They called me the "phantom of the backlot." Join me on my adventures through the historic and celebrated MGM studios, in Culver City, during the height of its glory.
“That’s a wrap,” Eddie Murphy #67, Tony Scott, a cigar and a movie star in his arm and the entire cast.Enjoy this very special pictorial of my pictures I took on this set in 1987.
Director Tony Scott, fresh off TOP GUN, giving direction to Brigitte Nielsen in her final thrilling scene.Cigar in hand as always, this picture is my favorite one of all I took on this location in The Baldwin Hills Oil Fields. Dent Industries is crooked oil business. I could’nt have posed this better, this content laded direction. Cigar, pointed finger, with hat he wore directing TOP GUN. Picture means more to me now than then. Absolutely great director at work….
Eddie Murphy in his impressive Detroit Lions vintage jacket.He is about to be shot in this plot twister moment…
Brigitte Nielsen right before this action sequenceis to beginfilming.At this time she is married in real life to Sylvester Stallone
I’mShotgun alongside the Panavision camera. Sequence is the pivotal twist in this film. Who shoots who…Tony Scott in previous picture is directing our blonde star on her movements, what the camera sees and reaction needed.
Brigitte twists and turns as her character is taken out. The legendary Buddy Joe Hooker is assisting this action sequence.
Our female lead, Karla Fry- is about to pull the trigger and kill Axel Foley but Sergeant John Taggart shoots her before she can unload her gun.
A round of applause..excellent death scene indeed!
Buddy Joe Hooker doing his own stunt being shot off this rooftop. Dent is a fictitious oil company.
This crime is all but solved…
Beverly Hills P.D.
Case solved…Axel explains to the chief of Beverly Hills police.
Let’s make 3 – This show is Good. Sure enough, #3 was to be made and they used Universal Studios for several sets and animations for Wally’s World- Theme Park.
Brigitte Nielsen and Donnie Norden. Brigitte never stopped working out in between scenes, part of a hockey family. Her brother was on set and he plays Hockey in Sweden.
Downtown Los Angeles…distant. The final shot of the day on location in the Baldwin Hills Oil Fields.
The Sequel Everyone is waiting for…
Beverly Hills Cop- 2 filmed the action packed finale on a location I grew up on, in Baldwin Hills. In 1956, The Highway Patrol, starring Broderick Crawford, used these exact roads and sets in an episode titled Oil Lease. In that episode a bazooka was used as a weapon to hold up oil workers from their hard earned payroll checks.
30 years later – rocket launchers replaced bazookas as weapons of choice. In each case, the law outsmarted the bad guys and apprehended them. On this set of COP 2, Tony Scott is the hottest director in Hollywood. Fresh off TOP GUN- he’s pumping out gold. This was the first time I met him. Later on, he would film scenes with Deja vu, starring Denzel Washington. A chemistry exists when actors and directors have synchronicity that takes over the stage. It’s a rare quality.
TOP GUN and Deja Vu are serious films, while COP 2 is a comedic adventure. One of my all time favorite sets I’ve ever been on was Blade Runner, directed by brother Ridley Scott. Quite the brother combo. Tragically, Tony took his life by jumping off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro after a bout with brain cancer. Even in his own death- a finish fit for a sad blockbuster movie was his chosen final scene. Legends never die…they just move on.
Tony Scott R.I.P… This stone at Hollywood Forever Cemetery has his name carved into it and all his films. A fitting tribute to a man who lived life like his own movie…
In the Heart of Mayberry- this set was built for a 70’s Miller Malt Liquor commercial. Ironically today, their logo jingle is based off- 50 years ago. Great 50 year old stories, this is my story
This Hotel is next to the Mayberry Hotel at 40 Acres. Main 4 way intersection, center of town.
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This is really going on -real collapse -real humans in fall zone. Stuntmen get replaced by stars as dust settles…Old fashion film making like Buster Keaton or Hal Roach would do!
“This must be Urban Renewal” toasts Redd Foxx. Colt 45 is named after Baltimore Colt running back Jerry Hill who wore number 45.
Drink hard, play harder!…The true Colt 45
This picture is from behind behind the buildings in this commercial.
Opie is where backside of mock up hotel stands.
Mayberry-where drinking is a crime. No longer in 1975…
Gomer Pyle scene exactly where this drink is served!I never met a Marine who doesn’t like drinking.
This guy looks thirsty..15 years to early is this- Man in a Hurry.
If your standing here-YOUR TOO CLOSE
Everybody wants to see this beer commercial…
“This planet drinks”..says Captain Kirk
The view on left before ‘Urban Development’ – set on right built in this intersection…
Beer commercials, cigars-cigarettes, big fancy cars commercials, and soft porn films all found their way on to this lot in the mid 1970’s. The backlot reflected the culture.
The two story building at the end of this street is my location. I am trespassing, 4 P.M ish. I saw this set and then a guard, he didn’t see me so I went upstairs. Im behind camera which has the same angle for this “one -take shot.” Security looked like Sheriff John, he had a cowboy hat, a badge, and a rope. He walked around lassoing everything he sees. I have to watch out for him because I do not want to miss this scene. Redd Foxx-is right below in a Limo. The front door of Hotel faces south to Baldwin Hills.
I took this picture 1976, the last year of the 40 Acres Backlot. This is exactly where this Colt 45 Hotel stood…
My Dad often had some of these cans in our home refrigerator. Naturally a few ended up here at the Desilu Ranch. Miller Beer and I could do great commercials….VIntage of course. My dad was an actor in Bar Fly. He pretended to be drinking…even got in a fight with Frank Stallone in an ally behind the bar. His credit depicts “Man in ally” My mom hated it but dad loved it. Paid to drink and hang out with Faye Dunaway. Filmed at the Culver City Bar closet to this set.
ONE TAKE –Then a Toast
All the preparation is complete, this set took a week to build and another week to “dress” the set and familiarize effects and stunt folks with all the moving parts. This building is built to collapse, Not straight down, it must tip. Actors “stunt people” could get hurt if things do not go as planned. This is old time film making going on here. The final go overs are being checked as this shot is to be captured in daylight, of which has about a hour left to it.
I just got home from school and am not sure I will make it here in time. As soon as I hit the lot I run down the backroads along the creek and climb upstairs in a building looking straight at the one that has only – less than an hour left to stand. A grandfather clock is added as the interior is finishing being dressed.
These are actually two sets. The exterior is engineered to be a collapsible front on wheels. Set two is the stationary interior of this hotel. The Art Department is finally finished now the front of this hotel is rolled and positioned exactly to the square inch where it needs to be to collapse safely. This integration is slow and methodical. Inside upstairs, the stunt people load in. This is too dangerous for actors, they won’t be seen till the dust settles.
Anticipation increases as every final detail is checked and rechecked. A guard is active on this set. He’s a character with a badge, cowboy hat and a rope. He hangs out by REDD FOXX as we all watch from almost the exact spot.
Countdown 3,2,1
A building is collapsing before my eyes, this 7 second moment seems like an eternity. People disappear and reappear in a cloud of dust. They got their shot, actors are inserted at doorway entrance as if they survived this. REDD says “SO THIS MUST BE URBAN RENEWAL” as he toasts to Pabst Blue Ribbon.
The real toast belongs to Special Effects, this was so perfect, when I get older I want to be in Special Effects, For now, I’m a trespasser looking down at a collapsed building, a famous T.V Star, and sheriff with really wild roping skills who looks like he stepped out of a western film. I hope there’s a Colt 45 in the fridge for when I get home…
As I return home from school, I instinctively turn on our color TV set. It’s a little after 3 pm, and I was planning on visiting my backlot to get an idea of what I missed today. I quickly turn channels, Gilligan’s Island reruns are on, Match Game with Gene Rayburn is an option, and Tattletales hosted by Burt Convy, all adequate alternatives to homework. But-“stop that dial~” oh my- as my eyes bulge out, normally I like Mike Douglas, mind you he’s no Johnny Carson, but what he is –is on the backlot at MGM!
He’s broadcasting live from the set of Sgt. Pepper.
Mike is interviewing the cast. The Bee Gees and Peter Frampton are sitting in folding cast chairs close by the lake in between two nicely remodeled cottages. I holler to my mom working in the kitchen to “Getin here…You have to see this! This is the set I’m always on at MGM.” as she hastily arrives in our shag carpeted living room.
I brainstorm as she sits in awe, “Mom, see that door they’re sitting in front of? Well, keep your eyes fixed on that doorway. I’m going to run over there now and I will exit through that door right behind where Barry Gibb and Peter are sitting… I’ll wave at ya!”
Not needing a response and with time being of the essence, I’m out the front door before her famous “Be careful” can be uttered.I make like a flash running full speed down two side streets and a short jaunt over train tracks. Within a few minutes position myself by entering through the back door of those very same cottages being presented on television and posture myself next to the front exit. The camera is focused on this area as Mike interviews Peter. This is a working movie set so work is going on all around, no need to hide.
I listen to Peter talk about almost being electrocuted on stage. “I got the famous Blue Flash and was knocked flying, it’s not that unusual” he carries on for Mike. “Only takes one bad ground, after that I learned to touch the microphone with the back of my hand, not to grab it!” “Fascinating stuff Peter,” I think to myself, like I’m the host of this National NBC afternoon talk show.
Heartland U.S.A –Prior to Mr. Mustard take over
Fearing a commercial cut is coming, ” Out the front door, I appear, waving toward Mike Douglas behind the band members –nonchalantly,with my own long hair flowing, like I own the place.
After watching some of this interview, I exit the front door with a subtle wave to “Mum.”
Out of this door and into my TV set…I appear!
I exit the front door – waving to my mother, not Mike as Peter wraps up his interview and is about to be replaced in the folding chair by Frankie Howard- mission accomplished. I run even faster homewards, skipping and gliding, now I just hope she saw me. I run in the front door of our home- this entire event back and forth took twenty minutes at the most. “Did you see me?” I ask, as I catch my breath – her mouth flaps- but without words, just expressions. Finally she spits something out. “Yes I saw you exit the door and wave… How do you get away with this?”‘ she asks in embarrassment yet amazement with her head stuck tilted like the illusion just became more tangible.
“Seems natural to me, I’ve been doing this so long.” I proudly calm down as Mike starts interviewing Frankie Howard on TV- on a set I was a part of just moments ago.
That’s a first, live backlot television, I would like to thank all the backlot spirits for making my T.V. appearance possible.
Frank Smith...sounds like one of my alias’sat 40 Acres.Helen digs him, Opie digs him, but who is he?– He is an attorney with an office directly across from the Mayberry Courthouse.Upstairs above another of Sheriff Taylor’s favorite sweets…Walker’s Soda Fountain shop.
Good friends and a bottle of wine, Below Helen is having a wonderful time…
Andy’s Rival is more popular than our sheriff-in his own house.
Just when Andy thought he owned Mayberry. Maybe Helen has seen enough of Andy squeezing every woman in town.
Another old picture of mine with, Frank Smith Attorney sign is partially in view left of frame. The Rusk Hotel is Mayberry’s cheaper overnight stay. “We’ll leave a light on for ya!”
A simulated version of the soda shop, pharmacy, hotel and Frank Smith’s office. The Mayberry Courthouse is directly opposite this set. This gives you a clear visual of a building center of town, below the church.
The real deal version.
This is my school work, done at Culver Middle School. I appeared to be taking notes at all times, but not really.
I included Frank Smith in my doodle, Ididn’t know who he was…1974
Andy may need an attorney if he’s not careful.
Ellie, always calm, cool, and collected. She always concocts the proper Ambrosia for what ails ya!
The Darling -look of love.Just below Frank Smith’s office.
Definitely Rivals. “I’m going to call Danny Thomas and get him off this lot” says the sheriff.
“Danny -let’s lose the Frank Smith character, he’s drinking on set” -” you got it Andy”
Downtown Mayberry is where we begin;
Looking at my old pictures recently, I realized I do not know who Frank Smith is. A sign above the for-mentioned center of town. One of the most seen sets on this T.V series, many because the church, the courthouse, and the post office all face each other.
Back in the 70’s, we had no internet, we needed “Sarah” to complete a simple call. I had no idea after al these decades, who is the name on the sign. Now in 2025, I can get an answer and to my surprise, this sign is from the Andy Griffith show. It is mounted in an awkward location. Therefore, it was never touched by human hands other than set dressing when installed.
In this period after the series was canceled. Other shows that followed did not want Mayberry references. Across the street is an example. The Mayberry Courthouse sign is still here. Just open the courthouse door, and it sits there, leaning against a wall. I examined it 3 times and planned on taking it home. It was big, 4 by 4 feet, I bit obtrusive to sneak around the lot with. I always said to myself…next time, leaving it inside the exterior courthouse. It was all mine.
Before and after-The Mayberry Courthouse sign above the front doors.Picture I took on right, minus sign, the sign was inside, leaning against the wall under the left window.
Anyone could have had the courthouse sign, Culver Studios, Cinema General Studios lost track of Desilu/RKO history. They left it all for me. I had-the key to the city.
The key to the kingdom…
Three Strikes your Out
Wait, hold on. I finally am here just to pick up the Courthouse sign when I open the front door-the sign is gone. Somebody beat me to it. A trespasser no less I’m sure. Today, I have one of my few regrets ever on this backlot. I regret not grabbing it. I should have hidden it until it was possible to exit with it down to the La Ballona Creek.
Back to Frank Smith, it turns out this character is played by actor Charles Aidman. In this period, Charles is also in several Twilight Zone episodes just down the road at MGM. In this Andy Griffith episode, he brings a bottle of wine to dinner at Sheriff Taylor’s house. Mayberry is a “dry county,” just ask Otis Campbell. Just some food for thought as we say our before dinner prayers.
This was the first T.B.S picture on the roll of 36 pics. I had just got this camera, a Minolta, for Christmas. This happens to be Christmas Day 1975. The shutter snapped, then the roof snapped louder. My shiny- fancy camera got a big dent but we both survived. When I caught up to my friends, we went driving around in costume. The Wantons had wardrobe inside it, hats and coats for all of us. The car was a stick, I wasn’t old enough to drive and I nearly crashed into the Walton House. All this- while you folks were watching ‘A Walton Christmas’ episode on television.
Same angle from a Chapman Crane vehicle. Roof is unsafe, take it from me!
This street is long gone, built in 1957.You can’t have a backlot without a saloon…
Where the heck the heck did I leave my horse?
I’ll have what he’s having bartender…
I almost died when the roof of this bank fell through. Half my body was dangling in the upstairs windows. My upper torso was precariously balanced on the roof. This was possible thanks to my camera strap.Quite a sight indeed. The story just begins up there that wonderful Merry Christmas Day in 1975
I see the Walton’s are in town…
Those Walton’s know a good watering hole when they see one.Grandpa “fires up” in his truck before pushing open those swinging doors… That’s the rumor round these parts anyhow!
Last Chance Saloon…Show Downs daily!
Bonanza has filmed in Paramount’s Saloon, The Desilu Saloon, and Warner Brothers. The family that drinks together has the best chance for a long and successful T.V series.
Bring on-The Dancing Girls
We take all currencies-Gold, Copper, Silver and Paper
This behavior always gets the best of ya!
When Maverick says “I’ll Return !” He keeps his word. Decades apart!
Area 14, 13 and 12 featured in tonight’s episode of craziness.Map from 1967, pre- Walton House.Notice the circle around the jungle, dirt roads take you to and from sets in this part of the backlot. We always enter the lot off California Street, that’s where we park. First set always was the Walton house, shed, and treehouse. If you can climb the chain link barb wire fence covered with ivy.
We miss the the old west;
I’m 22 years old now a days, considered by law enforcement to be a grown up. But, we also look old enough to blend in…unlike when I was 12. There are pros and cons in everything, I suppose. All the Culver City Studio backlots were long gone. MGM’s Backlot 3 was a saloon haven. Desilu/ 40 Acres had one-a very good one. One of the first places I ever got drunk was at Desilu.
Jimmy, Danny, Pat, Tim and myself had a hankering to go back in time, back to the old west. Tim, who was a background actor on Happy Days at this time, came up with an idea. Tim is the only one who still is at studios all the time. His brother Sean doubled for a lead actor on Blade Runner.
That feature was a ninety day shoot-all nights. Ridley Scott directed this film that used The Burbank Studios New York Street exclusively. I was in-between studios. MGM Film Labs just shut down. My next job was next to the The Culver Studios at a film distribution warehouse. I was in between my trespassing life and attempting to build a career.
So far, trespassing is still really my true career at this time. I spent about 30 nights sneaking on Blade Runner. I saw everything you can imagine. Acid rain, Asian street walkers with large anaconda snakes wrapped around them. Ostriches, hookers and spinners compete on water covered sidewalks with outdoor live food stands.
Cranes on set merge with liquid nitrogen. Special effects inject it to create the lift-off of the Spinners into the night sky. Androids being hunted by humans-what can go wrong. Like craziest drug trip ever, with out drugs. This film just “wrapped out” recently at this time.
Each one of my pals tonight visited the Blade Runner set with me on one night or the other. We all have our own memories, especially the mid night catering as the clock strikes 12.
From dusk till dawn, dinner was served at mid night promptly. I would hand craft a well laid out tray of gourmet food. Then, I would disappear into the darkest parts of this backlot. Often, the Walton front porch was the eating spot, quiet- dark, and surrounded by jungle. The closest humans are on a very lit up New York Street. The lighting shines so bright that it can be seen from outer space. Yet, the canopy in this jungle area blocks all the hectic commotion from a couple of villages away.
These valley studios quickly replaced the backlots I lost in Culver City. Even better, the guards don’t know me here. I always had call sheets in my pocket. proof that- I belong!
I crave this movie stuff-just like a plate of Prime Rib and Lobster!
I digress, but I became very familiar with all things Warner Brothers. At this point this studio was The Burbank Studios. Around 1986, it rededicated itself as Warner Brothers. I was then driving trams and Warner Brothers rented our trams and drivers for the 12th biggest party in history. Sandwiched between Woodstock and the J.F.K birthday bash.
A Tram in search of a saloon.
I‘m the one with the gimpy leg…
History waits for No -One!
This backlot was all things Waltons in the 70’s. Every storefront had set decor, costumes could be found in picture cars. But shows get canceled and channels change.
Other shows would take over the backlots. Maverick returned. James Garner and I crossed paths in a scene. It was in front of this very saloon we are visiting tonight. The Fall Guy made a guest appearance here, that day I met Roy Rogers. If only they knew I was a trespasser…
My older version of “The Hole in the Wall Gang” reunites tonight in a saloon. The meeting takes place in a dark, deserted ghost town.
I frame this story I’m about to share with past history and future history not yet lived. With all this lead in, lets go have some drinks…shall we?
The Climb
We begin this night by climbing in behind the ‘recently canceled’ Waltons house. “No more of those kids” we all laugh as we climb a barb wire fence behind the chicken coupe shed. “Those Waltons are all grown up now, but not us!” we snicker.
We are not even stoned yet, but it’s never to soon to get into character. Tim breaks out a bag of Magic Mushrooms. We chow down large caps and the stems they’re attached to. Next to our make shift counter are empty chicken cages. Crude farm tools also persist from the series. This includes a big saw blade. An outdoor smell of hay remains from the series.
None of us know what that family even did for a living. Oh well, another fine set becomes ours.
Double vision is kicking in-Two different backlots
We had a fort in the red version of this set in Desilu. We had so many parties in the Mayberry R.F.D home. Inside little exists, just a stairway upstairs. The red one was torn down, this clone set sits empty at T.B.S. Both these sets are exact, inside and out.
We all feel a “buzz” coming on a half hour into tonight’s odyssey. We started off as quiet as could be, talking very low. There are no guards or any other signs of life, which allows us to become lackadaisical. The mushrooms are adding flavor and colors to this pitch dark setting.
We are, Out in the Woods
Every bush, tree and vine acknowledge us as we pass alongside and underneath. Crickets sing, a bull frog croaks as we pass a tiny lake. Flamingo Road filmed here and Howard Duff had an accident, falling off a hydrofoil. He was pulling up to shore, that’s all the scene required. The big spinning fan blade was moving too fast. It caused Howard to dump below the surface. I had just arrived on set. I had just climbed in the jungle area like Tarzan.
As the corrupt Sheriff Titus Semple struggled greenish colored water, everyone on this set was “busting up.”
I just climbed in, this was the first set I came upon. I worked my way behind MorganFairchild, who was watching from the lake edge, just out of frame. I follow her lead and stand beside her as this scene unfolds. Unexpectedly, this craft flips. Morgan begins laughing so hard-she hugs me, laughing furiously.
As if I was Mark Harmon. I’m a trespasser, on the lot for 10 minutes. That’s enough time to be embraced by the star. Every time I come to this studio, I meet big stars. This backlot always has something going on, from Kung Fu to The Dukes of Hazzard. Even Maverick is back, now in living color.
My mind is a kaleidoscope of a collection of images, each with there own story…
I don’t need movie stars to have fun here. That said, it was pretty funny to see Howard Duff the white suit get dumped into the drink. That scene got cut out, no matter how funny that moment was, not what they were hoping for. You couldn’t do a retake, he was all wet and different looking as he walked out of the jungle lagoon.
A vacant backlot is pretty darn fun. That’s what we have ahead of us tonight. We walk down this winding jungle road. It delivers us to the old west.
Illusions fill our confused minds, images come out of the dark and tantalize us..
The Queen of Hearts is taking a walk
. You haven;t seen security tonight have ya? …You never know who you may run into on psilocybin.
For those who have never indulged, the high resembles images from a rock video. I worked on this video with Aerosmith. Title –Sunshine.
As we pass slowly through this mysterious jungle, we see the silhouettes of buildings on Laramie Street. We each brought a quart of beer. Colt 45, Miller Malt Liquor and a couple of Foster Lagers. Beer from the Outback being drank on the backlot. We got something for everybody tonight-On Location at-The Burbank Studios
Silence is broken
The sound of a motor scooter can be heard and appears to be following our tracks. We take cover like raccoons in the old Ike Godsey country store on the edge of town. We lay low as the scooter with a security guard operating appears to be investigating something. He must be hearing things, things being My Hole in the Wall Gang.
We carry our large round beer bottles protectively, like a football. Slowly, we are moving the chains.
The saloon is the end zone, we are close to scoring. As the ‘put put’ scooter disappears, we reappear and transition from a jungle to…the old west. Mission accomplished. We now occupy the bottom floor bar area of the Laramie Street Saloon.
Twist off the tops and have a toast!
Cling, cling, is the next sound you hear as we toast at the bar. It is so dark that color magically takes form. The next thing you know, a strong pot odor fills the air inside our saloon. We are feeling as good as can be and like in any saloon, the talking gets louder and louder. Sports talk fills the the sound void.The first backlot sports bar is now talking Dodgers.
It is so dark inside here. You have to reach out and touch things that dimly appear. This is just to see what is real and what isn’t. All the while, we keep getting louder.
One by one we head upstairs to the saloon roof. We share stories as we pass the the joint around. We duck down on each hit so the “cherry” can’t be seen from the street below. I laugh, “If The Doobie Brothers could see us now!”
Louder and louder we get as we try to out do each other story wise...Until
That silly little scooter has returned with a jeep accomplice. We now have two motorized sheriff posse circling below us with their lights of. We lay flat on the roof as they park there motorized horses and enter the swinging doors.
As if they are looking for a “Showdown.”
We got them out numbered, They probably got a good whiff of “spirits”as they entered.
We hear no talking, just footsteps. 2 guards, 5 trespassers. We are too high to go to jail. If they come through the roof doorway, we will jump. First to the balcony, another jump to where the dirt road they parked on.
We could take off with their “horses” while they search for sounds of ghosts.
We wait for our Que, we will react when need be. Everything is quiet, an eerily silence because… we know they are waiting below us. Pure silence as our minds race to a conclusion of what to do next. We have one way out of this studio. We need to retreat to the chicken coupe next to the Walton former residence. After a half hour library time. they finally move on after never coming up to the roof.
We exit and backtrack through the jungle, retracing our steps, but this time we run. It’s not fun to climb a barb wire fence while being chased, nor extremely stoned. We are happy to leave without a visit to the watch commander. The funnest part of this trip was outsmarting the motorized security hunters. A typical cowboy adventure, all that’s left on the roof is a bunch of empty beer jugs.
A cover up of a building that has been a centerpiece of the backlot. Trams always stop here.
This square was used regularly in Leave it to Beaver. Decades later, it became the centerpiece of Ghost Whisperer with Jennifer Love Hewitt.
“Come on up”- it has been refortified after two devastating fires took out this village.
Picture of road, bottom right is the road the DeLorean speeds down towards theater…
My Books make for popular reads in…any decade!Book 2–Uninvited Visitor, is aMcFly Favorite.
Back to the Future …1985
Gremlins-1984 filmed in this square at Universal and the Warner Bros. Small Town Square. Snow scenes done in 100 degree summer days at Universal.
“Wonder why we don’t have a cartoon?”
This side street at Universal Studios Courthouse Square is featured in these two films a year apart. The Town Theater had an infestation problem!.
“What do ya mean I’m Fired?”…says Eric. “There’s a new kid in town stepping into the role of Marty McFly,”says Dr. Emmett Brown.History is made in Small Town Square.
Hill Valley’s Future was an Apocalypse…
But it would rise again! You to can pass through Hill Valley in a Glamour Tram.
My-How Time McFlies…
For me-it seems like yesterday when this trilogy was launched… I remember vividly Special Effects setting up for the DeLorean’s burning tire tracks. The car reached the speed needed to travel forward and backwards in time. I have been on so many sets in my life. I didn’t realize the significance of that evening’s events. At the time, we had no idea – this was going to be just one of three-major successes!
We weren’t sure ‘one’ was going to even get off the ground. Two weeks in-Eric Stoltz, the star, was fired. Michael J. Fox was ushered in as the “future.” Many gas station scenes were filmed already. They were shot in a filling station built across from the Courthouse in Universal’s Small Town Square.
Eric would move from here and make the film MASK, with Cher. A part he was excellent with.
A smashing success at the box office tilted the scales in favor of a trilogy. The Glamour Trams promoted all things Michael J. Fox and this was the most popular set for a tour picture stop.
Lions sat on each side of the clock tower as guests aboard these trams took deep breaths looking upwards. Toys could not sell fast enough. Everyone wanted the silver car. What we have here is… a marketing bonanza. I feel very safe to say that this film became an extraordinary success because of M.J.F. We even built a B.T.T.F Ride. Since replaced by The Simpsons Ride.
Since the trilogy was made, two fires, 10 years apart burned down this entire square…twice. Everything that is except…The Clock Tower building. Talk about a survivor, only one other building can say it survived both apocalyptic events. The other is at the end of New York Street. We lost 23 vintage picture cars in ‘fire one.’
This square becomes a Base Camp for films on New York Street. Trailers get squeezed into every nook or alley way. Tents sprout up like a Ringling Bros. Circus is in town. The delicious smell of catering satisfies every appetite. I grew old in this often-remolded square. I just didn’t realize it was happening. “It always has been and will continue to be …the longest, most popular town square in Hollywood History”
The Belfry on top of this house of worship overlooks a spooky- MGM Backlot.
Combat damage still left behind in these photos taken from my fort. I occupied all the towers and steeples on the backlots like a teenage…Quasimodo.
Transylvania StationSet at MGM lot 2. Church beautifully lit off in the distance.
Is he normal or “Abby” normal?
A steep climb to reach the very top includes squeezing through floor boards to reach this dangerous ledge.
Situated on a cobblestone roadway- Frankenstein once lurked these sidewalks in 1974.The tower in the distance is Vets Park. That one was built to overlook this- MGM Backlot.
Right, a Mule Cart drives by. Tools and props like stairs, street lights, phone booths, tombstones, etc- travel through the lot this way.This cart is picking up tombstones. It is relocating a cemetery needed for a rain scene. The scene involves exhuming the corpse body.
Before there were World Wars, this was a quaint Bavarian Village..
Village right after Young Frankenstein fixed what damage was left over from Combat.
But as history plays out -war would return to these cobblestone streets.
Look who just caught two soldiers, hidden in the church doorway. They have guns, I have a camera.
Germans are trapped -A 50 caliber machine gun is being loaded upstairs for the final show of resistance. Soldiers take refuge in the steeple…
A machine gun is firing from the church window. The plume of smoke indicates it is a 50 caliber machine gun. The steeple is hit by a tank shell.This is a full on war, watch out where you hide.
Finally…Liberation !
Silence...all the noise is now just…blowing in the wind.
In 1963, this church steeple was blown off -Combat owned this street. I heard every battle ever fought on this set, in my backyard, playing with my own soldiers. I directed my own Combat episodes.
In the window behind Rick Jason, an Arc Light looks down just waiting for its part. Plug the paddle into a electrical patch box and it takes on a life of its own…as a temperamental “Smoking Dragon.”
In 1963- The steeple was removed for this episode. Combat had to replace it-MGM rulebook. If you break it, you fix it. Combat owned this street and wanted it looking beat up. Eventually, ABC took this show off lot, often filming at Franklin Canyon Reservoir. The noise of all the gunfire also created production problems as other shows like- The Twilight Zone. No Twilight Zone episodes were ever filmed where Combat occupied the sets…
1963 Combat Episode; Battle of the Roses…
No Steeple episode…A historic moment in this village.
Pictures same angle -a couple years apart. I am about to get chased out in the left side pic.The Red and White Bronco that MGM Security drives, saw me…I just climbed in –took this picture-and was chased out.This was the time MGM Security gave me the name…The Phantom. They couldn’t catch me, “Here one second-Gone the next!”
The fence we climb for 70% of our missions. Trains enter the lot right here. Grand Central Station is a working train depot. Those two wood upright fence poles are cloaked with barb wire. The top of the fence is razor sharp. We climb the barb wire pole-watch where you grab, climb it like a ladder. Next-Learn to do this in the dark! This place never closes…
Left to right, you can see the old green fence along the Santa Fe train tracks. A razor sharp fence replaced the green wood fence in several sections. It was not replaced entirely. There were 4 styles of fence. The steel one was tricky when having to escape from the inside. This is the same rail entrance for lot 2 in previous pictures. Follow the fence left side, its green, poles with barb wire are in both pictures. These train tracks were a trespassers highway, trains were the first thing we would occupy. A Travel Town…with weapons!
Overview of a battle field. Hide in a train, a box car, a Pullman-just take cover. In this area –Badstuff can happen. Sometimes we still hear- Bugles Blowing. When we need to retreat, the fence is right behind us. If the coast is clear, the next stop is the steeple.
I have nice two inch scar I wear proudly after a harrowing escape over this fence. Located on the base of my palm. MGM Security guard, Al Black, their most athletic guard was hiding in a train at night. He heard us climbing the fence. He waited for us to approach the Pullman train unknowingly. Nightime-pitch dark, no moon-on a Saturday Night, what could go wrong?
Out jumps the Badged weasel at full speed and he wants me…MGM Public Enemy #1. My friend Jimmy and I beat him to the fence but we still had to climb-luckily-we are good! As I jumped off to escape, Al caught my hand ripping open my palm on top the fence. Blood is pouring everywhere, I have to run home- covered with my own- Blood, Sweat, and Tears. My mom had to “stop relaxing” and watching Mary Tyler Moore on T.V to rush me to the Emergency Room to get a handful of stitches. I wear this scar like a guard wears his badge…”You, see a scar.”A memory of this chase- “is what I see.”
View of the steeple and haunted hill for the fence line on a street called Arizona.
Special Delivery-1976
In 1976-“The Skull Island Walls,” extended half way across the backlot. These walls were as high as the church steeple itself. The wooden gates would change to Aluminum Styrofoam for the final scenes at “Shea Stadium.”
Another picture requiring me to dangerously “hang out from this belfry.” I took a “deep breath” as I reached out, holding my Kodak Instamatic Camera in one hand. My other hand tightly grabs the wood framing in the steeple for balance. I extended out as far as I could without falling. That direction was a blind spot. We added a couple peek holes. We cut them with a Swiss Army knife for a complete 360 degree view of lot 2. No one took such risk to capture this studio in photography. I’m lucky I didn’t end up as a police chalk mark, you would die falling from up here.
Copperfield Streetbelow…hanging out steeple for this shot. The size of this studio can be appreciated- MGM Lot 1 distant…1975
In the oldest part of this backlot-everything is capable of reappearing…
The Steeple watches our every move as…We appear!
The steeple is the first strategic set we usually occupy. From its vantage point, you have a 360 degree view of the backlot. LAX airport landings and take offs can be seen going on non stop. Baldwin Hills, Vets Park, and Culver High School are clearly visible.
In daytime, we can be seen so we sit in the dark shadows of its interior. But at night- we do the haunting. We are not the only ones, invisible spirits and mysterious sounds perpetuate this ghostly area. The darkness brings out-Spirits in the Night.
“Hazy Davy and Killer Joe climb up where Gypsy Angels Go- that’s up here-above it all.” You know the song, we play it here all the time.
Music tames the Savage Beasts but- tend to awaken –the dead or missing. Wind can mimic musical instruments. It creates a crescendo as windows and doors blow open, only to slam shut with a thunderous bang.
We become different beings in the dark, especially up here. It is imperative not to be seen up here by security because there is no escape hatch or rip cord. Like a space capsule, you will be stuck above the earth.
You’re potentially cornered when MGM calls for back up. You can watch law enforcement arrive and play out before your eyes. You have less than “30 Seconds Over Tokyo” to climb down to escape capture. “Do not hesitate” – every second is like a minute. My- what dangers lurk in the darkest shadows…
One evening, we had 4 guys up here, that’s a full steeple so you know. We all smoked imported cigars- Tijuana Smalls, while drinking imported German Beer-Lowenbrau. Young teens trying to become old teens…like a group of stoned, temple pilots. Music plays on a cassette recorder features Led Zeppelin. The song is a 10 minute version of Kashmir.
A song that fits this village-especially in Rat Patrol episodes. This street gets a Nomadic face change when dealing with –The Africa Corps.
8 Minutes later…
We were all having a real good time. I accidentally bumped the cassette player. It was sitting precariously on the highest ledge. This song is now in full free-fall as this instrumental is now flying at 30 feet a second. As the player spins downwards, the music becomes more distant. The song concludes with a large crash. It has the sounds of plastic and metal self-destructing. It is like a rock star death from a haunted steeple. It sounded like a car crash with the stereo on- Full Blast
We could not stop laughing. Forever on, when I hear this song, I think of a tiny haunted steeple overlooking MGM.
At night, we have the upper hand up here. Security can be watched as they patrol in the Bronco. Almost always they have their headlights on, so it’s easy to know when to go silent. When we see a “no-lights” tactics, slowly and silently patrolling, we know we are in for a potential long night.
But like the backlot owls, we are wise to all things. We too are predators…
I have spent more time up inside here than anyone. I’ve spent as much time at this movie church than the one I received “Sacraments” in at my St. Augustine Catholic School. When Combat replaced this blown up steeple in 1964, they didn’t make it easy. This is a difficult climb inside here. It takes skill, nerves, and toughness to reach this, the highest point, that this lot has to offer.
In the daylight, we watch kids we know going to and from the school and /or park. Heck, we’ve even our parents drive by on the public side of the fence on Culver Blvd. Southern Pacific Trains pass below twice a day on the same tracks we enter the backlot on. This is as much a Giant Toy Set as it is a Motion Picture Factory.
Grand Central Station sits below us. The entire backlot rail system, 3 stations, can be viewed. Castles surround us…we have 3 of those also. A street of shanty homes stands crookedly potential victims of…the next big winds.
Hansel and Gretel cottages greet you on the cobblestone streets. These streets often get shrouded with fog, this is the backlot closest to the Pacific Ocean. More people have died on this street and in this village than any other location in Hollywood. The war never stopped here and the ghosts of those fallen…live on.
Most were a bunch of dummies, seriously, dressed in war gear. Stuntmen do the live action, dummies intermingle do anything asked of them. Includes getting thrown from rooftops, lit on fire, and of course…blown up. The stunts, stuntmen don’t want!
I have reenacted more soldier deaths than any lonely soul can imagine. And myself, well I have been shot here dozens of times. You can continue to fight if your hit in arm or fingers. You are dead if struck main torso…“Remember the rules!”
Louis B. Mayer-would pull his little remaining hair out if he knew what takes place on this studio backlot. Where he was at one time – A KING.
Dino De Laurentis would occupy Mr. Mayer’s office in 1976. He was in the process of making two features. King Kong and The Great White Buffalo, starring Charles Bronson, both on the MGM lot.
The closing scenes…
This steeple would last be used in a film titled…The Stuntman.The Bee Gees would perform –Staying Alive at this set in 1977. Shortly after the stunt fest finally, the street was demolished. Phase One-Studio Estates would destroy all things MGM. Studio Mistakes, as we refer to it -took down this church in 1978
A bulldozer drove up to the front door of the church. I watched from Grand Central Station, also in the process of destruction. I was crying and refused to photograph any of this onslaught. As I take one farewell glance, the Bulldozer bucket raised itself and pushed the church backwards. First it moved in tact-2 feet backwards. A second push was too much for the steeple to take as it succumbed to its inevitable fate.
No news, no actors, no studio spokesmen. Just left over spirits from wonderful times… gone by. And a kid with tears… in his eyes!
Black tarps were wrapped up- only never to unfurl again. Here they rest just…Blowing in the Wind!
This Stairway to Heaven overlooks Copperfield Court. It sits just inside the MGM Studio fence. It is alongside the fence line on Montana Street. A studio parking lot is located there.
John Ritter as Hero at Large, about to rescue a kid. A story in my latest book. Our Hero is on the catwalk level of Eastside Street. Everything in that area was reframed and strengthened for the star to be safe, close-ups were needed of John.
Public side streets include Montana Avenue and Overland Avenue. Overland takes you from MGM lots 1&2 all the way to MGM Lot 3.
Eastside Street and Brownstone. Same corner in side by side pictures, one picture has the tarp in use. The other tarp you see is folded up.These street burned down in 1967.
Left-The MGM Fire -1967, the day after. MAN from UNCLE cast looks over their destroyed headquarters. This was the very first of several backlot studio fires that included MGM, Desilu, and Universal. I was 7 years old, not a trespasser yet, and running errands with my dad that Sunday afternoon. Donald LeRoy Norden was a fireman in Tacoma, Washington, before moving to Culver City. He chewed nervously on his cigarette. He wanted to grab a firehose. CCFD did a fantastic job containing this to just one quadrant. Little did I realize at this time how regular accidental fires happen on backlots.
All these New York sets were built with poles anchored deep into the ground and encased in cement blocks. First things to be installed and the last things to face destruction. These help to keep these facades structurally sound and run up beyond the rooftops to the catwalks.
5th Avenue…used in all the classic musicals.
Looks like a model- but this is full scale, the entire length of New York Street.Universal Studios, our first of what would be-three New York Streets do to “Two” major fires. All you see here burned down.
You can see the sun beating in on this hot summer day. The tarps created even more heat due to lack of airflow.
Universal Studioswith New York Street “ONE” tarped for night scenes…Streets of Fire. A show title that would be a harbinger of later things to come.I took this shot from the highest hill top on the backlot. Legendary cowboy Tom Mix had a home up here overlooking the studio.
Daylight infiltrates at the edge of this frame. Tarps being used here -daytime.
The Building used in The Twilight Zone episode...(Back There)
The enormous size and magnitude of making New York Street “night time” on a sunny day…
MGM Lot 2. New York Street is hidden under black tarps. This is a skill deploying these to block light and not get influenced by wind. Studio grips work alongside set lighting and special effects on very narrow passage ways. A busy place way above the street below. When needed, these tarps can cover every set on New York Street. Above, barely 1/3rd is covered. Waterfront, Brownstone, part of 5th Avenue …In the man made darkness.
My house is in all three pictures- as we pan forwards towards MGM.
My house bottom edge-4th from right-Maureen’s future apartment not built yet in this photo.
MGM Lot 2from my roof- The sets from Romeo and Juliette and The BandWagon train depot.You can see catwalks on both sides of depot that could also be tarped over. The big green building in between telephone pole and avocado tree.Just below that green train depot is Arnold Gillespie’s snow room. Snow from every era and type was stored in “Arnold’s dungeon.” I have a magical story inside that room in…the middle of the night in my Book 3. Yes-it is haunted… Maureen’s apartment is the yellow and white building in front of- the station.“Your never to young to trespass“–says Chad- being trained by the top female trespasser in Hollywood.
The Phantom of the Backlot…on the Looseabove Copperfield Court.
The Phantom escapes again leaving law enforcement dangling precariously.
Yes indeed -Jack and I crossed paths on this set. He waved at me with his non-weaponed free hand. He was just about to kill a fellow involved with tearing the backlot down..The passing of the torch-or weapon shall we say! MGM security nick named me –The Phantom -long before this movie of the week was produced. ‘Here one minute-gone the next” is how MGM Security described our interactions…
“I hate when things break that I’m on top off” –So goes Jack Cassidy -leaving me in charge.
A Day in the Life…
Left-fenced off studio from phase 2-Studio Mistakes-“Estates.” New homes sprouting up just beyond the catwalks…
Chainsaw Massacre
Timber…
The catwalks in this picture were just cut down
You can’t work this high up without encountering at least one of the 4 owls. They spend their nights hunting from up here. Picture left-dead center-an owl with a white head watches my every move. Like a “White Owl cigar add.I can proudly say-My feathered friends still exist up in the rooftops and rafters of MGM Lot 1. I ran into one who was hunting before dawn. It swooped up a critter and flew off towards the fabled MGM Watertank with it in its clutches.
Park Avenue on MGM maps.To be more specific, this is Fenway Park to any kid who was lucky enough to play MGM baseball.I’m on top of the “GREEN MONSTER.” It’s a homer if you hit it up here. Pictured-Catering area during the filming of Hero at Large.
Before Columbia Pictures installed this moniker overlooking the studio- Leo the MGM Lion owned this spot.
Stages have catwalks too-better known as perms...Here is a set for Spiderman.
In the perms, graffiti from past shows is etched forever, Bud Collins tribute up high in a stage. Bud wrote his name everywhere on the backlot. EVERYWHERE! I would see it looking down at me in places totally inaccessible. This iconic grip was half spider/half human. “The END of an ERA.”
We begin up high in the most dangerous part of the studio…
Skilled employees perform high-altitude tasks. They use either a 5-story straight-up ladders or navigate a maze of stairways that eventually interconnect. Grips, Electricians, Plumbers, and Special Effects work up here on top of the studio. Owls, watch our every move.
No clocks are needed, time stands still for predators on the lookout for their next meal.
There is extreme danger and these tiny “catwalk” isle ways in some cases 6 stories above ground. Today’s Hollywood would require several safety endorsements to work up here. First and foremost, fall equipment would be required. But these measures were not in place in my hay day of running around up top of this iconic backlot.
As a teenager, we overcame our slight fear of heights and threw caution ...to the wind. Our tools were B.B Guns. These catwalk rafters allowed us to enter buildings through their rooftops. Other sets around the lot only allowed ground access. this was a Utopia up here. We hunted each other, doing so at night.
Yep-pitch dark, otherwise we would be seen by the entire city of- Culver City. Add that dangerous element and it’s amazing no one was killed, except by pretending to be after being hit by a B.B or pellet. We took this cops and robbers game seriously. No one wanted to get hit. Our favorite place most used was Copperfield Street, home of the Three Musketeers, then Combat.
Very limited catwalks overlooked our Army games. In this European village-it was pure Combat. Right down to helmets, jackets and ammo clips. We were soldiers on one part of the lot, and Cops vs BadGuys in Gotham City. Depends what your in the mood for basically. New York Street was less available because of frequent film use and patrol.
German Village allowed for(close quarter) gun battles. We carried rifles and pistols, with B.B refills and a tiny can of 3 in 1 oil. That lubricant made smoke discharge from the barrels. It seemed so real because …it hurt to get hit!
New York was far and away the most dangerous place to play. As long as you don’t fall, you can’t really get caught. The guards are not going to chase us up here and you can ladder down to any roof top.
Danger was our friend…
These catwalks were designed for weather control, such as artificial rain storms and set lighting. Rain had milk added so it would photograph better. Set lighting had the difficult task off bulky, cumbersome lighting equipment. Arc lights breathed smoke and fire up here. “Gels” could mount in front of the light’s housing- providing cascading brilliant colors all over the streets below.
Cameras and their operators made it up here to- for Birds Eye views. This was a busy place to be with such rickety conditions. If you’re afraid of heights-don’t proceed. Not only is it scary, but some of these floor blanks break as do handles attached to ladders. Always hold two -in case one breaks on the climb. Once on top, have a hand close to rigid water pipes used for rain sequences. Always have a back-up whenever possible if something gives out.
Rules to live by…
Load your B.B Guns to the fullest before “going up.” A Daisy Rifle holds over 700 copper B.B’s. A Crosman Pistol holds 20 B.B’s and/or 20 pellets. Multi pumps guns disallowed. Injury factor and potential to cheat. This becomes a game of chess at this point. Shots are too long to be accurate, so a lot of sneaking must be done. It became difficult to find your adversary. Therefore, we reduced this to above the “alley way set.” There are 3 large buildings interconnected by catwalks. This setup allowed for heated exchanges. It also provided opportunities to escape if someone sees us or hears us.
As always love to say “MGM was like Disneyland-with weapons!”
My journey through time involving Universal Studios dates as far back as the early 70’s. I was a teenage customer looking for a good time, and boy- did I find it!
I transitioned from being a tourist to a trespasser. Then, I went from a tram driving Teamster Local #399 to a Local #40 Studio Electrician. I merged all these hats into one barrel full of adventures. I still know half the workforce, many dear friends indeed. I’m one of a very distinguished Alumni that was witness to and significantly part of-Hollywood History.
With a full access pass to all productions on our lot, I enjoyed many perks. Pictures are one of the most special items I cherish the most. I have so many, I lose track of what sets or show specifically I’m looking at these days. Call it…A big fifty year blur!
From Kodak Film to Digital Photography, my memories shifted from slides and proof sheets to…computer screens. Plus, almost all these pictures I display can be seen on television, 24/7, around the globe.
That globe- just happens to be our logo…
Roll Film …
Director Tony Scott, giving direction to actress Brigitte Nielsen. Tony is fresh off Top Gun, Brigitte is fresh off-Sylvester Stallone. I met Stallone on Capone-before Rocky, and later on Paradise Alley. (Sly) was the director, 1977. Read how that went in my latest book available on Amazon.
This cover has two of my favorite MGM pictures I ever took. On the left, John Ritter is saving a kid from a fire on the film Hero at Large. In that hot air balloon are Rockstars Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees…Film-Sgt.Pepper
Pirates of the Caribbean-our water tank-backdrop on the Universal Backlot is featured. Elaborate wave makers will “chop” the water so it doesn’t look like a fish tank. This is a lighthouse with a huge torch.
The Majestic–2001–Jim Carry…The picture on the left is myself in a mock up of this car. Special Effects has this rigged to crash but -not completely. They built a pier in the same water basin Pirates of the Caribbean would use later. Very expensive set due to construction and effects, a short shoot and scene…but critical.
A 747 crash for War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise and directed by Steven Spielberg. I take you here on Phantomofthebacklots YouTube. A behind the scenes tutorial, please visit and subscribe. You will dig it!!
Spider Man set for Mr. Magneto to terrorize…
Backdrop- water basin set. Our biggest rental besides New York. Only two studios have these artificial oceans and painted skies. Paramount has one also. MGM had the oldest and most legendary. ‘The Wizard of MGM’ The legendary Pioneer Arnold Gillespie developed techniques we use to this day. If you like ‘Special Effects and BackStories’ This man-Arnold Gillespie- worked on two Ben Hur’s. The most amazing and difficult film ever done
The World Famous…Clydesdales. This was on New York Street, A high budget “Super Bowl’ commercial directed by Joe Pytka. Joe had about 6 commercials that Super Sunday. I was told Joe gets a million dollars to just read the proposal. If he accepts it, he’s fully in charge-all aspects. He lives close by and is on the lot-quite a bit. One of his homes was formerly owned by Madonna.
My daughter Christy, left, with friend Casey. Arnold Schwarzenegger film Jingle All theWay. A huge Minnesota Christmas Parade took place at…Universal. My kids had it made!
The older Christy got, the harder I tried to scare her…Mother in rocking chair inside Psycho House.
Western Street 6 Points Texas. Trams pass right outside.
This bridge collapses…100 times each summer day!
A small church in a ghost town. Trams park here, guides make stuff up until we get clearance for- the parting of the Red Sea. This was also a California beach community in Alfred Hitchcock’s –The Birds.
All we need are some horses. This barn housed them and is the oldest structure on this lot. It is real inside and out. This preceded the studio, a landmark. Alias Smith and Jones was the last Cowboy T.V series to occupy it. I use to stop by and feed apples to my 4 legged friends…
Oldest structure at Universal.
I used to hijack this train as a trespasser. I would remove the conductor and mimic his automated “Look out-I can’t stop.” This was a tour favorite: the train from Red Gap to nowhere…
Stories from behind the wheel on WordPress, get your season pass on my other W.P site.
Speaking of “Behind the Wheel”-That’s me and my vehicle.Before this fancy ride I often used an open air jeep with a camera platform mounted on the engine hood. Used on location to film vehicle activity. I was my own Rat Patrol. I wore a Fedora hat because it gets real warm on summer days. Overtime-every star on the lot signed it. From all the Desperate Housewives, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Peyton Manning, Jerry Rice.Marcus Allen, Steve Young …football stars doing commercials. No one ever turned me down because it was A -List unique. Sadly it was stolen from my car one night.One of my most cherished items…
The future of Hollywood...No egos, no residuals just A.I robots.
This stage, 31, no longer exists-Tours took over this zone next to the Phantom of theOpera Stage -Stage 28. News item-many of are original stages used in most our T.V series is next to be removed. All the ’30s ‘ numbered stages and dressing rooms for stars will be excavated for more tour theme park space. The Beatles once slept over here. In 1965, during the tour, Lew Wasserman offered these rooms to the Beatles. He was the founder of Music Corporation of America, better known as MCA. No hotels would let them stay due to potential pandemonium. Lew was the last Studio Mogul. He was a wonderful man. He would greet any and all employees he crossed paths with.During the Fab fours brief stay-they became friends with-The Munsters, who filmed next door. So much history is being destroyed. Times-they are a changing!
All this power has to be denergized prior to demolition. All your favorite T.V shows from Leave it to Beaver to Dragnet filmed here…Once Upon a Time.
No one has been on more television and motion picture sets than…Donnie Norden. Please subscribe to WordPress- Phantomofthebacklots.This site is a never ending party of studio history. No one else has the pictures or stories, this has been my life since the Series Combat in 1964. My infatuation never stopped as one by one studios disappeared. My books are GOLD.
If I remember correctly-This was an exterior set for ‘Charmed.” I was on every set going for over 30 years as an employee and 10 more as a trespasser. I was assigned to every show. I had the Golden Egg of jobs…
European Street -Alley Way. Home of our Monsters. Walking the cobblestone streets at night under a full moon is intoxicating.MGM had the best of all Europe Sets.
Backside–Court of Miracles. Where monsters roamloose.
Visitor check in for …Jurassic Park.
Steven Spielberg’s toy chest for big boys. In this photo-two of his sets merge a few years apart. Jurassic Park meets-War of the Worlds
This crashed 747 is a real plane brought from an Arizona plane graveyard for complete realism. We made it look like it crashed. This set is now part of the annual HalloweenHaunts.
Backside of JP 2 visitor center. A reinforced steel platform on roof allowed a helicopter land as chaos was ensuing with rogue raptors…Normally this is a deserted part of the backlot.
My dog ‘Thor‘ often went to work with me. He even met- Ron Howard. This area is called Falls Lake.
Studio Caterers prepared meals for the both of us…We never went home hungry. Thanks to Mario’s Catering, Tony’s Catering , and Four Stars. The best in the business. Frank and Peter of Four Stars send their rigs to California Fires to feed the Firemen combating blazes. No one works harder at 4 a.m than all my brother caters- Usually 2 hours before crew call.
Preparing for another commercial –New York Street ‘3’, The most used exteriors on this lot.
As the tour keeps growing, these sets are still standing for tram tours. This is the last Western Street in old Hollywood. Trams keep this area alive. Once Upon a Time-the Film by Quentin Tarantino filmed here. The closet Western Street left in Hollywood. I feel the stories in my books are worthy of a Netflix Series...Once Upon a Time. True adventures on every set in Hollywood in the Golden Age of Film. I have not met him Q.T-but if I do-I’d give him my real version. I have too many stories for a movie-mine is a series. Stay Tuned everybody, I’m trying-I see big things ahead!
That completes our tour today. This is just an appetizer of future content for my PhantomofthebacklotsWordPress site. No one has more pictures, call sheets and stories I ask you to subscribe to Phantomofthebacklots. You can binge for hours or days if you wish!
I can’t put all this on Facebook, too much stuff. My stories read much better on this platform. Make the switch here please, there is nothing as well prepared and shareable than all things. Also visit- The Glamour Tram– real life tram stories...Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden
We start with a Mission Briefing, inside this KVWV truck located at the Paramount Studios lumber storage and mill.
The Big Black Vehicle arrives…
The briefing involves election fraud in Mexico. In this swank 1966 apartment, the record player is disabled as we browse the folders on I.M.F personnel needed for infiltration.
“Cinnamon”is perfect for this assignment and “every” mission period.
We have our small yet tactical force. “Rollin Hand” is a code name we used. It describes how we rolled our “Doobies” on the backlots…
This Mission starts in Mexico, look behind the curtains, this is Mayberry…
Behind this ‘False Front” is the Mayberry Post Office. A Police Station, for this episode. Directly across the street, where camera is, is Andy Griffith’s Courthouse.The backlot uses several disguises in this Golden Age classic. Several Mayberry and Gone With the Wind facades will be altered. T.A.G.S was still shooting this street almost daily, so these set decorations and modifications required “striking.” This backlot was as busy as anywhere in Hollywood. T.V was never as good as this era.
Our I.M.F Force has arrived…
We need a free and honest election…Liberation !
Window set dressing…often-this kind of stuff ends up in my forts. Winston Churchill is a perfect trespasser motivational influence! We would sneak up to these widow displays from the back entrances and remove set decorations. Right after a scene was filmed and before set decorations could retrieve their items.
On the set of Roger Corman’s “CAPONE,” an entire tobacco shop was relocated upstairs in my fort. This included cigars and brier pipes relocated to the Mayberry R.F.D House set. This happened after a gangster was shot from a passing car band was blasted through the picture window. That story in full detail can be found in Book One titled…”Bootleggers, Tommy Guns and L.S.D”…Hole in the Fence–Book One.
This election…is rigged!
A day of reckoning -I.M.F in Volkswagon- Election fixer in dark glasses.
Downtown, Mayberrywas built to be Atlanta in 1938. When television was born, this Main Street was disguised as any Metropolis in the world. Paint, cars, signs, and costumes can transform your mind. Production wants you to experience different places, all within the comforts of the studio.
Long before Mexico, this street was used as Atlanta in …Gone With the Wind
Lets unpack this picture...The West End of Atlanta/Mayberry. The Desilu Watertower overlooks the backlot. He pictured above the Atlanta train depot, still standing in 1966. False fronts were installed to block the view of this iconic depot used in GWTW.
There were two theaters in Mayberry. On the corner on the left side, you can see a marquis. An alleyway, not shown, separates the theater from Main Street.
This is that corner, minus the train depot. My picture taken in 1972. The single one story row of buildings that blocked this view of the depot is no longer standing. I took this photo after they had been removed. This is where the pavement begins on this dirt backlot. It was dirt for Gone With the Wind. No backlot in history used so little cement.
Same corner in…Gone With the Wind
Mayberry became the next identifier on this main street. The Untouchables branded it as Chicago, Metropolis in Superman, Gotham City in Batman and Berlin in Hogan’s Heroes.
Election interference…”I was pushed off the road!“
This crash was where the theater alongside the Mayberry Hotel stood. Donkeys are first responders.Concerned voters assist with election ballots inside ambulance.
Meanwhile, in the nearby jungle“We need some gas- Cinnamon”
“I need a smoke Rollin!“I have seen this gas station before…
Wally’s “Gasolina” Station
This famous turn into Goober’s Gas Station
Goober’s filling station. This dirt road parallels the La Ballona Creek. Gomer Pyle films across the way…
If only I had some music to unwind-says Cinnamon…Mission Accomplished!
To the left of this jeep is the filling station. Music for a successful “Mission Accomplished.”
Final thoughts;
I thought I would share my version of Mission Impossible dating back to 1966. These screen grabs, combined with my photos and personal experiences paint at picture of a wonderful era of television. As God would lay out my future, I worked on the first feature of the same name with Tom Cruise. Paramount rented the Universal -“SKY” backdrop and water basin for some stunts and inserts.
Paramount owned Desilu when this T.V series was in production. Hogan’s Heroes was also a regular Paramount location on the 40 Acre backlot. These streets were like revolving doors, different shows, every day-non stop. Crime had no chance with all the capped Super Heroes and detectives roaming these streets.
I Spy, The Green Hornet, and Batman followed Superman and the Untouchables. Sheriff Taylor also patrolled this street with Barney through much of this 60’s decade. It was originally designed as Atlanta in GWTW.
I rode my bike here in the late 60’s. I came just to look through the fence. I was in search of all these- “Heroes.”
The marvel of television allowed me to watch episodes then go relive scenes where they were filmed. Basically, “I lived my T.V set.” Even my parents were amazed by this passion burning inside me. We would sit and watch television together and I would have my own stories…like a real life Opie Taylor. I put a fort upstairs in the Andy Griffith house.
My folks saw the Hogan’s Heroes tree stump effect become my own personnel hide out. That big bulky item moved in and out of my bedroom to various locations around my house. Everyone wanted to go -“under the lid.” My house had signs with bullet holes nailed to it. I even had a working Barbers Pole that would spin and light up when plugged in.
I was quite the sight. I could be seen towing tree stumps, various props of all sizes, spears, bows and arrows, etc. I had weapons ranging from rifles to ray guns. I brought B.B guns to play inside Combat sets. I fought real Marines from Camp Pendleton. I gave tours of Camp Henderson to these same soldiers. Gomer Pyle, Jim Nabors- was a recruiter and recruitment soared.
Most kids carried school books, but I carried props. I even had bushels of King Kong horse fir, so much I attached it to my dog. That was quite the monster looking creature. My dogs trespassed at times with me. I wasn’t like all the other kids, needless to say.
It’s fun being the “Black Sheep.” I never wanted these times to stop and they never did. My life evolved into living this lifestyle everyday. 35- Universal working years later, I feel a need keep and hand down my history. I did not realize then I was living in the Golden Age. I thought things would never disappear. But disappear they did.
Thankfully, I took notes, no matter what time of night I came home. I gobbled up discarded “call sheets” and have taken more studio pictures than anyone alive. MGM blessed me with hundreds of Art Department pictures. I became a legend long before I worked at these studios. Everyone knew me, or about me-at MGM. I had an endless supply of blank ammo shells, what kid has that?
Not bad for a trespassing kid who even snagged the studio “Trespassers List” from a guard shack. I knew 50 percent- of the captured folks!
I thank all of you. You like to return to that marvelous era I specialize in capturing. This era is called- The Phantom of the Backlots. I always knew I was experiencing “special things.” A salute-from me to you…
Written and lived by…Donnie Norden
But wait-There’s More…Glamour Tramis back up and running. Come take a tour with me. This site on WordPress reads like a book. You must scroll to the beginning for “cast of characters & training exercises.” Otherwise, your just lost on the tram route, which is really fun anyways…
Real life Tram Tours with Donnie Norden, you too may be on my celebrity list of “miscasts.“
More adventure stories now on sale at Amazon. Follow The Phantom in his escapades back in time…
As always…Boots on the ground stories–Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden
Phantom of the Backlots 