Tag: comics

What’s New Pussycat ?-Desilu

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A collage of black and white and color images featuring women in various poses and outfits, showcasing vintage styles and themes, including swimwear, casual attire, and playful cat-inspired looks.

Catwoman-The original recipe…

Scene featuring a tiger and a person in a dark costume with the caption 'BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME' in bold yellow text.

Cat, scratch fever time…

A tiger walking out of a dimly lit doorway, showcasing its distinctive fur and piercing eyes.
A scene showing Batman facing a tiger in a dramatic confrontation.

A stealthy, sleek feline wants to have it’s way with this Caped Crusader

A room featuring a woman in a black outfit and two men dressed in tiger-striped suits, sitting on a rug while watching a television displaying a tiger. Decorative animal sculptures and a vintage style table are also visible.

A Caged Bat fighting a Big Cat –on T.V no-less. A chemistry exists between this gorgeous, graceful feline and this debonair crime fighter in the battle of- TIGHT FITTING COSTUMES.

Batman and Robin stand in a dimly lit room, with Batman in a gray suit and Robin in a red and green costume. A villain in stripes can be seen peeking out from a small opening in the background.
A close-up shot of two pairs of shoes, one green suede boot with a unique design and one black leather boot, alongside a pair of bare legs. The background features a dimly lit stage.
A figure in a dark cape approaches a transparent containment chamber holding a suspended character in an orange outfit, set against a stark industrial background.
Batman stands heroically with his arms outstretched in a dramatic pose, while Robin kneels on the ground in front of him, suggesting a tense scene.

Catwoman is no- push over-she plays very hard to get!-Don’t let her purring fool you!

A woman in a black catsuit and mask, striking a dynamic pose on the hood of a vintage convertible car, set against a natural landscape.

She can lick you – to DEATH. Not a bad way to go I suppose…

Behind-the-scenes image of a woman dressed as a cat-themed character being styled by two assistants, surrounded by greenery.

The Line is -“Come and Get Me Batman.” Lorenzo Semple Jr. would go on to write – King Kong 2–1976. Wardrobe and make up time on this backroad with a quick script read…

A woman dressed in a shiny black catsuit with a cat mask, styled hair, and a gold belt, posing with a playful gesture in a grassy outdoor setting.
“Come and Get Me- BATMAN“
A faded photograph of a dirt pathway bordered by tall grass and shrubs, with scattered trees in the background.

Same muddy road

A woman dressed in a black catsuit and mask kneels on the hood of a classic car, posing dramatically with one hand raised. The background features grass and shrubbery, suggesting an outdoor setting.
A woman in a black catsuit poses dramatically on the hood of a classic convertible car, pointing a weapon at a passing blue vehicle on a rural road with lush greenery in the background.

A Feline Car fit for the most seductive villain ever created-A Jaguar Commercial if I ever saw one.

A vintage photograph featuring tall pampas grass swaying in a soft, blurred background of greenery and trees under a pale sky.
A woman in a black catsuit and mask is sitting on the hood of a car, with her hair flowing and the sky blue in the background.
A woman in a black leather outfit stands on a dirt road, facing away from a vintage blue delivery van parked nearby, with tall grass in the background.
A man dressed in a tiger-striped outfit stands next to a blue van against a backdrop of lush greenery and blue sky.

A Feral cat has just arrived…

Close-up of a striped cat with its mouth wide open, showcasing sharp teeth and an expressive face.
Woman wearing a black cat mask and costume, with flowing hair, expressing a fierce appearance against a blue background.

Hissing and hawing is a backlot warning…

Batman in a classic gray and black costume sitting on the hood of a retro Batmobile, surrounded by greenery.

“I’ve picked up your cat nip scent-CATWOMAM…Wanna race cars?”

A woman with wavy blonde hair and a red ribbon, wearing bold red lipstick and a black outfit, posing for the camera.
Like a fine wine, every feline quality still presents itself gracefully as if – time skipped over her. “HANDS OFF BATMAN!”
A serene landscape view featuring lush greenery, trees, and soft sunlight filtering through the foliage.

Cats really live in this stranger than life Animal Kingdom.

A light blue van parked in a narrow alleyway, partially obstructed by walls on either side. A sign reading 'GATO & CHAT FUR CO. WHOLESALE & RETAIL' is visible in the background. The ground shows tire tracks leading into the alley.
A street scene featuring a sleek, black car with bright red accents parked in an alleyway. A sign on the wall reads 'GATO & CHAT FUR CO. WHOLESALE & RETAIL'.
A sleek blue and black futuristic car parked in a narrow alleyway, with a sign reading 'Gato & Chat Fur Wholesale & Retail' visible in the background.
A yellow-coated figure and a dark-clad figure walk towards a warehouse marked 'GATO & CHAT FUR Co' on a brick wall. An iconic black vehicle is parked in the foreground.

“HOLY ALLEY CAT -BATMAN–A FUR BALL FACTORY!”

A woman in a black cat costume and mask stands confidently beside a man dressed in a striped tiger outfit, both surrounded by greenery.
A woman in a black cat costume with a mask and necklace stands confidently, while a man in a tiger-striped outfit looks at her intently, both surrounded by greenery.

“We’ll mine the other backroad, that will – fix him.”

An explosion occurs on a dirt road surrounded by greenery, while a car speeds by.
A classic black car with red accents, resembling a Batmobile, driving down a dirt road surrounded by lush greenery and smoke coming from the vehicle.
An explosion occurring on a dirt road, with bright flames and smoke rising, while a car is visible in the background.
A dirt road surrounded by trees, with a car on fire in the distance.
A classic black and red batmobile driving down a dirt path, emitting smoke in a wooded area.

Two dirt roads surround Gotham City- this one runs alongside the creek- these 6 photos put you there.

A sunlit dirt path surrounded by greenery and tall grasses, leading through a serene landscape.
A classic car driving down a narrow, tree-lined dirt road, surrounded by lush greenery.
A masked female figure in a black outfit sneaks through a cave-like environment, with rocky formations in the background, while a person in a yellow dress and green shoes stands in the foreground.
A woman dressed as a superhero with a black mask and a blue cape, set against a rocky background.
A woman dressed as a cat burglar wearing a black costume and mask, holding a large blue sack, with a dramatic backdrop of a desert landscape.
A scene depicting three characters in a cave setting, two of them wearing brightly colored capes and one dressed in dark attire, with the cave's stalactites and formations visible in the background.
A woman dressed as a cat-themed superhero with a black mask and shiny outfit, looking dramatically to the side against a dark, illuminated background.
Batman and Robin discussing in a cave setting, with Batman wearing a blue costume and Robin in a red and green outfit.

“Don’t jump CATWOMAN-Your cat claw nails can’t dig in to this granite. One final “Cats Meow.”

A classic depiction of Batman and Robin in costume, engaging in conversation. Batman is wearing his iconic blue suit and mask, while Robin is in his red and green outfit. A black cat is visible in the background.

Batman-this cat just came out of no-where…can we keep it

A man holding a black cat smiles while standing next to a woman with curly hair, who looks pleased; both are in a warmly decorated interior.

“See-Cats really do have 9 Lives”

A vintage black and white scene featuring iconic characters including Batman, Robin, Catwoman, and the Penguin in a playful standoff.
Stay Tuned-Same Bat Time, Same Bat Station

Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden

The Green Hornet Greets Batman

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A scene featuring a superhero duo performing a daring rescue on a building ledge, with a mysterious figure observing from a window.
Two masked characters peering out from a window, one wearing a black hat and the other a green hat, with a cityscape visible in the background.
Movie poster for 'The Way of the Dragon' featuring Bruce Lee, showcasing intense martial arts action and dramatic imagery.

August 14,1972 This filmed grossed 130 Million Dollars

Two shirtless men posing in a stylized setting, one in white martial arts pants and the other in black, with a historic background.

Mr. Chuck Norris gets a knee to the groin. Don’t shake hands with Kato…

A vintage movie poster featuring Bruce Lee, displaying the film titles in Italian and Chinese, with a background of a bare-chested Bruce Lee front and center.
A black and white image of a muscular man with short hair, posed in a martial arts stance, showcasing his defined physique.
A handwritten letter titled 'My Definite Chief Aim', featuring blue ink on off-white paper, expressing aspirations of becoming a highly paid actor and achieving world fame.
The Infamous Bruce Lee Manifesto…
A white, two-story residential building with a distinctive architectural style, featuring arched windows, a central entrance, and a tiled roof. The front yard includes greenery and a pathway leading to the entrance.
Upstairs in the 2nd story unit- lived Bruce Lee while playing Kato in the Green Hornet Series. Desilu, now Amazon Studios, is located behind the backyard of this home. I was riding by one afternoon not long ago, when I saw a couple moving in that unit upstairs. I had to stop and ask-“Do you know the history of this place ?” They said “No.” “Bruce Lee lived here in the mid 1960’s” I could barely contain myself as I stood inside in what was his living room. They sat stunned,- imagine your in a sacred zone, imagine worse- that you may have never known that without this Mysterious Minstrel who just happened to be passing by…
A black and white photo of a man holding two smiling children, standing outside a house with a staircase and a large bush in the background.
A narrow alleyway featuring two buildings with a staircase leading to an upper unit, flanked by hedges and a blue trash bin on the right side.

Back unit of this triplex-picture match-Bruce lived in the front building.

A man lying on a mat on the grass gazes up at another man, who is standing and preparing to drop a basketball towards him, in a black and white outdoor setting.

“Study Hard ” was how he greeted kids on their way to school on Van Buren Street in Culver City, where he lived while filming this T.V Series.

A black and white image of a muscular man standing in a garden, holding a stick with both hands. He is shirtless and wearing light-colored pants.
A black and white photo of a man in athletic wear demonstrating a martial arts move towards a woman, who is standing with a surprised expression. The background features a grassy area and wooden fence.
A scene depicting a martial arts duel, with one fighter in a yellow outfit performing a high kick above another fighter who is shirtless and positioned defensively.
“O.K- I’m warmed up- Bring it On ! “ says Lew Alcindor…. Like a Cobra strike, what style and grace.

Push play for Classic T.V – Remember this episode when the masks all met on a Bat Rope ?

When Crime Fighters Unite

The Green Hornet filmed in 1966-67, Produced by William Dozier, who also produced Batman. Van Williams starred as publisher Britt Reid and Bruce Lee as martial arts expert – Kato. A 26 episode ABC Series. This series was canceled after only 1 year. Batman was the craze in the mid -1960’s, this show suffered low ratings and was thought to be to serious compared to the wild, free flowing Batman series.

Batman had star power, big guest stars and many beautiful women. You wanted to be in the Batman craze, and the list of villains was brilliant. Every episode was fresh and colorful. The Green Hornet was dark, like those Batman features made when this series franchised into something bigger than life.

Batman screamed 1960’s- A cultural phenomenon. The reruns take you back to a time when making a hit series was flat out…Too Much Fun. The chemistry between Catwoman-Julie Newmar and Bruce Wayne’s character was very appealing. Call it – Dynamic, “Robin you can go home now, you have homework to do” says the mature crusader.

Born Julia Chalene Newmeyer, she was my favorite villain, a trained dancer of ballet and Spanish dance, you had to wonder if their was romance between these two…

A close-up of a woman dressed as Catwoman and a man dressed as Batman, lying against a building edge, with a view of a busy road below.
A woman dressed as a cat burglar wearing a black mask and shiny outfit, posing with a bag labeled '000' in front of a building.

Save Me -Batman!

Batman Canceled

Ratings started to decline and production cost went upwards. The skits became stale by the 3rd season and Yvonne Craig, BatGirl, was brought in to boost ratings. A very expensive show to produce with cutting edge color technology and high -profile guest villains who commanded large salaries.

Season 4 …Almost

NBC was interested in picking up this series ABC no longer wanted , but before the deal was finalized, in true Hollywood form, the expensive sets – including the BatCave-interior were demolished to clear space on the studio lot at 20th Century Fox. NBC backed out rather than pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to rebuild all of what was needed. This show became wildly successful once again in syndication, and future generations to this day often visit the BatCave exterior for nostalgic reference.

A black and white photograph of a sleek car positioned near a rocky cave entrance, suggesting a remote outdoor location.
Inside a cave looking out towards a bright opening at the end of a rocky tunnel. The ground is uneven and covered with dirt and small stones.

Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden

Dick Tracy and some Guest Detectives at Universal

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This is 2024, Universal Studios Nissan commercial.But this lighting took me back to a feature we did here titled –Dick Tracy, back in 1990. Starring Warren Beatty and Madonna. Warm up with these first 5 car shots for what follows…

.Cut Here…Bring in Dick Tracy

The climatic shoot out, probably the best I have ever seen on this lot. A close second is City Heat starring Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds

He’s so vain, he probably thinks this song is about him!- So says Carly Simon.

1984 Brownstone Street Universal. A fun, drawn out, exchange of humor mixed with gun fire. This is the same corner Clint says ‘Do you feel Lucky Punk”

Dirty Harry 1971

Telly Savalas, Peter Falk

We are well stocked on this lot with investigators..

We begin on Universal’s original New York Street:

Uniformed officers patrolled around here back in the 70s in Dodge Darts while filming Adam-12. We had our own Fire Company and still do- Engine Company 51. The most famous fire fighters ever to step in front of a camera. We had more detectives than criminals. The one common denominator is the paved streets all this takes place on.

During the time of all these pictures I’ve displayed, they took place on our original New York City streets.Sadly it would burn down, as would its replacement 10 years later. Each rebuild took almost a year to accomplish. The job was titled The Phoenix Project. Up from the ashes we carried on.

The show must go on and this street is our big moneymaker. The best films done here were made on New York One -the original street.

I lived these fires, I have fire pictures from our Fire Department and the challenges they faced, prioritizing the film vaults that were irreplaceable. With everything bad something good surfaces often. Seeing an entire city get rebuilt in the footstep of the original was a historic site to see, the thrill of victory would once again be achieved. Fresh wood dominated the landscape and air we breathed.

To literally see massive 5 story street structures return from the ashes was similar say to a dead plant surprising you with re-life sprout again. I always wondered what it must have been like to have built this street and never figured I’d live to see- not one, but two of these Metropolis’s rebuilt.

Much of Dick Tracy is night scenes to take advantage of lighting effects. Not only were the buildings repainted in brighter hues, but colored gels were put in front of 12 K lights to illuminate these otherwise non descriptive generic streets. Watering down streets also help the color flow be reflective.

I worked days during this film and much of this show was nights. As I arrived at work, I could see the damage filmed the night before. The smells of gunpowder and rubber cement were everywhere the morning after. I could only imagine the mayhem that took place hours before… I couldn’t always be assigned to the shows I’d prefer.

A long standing production electrician and best pal-Greg Bishop, my mentor who has literally seen everything on this backlot told me the shootout he witnessed as the finally was… the most insane thing he ever witnessed on our lot. We walked the bullet ridden sets and damaged cars together while as I tried to imagine what he was saying as we explored the wreckage. Bullet holes and crashed cars litter the streets. The smell of kerosene attaches to everything.

One funny side bar, unless you’re Madonna, is the fact a Glamour Tram clipped her vintage Mercedes Benz. The car was parked outside a soundstage and the 4th car of the tram smacked her car good. That didn’t go over well. Universal flipped the bill for that expensive repair…

The steamy relationship between Warren Beatty and our singing star was in full City Heat during this project. Cherished memories would continue for me on a daily basis for decades to come, as I continue my childhood adventures as a full grown adult that now gets paid for having fun.

That’s how life is suppose to be lived everybody…

Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden