Author: Phantom of the Backlot

Our hero begins its journey…

It’s Temple, not of doom-but life.

Change is underway…

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

The metamorphosis is taking place.

Transition completed.

A new life form starts it’s life journey

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

No-this post is not about Movie Stars…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden

xxxxxx

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fun facts of which I was not aware of…

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

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

Maps were my thing in school…

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

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

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

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

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

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

We pack to enter a forbidden- Luft Stalag

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Located on Vine Street-near Sunset

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pedro as a farmer in -The Flying Nun

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Gracias Pedro!”

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

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

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden and Maureen Miller.

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

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

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

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

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

The future is here, sadly…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written and lived by Donnie Norden…

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

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

Donna Reed & Dennis the Menace home

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

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

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

We have arrived, but no planes!

The Griswolds house in Christmas Vacation (center).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jimmie playing with the spotlight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another angle of a turn of the century village.

Front yard view from Dennis the Menace home.

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

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

This spaceship would make a great fort!

Another Fantasy Island set pic I took.

1981 Under the Rainbow Oz set.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written and lived by Donnie Norden

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Justice of the Peace house today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another scene from the Brady’s first family vacation.

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

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

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

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

Concrete barrier used in a scene from Combat.

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

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

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

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

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

Ooops!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1973/2023

Suspect on rooftop…

Tanners Coffee, across street today.

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

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

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

Two-Locations at play;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden

Before it was CBS, this lot was Republic Pictures.

CBS Radford, Studio City, California. The Hollywood Hills and Mulholland Drive are off in the distance.

My Three Sons family residence, in the 80’s. Talk about ruining a shot, parking stalls are delineating the street in front. That’s because many buildings double as office space and employees park their cars here to go to work. That would never have happened when this series was on the air.

I took the color picture and the B/W 10 years apart. Both trespassing…

This home was originally used in Gene Autry’s 1940 Western Melody Ranch. Then, the lot was known as Republic Pictures.

I like kids who have their name stamped on –Their Cookies! Really good idea…

Adjacent to The Wild Wild West–there was a family of boys…

What appears to be a garage is actually the side view of this home used in My Three Sons.

These rustic homes are some of the first sets you come across after hopping the near-by fence. Gilligan’s Island was once the closet set to these.

The Wild Wild West sets…

Every Western Street on any lot has a Gunsmith, Bank, Livery Stable, Provisions, Saloon, probably a brothel…definitely a jail!

Same building, over 10 years apart.

Small Town Square. Just like the TV series My Three Sons was filmed, I have both color and B/W photos from my escapades that transcend time.

Small Town Square during my first ever trespass on this backlot. Come along with me, I know where to get in, I’ll show ya! I’ll take you inside for another adventure in my forth coming book “The Uninvited Visitor”

These guys were ship wrecked in Studio City, California. The Lagoon was side by side with the L.A. River, a boundary for this studio and the place where this trespass was first made.

A tiny- New York Street was configured into this backlot.

Mr. Arnold Ziffel hams it up on a set fit for a star. Green Acres was another hit series going on. Eddie Albert turned down the part of Dad on My Three Sons. He ended up with a farm in need of repairs, a beautiful wife- Eva Gabor and lovely pig. “This has been a Filmways Presentation, Darling”

Shaggy, one of the many stars in the stable of the legendary Frank Inn. Don Grady, before being Robbie Douglas, was one of the Mouseketeers in Mickey’s Club.

American Bandstand 1967. This successful show at one time featured “The Captain” Daryl Dragon of Captain and Tennille fame. Singer and drummer in this Band, a Graduate from Burbank High School, pictured here, Incognito. A hat and glasses hide Don Grady aka Robbie Douglas, also billed as as “Luke R. Yoo”

My dad, handling “Pokey” with one of the many movie stars who would visit my street. I met Benji a few years after this photo. Glen Smith was Frank’s right hand man and trainer and lived directly across the street from me.

A Tale of Tails…

In 1943, Fred MacMurray was the highest paid actor in Hollywood, and the fourth highest paid American. When he appeared in Disney’s The Shaggy Dog, he became stereotyped and best remembered as the perfect father of three kids and a shaggy dog.

12 seasons and a whopping 380 episodes later, it finished second only to Ozzie and Harriet with 425 in the can. Eddie Albert was first offered the role but turned it down. He would fall into Green Acres and find that seven years of farm livin’ was the life for him. ABC aired My Three Sons for 5 years before moving over here to CBS. Reason being, ABC did not wish to pay the cost for color episodes.

Frank Inn was the animal trainer and every show with animals had one of his on set, at least. Frank owned and trained other stars including Arnold the Pig, as well as another young budding star on another TV series, Petticoat Junction. The terrier was uncredited in that series, but went on to melt movie goer hearts as Benji. Needless to say, Benji became the biggest star of all, starring in his own feature as lead dog. Yet, I’m sure he remained loyal to those three pretty girls in Hooterville. Woof!

Fred worked a lucrative deal allowing him a 10 week hiatus while the rest of the show continued on schedule. This created continuity issues that can sometimes be observed in final edits. The show endured despite never cracking the Top 10 in ratings. It once climbed to 11-season 2.

CBS had several hit TV series going on including Gilligan’s Island and The Wild Wild West, both big favorites of mine. Robert Conrad played a thinking man’s cowboy in this series while what kid didn’t enjoy the lush settings of the lagoon located not far behind this home and street. CBS had a tight knit backlot with varying types of filming locations. This lot- located on Radford, in Studio City, still exists as does this house once occupied by My Three Sons.

An interesting side bar is Don Grady played drums in a psychedelic band while starring in this show. The Yellow Balloon. It featured Grady as Luke R. Yoo, they had a hit song that reached # 25 on Bill Boards top 30.

I originally snuck on this lot with one goal in mind, finding-Gilligan’s Island. Sadly, it no longer existed as a lagoon. Some jungle did remain in the original section that hugs the L.A. River, but no S.S. Minnow, no castaways, but a very cute, contrite, effective backlot presented itself to me in the 70’s.

In my second story book I will take you down the streets used in The Wild Wild West. Come Trespass with me, as it happened. Bring your camera. We start, as usual, with finding a way inside. Risks…of course there’s risks! That’s why its title has three W’s!

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden

A panoramic view taken below Charlie Wright’s home showing nearly the entire backlot. Tara (left) is still standing in this picture.

On a night where Earth, Wind, and Fire combine forces…

It’s evening, December 10, 1938, at 8:20pm. David O. Selznick is at the pyrotechnic controls of one of the most famous fires in Hollywood history. It will be the first ever scene filmed for the movie Gone With the Wind. The King Kong and King of Kings sets are sprayed with kerosene and set ablaze. The massive flames could be seen 50 miles away.

Culver City residents who were unaware of this event began calling emergency to report the studio is on fire. Other residents flee the area with their family in cars.

But not all residents were unaware of this event. What is not readily known, is the “GWTW Fire Party” thrown by Charlie Wright for his guests above Blair Hills, which overlooked the 40 Acres Backlot.

The eccentric Charlie Wright, at the age of 30, purchased this property in 1932 from none other than Howard Hughes, using the small fortune he made as a bootlegger. This home was made of steel and glass with a 180-degree view of the city below. Charlie struck oil less than 2 years after purchasing the property, so by his early 30’s he was independently wealthy for the rest of his life.

This 20^th Century Renaissance Man would eventually develop many patents, including compression storage and use of petroleum gas. In the 1950’s he became a real estate developer, building property on the land he owned throughout Baldwin Hills. His personally named road stretches all the way to La- Cienega Blvd. Charlie is one of the most interesting figures in Culver City History.

There is little known about the attendees of the “Fire Party” but if I’d have to guess it’s a who’s who of the affluent residents of the area including Will Rogers Jr, and possibly Howard Hughes himself. Howard had a facility neighboring Charles’ house and were best friends. Benny Pitti was also a Culver resident and neighbor with horse property close by. He and his wife had two sons that are famous stuntmen. Carl and Paul Pitti are legendary horsemen. This was the elite property surrounded by horse ranches.

The Burning of Atlanta scene is not the only significant milestone to happen for this movie on this day. Scarlett O’Hara still hadn’t been cast. British actress Vivien Leigh, newly arrived from London, dropped by the burning set to visit her agent, Myron Selznick, brother of the producer, who introduced her to David as, “I want you to meet your Scarlett O’Hara”. David was impressed and asked her to test for Scarlett and signed her on a few weeks later.

I visited his house many times while exploring the hills above the backlot and took some pictures of it that I shared in this post.

Early 1971…

I first set foot on this hilltop in a mission to map Desilu from above. The entire backlot presents itself from the bottom of this hill and from the upper reaches. My pal Jimmy and I wanted to sneak in the 40 Acres backlot from the moment we first laid our eyes on it. We would ride our bikes all around the streets that surrounded the backlot, looking through the chain link fences. We could see Hogan’s Heroes and parts of Stalag 13, as the show was still in production back then. A guard tower could be seen on Lucerne. As tempting as this backlot was, the same fences we looked through had postings…Guard Dogs on Duty. With vicious German Shepherds painted above the warning.

Jimmy and I were infatuated with this place ever since we saw Batman drive by in the Batmobile, while looking through the fence on Higuera Street. I was a kid who owned a Bat Cape and mask, which I wore looking for the Real Batman. We were too young to “break the law” in the 60’s. Just riding our bikes that far was an adventure. I lived next to MGM, Desilu was pushing the limits as kids on bikes at that age. We had to settle for fenced out views, never actually seeing these guard dogs.

That is until we ventured up the hilltop overlooking the backlot. We then confirmed…Dogs exist!

Three German Shepherds with a security guard could be seen on the Desilu Western Street. We finally realized they have to be with a handler. The La Ballona Creek didn’t even have a fence, the dogs had to have supervision. We were doing due-diligence in the years preceding our vocation to be trespassers. We could watch Hogan’s Heroes be filmed from the safety of this hilltop. This view overlooked the Burning of Atlanta, long ago.

We had no idea the history we were looking down from. This backdrop, often seen in Andy Griffith, Star Trek, Gomer Pyle and The Untouchables was basically an extension of the 40 Acre backlot as Hollywood’s cameras capture scenes below.

The Backlot above…The Backlot

We explored this hilltop before ever setting foot in Desilu, and there was much to see. A compound with barb wire fences and security existed up here too. Signs indicate it belongs to “Hughes Tool Company.” In the distance you could see high rises in Downtown Los Angeles, San Pedro’s Vincent Thomas Bridge, LAX, and the Pacific Ocean. This is a strategic vector for Hughes Aviation and radars operated from here for Howard Hughes Airport, which we also overlook. This place was secured and in operation. It too had guard towers inside, like Stalag 13 below.

We followed a dirt road outside the compound fences and came to an isolated home with several cars, covered in dust that was occupied by this guy named-Charlie Wright. Since it was clearly occupied, we ventured only outskirts. Horse stables were spread out connecting different properties.

Our goal was to surveil Desilu and snoop out the safest way to trespass the backlot below us. Little did we realize how much sneaking around we would be doing above the Desilu lot.

In the years going forward, we spent ample time- up top here. It was part of the backlot. The part that you see when on the backlot movie ranch itself. Sitting in our forts we would later build at Andy Griffith’s house and in the Mayberry R.F.D. barn house, our views were of this hilltop. It’s like we spliced film history together.

Presently…

These structures have all been removed. A stairway to the top is a popular workout nowadays with no mention at all of the historic nature that preceded the observation deck and visitor center that greets you now.

Charlie lived on the property until his passing in 1991 and his house was demolished 10 years later. It wasn’t until recently I was contacted by Lee Phillips, who asked me for pictures of this residence, he then shared the house history and this GWTW pool party, told to him by Charles Wright.

Little is known about Charlie Wright, even though two streets are named after him (Wrightcrest Dr. & Wright Terrace).  If anyone has any other information about the GWTW party or Charlie Wright, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Written and lived by Donnie Norden

The massive fire created from the burning sets could be seen 50 miles away.

Superman up on Charlie Wright’s hill, with Tara in the background. George Reeves has a history with the Tara set, as he played Stuart Tarlton in the opening scenes of Gone With the Wind.

All of the Fire Departments in the surrounding areas were working overtime for the fire.

David O. Selznick Telegram: You have missed a great thrill. “Gone With the Wind” has been started. Shot key scenes at 8:20 tonight and judging by how they looked to the eye they are going to be sensational! Notice the guy with the hose, and his shadow following him- bottom center.

Vivien Leigh and Myron Selznick (circled) showed up late to the fire, with DOS standing bottom right. Myron and Vivien rolled in about a minute and a half after the final building had fallen and burned.

David O. Selznick stated: Saturday night I was greatly exhilarated by the Fire Sequence. It was one of the biggest thrills I’ve had out of making pictures. First, because of the scene itself and second, because of the frightening but exciting knowledge that Gone With the Wind is finally in the works.

Even the MGM Fire Department was there to assist in case of a potential spread of the blaze to homes or the dry brush in the hills above.

Charlie’s house and palm tree can be seen in the background of many telivision shows. This is a post backlot demolition pic.

Arrow shown is Charlie Wright’s Glass Mansion residence. Building to the right is Howard Hughes’ Airfield Radar Station. An Antenna is spotted there in this screen grab from Gomer Pyle episode “Blow your Top” One of my favorite episodes. Howard sold this “Hilltop” to Charlie when Standard Oil discovered oil. Derricks sprouted up all over reaching just beyond MGM Lot 3. Howard would later lease part and parcel a section of this hill top that overlooks his airfield, now known as Playa Vista.

Only the palm tree is visible in a scene from the Andy Griffith Show.

Another scene showing Charlie Wrights’ home, this time in Hogans Heroes. Picture on right is how it appears today. Charlie’s house removed. The next time you watch one of your favorite televisioin shows, be on the lookut for Charlies home!

Bonanza filmed on the Desilu Backlot having been affiliated through parent company Paramount. Once again, these two studios stand connected. The Charlie Wright complex sits perched on the hill top above.Paramount at this time had a man made hill on their Western Street, Hills and the Old West Streets just go together. This Barn is very near-Stalag 13. The infamous tree stump is rope toss close to here. This is the barn where Maureen and I first-“Rolled in the Hay.” That’s a fun story you can read in my first book ” Hole in the Fence.”

LTR John Elwell (L), Charlie Wright (C) and Lee Williams (R) the guy who contacted me an told me about the life of Charlie Wright...Thanks Lee for back engineering the rest of this story with me. When I discovered this house, I had no idea its glorious past.

When paved streets become dirt roads, you have arrived at Charlies residence. Not Charlie Manson, Charles Wright. This was his entrance which is exactly the same driveway today. The Palm Tree still remains, all that’s missing is the home itself.

The roof of Charlie Wright’s tropical fish aquariums. There were about a hundred aquariums underneath that roofed structure. Pallets of valuable Black Coral lined the outside. Just one one of Charlies hobbies. This guy was an an extreme entrepreneur, yet somehow forgotten.

Red brick pathways extend from the house to the pool.

Landscaping planters lead you to the pool.

We arrive where the ” Gone With the Wind” pool party took place.

City veiw from the swimming pool

In this 1999, after Charlies passing this house sat vacant. The film 8 MM, starring Nicolas Cage, used both Charlies house and Hughes facility as locations. The house had been neglected, this section was a car port. The pool rim is on right side of photo. This ain’t Charlie pictured.

Pool and changing room.My son Jeff is in the empty pool, my dog Chester is on…The Hunt.

My kids, Christy and Jeff, with our two dogs back in 1999. We our inside the abandoned party home.A simple floor plan, one bedroom, one bath, a kitchen, and a living room entirely of glass and ornate tile from somewhere in this world.. This guy got around…

Abandoned, above Los Angeles. Stuffed animals along with two real dogs from a squatter family that occupied this home after Charlie died.

Interior shot I took standing outside of the home. A simple build, one bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen with a large dance floor type. living room. Picture taken looking in from outside.

View from pool, the industrial site below was Mayberry. Prior to that that, Atlanta.

This marble slab was recovered from outside Charlie’s home. Chuck traveled the world in search of cool stuff. This was sitting outside his aquarium annex. He had tropical fish from around the world and roughly one hundred aquariums inside. Pallets of super valuable rare black coral were stacked next to this marble slab I have inside my house. Scripp’s Institute of Oceanography worked a deal with Charlie, paying his property taxes for access to his his property and valuable imports. Charlie surfed the world.

The circle was where the pool was situated which is now Baldwin Hills Performing Stage.

1939 Deluxe Lobby Card showing an artist rendition of the Burning of Atlanta.

I took this picture in 1973. Taken directly in front of Goobers Gas Station, just left of frame. Cars lined up for service. Gomer barracks are directly behind me. Usually, Army trucks get parked here blocking the view of this filling station during Gomer Pyle’s barracks and camp scenes. The left arrow indicates Charlie Wright’s estate and right arrow Hughes Airfield radar facility combine on one hilltop. This dirt road follows along the La Ballona Creek and forks close by taking you past the Atlanta Depot. This area looked exactly like this in 1938- GWTW. Another iconic set would get built here in the mid-sixties…The Hogan’s Heroes Bridge, I”ll take you on top of that bridge with a handful of drunken Marines, a brawl takes place between soldiers and vandals. Needless to say who won. My new book “The Uninvited Guest” will take you down these same roads, dare come with me!.

I took this picture in 1976, the lot was decimated. Charlie Wright’s home actually looked down on “several fires,” most all started by vandals. In foreground right, a charred barn lays in waste. Top of hill two oasis’s, Charlie’s place left side, the trees on right mountain top surround Howard Hughes facility.

Train car 8142 can be seen in the upper left, which was used in the Burning of Atlanta scenes above. Lunch time for the cast of GWTW…it takes a lot of food to feed an Army. Scarlett’s double can be see in the lower left corner. Follow the hill slope and you can see Heinz 57 indentured in hillside. Charlies place looked down on Hill 57 into the 40 acre ranch. Charlie could have his own lunch with his feet in his pool- watching GWTW cast/crew eat theirs. “Pass the ketchup!”

GWTW burned Atlanta December 10, 1938. In December 11, 1916 this is how the area looked. No-backlot yet, Thomas Ince would play a significant part starting the film industry in Culver City. This is how the area looked pre-Hollywood. 57 stands for Heinz Ketchup. At night -57 lit up.

Two streets are named after Charlie Wright near his former residence. A toast is in order” Cheers Charlie!”

This lake formerly called Singapore Lake, became Jaws Lake, April 10, 1976. A year after the release of the smash hit “Jaws”.

If this shark could talk, he would complain of over usage, average attacks on summer days equal=Thirty trams-based off 6 tours a day for drivers equals 180 terrorized tram attacks. This animation shut down more frequently than any other. One overworked shark. He’s a high maintenance piece of machinery. His name is Bruce, the same name of Steven Spielberg’s lawyer.

Still a most popular animation…

The teeth on the original Jaws are hilarious and terrifying at the same time.

Singapore Lake has a new name… Amity. Watching over this fine community is… The Psycho House.

Pink and White Tours, the funner of the two tram styles. Super Trams replaced these originals. Less confining, more intimate. This version of tram holds 125 guests. Super Trams, Blue in Color, hold 175 passengers…like a Jumbo Jet on wheels.

Trespassing-Universal Style. A view from my castle, my favorite set on the lot.

Trespassing photo, taken by me from back porch of Boo Radley home.

This area became Cabot Cove for Murder She Wrote, starring friend Angela Lansbury.

McHale’s Navy first sailed these Shark infested waters in PT-73

Not the image you want to see when you’re swimming

That fisherman resurfaces quickly to be attacked repeatedly. Poor Chum… Blood and fire would later be included in this experience.

Here he comes!

This Great White Shark was responsible for many empty beaches after release of the movie.

Fishy out of water… for repairs.

The ever changing tour route since 1964. Studio Sea “pictured” contained PT-73 prior to having a Great White Shark.

This billboard is located at Universal itself, promoting the film to the Pink and White Glamour Trams.

You could not escape the peril of this “Great White” in 1976. Even Hollywood Blvd, isn’t safe… Still isn’t!

A shark is born, or at least fabricated with a permanent resting site about to become Amity Island

This lake formerly called Singapore Lake, became Jaws Lake, April 10, 1976. A year after the release of the smash hit “Jaws”.

Same angle, fisherman capsized. Over 40 years apart. The Super Tram replaced the Pink and Whites.

Today’s version, fire, brimstone, and blood. Four attacks or “snaps” per tram, one for each tram car. He’s now a senior citizen, we grew old together.

A copy of the Shark’s Dental records over the decades.

More modern effects-Same one trick shark!

“Keep your arms and legs inside the tram please.” a special thanks to Paul Farese for sending me his 1976 tram tour picture. Nice shot Paul, still got two arms right?

This place involves a pivotal transition in the future of Universal’s backlot expansion. Notice the barren hillsides. Earth movers have reshaped the hillsides in what was a true wilderness area. Similar to Topanga Canyon, a place where people working at the studio have disappeared., to be found later on. Ghost stories of incidents from the past were fun “pow wows” when doing all-nighters on the backlot.

Over 40 years later…Same dock as previous picture.

Welcome to 1976… My forever pal “Maureen” and I grew up together reading Mad Magazines on studio backlots.

Seems like everyone had one of these shirts after the release of the movie in the summer of 75

High maintenance star…

In honor of Shark Week, I present to you, Jaws…Tales from a Trespasser..

Growing Old with a Shark;

We first met tentatively, since I was trespassing in his world. There were other fish in the sea I needed to worry about other than just this confined- Great White Shark. Singapore Lake has been his home since 1976. The first time we were introduced was on a Pink and White Glamour Tram that I managed to sneak on at a tour rest stop located in a boarding area up at Prop Plaza. Tour Guides call him “Bruce,” named after Steven Spielberg’s attorney.

“Bruce” likes to attack guests, making him very popular. He already has a Box Office smash under his belt titled” Jaws ” Bruce wasn’t in the actual film, nor was this lake. Universal Studios turned America’s fear of sharks into a mega dollar Bonanza. Drinks are served in Shark cups, cool T-Shirts have sharks on them, with their snouts and jaws ready to pounce on unsuspecting swimmers. When this ride opened, it was must see, today, 47 years later, it still is on the much shortened and watered down backlot tour.

As it would turn out, Mr. Spielberg and I have something in common; “we” began as trespassers. On my first tram tour, I heard a tour guide boast about Steven sneaking on the lot while attending film school at Cal State Long Beach. He set up an office on the lot in an abandoned space. I was doing the same thing and had “offices” at multiple studios. MGM and Desilu amply provided me with the finest of accommodations, which I call “forts” in 6 backlot locations. I had one upstairs in Andy Griffith’s house. I was fortunate to later meet Ron Howard, and told him “we kids” built a fort in your upstairs bedroom. That kicked off a wrap session of all things Desilu between Ron and me, at a craft service table located on Stage 27 at Universal. He embraces the past, and is the only “kid” to have more experiences on that Backlot Ranch than me. It’s a small world in Hollywood, as I digress. But, trespassing opened many doors for me.

Trespassing isn’t an exact science. I like to compare it to battlefield conditions. Slow advances, one doorway, one building, one street at a time. Each village needs to be liberated. I was polished by the time I set foot on Universal’s dirt roads that never seem to stop. I would soon realize this is a much easier and calmer experience than at MGM, where everybody knew me. Here, at Universal, I have amnesty. Yep, like what Alias Smith and Jones wanted!

My face wasn’t on “Most Wanted” Posters here, like they were at MGM guard shacks. Special agents with the long arm of the law weren’t on my trail like bloodhounds. I was free to roam the outback, let my hair down, and just be me. The oldest part of the backlots were my preference. That coincides with where most the tram animations exist. I hid from trams-rarely if ever seeing any security. I wondered why MGM and Desilu didn’t capitalize on this tram tour thing… “What do I know, I’m just a kid with a passion.”

Inanimate objects became my friends here first, the train, the shark, a castle built for a king were all mine to spend time with. I’m just a kid with a castle. I became bolden, approaching sets while they filmed on the backlot. I met Lou Ferrigno, covered in all his green paint from head to toe. He was massive in size, like he stepped out of a comic book. I watched him fire a Flame Thrower on Universal’s Brownstone street… right after shaking his giant hand. One of the coolest memories I have on this lot.

When I became a tram driver in 1984, I was being trained in all things I have already done, but in reverse. Now I was the one triggering The Runaway Train, The Great White, The Flash Flood and The Parting of the Red Sea. These were formerly my hangouts when I snuck in this enormous backlot.

These days the Trams are Blue, a wide body version of the old Pink and Whites. It’s like driving a 747 Airliner around an airport. These trams now are 120-ft long and pull three trailers which tend to disappear around turns, only to reappear as the tram straightens out. The Tram is the most important vehicle on the backlot pavement and receives a “full right of way.” Paying customers rule this kingdom.

Trams can’t back up attached to multiple trailers so it’s important to follow a constantly changing route map. Even good plans sour often and those mistakes which usually involve filming, become legendary around these parts. I’ve seen a lot of those, shall we say “Out takes.”

To work an entire 35 year career in a place where you acquired your first training as a trespasser is a path few have navigated. A bit of skill and instinct along with tempered fear is how I grew up on all these major backlots. I’ll bet no one can say they rode “The Runaway Train” shotgun to the dummy engineer who shouts the line “Lookout I can’t Stop!”...but he always does, over and over. One track mind.

As the sands of time shift forward, I would work on a wide variety of productions at Universal, including the Jaws sequel back up at Falls Lake. The shark named “Bruce” became a staple here at Universal, and Spielberg’s office turned into Amblin Entertainment. I’m proud to know that we all three share a common bond, we grew old together in this fabulous kingdom still haunted by a Night Gallery of Monsters, Giants and Spirits in the Night.

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden