This was my lunchbox, on my trek to Saint Augustine School every day. In some ways, it was like being in a German Prison Camp. I would ride around the sidewalks outside the backlot. I looked inside through tiny holes in the fence to get my mojo on. Carrying a book bag stuffed with a Voit football inside, this lunchbox was hooked around my handle bars. At the main gate on Overland-often this transportation (pictured on this box) presented itself through a chain link fence. I would press this box against the fence that separated me from them, making my lunch pale “official” to this my favorite show. I Lived my Lunch Pail -very much battle tested!
!972–My favorite vantage point on the MGM Back-lot…The Steeple on Lot 2. After climbing barb wire and a razor fence below-we would hide in the trains below, like some Rat Patrol kids. When the coast seemed clear, we targeted this steeple. We did a perilous climb to the top. From there, you can see almost the entire back-lot and Culver City beyond.
The Trial by Fire Raid -1967–just below the church steeple-a battle is underway…This series lasted from 1966 to 1968. It overlapped with with Combat in 67/68. “Talk about endless gunfire,” the battles and sounds carried beyond the fences as if my street was under attack.
A nomadic village that was earlier liberated by the T.V series Combat. Depending on props and set dressing, we can turn this street into whatever is needed. The Three Musketeers starring Gene Kelly rode down these same cobblestone streets in 1948. In this picture-dirt covers the cobblestone. This isn’t Europe it’s somewhere in the Middle East. Dirt is set dressing on this street.
The plot thickens”… in the picture on the right-you can see the area we climb in. It is at the very back behind the foot soldier. We climbed a barb wire pole and carefully manipulated that white razor fence.
As Germans guard exterior-Sam Troy sneaks his way in-Actual train interior.
I have been in this train …at MGM Lot 3. This train was moved here from there. Pictured left on The Harvey Girls. On the right-same train. MGM Lot 2 had plush Pullmans to fit Grand Central Station. Lot 3 was a rustic train line. Lot 2 had some Box Cars also. Tracks do not connect to each lot. You were enclosed on Lot 3 like a Lionel Kid Train set up. No where to go-but in circles. Lot 2 connects to a real train line. This train had to be trucked over. Big Toys for Big Boys…
Twilight Zone–Lot 3-” Last stop-Willoughby”-“Yes that’s Willoughby, right outside.” Same train featured in this episode of the Rat Patrol has an illustrious past. The Rat Patrol filmed on Lot 3 all the time. But those tracks cross town were surrounded by Western Streets, so move it to Lot 2. This studio is the ultimate Toy Chest.
Pictured here -1970 World Famous MGM Auction.
This set was once used in classic film- The Band Wagon. Little did Fred Astaire know then all the war that would take place in the years to come. This is the one set that looked bombed out in one show then extremely opulent in the next. Planet of the Apes took over this depot in 1974. Apes on horses with guns followed these same jeep tire tracks. Young Frankenstein followed Planet of the Apes as an example of destroyed then a couple months later all fancied up. as it was for Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn.
In this shootout with these two jeeps, very tight maneuvering is needed. The drivers must avoid crashing. It is a tight squeeze at high speed.
If you have a good eye-the two rows of Pullmans have been rearranged for this scene allowing for more space. there is a 3ft. drop from platform to tracks. The jeeps are moving fast. There is a possibility that you can roll this jeep. This can happen if a wheel goes over the edge even slightly. You don’t need a train engine to jockey train cars-a tractor can move these along the tracks.
Two jeeps-high speed- 50 caliber’s blazing.
Still pictures lack the intensity taking place. This was before I trespassed, I was 7. But we heard this battle from outside the fence that surrounds two sides of this depot. We weren’t sure if it was Combat or Rat Patrol- until we saw the jeeps racing by.
The truck parked behind this train is a “rigging truck” used by MGM Transportation. The studio has several military vehicles in their fleet.
MGM Transportation can double up in military shows. This rigging truck on the left side of the frame is part of a fleet.
The Fleet-Two generator trucks, where power originates on sets, parked alongside a modified jeep with a camera boom. then a couple cast busses and rigging/property trucks. The trailer would be make-up.
A lot of train tracks merge here, I’m standing on the line that enters and exists the backlot. The train gate was my most used entrance over the decade. Mostly because it was the closest to my house.
Culver Blvd-Overland intersection. This train passed MGM twice a day, at least. The Backlot 2 is fenced off area lined with trees.
That Luger is no match for what’s coming…
Take Cover!!!
I love this show…
“Let’s get out of here” says Troy–Well-I’ve said that a few times myself!
“Let’s get out of here.”..Donnie Norden style. A National Guard unit that was fortified with a tank was located directly across the street to all these battles.
Looking into this set from a helicopter…
MGM maps indicate where train tracks exist on both backlots. Lot 2, on the left. Lot 3 to our right. The Harvey Girls and Willoughby’s yellow train normally was on Lot 3. But for this episode of the Rat Patrol-it makes like a guest star.
An American Flag replaces a Swastika…A salute to our flag raised above the backlot.
A short painful story of my own…
So I have been on top of this arch, at night, which is a difficult climb, no stairway. A brief ladder gets you up the final 5 feet. But most of the climb is foot holds, reaching upwards between two walls. I was in a B.B Gun Fight.
The Marines have landed…
My older friends were in the Marines. Based out of Camp Pendleton, I often gave tours to Recon Rangers. Some times small groups, and sometimes large. This village was their favorite part of the tour. On one particular night, I wanted to impress my soldiers friends. We had 6 guys-4 Marines and my neighbor Danny. Crosman pistols and Daisy Rifles were our standard weapons.
I wanted a vantage point that overlooked this village to be a sniper. I took cover behind that plaster ornament on the right hand side, pitch dark, a 5 minute climb. I had never been on top of this arch. I was proud of myself as I caught my breath. Little did I know, I was in their cross hairs. My gun was cocked already- because that process makes noise. As I stuck my head out to pick off whoever becomes a target.
Just as this happens, I get shot in the head twice...a second apart. The B.B’s hurt, my head would have been blown off with live ammo. Two shots, two bulls -eyes. I yelled ‘ouch” I was so startled. When you get hit, you’re out of the game. Unless you’re wounded like your hand or something minor. As I climbed back down, not having fired a shot-I asked-“How did you know I was up there?” “Easy your head was a silhouette against the sky.” I had a new respect for guys I already looked up to. Two shots – two direct hits, that is extremely fine marksmanship.
I have a helmet from Combat but chose not to wear it. It would have saved me had I had it on. Even better than filming days-MGM War Games was our funnest things to do. These stories are in my books. Live your Lunch pale everybody...”Semper Fi”
Written and Lived by-Donnie Norden
Phantom of the Backlots 