Frank Smith...sounds like one of my alias’sat 40 Acres.Helen digs him, Opie digs him, but who is he?– He is an attorney with an office directly across from the Mayberry Courthouse.Upstairs above another of Sheriff Taylor’s favorite sweets…Walker’s Soda Fountain shop.
Good friends and a bottle of wine, Below Helen is having a wonderful time…
Andy’s Rival is more popular than our sheriff-in his own house.
Just when Andy thought he owned Mayberry. Maybe Helen has seen enough of Andy squeezing every woman in town.
Another old picture of mine with, Frank Smith Attorney sign is partially in view left of frame. The Rusk Hotel is Mayberry’s cheaper overnight stay. “We’ll leave a light on for ya!”
A simulated version of the soda shop, pharmacy, hotel and Frank Smith’s office. The Mayberry Courthouse is directly opposite this set. This gives you a clear visual of a building center of town, below the church.
The real deal version.
This is my school work, done at Culver Middle School. I appeared to be taking notes at all times, but not really.
I included Frank Smith in my doodle, Ididn’t know who he was…1974
Andy may need an attorney if he’s not careful.
Ellie, always calm, cool, and collected. She always concocts the proper Ambrosia for what ails ya!
The Darling -look of love.Just below Frank Smith’s office.
Definitely Rivals. “I’m going to call Danny Thomas and get him off this lot” says the sheriff.
“Danny -let’s lose the Frank Smith character, he’s drinking on set” -” you got it Andy”
Downtown Mayberry is where we begin;
Looking at my old pictures recently, I realized I do not know who Frank Smith is. A sign above the for-mentioned center of town. One of the most seen sets on this T.V series, many because the church, the courthouse, and the post office all face each other.
Back in the 70’s, we had no internet, we needed “Sarah” to complete a simple call. I had no idea after al these decades, who is the name on the sign. Now in 2025, I can get an answer and to my surprise, this sign is from the Andy Griffith show. It is mounted in an awkward location. Therefore, it was never touched by human hands other than set dressing when installed.
In this period after the series was canceled. Other shows that followed did not want Mayberry references. Across the street is an example. The Mayberry Courthouse sign is still here. Just open the courthouse door, and it sits there, leaning against a wall. I examined it 3 times and planned on taking it home. It was big, 4 by 4 feet, I bit obtrusive to sneak around the lot with. I always said to myself…next time, leaving it inside the exterior courthouse. It was all mine.
Before and after-The Mayberry Courthouse sign above the front doors.Picture I took on right, minus sign, the sign was inside, leaning against the wall under the left window.
Anyone could have had the courthouse sign, Culver Studios, Cinema General Studios lost track of Desilu/RKO history. They left it all for me. I had-the key to the city.
The key to the kingdom…
Three Strikes your Out
Wait, hold on. I finally am here just to pick up the Courthouse sign when I open the front door-the sign is gone. Somebody beat me to it. A trespasser no less I’m sure. Today, I have one of my few regrets ever on this backlot. I regret not grabbing it. I should have hidden it until it was possible to exit with it down to the La Ballona Creek.
Back to Frank Smith, it turns out this character is played by actor Charles Aidman. In this period, Charles is also in several Twilight Zone episodes just down the road at MGM. In this Andy Griffith episode, he brings a bottle of wine to dinner at Sheriff Taylor’s house. Mayberry is a “dry county,” just ask Otis Campbell. Just some food for thought as we say our before dinner prayers.
We start with a Mission Briefing, inside this KVWV truck located at the Paramount Studios lumber storage and mill.
The Big Black Vehicle arrives…
The briefing involves election fraud in Mexico. In this swank 1966 apartment, the record player is disabled as we browse the folders on I.M.F personnel needed for infiltration.
“Cinnamon”is perfect for this assignment and “every” mission period.
We have our small yet tactical force. “Rollin Hand” is a code name we used. It describes how we rolled our “Doobies” on the backlots…
This Mission starts in Mexico, look behind the curtains, this is Mayberry…
Behind this ‘False Front” is the Mayberry Post Office. A Police Station, for this episode. Directly across the street, where camera is, is Andy Griffith’s Courthouse.The backlot uses several disguises in this Golden Age classic. Several Mayberry and Gone With the Wind facades will be altered. T.A.G.S was still shooting this street almost daily, so these set decorations and modifications required “striking.” This backlot was as busy as anywhere in Hollywood. T.V was never as good as this era.
Our I.M.F Force has arrived…
We need a free and honest election…Liberation !
Window set dressing…often-this kind of stuff ends up in my forts. Winston Churchill is a perfect trespasser motivational influence! We would sneak up to these widow displays from the back entrances and remove set decorations. Right after a scene was filmed and before set decorations could retrieve their items.
On the set of Roger Corman’s “CAPONE,” an entire tobacco shop was relocated upstairs in my fort. This included cigars and brier pipes relocated to the Mayberry R.F.D House set. This happened after a gangster was shot from a passing car band was blasted through the picture window. That story in full detail can be found in Book One titled…”Bootleggers, Tommy Guns and L.S.D”…Hole in the Fence–Book One.
This election…is rigged!
A day of reckoning -I.M.F in Volkswagon- Election fixer in dark glasses.
Downtown, Mayberrywas built to be Atlanta in 1938. When television was born, this Main Street was disguised as any Metropolis in the world. Paint, cars, signs, and costumes can transform your mind. Production wants you to experience different places, all within the comforts of the studio.
Long before Mexico, this street was used as Atlanta in …Gone With the Wind
Lets unpack this picture...The West End of Atlanta/Mayberry. The Desilu Watertower overlooks the backlot. He pictured above the Atlanta train depot, still standing in 1966. False fronts were installed to block the view of this iconic depot used in GWTW.
There were two theaters in Mayberry. On the corner on the left side, you can see a marquis. An alleyway, not shown, separates the theater from Main Street.
This is that corner, minus the train depot. My picture taken in 1972. The single one story row of buildings that blocked this view of the depot is no longer standing. I took this photo after they had been removed. This is where the pavement begins on this dirt backlot. It was dirt for Gone With the Wind. No backlot in history used so little cement.
Same corner in…Gone With the Wind
Mayberry became the next identifier on this main street. The Untouchables branded it as Chicago, Metropolis in Superman, Gotham City in Batman and Berlin in Hogan’s Heroes.
Election interference…”I was pushed off the road!“
This crash was where the theater alongside the Mayberry Hotel stood. Donkeys are first responders.Concerned voters assist with election ballots inside ambulance.
Meanwhile, in the nearby jungle“We need some gas- Cinnamon”
“I need a smoke Rollin!“I have seen this gas station before…
Wally’s “Gasolina” Station
This famous turn into Goober’s Gas Station
Goober’s filling station. This dirt road parallels the La Ballona Creek. Gomer Pyle films across the way…
If only I had some music to unwind-says Cinnamon…Mission Accomplished!
To the left of this jeep is the filling station. Music for a successful “Mission Accomplished.”
Final thoughts;
I thought I would share my version of Mission Impossible dating back to 1966. These screen grabs, combined with my photos and personal experiences paint at picture of a wonderful era of television. As God would lay out my future, I worked on the first feature of the same name with Tom Cruise. Paramount rented the Universal -“SKY” backdrop and water basin for some stunts and inserts.
Paramount owned Desilu when this T.V series was in production. Hogan’s Heroes was also a regular Paramount location on the 40 Acre backlot. These streets were like revolving doors, different shows, every day-non stop. Crime had no chance with all the capped Super Heroes and detectives roaming these streets.
I Spy, The Green Hornet, and Batman followed Superman and the Untouchables. Sheriff Taylor also patrolled this street with Barney through much of this 60’s decade. It was originally designed as Atlanta in GWTW.
I rode my bike here in the late 60’s. I came just to look through the fence. I was in search of all these- “Heroes.”
The marvel of television allowed me to watch episodes then go relive scenes where they were filmed. Basically, “I lived my T.V set.” Even my parents were amazed by this passion burning inside me. We would sit and watch television together and I would have my own stories…like a real life Opie Taylor. I put a fort upstairs in the Andy Griffith house.
My folks saw the Hogan’s Heroes tree stump effect become my own personnel hide out. That big bulky item moved in and out of my bedroom to various locations around my house. Everyone wanted to go -“under the lid.” My house had signs with bullet holes nailed to it. I even had a working Barbers Pole that would spin and light up when plugged in.
I was quite the sight. I could be seen towing tree stumps, various props of all sizes, spears, bows and arrows, etc. I had weapons ranging from rifles to ray guns. I brought B.B guns to play inside Combat sets. I fought real Marines from Camp Pendleton. I gave tours of Camp Henderson to these same soldiers. Gomer Pyle, Jim Nabors- was a recruiter and recruitment soared.
Most kids carried school books, but I carried props. I even had bushels of King Kong horse fir, so much I attached it to my dog. That was quite the monster looking creature. My dogs trespassed at times with me. I wasn’t like all the other kids, needless to say.
It’s fun being the “Black Sheep.” I never wanted these times to stop and they never did. My life evolved into living this lifestyle everyday. 35- Universal working years later, I feel a need keep and hand down my history. I did not realize then I was living in the Golden Age. I thought things would never disappear. But disappear they did.
Thankfully, I took notes, no matter what time of night I came home. I gobbled up discarded “call sheets” and have taken more studio pictures than anyone alive. MGM blessed me with hundreds of Art Department pictures. I became a legend long before I worked at these studios. Everyone knew me, or about me-at MGM. I had an endless supply of blank ammo shells, what kid has that?
Not bad for a trespassing kid who even snagged the studio “Trespassers List” from a guard shack. I knew 50 percent- of the captured folks!
I thank all of you. You like to return to that marvelous era I specialize in capturing. This era is called- The Phantom of the Backlots. I always knew I was experiencing “special things.” A salute-from me to you…
Written and lived by…Donnie Norden
But wait-There’s More…Glamour Tramis back up and running. Come take a tour with me. This site on WordPress reads like a book. You must scroll to the beginning for “cast of characters & training exercises.” Otherwise, your just lost on the tram route, which is really fun anyways…
Real life Tram Tours with Donnie Norden, you too may be on my celebrity list of “miscasts.“
More adventure stories now on sale at Amazon. Follow The Phantom in his escapades back in time…
As always…Boots on the ground stories–Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden
The last picture ever taken of this set. A set surrounded by dirt roads. Every show that came on this busy backlot had to pass by here. I will take your inside this set in this post. Very small but packed with history. Often this was the first set we would hide in briefly. It was 20 yards or so from the La Ballona creek. The creek was like a set and was when Thomas Ince was alive. The Army Core of Engineers paved the pristine tree lined location to control flooding in storms. MGM Lot 3 was down stream. When backlots flood, workers use row boats.
Wally’s filling station had a different location originally but was removed to build a bridge for Hogan’s Heroes. This new Wally’s is a Frisbee toss from and his future Barracks and Camp Henderson.
Not the same building. This is the original. Replaced to build a permanent set -The Bridge for Hogan’s Heroes. An episode of The Untouchables filmed at this original station. Night scene-Tommy Guns blazing- fire and explosions. The next day – had to erase all signs of carnage and mayhem for the simpler life in Mayberry.These two series used the backlot for 3 years – same time. Chicago/ Mayberry, Atlanta, Gotham City or just Superman’s Metropolis are cities once represented here. This is the most famous of all backlot ranches.
This set replaced Wally’s original Gas and Service station.
For perspective–Original Wally’s location, pictured on left, was replaced by Hogan’s Heroes Bridge.Picture on right highlighted-was Wally’s second location. Not moved-torn down. Rebuilt net to Camp Henderson.I’ve been chased along side the creek bed the entire length of the studio …and a bit beyond.
The gas station attendants on the let. Sheriff Taylor fueling up on right. Center is pre Gomer Pyle’s -Camp Henderson. Gomer would mover over one set-twenty yards as the crow flies-to his new home away from home and a set he would make famous for years to come.
This area would become-Camp Henderson. If you examine earlier trio of pictures-you can see reverse angle where Gomer has nozzle in his hands. Danny Thomas had bigger plans for Gomer-“his own series
Sunday- at the filling Station– “No reason to be in a hurry”
“JUST FIX IT!
“Your mileage may vary” – This sign was on this dirt road pictured left. I’m standing where the pumps would be for my color photo. Behind the eucalyptus trees that still exist today is the La Ballona Creek. Through those trees is where …”We’d Appear” Many adventures of mine start peeking through trees. You’re not trespassing until you reach dirt. You can run forever along that creek. Once, while getting ready to film something on the nearby western street, a guy in a suit of all things sees us- Jimmy is with me.
He starts chasing us…We cut through a village thinking he would stop but he didn’t. We continue running and slide down the embankment along side the creek. Certainly now he would stop-not the case. We are running as fast as we can and so is he. We are covering 40 acres of real estate, the longest stretch possible.
“Will this ever stop-who is this guy” like a Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid moment. Running scared and out of breath -pure adrenaline now-Jimmy is ahead of me, the suit guy is getting closer. Finally as we get to a bridge at the very East end of Culver City- he terminates his pursuit. I have never had a guard chase me that far- he is dressed to nice to be a guard. We will never know who this guy was -but talk about a run for your life!We decided not to go back inside that afternoon a face this Super Hero again. We were only in there for 5 minutes– but the chase lasted 10!…Buzz Kill
No more Wally-a new CEO. Goober. While Gomer films right across a tiny dirt road. So close, it has to be blocked, almost always by an oversized vehicle–Shazam, my own series …
Not the same Soda Machine that greeted us- seems to be standing on a furniture dolly. Fire extinguisher was missing but would later- turn out to be needed! A car or truck can be seen here parked over a pit used to change oil. Sitting in those chairs, you would be looking at Camp Henderson, beyond the gas pumps.
Behind that military box trucks is Gomer’s old filling station job. He becomes a Marine. He becomes as big a star as any of the actors on The Andy Griffith show. The ratings on this show were always top 10. You didn’t want to be slotted up against this show. Star Trek was knocked off the air when slotted on different channel -same time. Ronnie Schell-Duke Slater had nothing but love for Jim Nabors. Jim moved on to Variety shows. Everything he touched was gold.
Speaking of Gold – a shipment passed through here in a “top secret’ transport. A fantastic backlot episode.
Boot camp is rough but it’s an honor to serve our flag and this country. I trespassed with real Marines. They all tripped out being on a set of the most famous ‘Marine’ in Hollywood. This series motivated young men into service. Fittingly, Mr. Nabors is an honorary Marine- Full Corporal. When it was on the air- Vietnam was a live war, you could be drafted- for perspective of time. I loved Sargent Carter, he was the perfect fit to offset Gomer’s silly personality.
Add Ronnie Schell and Ted Bessel. You have a series that is as popular today. It is viewed more than in the past. The show wasn’t canceled because of low ratings. A purge took place of great T.V all over Hollywood. My biggest thrill was spending an afternoon at Camp Henderson with Ronnie Schell. He played out what it was like to be on this series.
He also described life in general at Desilu. We sat in his car exactly on the spot of the barracks. I watched his eyes glaze over as he looked around at what is now an industrial park. To think of the things he saw 60 years ago, it reflected on his face and in his soul. Who would have thought a trespassing kid would become a carrier of the TV Land Torch.
Did you know-this dog can talk?- Just ask Opie Taylor.
Trouble Makers…
In 1966, Goober went on vacation and the station never did better…In 1965 -Color T.V episodes begin…
In 1967, Goober held a raffle to pick up business–Aunt Bee-is a winner- “Oh Boy” says an excited Opie
Pictures attach to the night of the gas station fire disaster– Area where fire started King of Kings set. Built in 1927. In this picture, Andy Griffith wasn’t on the air. There was no gas station yet. It would be added on the left side very close to this set. Eucalyptus trees separated the two sets. I had a great fort in that village. Used in Harum Scarum, yes Elvis Presley was in my fort, before me…
The village that burned this night-Elvis is running up stairway-picture on right is in picture below. Behind that stairway is Goober’s filling station.Imagine Elvis visiting Mayberry -it happened in real life.
“What a Great Place for a fort!” says Elvis
“Check the tires-filler up please”… Elvis’s Trailer was parked here at Goobers in 1967 while filming Harum Scarum.
Time to go inside the filling station on a warm summer day…
When I first set foot here- the set dressing still existed although the series was over.
We start by climbing up an embankment in the La Ballona Creek. We stop at the summit and peek through eucalyptus trees. We aren’t trespassing yet, cross the dirt road in front of us and anything goes. Where the rubber of our tennis shoes meets the dirt roads once used in Gone with the Wind.
Jimmy and I’s options start here – Camp Henderson provides cover as does this tempting filling station. Refrigerated Soda Pop sits inside a red ice chest. We have gas pumps and of course we pretended to pump gas to invisible cars. A cigarette machine offers fine packs of tobacco. After all, this is fictitiously Carolina. Still, it is located in Culver City. The eucalyptus trees along the road leading up to pumps still stand as they did then. Living Monuments to a wonderful past. They stood tall over every episode.
Open the filling station door and what do you see, dirt on the floor, no floor boards exist. 5 people barely can squeeze in here conga line style. I know families with bigger closets than this station. Motor Oil can be bought and a rack greets you through the front window. Jimmy and I check out these empty quarts of lubricant quickly learning everything is fake. There is no gas in pumps. There is no STP Oil in cans wrapped generically. There is no air for tires. There is no cold soda pop on this summer day. There are no Mayberry Lucky Strike Cigarettes in the tobacco machine of fake cartons to take home to dad. Early lesson learned -nothing is real here-entirely illusions. Everything here is like a magic act-just smoke a mirrors- abracadabra !
It’s musty inside, no interior walls, the wood outer walls are what frames the inside, except with out paint. Filming has to always take place from doorway going outward, inside, no counters or cash registers. The big glass front window is covered with dust, it has been awhile since the windows have been cleaned. The other window is on the front door.Each window, looking outward views the pumps and beyond to-Camp Henderson. Cobwebs cover the ceiling.
You expect at any moment George Lindsey or Jim Nabors to walk by. Or perhaps Opie Taylor will ride up on his bike. Or maybe a car in need of repair, like “The Man in a Hurry.” That is a great episode that uses the entire backlot and actually drives home a point. “Slow your roll” be in the moment to get the riches of the Universe. Jimmy and I are two young boys…Not in a Hurry
All this is not negative, just factual. Nothing fancy greets you. Powerful images from all the years of filming here start dominating our brains. They spool out memories. Jimmy and I soak in past, rapid firing different scenes and episodes. This is an easy way to go back in time
In between the garage and station lies a pit for the attendant to stand in. This pit is used so car’s oil can be changed. Opie once jumped over this in a scene -so of course, we do to. To a kid – it seems like the thing to do. We watch reruns of this show everyday. This gas station always is used, but never this pit, maybe it was dug for one episode, we ponder. At night, take note of this-or you may fall in. We have chase games around here, this is a slick place to lose your pursuer, in a dark hole.
Just a couple weeks ago in a chase game, I was running as fast as I can. It was a pitch dark Saturday night. I was running from an older boy. He had to tag me to capture me. I was running down the sidewalk at full speed in downtown Mayberry. I was running from the Mayberry Hotel towards the courthouse. I hear a thump and an instant groan.’ My friend Mario was just a couple feet from my tail. He got plastered by a metal protruding sign holder extending from where Emmit’s Fix It Shop stands. I was lucky to have missed being the victim here. I didn’t see it-it has no sign on it, just a metal rod.
Mario lays on the pavement groaning in pain with a very long 9 iron cut across his forehead. He has a concussion, he takes awhile to come to his senses. Just a reminder, there are a “million ways todie” at this old studio ranch. On some nights, you experience several. Boys will be boys!
This set, as did most of this lot-died a fiery death. These stories are in my books, book two, TheUninvited Visitor, will put a fire hose in your hand.
The past meets the current on this corner…
One night after almost every set was destroyed in one way, shape, or form. We were riding around when we saw flames. We just walked out of a liquor store that served basically this studio. The location is next door to a famous bar. The bar is used often in film. It is across the street from a Chevron Station that served this studio on Ince Blvd. Located next to an Ice Company and Laundry Matte that served this studio. Costumes used in epic films get cleaned here. The Paramount Laundry is etched in cement above the door. Ice is used for several reasons. It can be bought in truckloads here. It can be shaved and used as ground snow. It can be used with fans to cool things down on hot. Non air conditioned stages need fans. I have found ice picks in dressing rooms that were once used by stars.
The Culver Hotel overlooks the iconic plantation building. Thomas Ince built it. It was the center of this ancient studio. Lucy and Desi Arnaz would occupy this office space in the TV years. Times were different back then. The business outside the fences provided some service or just an escape from filming. Stars can be found here walking public streets.
Studio Spirits Road…Desi drank at this most legendary bar that has a tunnel to the Culver Hotel, used in prohibition times. I saw “That Girl ” in a phone booth in the Chevron Station on Ince Blvd. There was a line waiting outside the phone booth’s glass folding door. She talks emphatically with her hands trying to describe things. A stack of tires and real motor stands next to the repair garage, next to this booth. The next closest gas station is Goobers. Real stuff, not fake stuff, like at Wally‘s, can be purchased here.
The sky is burning…
We exit this liquor store with bags of candy. I have a Mars Bar and Fritos. As we mount up prepared for a sugar high, the sky above is turning a bright orange. We figure right away… Desilu is on fire…again.
We quickly race down Ince Blvd and see a huge fire. The main gate is locked, the fire department can be heard responding, but are not here yet. As the fire department arrives, as they cut the lock on the main gate, they are responding to an inferno. Before they can pump water a large two section collapses before our eyes. Sparks fly skyward, some disappear forever while others land in dangerous high risk areas. Many citizens have followed the firemen inside, this isn’t the first fire off Lucerne, the side street closest by. Some residents here were on the street when “Atlanta” burned in 1938. I found this out much later in- Gone with the Wind.
The lot is scheduled for demolition, this is the last action ever on the backlot. A fire engine stations itself at Goober’s at the filling station and begins pumping water on the flames. The King of Kings Set, built in 1927 by Cecil B. DeMille, is next to collapse, as if being directed by the “Man Himself.”
The fire spreads to the gas station. It has water being pumped on it and never delivered even a gallon of gas. That too collapses. Fire Department is in contain mode, so burning embers do not light the Baldwin Hills that overlook this studio. Stray tiny fires from embers are quickly extinguished by Flashing Red Light landscape.
The filling station falls backwards and downwards spewing even more sparks as it disappears forever. No one here feels the connection I have with this simply constructed facade. This is as much a friend as it is a building. It’s like if my bedroom burned down. As spectacular as this is, the ramifications are-it will never be again !
The Day After…
Basically, the landscape is several different fires, earlier fires already destroyed the neighboring Western Street. Saloon has been gone for months. I lost my Harum Scarum Fort in this last fire. I have one fort left here in an isolated location. That’s why it still stands. A pond surrounds the front and rolling green vegetation keep risk down. That fort is also known as the Mayberry R.F.D House stands.
Mayberry R.F.D House– left -set standing “safely” at Desilu. My fort “where Elvis entered” is up that stairway-pictured right. Behind this set is Goober’s Filling Station. This building collapsed igniting America’s Favorite Filling Station.
Mayberry itself is a skeleton. The Church Fire destroyed that area months ago. It’s Ghostly here. Spirits are still here just because the sets are gone or in desperate need of …love!
This fire is almost fitting for a backlot best known for fires. This finally “if you will” is a Gone with the Wind moment. Fire made this backlot famous with the Burning of Atlanta in 1938, in 1976 fire concludes its part of history. All that remains is now ash.
Farewell my backlot, a blaze of glory has taken you to a better place. Until we meet again. I will watch all the reruns. It’s like I’m still that “Uninvited Visitor” who grew up in this place.
For this story and many more -Read my books available on Amazon.
A footnote -this was the last ever backlot fire in Culver City…In August, 1976, No sets remained. A dirt 40 acre lot blows away in clouds of dust as do tumbleweeds headed somewhere else. A final sound of …Silence
Phantom of the Backlots 