A late hazy afternoon…One Final Encore by The Bee Gees on my backlot. What a classy way to close out…From the station that brought you “The Bandwagon” with Mr. Fred Astaire 1955 –1977 this picture
1975…
They’ve got a ticket to ride…
Danny and I are up here, looking down at this surprise, encore backlot performance…inside the steeple Belfry.
This is the final scene ever filmed at Grand Central Station…
Still in church tower, video switches from rail depot to front porch of this building on left side of photo.
Village of Fleu de Coup
Copperfield Street MGM – Combat Series was done here. King Kong walls in background. Skull Island.
Reverse angle top /bottom-Same concrete and leaning pole. Still dressed as the village Fleu de Coup
Danny and I are hiding…up here.
The village of Fleu de Coup
Some final daytime insert shots are being filmed in Heartland as this show completes principal photography. Danny and I, following a long, complicated school day stop by Lot 2 to absorb all things Sgt. Pepper, and just kick-back. As usual, most our escapades start at Grand Central Station. We can easily climb up barb wire that is wrapped around a wooden pole and works like a ladder. It’s actually safer than most of the wooden ladders inside many of these sets. The train gates connect the backlot to the Southern Pacific Rail Lines- whose trains still pass by this backlot.
We love watching these trains and their single headlight slowly approach and pass by just outside our backlot, sometimes blasting their horn. We use the rails like they’re our personal sidewalk that just happens to lead inside this studio. Today is no different and once inside we quickly notice production vehicles parked behind the sets being filmed in Heartland. Because of all the activity-we choose to avoid all the bell bottomed, flare collared workforce- many of whom wear oversized sunglasses to block out the hazy sun.
In the church doorway in Combat Village…we appear.
Danny and I decide to view what we can from the church steeple that overlooks not only the backlot, but all things Culver City. The most spectacular views of this backlot happen here. As we relax, Danny plays his imaginary drum set (his pants legs) as we sit nestled in the belfry. Danny tunes in and out like an FM radio dial. He talks briefly, then becomes his own one man band. Danny is in his own music land. Right now…he’s John Bonham and I keep getting kicked like I’m the bass drum. That’s who he is- a future Rockstar. Danny is going to be playing the drums the rest of his life and beyond…guaranteed!
I’m going to work in the movie business...or die trying.
Speaking of Rockstars, a Dodge Van full of Bee Gees has stopped at the same train station we just passed through. A camera is being unloaded with the band. We have a birds eye view as Danny comes out of his trance at the sight of Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb. Thinking we are watching Sgt. Pepper being filmed, we are suddenly surprised by the pre-recorded song that is being played through an audio system.
We peek out the opening at the top of the church, which can be dangerous in two ways. The first, it’s daylight and we can be seen by not only production, but the police or any other noble citizen. Second, you could fall from here and meet an untimely fate. It’s a long drop. Recently, I accidentally dropped my Panasonic cassette deck as the song Kashmir was playing. This is the perfect set for that Led Zeppelin song and the band played on as the the Panasonic player began tumbling downward to its inevitable death, a sudden, loud, crashing stop. You know, like when The Who breaks their equipment on stage…
The song The Bee Gees are performing below us now is from the Saturday Night Fever motion picture soundtrack.
Stayin’ Alive is blaring below us as the camera films the iconic brothers walk and lip sync alongside the Pullman Trains. We have good seats like in the Loge section at the Forum! There was no prep, there is no lighting, just prerecorded music, a camera and a band. We see The Bee Gees inside our trains looking out the windows, like we always do. If they weren’t being filmed, we would think they’re just long haired trespassers!
They were just filming in Heartland but now are performing their own music on an adjacent set. As if the wind blew the band in our direction. We are situated between two active film sets. The Bee Gees are double dipping on both. We have holes up in this steeple so we have 360 degrees of backlot vision. Some existed, some we made, so we can keep an eye on security when in or around Copperfield Street. We are safely tucked in this church belfry while movin’ and groovin’ to the sounds of tight three-part harmonies on a dark dusty dance floor as The Disco Kings strut up the street.
The Bee Gees look like they stepped out of David Copperfield as filming resumes fifty feet away and four stories down. We watch while shifting hole to hole...like raccoons. A new set but the same song continues. I don’t own this album but I’m living it. This song is played endlessly on all the L.A. radio stations.
And Blimey! Here’s the band below us, at a Honky Chateau type setting during World War II
Rather quickly, this magic moment and visitation is completed and the band makes its way back from France to Heartland U.S.A…
That’s how magic continues to work around here…
And that’s a wrap. Back to live music and touring…Band dressed as The Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Back to live music and touring…Band dressed as The Lonely Hearts Club Band.
I want that jacket!
The Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Written and lived by…Donnie Norden
Phantom of the Backlots 