestone street was used in (American in Paris.)

It’s Wonderful, It’s Marvelous, it’s MGM

American in Paris- Lot 2-Waterfront.

Waterfront Street-backside of U.N.C.L.E Headquarters – every picture has set lighting cables and a “spider box,” you got to have power to do…anything.

September 22, 1964

First Broadcast NBC. Secret Agents Napoleon Solo-and IIIya Kuryakin played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum work for a counter espionage law enforcement agency called U.N.C.L.E.

United Network Command for Law Enforcement, better known as U.N.C.L.E, and much easier to say.

This series completed its run Jan 15, 1968. It was part of a craze where a dozen imitators copied this Spy vs’s Spy format in 1966. Several episodes ended up in theaters as B-Movies or double features. MGM also did a spin off-(The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.)

Comic books and novelties sprung up in the merchandise world. Lunch pales were hot sellers. (Tom and Jerry) did a pastiche of this series in cartoon form. Titled (The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R) -1967. That same year a the fire burned the set down. Ironically, the Cartoon Building almost burned down the same year they made this cartoon. The narrative was to steal a refrigerator full of cheese from evil mastermind “Tom Thrush.”

U.N.C.L.E completed 105 episodes in 4 seasons.

Props from the series are exhibited in The Ronald Reagan Museum and The Museum of the Central Intelligence Agency. The series won a Golden Globe Award in 1966. Creator Sam Wolfe wanted to leave the title ambiguous-referring to Uncle Sam or The United Nations but the MGM legal department got involved saying “we can’t use the acronym ‘U.N’ for commercial purposes”. So U.N.C.L.E was considered the safe way to present this. The credits refer to “We wish to thank” acknowledgement in the U.N.C.L.E end titles.

More legal stuff…

“Solo” was not allowed by Ian Fleming – belonging to James Bond features and Albert Broccoli demanded the series drop the (SOLO) reference. At that time-(Goldfinger) was in production with a character named Mr. Solo. Ian Fleming had to sign an affidavit that nothing in the U.N.C.L.E pilot infringed on Bond characters. A sticky mess indeed in the battle of…SPY vs Spy.

The original Pilot was (SOLO) – not- Man from U.N.C.L.E-so an agreement was made to change title from SOLO-to- Man from U.N.C.L.E. Fittingly (Goldfinger) the movie who had “Mr. Solo” character it. Ironically, (Goldfinger )and (TheMan from U.N.C.L.E) debuted only a few days apart from each other in September 1964.

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E

Starring Stephanie Powers, this brief series aired for one season-September 13,1966 to April 11, 1967. Agent April Dancer, that character name was not challenged by Albert Broccoli or any “Dancers” in the world in their one year on NBC. 29 episodes. Despite cross promoting these two MGM series, they failed to build an audience and was a factor in cancellation of (The Man from U.N.C.L.E) series.

United Network Command For Law Enforcement…U.N.C.L.E- This series could and should return, reengineered – Artificial Intelligence spin…A.I.-U.N.C.LE. Something I would actually watch.

No -Risk, No-Reward…Here’s your invitation into my world, see ya there!

I know this toad…or his ancestors anyway!

The MGM Backlots were known for their jungles, lakes, and wild animals. From exotic Asian Elephants, Lions, such as Leo-the MGM moniker, and stables for trained horses to perform stunts in the many Western Movies being made in the day. MGM doubled as a specialized zoo, Star Power comes in many varieties, a collie named Lassie is one of the studio’s top box office draws.

All these 4-legged stars filmed scenes on the MGM backlots. Hippos provide a difficulty for production tending to disappear beneath the surface of the water rather than act above the waterline. Chimpanzees swing limb to limb through a canopy of tall, mature trees filled with a variety of colorful birds who chose this studio as their home. Each sing their own special tune. I have much in common with this animal habitat. I too have chosen these backlots as my home away from home. I spend many an afternoon with the sky reflecting its clouds off the dark water, as subterranean creatures traverse beneath the surface. My eyes look below the surface as tiny creatures peek upwards wondering- who is floating above their habitat.

My late old pal, Tim Gray-had a pet chimp and it was very tame. Timmy brought it with him on a couple lake visits. It traveled on his shoulder and neck. Lucky we didn’t get chased out on those afternoons but had we-we know this chimp can climb the fences no problem. Named “Skelter,” after the Beatles song -Helter Skelter, he was able to experience tree climbing in the same jungle Tarzan interloped. We were on Skelter’s clock, having to coax him down with peanuts and bananas after a couple hours on the jungle tree tops.

On the backlots, the day begins here in this jungle reserve. Animals naturally have early “call times.” The skies slowly shift from moonlight to sunlight as day arrives, each species has its own signature sound. A chorus indeed -especially as day breaks or as the sun sets. It’s a fun day-everyday!

MGM is the Captain of War Television and for the entire decade of the 1960’s, these creatures endured a war twice as long as World War II. A war where no one gets hurt, although gunfire echoes not only through the studio-but also through the surrounding neighborhoods such as mine. We all become accustomed to this environment, myself, my friends and all my critters in what is for me a real-life Jungle Book.

Combat, The Rat Patrol, Jericho, and Garrison’s Gorillas

This backlot has played host to a myriad of intense battles. Every building in our Europe sets retain spent shell casings on the floors below every window and doorway. War at epic proportions

All filmed on the shores of this man-made set that became real to several species of escapees from films from the past. Ducks surf back and forth-animal wranglers sometimes lose their feathered animal stars as some escape the set perimeter while filming, trading a day in front of the camera for a lifetime behind the scenes. “They know a good thing when they see it.” Several chickens flew the coup on the film The Stuntman, living in a group that wandered in and out of building doorways. Each animal and creature have their own story and if you have the time, many often surround my tiny rowboat to share their stories of paradise. We all understand each other through sounds, expressions, movements feeding off a special universal cosmic understanding.

It’s called LOVE…

Creepy, crawling crawfish traverse the shoreline with their pincher arms extended towards the sky, always scavenging with attitude. This is the most abundant occupant and constantly seeping down below the surface to the dark depths of this black lagoon. Anything could pop up from the depths since -after all-this is Hollywood at its best.

No set has so much life taking place 24/7 and it is the best place anywhere on the backlot for lazin’ on a sunny afternoon. The lake is long and winding with a thick forest favoring one side. Cottages line the non jungle side and guards -when they patrol here- almost always approach from the road that connects cottages to bridges. Only once did I get caught here in my Oar-less rowboat. My friend Jimmy was pulling me with a rope when the MGM Red Bronco pulled up. Jimmy dropped the rope and ran away leaving me lazily floating towards shore where big Ron Smith just casually waited to grab hold of this-BIG FISH.

I negotiated a peaceful settlement with the biggest guard MGM has, 6′ 7″ -260 pounds of muscle, a shiny badge, a .357 Magnum side arm, and cap covering his thinning hairline. He kinda likes my girlfriend Maureen and has given her friendly tours while practically running over me with the Bronco in our chases. Dual standards, I get it Ron.

Maureen and I would float to the bend in the lake in our rowboat, out of view to most roadways while listening to 93 KHJ. My tiny transistor radio would entertain us with bands such as The Kinks, singing “”Sunny Afternoon” as if we were Tarzan and Jane on a jungle cruise. Disneyland isn’t this fun. Beauty and the Beast would play out here in 1976…

KING KONG 1976

The backlot welcomed the King of Beasts in the summer of 76′ -King Kong arrived like a forty-foot robot should-in sections. An upper torso, shoulders and arms, a lower torso legs and feet, and the head of the Giant Beast. All these components had to be assembled in quite the undertaking by the monster’s creator-Carlo Rambaldi. The enormous walls of Skull Island overlook this lake which will become a critical centerpiece in this film. The Altar where Dwan is drugged and offered up to the mighty giant was filmed here beneath these walls lined with torch bearing natives. This set was so massive it could be seen well beyond the studios. Planes flying over headed to LAX Airport had to wonder what they were looking down at-Welcome to Los Angeles.

An artificial fake tree jungle was added for Kong to push aside as he picks up Dwan’s intoxicating scent. MGM has never had a bigger star demonstrate the prowess that this Gargantuan demonstrated with the army of special effects technicians it took to operate this …Giant Robot.

Nighttime at Tarzan Lake

This lake at night is its own trip. Different animals visit; raccoons, possums, and owls take on this jungle as moonlight replaces sunlight reflecting off the water’s surface. Trespassing at night through the jungle often startles the sleeping turtle doves into a mass, loud exodus of fear when footsteps are heard and twigs snap. That creates KAOS. This can work for you, warning you guards are lurking in the jungle foliage. That can be a two-way mirror since these bird flock sounds do not discriminate and also tip off security that there is a… Bungle in the Jungle.

Owls act independently, hooting from a nearby steeple, watching intently as their heads turn 270 degrees. Aware of everything taking place below them. These owls still exist, recently I saw one swoop down and fly off towards MGM Lot 1-“Sony” now,” clutching a tiny possum. As the flying ancestors of the past, they have adapted to this former backlot studio that is now home of a residential complex know as Studio Estates-or as we call-Studio Mistakes. How this Tarzan Lake was not preserved as part of this development I can’t possibly understand. This was a mature, glorified paradise full of generations of animal ancestry.

Good Morning Good Morning

In 1977, Sgt. Pepper films the last ever scenes here at this legendary pond. This Beatles song was performed by Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees at a set we call- The Watermill House. A bright sunny morning greeted our Rock Stars who most likely are not use to “being up” as the sun takes hold of this jungle landscape. Animals change roles, nocturnal try to get sleep while the others sing their own pleasant songs as daylight breeches through the forest canopy. Horses, cows and chickens report to the backlot with 5 a.m. call times as this lake throws one last movie party.

This area got a facelift of blockbuster proportions and the show even left behind a new fancy rowboat- used by the Postal Service to deliver an important telegram to the boys in the band. It didn’t last long because my next-door neighbor took it out of here to use elsewhere, he and his brother love to fish. I hate fishing, that would be like killing the wonderful sea life I cherish.

Joy to the World

Jeremiah was a bullfrog.

Was a good friend of mine. I never understood a single word he said but I helped him a-drink his wine… And he always had some mighty fine wine.

Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, joy to you and me.

You know I love the ladies and love to have my fun, I’m a high life flyer and a rainbow rider- a straight shootin’ son of a gun.

Joy to the world

All the boys and girls, joy to the creatures that inhabit my kingdom

Joy to you and me…

Three Dog Night-1970-These lyrics created joy wherever this song played-especially in a place that is a big slice of heaven, for me anyways…

Tarzan is calling – “I gotta go- time to play!”

Picture Glossary...

A Bullfrog named Jeremiah. The legendary star of today’s remembrance. Center of picture-two white circles on a the slimy green and brown body. He was croaking from a sunken rowboat as I sailed by him and sang me a song. I remember this like it happened yesterday.

A typical summer day- two ducks owned this lake. Always together, they became used to filming and were part of paradise.

Lost in this picture are the many underwater activities below the surface. Taken by my first camera which was a Kodak Instamatic, the perfect camera for a guy on the run. Crawdads hang out on these water edges, sunning themselves. Below them-tiny minnows provide a food source for larger Carp, which get hunted by raccoons. Although man made-this lake became an ecosystem. Parrot’s moved in the lot in the early 70’s. A squadron of about a dozen, MGM guards had a theory they came from Busch Gardens in Van Nuys. The timing coincides-Busch tore down one of the most beautiful landscapes ever for a paved parking lot. Shame, shame, shame. As colorful as they are loud, these colorful feathered flying story tellers made a wonderful edition to our backlot. “Here comes a guard -Crawww-run-run-Crawww” Finally animals that can talk. I think I’m in heaven, it can’t be better!

A footbridge often used in war movies-many battles took place in this lake with soldiers being killed and falling into this pond. This innocent looking bridge has been the site of death in the MGM War Machine I grew up living next to.

Uneven depths line the drained lake bottom. The high point here was where the footbridge once stood. In MGM’s War TV series-soldiers would fall into the water in this deep enclave I’m standing in as the lake is now drained in 1978.

Picture taken from footbridge…

Same set seen from drained basin- here being dressed for Sgt. Pepper-1977

A view from my Boystown Fort that towered above the lake like a palace for- kids only!

Speaking of kids -here I am on my knees like some little hobbit. The doorway was not tall enough to stand up in.

Another view from my fort- one of several I built on studio backlots. I spent a lot of time here while ditching school. I received a studio education in this All Girls School used in Hollywood Confidential, Good News etc… This is where stars went to college on films.

A bridge fit for Musketeers. Gene Kelly rode his horse over this outlet, King Kong changed this exterior to fit into the jungle. Many scenes took place here as this is Skull Island.

Many of my pictures are from rooftops or hiding in bushes-don’t forget we are “Uninvited Visitors“

Dazed and Confused ceremony…Full Scale Effects/King Kong-1976

A ceremonial altar offered Dwan to The King of Beasts right across from me.

One of the Greatest Movie Sets of all time, I’ve been on more movie sets in my life than anyone, but King Kong remains supreme and a testament to old school film making. Never seen another set quite like this – I recommend my book-The Uninvited Visitor. Spend a year with me on the making of this film-I was 16. I struggled going to school and often didn’t because you could hear gunfire and natives chanting “Kong-Kong” in my school rooms. I developed some pictures in my photography class and the teacher had to ask “how do you get these pictures” in a serious tone. I said ‘With a camera sir.”

King Kong was in New York “wrapping out’ on the Bicentennial-July 4th in 1976 from filming at The World Trade Center. Next location -Shea Stadium -The One in Culver City. What a party that was-gotta read the book!

This book is a history piece on how movies were made in the 70’s through the eyes of a trespasser. The story behind the story. I’ve been inside Kong when he was laying down – being reassembled from his journey from the MGM front lot to his arrival on the MGM Backlot. As Pink Floyd would sing in this same year-Welcome to the Machine. This movie set was truly-The Dark Side of the Moon.

The lake will never have water again, now I must save all my underwater friends. I braved the stench of swamp mud, ruining my clothing, filling up buckets of crawfish to transport from MGM to 2’s lake to ride them to the MGM lot 3 lake that was kept in the Raintree Lot 3 complex built in the early 70’s. I wanted to keep as many creatures alive as possible. I’m proud to say-I succeeded with this mission and ancestors of these buckets of crawfish exist today at Raintree. Figures kids have to fix adult mistakes.

A view from the MGM Parking Lot- the jungle beyond the fence is the surrounding landscape of Tarzan Lake.

The Backlot 2 on a “Sunny Afternoon”-you will find me at Tarzan’s Lake-that jungle-over there!

We have a new book soon to be released titled-The Desilu Companion. Come see me live at this event at Vets Park in Culver City-A stones throw away from my old backlot. I will take you through Desilu this night featuring 40 Acres in the 60’s and 70’s when TV shows were all over this backlot.

Thanks Everybody – Happy 4th of July America

Written and lived by-Donnie Norden

Come out, come out – or we’re coming in…

The Waltons family dinner interrupted as Batman has an issue-with the boys !

The Waltons don’t give up without a fight…

“Let’s get this jalopy out of here John Boy” says Ma.

Warner Brothers – same theater- over 30 years later.

Pretty Boy Walton, he went on to his own series, Flamingo Road.

A wholesome family replaced this criminal family… Another successful bank withdrawal.

Before the Waltons- Ma Barker raised her criminal family here.

“Hide the loot in the chicken coop–Do as I say- Boys!”

Same part of town -40 years later…

“Head to Ike’s – follow the money-Robin”

“Stop here Jim Bob – we need some fixins for supper!” says Olivia Barker

Ike Godsey-Proprietor. The Waltons are shopping inside..

Alternate ending- The Dynamic Duo confronts Olivia Walton Barker and a grown up- Kami Walton

“Your brother could help- ya’ know!”

“Quick-Head to the GetAWay car! “

{01} could not hold up to this high performer…

The Waltons in Gotham City being arraigned.

“ But wait- the dynamic duo has been outfoxed by this up and coming television family.”

Has Batman had it? – The Waltons want their own hit series-Batman’s ratings are down, just who will survive -Sweeps Week. This looks like the end for-Batman- but a strong beginning for a family that wants to turn over a new leaf at an old famous movie studio in Burbank…

Good Night John Boy…

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden