film – Phantom of the Backlots

Laramie Saloon Night

October 3, 2025 Phantom of the Backlot1 Comment

Saloon prepped for Maverick…

Nothing like a set full of horses.

This was the first T.B.S picture on the roll of 36 pics. I had just got this camera, a Minolta, for Christmas. This happens to be Christmas Day 1975. The shutter snapped, then the roof snapped louder. My shiny- fancy camera got a big dent but we both survived. When I caught up to my friends, we went driving around in costume. The Wantons had wardrobe inside it, hats and coats for all of us. The car was a stick, I wasn’t old enough to drive and I nearly crashed into the Walton House. All this- while you folks were watching ‘A Walton Christmas’ episode on television.

Same angle from a Chapman Crane vehicle. Roof is unsafe, take it from me!

This street is long gone, built in 1957. You can’t have a backlot without a saloon…

Where the heck the heck did I leave my horse?

I’ll have what he’s having bartender…

I almost died when the roof of this bank fell through. Half my body was dangling in the upstairs windows. My upper torso was precariously balanced on the roof. This was possible thanks to my camera strap. Quite a sight indeed. The story just begins up there that wonderful Merry Christmas Day in 1975

I see the Walton’s are in town…

Those Walton’s know a good watering hole when they see one. Grandpa “fires up” in his truck before pushing open those swinging doors… That’s the rumor round these parts anyhow!

Last Chance Saloon…Show Downs daily!

Bonanza has filmed in Paramount’s Saloon, The Desilu Saloon, and Warner Brothers. The family that drinks together has the best chance for a long and successful T.V series.

Bring on-The Dancing Girls

We take all currencies-Gold, Copper, Silver and Paper

This behavior always gets the best of ya!

When Maverick says “I’ll Return !” He keeps his word. Decades apart!

Area 14, 13 and 12 featured in tonight’s episode of craziness. Map from 1967, pre- Walton House. Notice the circle around the jungle, dirt roads take you to and from sets in this part of the backlot. We always enter the lot off California Street, that’s where we park. First set always was the Walton house, shed, and treehouse. If you can climb the chain link barb wire fence covered with ivy.

We miss the the old west;

I’m 22 years old now a days, considered by law enforcement to be a grown up. But, we also look old enough to blend in…unlike when I was 12. There are pros and cons in everything, I suppose. All the Culver City Studio backlots were long gone. MGM’s Backlot 3 was a saloon haven. Desilu/ 40 Acres had one-a very good one. One of the first places I ever got drunk was at Desilu.

Jimmy, Danny, Pat, Tim and myself had a hankering to go back in time, back to the old west. Tim, who was a background actor on Happy Days at this time, came up with an idea. Tim is the only one who still is at studios all the time. His brother Sean doubled for a lead actor on Blade Runner.

That feature was a ninety day shoot-all nights. Ridley Scott directed this film that used The Burbank Studios New York Street exclusively. I was in-between studios. MGM Film Labs just shut down. My next job was next to the The Culver Studios at a film distribution warehouse. I was in between my trespassing life and attempting to build a career.

So far, trespassing is still really my true career at this time. I spent about 30 nights sneaking on Blade Runner. I saw everything you can imagine. Acid rain, Asian street walkers with large anaconda snakes wrapped around them. Ostriches, hookers and spinners compete on water covered sidewalks with outdoor live food stands.

Cranes on set merge with liquid nitrogen. Special effects inject it to create the lift-off of the Spinners into the night sky. Androids being hunted by humans-what can go wrong. Like craziest drug trip ever, with out drugs. This film just “wrapped out” recently at this time.

Each one of my pals tonight visited the Blade Runner set with me on one night or the other. We all have our own memories, especially the mid night catering as the clock strikes 12.

From dusk till dawn, dinner was served at mid night promptly. I would hand craft a well laid out tray of gourmet food. Then, I would disappear into the darkest parts of this backlot. Often, the Walton front porch was the eating spot, quiet- dark, and surrounded by jungle. The closest humans are on a very lit up New York Street. The lighting shines so bright that it can be seen from outer space. Yet, the canopy in this jungle area blocks all the hectic commotion from a couple of villages away.

These valley studios quickly replaced the backlots I lost in Culver City. Even better, the guards don’t know me here. I always had call sheets in my pocket. proof that- I belong!

I crave this movie stuff-just like a plate of Prime Rib and Lobster!

I digress, but I became very familiar with all things Warner Brothers. At this point this studio was The Burbank Studios. Around 1986, it rededicated itself as Warner Brothers. I was then driving trams and Warner Brothers rented our trams and drivers for the 12th biggest party in history. Sandwiched between Woodstock and the J.F.K birthday bash.

A Tram in search of a saloon.

I‘m the one with the gimpy leg…

History waits for No -One!

This backlot was all things Waltons in the 70’s. Every storefront had set decor, costumes could be found in picture cars. But shows get canceled and channels change.

Other shows would take over the backlots. Maverick returned. James Garner and I crossed paths in a scene. It was in front of this very saloon we are visiting tonight. The Fall Guy made a guest appearance here, that day I met Roy Rogers. If only they knew I was a trespasser…

My older version of “The Hole in the Wall Gang” reunites tonight in a saloon. The meeting takes place in a dark, deserted ghost town.

I frame this story I’m about to share with past history and future history not yet lived. With all this lead in, lets go have some drinks…shall we?

The Climb

We begin this night by climbing in behind the ‘recently canceled’ Waltons house. “No more of those kids” we all laugh as we climb a barb wire fence behind the chicken coupe shed. “Those Waltons are all grown up now, but not us!” we snicker.

We are not even stoned yet, but it’s never to soon to get into character. Tim breaks out a bag of Magic Mushrooms. We chow down large caps and the stems they’re attached to. Next to our make shift counter are empty chicken cages. Crude farm tools also persist from the series. This includes a big saw blade. An outdoor smell of hay remains from the series.

None of us know what that family even did for a living. Oh well, another fine set becomes ours.

Double vision is kicking in-Two different backlots

We had a fort in the red version of this set in Desilu. We had so many parties in the Mayberry R.F.D home. Inside little exists, just a stairway upstairs. The red one was torn down, this clone set sits empty at T.B.S. Both these sets are exact, inside and out.

We all feel a “buzz” coming on a half hour into tonight’s odyssey. We started off as quiet as could be, talking very low. There are no guards or any other signs of life, which allows us to become lackadaisical. The mushrooms are adding flavor and colors to this pitch dark setting.

We are, Out in the Woods

Every bush, tree and vine acknowledge us as we pass alongside and underneath. Crickets sing, a bull frog croaks as we pass a tiny lake. Flamingo Road filmed here and Howard Duff had an accident, falling off a hydrofoil. He was pulling up to shore, that’s all the scene required. The big spinning fan blade was moving too fast. It caused Howard to dump below the surface. I had just arrived on set. I had just climbed in the jungle area like Tarzan.

As the corrupt Sheriff Titus Semple struggled greenish colored water, everyone on this set was “busting up.”

I just climbed in, this was the first set I came upon. I worked my way behind Morgan Fairchild, who was watching from the lake edge, just out of frame. I follow her lead and stand beside her as this scene unfolds. Unexpectedly, this craft flips. Morgan begins laughing so hard-she hugs me, laughing furiously.

As if I was Mark Harmon. I’m a trespasser, on the lot for 10 minutes. That’s enough time to be embraced by the star. Every time I come to this studio, I meet big stars. This backlot always has something going on, from Kung Fu to The Dukes of Hazzard. Even Maverick is back, now in living color.

My mind is a kaleidoscope of a collection of images, each with there own story…

I don’t need movie stars to have fun here. That said, it was pretty funny to see Howard Duff the white suit get dumped into the drink. That scene got cut out, no matter how funny that moment was, not what they were hoping for. You couldn’t do a retake, he was all wet and different looking as he walked out of the jungle lagoon.

A vacant backlot is pretty darn fun. That’s what we have ahead of us tonight. We walk down this winding jungle road. It delivers us to the old west.

Illusions fill our confused minds, images come out of the dark and tantalize us..

The Queen of Hearts is taking a walk

. You haven;t seen security tonight have ya? …You never know who you may run into on psilocybin.

For those who have never indulged, the high resembles images from a rock video. I worked on this video with Aerosmith. Title –Sunshine.

As we pass slowly through this mysterious jungle, we see the silhouettes of buildings on Laramie Street. We each brought a quart of beer. Colt 45, Miller Malt Liquor and a couple of Foster Lagers. Beer from the Outback being drank on the backlot. We got something for everybody tonight-On Location at-The Burbank Studios

Silence is broken

The sound of a motor scooter can be heard and appears to be following our tracks. We take cover like raccoons in the old Ike Godsey country store on the edge of town. We lay low as the scooter with a security guard operating appears to be investigating something. He must be hearing things, things being My Hole in the Wall Gang.

We carry our large round beer bottles protectively, like a football. Slowly, we are moving the chains.

The saloon is the end zone, we are close to scoring. As the ‘put put’ scooter disappears, we reappear and transition from a jungle to…the old west. Mission accomplished. We now occupy the bottom floor bar area of the Laramie Street Saloon.

Twist off the tops and have a toast!

Cling, cling, is the next sound you hear as we toast at the bar. It is so dark that color magically takes form. The next thing you know, a strong pot odor fills the air inside our saloon. We are feeling as good as can be and like in any saloon, the talking gets louder and louder. Sports talk fills the the sound void.The first backlot sports bar is now talking Dodgers.

It is so dark inside here. You have to reach out and touch things that dimly appear. This is just to see what is real and what isn’t. All the while, we keep getting louder.

One by one we head upstairs to the saloon roof. We share stories as we pass the the joint around. We duck down on each hit so the “cherry” can’t be seen from the street below. I laugh, “If The Doobie Brothers could see us now!”

Louder and louder we get as we try to out do each other story wise...Until

That silly little scooter has returned with a jeep accomplice. We now have two motorized sheriff posse circling below us with their lights of. We lay flat on the roof as they park there motorized horses and enter the swinging doors.

As if they are looking for a “Showdown.”

We got them out numbered, They probably got a good whiff of “spirits”as they entered.

We hear no talking, just footsteps. 2 guards, 5 trespassers. We are too high to go to jail. If they come through the roof doorway, we will jump. First to the balcony, another jump to where the dirt road they parked on.

We could take off with their “horses” while they search for sounds of ghosts.

We wait for our Que, we will react when need be. Everything is quiet, an eerily silence because… we know they are waiting below us. Pure silence as our minds race to a conclusion of what to do next. We have one way out of this studio. We need to retreat to the chicken coupe next to the Walton former residence. After a half hour library time. they finally move on after never coming up to the roof.

We exit and backtrack through the jungle, retracing our steps, but this time we run. It’s not fun to climb a barb wire fence while being chased, nor extremely stoned. We are happy to leave without a visit to the watch commander. The funnest part of this trip was outsmarting the motorized security hunters. A typical cowboy adventure, all that’s left on the roof is a bunch of empty beer jugs.

Take that sheriff

Yee haw everybody!

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden

Hollywood Forever

June 13, 2025June 16, 2025 Phantom of the Backlot5 Comments

**Paramount Studios** …*early 70’s*–*It’s built like a penal institution with Insurmountable walls.*

*Maybe we can get into the studio through here…this backlot cemetery*?

I turned 65 on this Friday the 13th, and I’ve still “got it!”

***My office at Home-*** *Tea with Marion is how my morning begins* *and I’m headed out today to see her grave, in respect and appreciation for this gift of extremely tangible **Hollywood History.** My day always begins with Hollywood Spirits…*

This stool is where Marion sat with a make-up artist in a tiny room that fits two. You’re surrounded by mirrors inside. It’s amazing how good of condition this chair is. It could be fastened to the floor when this trailer was originally moved by horses.

This trailer was made when Marion was working at Paramount Studios. This room bore witness to sound revolutionizing how films are made. Silent to talkies, films were silent when this unit was built. Underneath some white paint is a distinctive color green. Paramount and RKO were that green color, it’s on their equipment. The degree of craftsmanship is astonishing. The mirrors are built into the wall, not hung. Shingles would be added at some point to preserve the original wood integrity. Randolph Hearst did not have film facilities, but he had a star he controlled and endless stories from Cosmopolitan Pictures, which he owned. A disconnect happened between Paramount and Hearst, and this portable trailer went on a long company move cross town to Culver City. That’s when the story I’ve discovered becomes overwhelmingly compelling….

*Bottles of various Ambrosias. Wine bottles imported from Italy still remain. “Hey, wait, is that the Phantom, who’s drinking that bottle? “*

*This is the room’s entertainment system. Installed in 1925 …*

*I brought the music and the wine.*..what guests should we expect?

*Everything ages, time waits for No-On*e. It just folds up to be revisited… ***you just gotta believe***. This room never died. I applied power to the lighted mirrors and they illuminated like they did in the early ***1920’s.***

“*Horses are hitched, we’re ready to roll”* One of two rubber wheels, not counting the “*steel wheel”* above the hitch.

*Randolph Hearst strolling around a Koi pond San Simeon. Culver City also had a similar pond in- between Marion’s dressing room and the Ince Backlot.*

*This statue from antiquity* *sat above a Koi Pond outside Marion’s make up room door.* *It came along in the relocation. This is her art; I’m just keeping it for her.*

The iconic Paramount Water Tower…distant.

“*Pull over, who’s driving this car?*“…Before being ordained as The Wizard of MGM, *Arnold Gillespie* worked with ***Cecil B. DeMille*** on the ***Paramount Studio Lot.*** This stunt gag by A.G. preceded his long heralded career at **MGM.**

*They don’t make movies like this anymore-you know* –*the feel good ones-1922.* An Exodus was taking place at this time…both **Marion Davies** and her overseer, **Randolph Hearst,** and **Arnold Gillespie** would move on to **Culver City.** Ironically, these parties would reunite at **Metro Goldwyn Mayer.** A top actress, a top art/effects technician and the richest man in the world all packed up and set foot at the brand new facilities built by ***Thomas Ince.***

*Cecil B. DeMille (hand on hip) directing one of his early motion pictures. ca. 1920.*

***Don Adams-****A Gentlemen first, television star second…*now resides very close to ***Marion Davies.*** ***Get-Smart*** filmed at this ***Paramount Studio.***

I gave this man and his family a Tour of Universal and a humorous discussion took place involving “Shoe Phones.” Dial me up on my at –The Glamour Tram ...WordPress site.Ride with us on WordPress…The Glamour Tram. Stories aboard trams lived by yours truly. Take a tour around Universal with Agent 86. This is a priceless tour, follow me for more on T.G.T.

*“I Love Stuntmen*” **Burt Reynolds** checked in to **Hollywood Forever Cemetery** because “we needed an actor capable of doing his own stunts!”

“I know I can jump this pond-Get me my Trans Am”…”**I’m bored”**

I’m reading Burt a story featured in my latest book, just released. We spend the day at The Columbia Ranch and I meet and gab with Hooper. He loved it then,he loves it now. Going on fifty years at this graveside visit.

“*Stay out of trouble Charlie, for mom’s sake!”* This was Marion Davies mother figure. **Hannah Chaplin, Mother of Charlie.** Two top box office stars but more importantly-**Soulmates**. His soul sadly, was not allowed back into the U.S.A. He rests in peace in Switzerland at the Corsier-sur-Vevey Cemetery. Grave robbers dug him up and held him for ransom. This was Marion Davies’ best Male-Friend. Not Randolph Hearst. That leads to speculation…was Thomas Ince accidentally killed on board the Oneida. Was Charlie the real target do to shenanigans between the two? Hearst covered it up in his news papers, **nothing to see here!**

Persons of interest…Thomas Ince, deceased on voyage. Charlie Chaplin-potential target of jealousy. Marion Davies and Randolph Hearst.

“Charlie…was it really indigestion that killed Mr Ince?” A report of blood was mentioned in the La Jolla medical facility that Mr. Ince was dropped off at after the fateful cruise. “Was that supposed to be you Charlie…Was Ince at the wrong place at the wrong time?

“My Make-Up Trailer would know”-these mirrors were privileged to experience what really happened aboard ship. History documents itself forever in mirrors. Belief is portals are created when mirror reflect other mirrors, as they do in Marion’s room from antiquity.

So let me get this correct Charlie, it was you-not Thomas Ince-that Randolph Hearst was perturbed with? Wasn’t the merger of Ince/ Cosmopolitan the entire point of the cruise? Rumors persist you and Marion had a thing going on…

*Marion being serenaded by Charlie Chaplin*

This was Marion’s very best friend. The highest grossing box office duo for eternity. The attraction between these two is part of the mystique of that famous 3-day cruise that changed motion picture history. What I have discovered in Culver City fuels this conception that things were going on behind the scenes involving Thomas Ince and Randolph Hearst. Cosmopolitan Productions and Thomas Ince Productions **had** an announcement to make on the return voyage…

GWTW used Marion Davies’ trailer. Scarlett refers to the compound I discovered on Lucerne Avenue in Culver City as “Tara Next Door.” Quote “If you need me I’ll be at Tara Next Door!” Make up done for Vivien Leigh was done right behind The Tara Plantation. At the time GWTW was being filmed, Marion Davies, Clara Bow, The Little Rascals, and Fay Wray all connect to this tiny little Trailer. The first ever mobile star studded Make Up Trailer in Hollywood.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road-Judy Garland is also laid to rest here.

*Marion’s neighbor, The Tower of Power.*“*Only the good die young”* *said Tyrone.*

*More neighbors*…**Mickey Rooney** 1938-“**Boystown”**-same year as fan letter. ***My kind of kid!***

*“So Mickey, I had the coolest fort upstairs in the Andy Hardy house at MGM. And another fort in building we called Boystown. Your sets became my forts.* ***We think of you all the time-I brought some mail…from 1938***.”

***Mickey Rooney fan mail from 1938.*** *I found this in a desk on the backlot in MGM*.

*Cecilia is best know as Marian Hardy*, *the sister of Andy Hardy.* *Alabama Power Company top corner-crossed out.*

*Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. She passed on in July of 1993 in Ventura California. In 1938, the time of this letter, she married actor Dick Baldwin.*

*Reflections of simpler times. Marion’s make up trailer had a koi pond right outside also.*

Home for Eternity yet, I feel she’s in **my house.** **Marion Davies’** *crypt.*

*Family name **Dovras-**Marion Davies is incognito for eternity.*

*Knock, Knock, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door…*

*Marion at the entrance of Hearst Castle*

*Cool stuff like this ornate decoration- both trailer and tomb…*

*The make-up trailer and the crypt she is buried in both have just one door to enter*, *like the Twilight Zone*

*My dog Thora visiting with Marion*–*she talks through this mirror*, *in the* –**Twilight Zone.**

*Marion’s room lit right up like no time passed by at all. The bulbs were all unscrewed but original and in a box inside her room. Different colors and frosts helped provide the tint most favorable*. *Blue and red bulbs were options.*

**Randolph Hearst** is Mr. Statue, besides other things. She took a ‘fancy’ to his same art tastes. They had that in common.

Marion’s-Fan Mail Box or simply “**Somebody just wanted out!”**…beneath her crypt lies this protrusion. This is how I find treasure others miss or simply pass over. You gotta get your hands dirty to go back in time.

Across from this opulent crypt his a simple stone grave in a fancy location.

We shared a Make up trailer, a Movie Compound, and now are neighbors forever…A camera from 1933, on display at the Culver City Historical Society, was discovered in Marions’ trailer. In 1933-Marion had a new trailer. This original trailer location was a sling shot away from Skull Island and King Kong’s massive walls. Fay Wray had her make up done in this trailer, hence the camera. Continuity of make up…funny how things play out over time.

Marion Davies’ Make -Up trailer would be used by Fay Wray in 1933 for King Kong. Now they share the same cemetery, very close proximity.

My dog **Thora** was with me when we went inside Marion’s trailer on Lucerne Ave. We said “**Open Sesame”** and as the entry door opened, it revealed the secrets still hidden inside. As if this room wanted to be discovered by a caring figure, which I am.

Legendary Director Tony Scott, here directing Brigitte Nielsen in Beverly Hills Cop II is located at this plot. Expand and you will see his name in granite at the top, with his list of shows also carved in below his etched name. Victor, the gentleman pictured on the right, worked with Tony and still does for Ridley Scott. I have met both of these legends. Blade Runner is an all time favorite. 90 nights was the schedule for Blade Runner. Mostly all at Warner Brothers and many on New York Street. One of my all time favorite films. I was told that the affair Tony Scott had with Brigitte ended his marriage and Sylvester Stallone’s.

I was on that set-pictured here with our female star. Turmoil began here with the Scott family.

Your Mission, if you choose to accept it, is scale this impregnable fortress…. “I was here 50 years ago, scouting for a way in, it doesn’t exist. **Mission Impossible** best describes trespassing here.

*New York Street peeks over the t*op of the fence above this graveyard...

**Spirits in the Night**..You don’t know what they can do to you...

My Third Book is finally completed. An anthology of the decade of the 70’s ‘Trespassing Adventures on all of Hollywood’s Backlots’

Pictures on covers: John Ritter rescuing a kid from a burning building in the last MGM Feature ever done on their historic backlot. Hero at Large 1979. A special thanks to the legendary Marc Wanamaker for his fine words. The Front Cover is picture I also took in 1977. Behind the Fireworks-in a Hot Air Balloon is Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees sailing above the MGM Backlot. They had to duck for cover and this scene was replaced by CGI cheesy replacement.

This is a must see color experience, you won’t be disappointed. I’m not trying to sell you a used car like Cal Worthington does, fact is my diary just kept getting better. I took more pictures of MGM than anyone ever. This color book presents my personal photos on every film set used by MGM in this era.

Included are never seen before tear down photos in 1980. This book will make you laugh, and make you cry. Some stories will scare you but you will come away wanting more, after you catch your breath anyway. The final chases and events at MGM are inside these magical covers…enough said… Roll Film!

We begin today’s adventure mingling through grave sights and tombstones from the distant past. In this haunted landscape-I appear…

The date, June, Friday the 13th, 2025. It could just as well be 1925, clocks aren’t needed here, the sands of time are just… Blowing in the Wind.

I discovered my Hole in the Fence at MGM’s legendary backlot 2. The first set I saw was a cemetery. My friend Jimmy and I were frightened. We hid behind tombstones. We even hid alongside a coffin with weeds growing out of it. Ironically, my studio life began in a cemetery. A big fancy studio stood beyond, like what is in front of me today.

I immediately cross paths with Paramount Security guards right off the bat…”How is that, why are they here?” I ask my dog. I approach a gentleman with the badge and Paramount baseball cap. I ask why he is stationed here? Stonework surrounds us with names and beginning and end dates chiseled on the surface… Eternity begins here.

His response was the Paramount lot is so busy that overflow parking is taking place in this cemetery. Satisfied with his response, I asked “do you know where Marion Davies‘ grave is?”

No one that works here could direct me and neither can Paramount security. However, I was informed that question gets asked frequently. I have my suspicion because of the Italian architecture. It has a flare of the Randolph Hearst. I’ve found it. It’s fancy as expected.

It’s not a crypt -it’s a condo.

I’ve seen this movie before. Marion plays hard to get, except for me. It could be 1972, when I first visited here. It could even be 1899 when these pearly metal gates first opened.

Just me and my hunting dog on a hazy sunny summer afternoon. We see tomb after tomb of movie legends. I have met many of them. Very surreal, yet pleasant. We all have to checkout and what better place than backside a movie studio.

My dog and I sit in the shade under a tree as the sun gets reflected in patterns. I’ve found tranquility. The grave that happens to be next to me says- June 13, my birthday. Inviting me inside, “I’m not ready, Thank you.” The Paramount Studio fortress overlooks this graveyard. My dog’s ears rise a bit crooked as we hear conversations on the studio side of this graveyard. Past, present, one doesn’t know...just voices.

The graves closest to the backlot are as old as the studio. I’ve been here several times before. I never came to star search. I was looking for a way in Paramount Studios. After all, I am the Phantom. But that never happened, it’s impossible or should I say Mission Impossible…Yes, that show was made on the other side of this blockade. It’s built like a prison. The walls are insurmountable and several stories high. The perfect design to prevent trespassing. I remained in denial. I went back and forth, seeing if I missed any way to get in. I don’t need much but…

I was given a tour by my friend Tim in 1974 who was often in the television series Happy Days. Then, in the 80’s, I got a driver job on the film 48 Hours with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy. I drove a San Francisco trolley from the Paramount lot to downtown L.A. It was supposed to be San Francisco. I have very little history here at this studio but certainly not for lack of trying.

In 1976, MGM became Paramount. Dino De Laurentiis took over Louis B. Mayer’s office and the work force was all things Paramount Pictures. Kong was too big to be contained at this tiny facility. I experienced Paramount under the grandeur that was MGM.

Memories cloak their selves with silence. Dead Men Tell No Tales around these parts. Silence is as powerful a tool as a jackhammer. Become in touch with frequencies and dimensions, they are everywhere, invisible, like electricity…soak it all in or you may miss a key road marker.

My googling leads me from Cecil B. DeMille and his family, past Don Adams tomb to Burt Reynolds. I visit each grave, and find myself connected here, almost eerily. I met these recent additions to Hollywood Forever on studio backlots. Hooper – I talked to him about stunts in real life. I also discussed them with Hal Needham. This happened while filming chariot races around the High Noon western street on the Columbia Ranch. Burt was wearing a cowboy hat that day, as he is now and for eternity.

I circle him in respect, I had no idea he was here. Close by, Don Adams’ grave is a tribute to Maxwell Smart. He is saying “Farewell” in his shoe phone. Heaven needed a good comic actor and took Agent 86 from us. I gave him a tour once at Universal. At the Flash Flood, the water jumped the retaining wall. It soaked my shoes as we all watched 10,000 gallons of recycled water reach its catch basin. Other than the 5 gallons that hit my floor pedals. My shoes got drenched. In all his wit, Don Adams, in Maxwell Smart’s voice, says, “I ruin more shoe phones that way!”

Here he is today, his gravestone forever will portray him calling the chief from his shoe. I love this guy. That series was shot close by at Sunset Bronson for four years prior to CBS. He belongs here-forever placing that call to CONTROL.

As I pass Tyrone Power, I’m suspicious of a crypt next to Mr. Power’s simple residence. The name doesn’t match, I carry on yet hear a ghost whisper… I’m drawn to this crypt like a magnet-very similar to the mysterious make up room of hers I discovered. Personal items belonging to her from as far back as the silent days. The truth is this 100-year-old horse drawn Make-up trailer would deteriorate quickly. It could become like a rotted old garden shed in just a blink of an eye. Marion’s spectacular room and all its movie history would disappear, as if it never existed. That was the fate until it called out to me, begging to be rescued. I discovered a photo that confirms who this was built for… A needle in a haystack possibility suddenly turned to 24k gold.

If that isn’t enough, it continued as a featured Make-up station for two of the biggest films ever made. These films were King Kong, released in 1933, and Gone With the Wind. Yes, the mirrors in this trailer are like the paintings Rod Serling stands in front of in Night Gallery. Laced with intrigue, you’re looking back to flapper days.

Mirrors are portals, and you feel her presence. Her original room continued to light up stars’ faces. This happened even after she moved to MGM in a new, fancier trailer. The same power that pulled me into the trailer was now magnetically tugging at me in this graveyard. Finally, after a short visit with Mickey Rooney I find the electronic clue to Ms. Marion. I leave Mickey after telling his nameplate, “I had a cool fort Mickey. It was in your Andy Hardy house in the 70’s. I grew up at MGM too…see ya Mickey”

Back to where I heard those ghost whispers- yes it’s Marion. Another obvious clue is the simple grave alongside. Charlie Chaplin’s mother, Hannah. Marion’s best friend, is buried alongside her there. His mom is located next to Marion’s crypt. Her death long preceded the building of Dorvas family crypt, meaning Marion specifically built hers alongside Ms. Chaplin. Charlie never made it, his grave in Switzerland was ransacked and he was held for ransom. How many dead people can claim a ransom, it’s usually reserved for the living. That’s immense Star Power.

Now that I’m in Marion’s resting place, I show respect and thank her for sharing this most amazing Hollywood relics still useable. I’m sure that’s the reason her spirit connected with mine, to preserve what’s left of this fabulous piece of history. My thoughts and exchanges with this legend are reciprocated through telepathy. We do this at my house too. My office- is her old Make-Up station. How cool is that!

She knows me. I think I am the most recurring face she sees now. We crossed paths in that backyard long ago. She wanted me to have this in my hands. I earned it; I won’t break up all the treasure inside it. I had my suspicions 50 years ago about that mysterious room.

Now her room, itself a star of a million magical moments of movie history, will forever be safe. Reflections of the way life uses to be stare back at the image that stands in front of it. They can also take you on a journey back in time, before sound in movies existed. Expressions ruled, they made you laugh, or cry. Silent films are like this cemetery, this place is one large silent movie. Horses not only pulled coffins around in a snapshot of history. They also hitched up movie trailers and went “On Location.”

Louis Armstrong..All Right, send us off with a little Jazz, Mr. Satchmo!

Written and lived by… Donnie Norden.

For a nominal fee…

April 17, 2025 Phantom of the Backlot2 Comments

What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?

Stay out the hot sun and long lines and enjoy the comfort of favorite seat while operate one these tourist people movers.

This was a fun stage of my life

The Good, Bad , and Ugly

Of tourism.

Excitement, misery, Hollywood behind the scenes in the 80’s

We experience Knight Rider, The A Team , Miami Vice, Smokey and the Bandit.

Not all your guides get “satisfaction “

Some do – just ask Jack Wagner

The role model guides look up too

The Glamour Tram

Subscribe ….

All Aboard !

“The Stuff that Dreams are Made Of”-1924

February 3, 2025 Phantom of the Backlot2 Comments

Screenland turned 100 years old this year…

THOS. H. INCE launched the film making machine way back when Culver City just incorporated itself as a city. Sherman Place- just outside the studios East Border-would soon become Ince Blvd.

One afternoon, we were coming home in the family station wagon. Batman was filming out front on the porch of this administration building. Batwoman on her purple bat looking motorbike was assisting the two male capped crusaders against Catwoman “Eartha Kitt” and Joker”Caesar Romero”

This is exactly what I saw that afternoon. I was in dad’s pool cleaning station wagon with a leaf collector pole sticking out the back window. I hung out the side car window, like a puppy dog ready to jump!

Notice the angle of the two biggest stages. They are facing towards the sunrise. Windows line the upper portion for maximum sunlight penetration. The design was simply to maximize sunlight illumination inside as the sun traverses east to west...Interestingly, these stages were moved to conform to the neighborhood sprouting up alongside.No longer in need of chasing sun light.

Inside stage with natural sunlight peering through upper glass windows. Artificial lighting from electrical distress creates intense heat on stage, depending on amount and size of equipment. Air Conditioning must be factored into stage design, to keep actors make up from running. Interestingly, an ice company was directly across from the main gate, large blocks of ice helped cool down interiors. Ice picks were found stored inside Marion Davies make up trailer…Ice was King!

Top left corner-Lucerne/ Higuera intersect out front a home that once was part of the studio Ince built. Marion Davies was to be the first occupant to use this area connected to all utilities. They include power, sewer, and water. History that followed links King Kong in 1933, followed by Gone With the Wind. In the 60’s – Batman –Adam West was seen frequenting this area....I once used Adam West as an alias. A security guard stopped me and some friends visiting the set of Al Capone. Bruce Lee had already been taken or written down by another kid. This slip of alias’s was handed to Roger Corman-who stared puzzlingly at Mr. Security., while reading our fib list He said “they’re fine- leave them be.”– A hilarious backlot memory!

1924- A Man and his dream…Thomas Ince

Thomas Ince built this iconic Colonnade prior to building another studio just down the road a bit.

A very special sidewalk I perused down daily on my way to St. Augustine School.

This section of then Triangle Studio existed before MGM took control. This was largely thanks to the wealth of Marcus Lowe. It is identical to the stages Thomas Ince built at his other lot. They are built to follow the sun’s rays-illuminating all things inside. Stages align with the sun like a giant magnet.

Before Variety was launched in 1933-this was the movie insider magazine.

Lots of stuff happened here in 1924, forever shaping Hollywood.

In 1924– A Movie Star Compound on Lucerne was completed. The plan was Cosmopolitan Pictures and founder Randolph Hearst was to merge companies with Thomas Ince. One man had endless money and stories for scripts. The other man had filmmaking know-how and the facilities to do so. An example of Rented facilities…

Marion Davies and her famous first make -up trailer

In 1924–there was a Koi pond with a statue from antiquity located where I stand.

Inside this room – legendary mirrors reflect push button fancy switches…

Early 20’s luxury…A place to chill out as tedious make up is applied…

A camera was used in King Kong for make-up continuity. A massager that still works from 1921 was Marion Davies‘ tool of choice during long make-up processes in the chair.

This make up room and connecting compound, Anneberg Beach House and San Simeon were designed by this intellectual artist-Julia Morgan.

A statue dating back to Randolph Hearst and his vision for this Triangle property.

Then suddenly- on a yacht cruise announcing the merger of Ince/ Cosmopolitan, something went drastically wrong.

Best laid plans no more-alternate endings and mysteries happen in Hollywood. Enter Cecil B. DeMille to take over the landscape.

DeMille, in his fancy boots took control of the facility built by Mr. Ince

Across the way from The Ince Studio-The Culver Hotel woulds be added to this Main Street…also in 1924

The Hotel that started it all…Co built by Harry Culver and Charlie Chaplin, later sold to John Wayne.A corner where film history was continually made.

Down the street at MGM, another Hollywood Legend moved over from Paramount Studios. He forever put forth ingenuity and creativity into some of the most complex scenes ever put to film. The man all the stars looked up to- Mr. Arnold Gillespie. He had a St. Bernard named Joppa, a street name on the backlot. He was part owner of The Los Angeles Dons football club in 1946

Don’t laugh this off you- Hollywood types! Other owners besides Arnold included Louis B. Mayer, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Don Ameche. Before the Rams ever played a game in the Coliseum – The Dons owned Los Angeles. MGM owned The Dons. Bet ya never heard that on the tour!

This Wonderland was my backyard, The red lines are me” running” from security, much more red would later be added. Special effects had dungeons in strategic secluded places on the backlot. None more haunted than the Snow Room, located backside the Grand Central Station. It’s the type of place you would dare for another kid to go inside. Of course, lights off and be alone in this dark, musty corridor. Snow is everywhere you turn, powdered snow, plastic flake snow, and plaster molded snow…pipe tobacco seemed always present…”I dare you to go in, double dare ya!!!”

Baldwin Hills Oil Production beyond tanks/train. Comrade X -1940

Oil production just beyond the old MGM Lot 3 fences in 2024. This is located exactly where the black and white oilfield derricks are, these towers stared right into the backlot. Normally an extremely quiet area when Combat wasn’t filming…Seriously. Nature hidden away at it’s best. Often the only sounds were the back and forth hissing and hawing of a pumping well. A scent of sulphur and oil accompanied these sounds. Yes- I touch everything…

The film that started it all at MGM

Location-Italy– Before air-you set sail to this destination.

Arnold Gillespie-left, and the Neri Shop Forman-making sure all is -Sea Worthy-aboard these galleys.

The galleys are being towed out to sea by the lead tug boat. Unexpected challenges and delays infuriated Louis B. Mayer, who after a visit to Italy then and there decided this film was to be completed in Culver City.

Just off La Cienega Boulevard-is where the Roman chariot race was immortalized… Film making at its best!

Massala’s winged helmet, worn by Francis X. Bushman, was salvaged at the MGM Auction by Debbie Reynolds. Right, 2 Technicolor Trailer Frames.

Ben Hur nearly bankrupted the studio. However, it went on to be MGM’s highest-grossing box office hit. It pulled in 9 million dollars. This figure was unsurpassed for the next 25 years. This film established MGM into the top tier of movie studios. A force to be reckoned with.

My slice of the Golden Years…

Another fine collectible found inside this ancient trailer dating back to this time is Spanky McFarland of Little Rascals fame. This light dates back to that series that filmed originally at near by Hal Roach Studios. Some of the spirits that occupy this triangular plot of land. Everything inside this room turned on as if–Magically “Welcoming me”

Culver City 1924-We begin…

Movie studios begin sprouting up everywhere. Hal Roach started with his Little Rascals. Thomas Ince established his shiny new play land. Just down the street, MGM set sail in year one. What a time to be alive…

“There’s oil in them there hills” At the same time, Standard Oil struck gold in the hills surrounding these studios. A man named Howard Hughes bought property not destined to have oil derricks drilling into the depths. Entrepreneurs from various backgrounds establish their presence all over this perfectly landscaped city.

These hills framed the studios backlots while filling up drum after drum, tank after tank of crude oil. Black Gold competes with shiny –Glittering Gold, inside studio fences. Pioneer Howard Hughes was the most ambitious of all, a master of adventure, a brilliant engineer, his specialty –Aviation. Howard owned the highest peek in Culver City, Hughes Tool Company signs dotted the upper hill sides. All entities fit along side each other – with all being extremely successful, but not without hardships.

From MGM Lot 3, you could see the derricks standing tall on the Baldwin Hills side of the chain link. Oil did better than film early on and has long outlasted backlot film making.

Doing this stuff was not easy; otherwise, anyone could have done it. These pioneers laid the groundwork. Abundant resources were available for visionaries at that time. The saying goes-“You have to see it to be it!”

Speaking of which…

I conclude with an exciting finish. This long awaited book is being cleared to land. Maureen, Mike, and I have worked very hard. We have been diligent in finishing the trespassing stories we lived in the 1970’s. Included will be a boat load of my personal pictures including the tear down of MGM Lot 2. This is not a destruction book, it is an adventure book. We start with the British Invasion of MGM in 1977. Join Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees aboard this hot air balloon. Yes- these stars are inside that basket hovering above MGM. Many Rock Star guest appearances included. Even Sylvester Stallion is involved. Director “Sly” selects me for a part in a film at Universal titled Paradise Alley. I take you on Stage 12 with me, the start of a 48 hour straight non-stop studio party.

Coming soon on Amazon

Written and lived by… Donnie Norden

The Outer Limits of MGM Lot 3

January 26, 2025 Phantom of the BacklotLeave a comment

This sensational MGM Lot 3 photo is compliments of Todd Spiegelberg. Todd and David Barns excel at matching pictures of sets on these studio lots. They connect these pictures to the films and T.V shows filmed on these dusty old streets…

“**Please Stand By”**…That was your standard test pattern. It was also the original title for this series that lasted two seasons. The creators feared audiences would change the channel. They thought this was an emergency broadcast system interruption, so the name was scrapped.

“***Leave my TV alone!”***…*Donnie Norden*– 1963

“*Looks like a friendly planet*“…***The Zanti Misfits*** *1963.*

“*Look Out Kid*” –***The Zanti Misfits***…*Terrorizing TVs everywhere.*

***Vasquez Rocks.***..A very popular location. I have filmed there, Sliders-TV series. Wind Machines…blowing dust and tumbleweeds.

“*Another film company rolling in here again… I’m sick of terrorizing these idiots!”*

*MGM Lot 3 and Vasquez Rocks blend together.* *MGM has Baldwin Hills as a western backdrop.*

“*I think I got bit”…”I’ll get help if I don’t die first*“

**MGM Lot 3-** Two other sci-fi series film back here. **The Twilight Zone** and **One Step Beyond.** All three, including **My Favorite Martian** used this very street. One of two church steeples on Europe Street can be seen sprouting behind the western corner. Combat filmed this lot regularly in 1963.

The simple two window, one door set right of the driving M.P. appeared in the Dust episode of the Twilight Zone. In that episode, a man gets saved from a gallows pole by some Magic Dust. This building was the jail where the man was incarcerated.

*This picture of mine is same angle as screen grab. Notice The Mutiny on the Bounty masts are sticking up above the Western Street- far end.*

*Zanti set two years prior- The Twilight Zone episode “DUST”*

*Wait till the Zantis get a hold of you!*

*The MGM grip department mounted* *this capsule on the roof. A studio union operated spacecraft.*

*This kind of stuff ends up in our property storage on the backlot. And possibly, it will land at my house to complete its mission. Two kids could easily carry this to my MGM version of Mission* *contro*l.

*These Zantis are available for purchase on-line…duplicates of course.* *Technically,* “***Zantis are trespassers!”***

“*Where’s MGM security when you need them?”..*.

“*Air Police- MGM Police- everybody open fire!”*

“*I got some grenades off the Combat set”…*

*Zantis, Germans*, this lot has ammo everywhere…This is where- **War is filmed.**

*The camera twists in the wind as the TV tries to regain* *control through its roof antenna.* *Moving the antenna doesn’t fix this problem*, *it’s just magic.*

These trains block the view into the lot, we work this fence line. An irrigation drain is on the public side of a chain link fence. We run up and down it to view into the lot. We look in between the wheels. The **Horse Soldiers** is a film starring John Wayne. John Ford directed it. The movie had one of the best battles ever staged out of these trains.

This is a hiding spot, but MGM was well aware of it. Salt Rock guns shoot at you here as you attempt to exit. The irrigation run -off trench worked like a WW 1 trench. Many Culver Residents met their fate in this gully that still occupies and exits along what is now Raintree condos. This area was like Gettysburg. If you’re going to get shot, it’s probably in this location.

*That’s a real good name for this town…*

This is my MGM Art Department photo of this street in this story.I am fortunate to have been given my own private stash of MGM backlot pictures from Tony Vallone, he headed the Department. He was hired by MGM in 1938. He was a kid in the Real Boystown when MGM went on location to film in Nebraska. Over the decade of the 70’s, my backlot notoriety spread through the studio as I became…**The Phantom.** I spent an entire afternoon going through cabinet after cabinet of MGM stills. I was handed an envelopes and told “take what you wish!

I felt like Burgess Meredith in “Time Enough at Last.” I met this Penguin at MGM on the film “Rocky.” He was hanging out outside a stage. I went up to him. I told him how much I love his Twilight Zone episodes. “Mr Dingle” I call him…

This irrigation catch basin trench still exists along the southern border of Raintree. It was there back when MGM was. This was a very strategic trench; we could see clearly into Lot 3. Trains partially blocked our views down the Western Streets. Security chases often conclude here. You’re successful if you escape without a buttocks full of salt rock. This was like a trench from W.W1. Its purpose was to protect MGM, now Raintree, from storm runoff water. Three other catch basins on the oil field side provided additional protection. The runoff cascades down these hills toward the old backlot. There have been times where this backlot flooded. But we had canoes and several different watercrafts to overcome flooding.

*Lot 3 looking west-* *Raintree Condos now surround a smaller but original lake.*

This picture from an oil derrick captures Lot 3, Raintree in a similar current angle today. The field in the foreground is currently a Pumpkin Patch for kids… Mr. Bones will greet you here. The eucalyptus trees are original to MGM and that straight line is the Eastern MGM Lot 3 boundary. The best place to sneak in at. There is usually no one around these parts and when you’re inside the studio, the jungle is your friend. Some rusted old fence posts with barb wire still stand, representing MGM. Chain link fences were used facing hills, so camera doesn’t pick up a wooden fence. Those were used on Jefferson and Overland Blvd. Half the lot had green wood fences with- No Trespassing Signs, Forbidden by Law, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer attached everywhere.

**Charles Bronson** *close up Death Wish 4. Plexiglas camera protection*…**shots fired!**

**Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, and Telly Savalas** appeared in the Twilight Zone before making this film.

*This pointed ear concept developed for* *David McCallum would be* *used on Leonard Nimoy as Spock.*

1963- MGM Backlot 3

The Outer Limits filmed a few episodes on the MGM backlots in its two-year run. Joseph Stefano wrote most of the episodes. He just completed work with Alfred Hitchcock. He wrote the screenplay for Psycho. He was this show’s –Rod Serling. Many monsters and props got reused after the show was canceled. Many of the crew ended up on a new series-Star Trek. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy both appeared in The Outer Limits before liberating outer space.

The process used to make David McCallum’s ears pointed in The Outer Limits would be copied for Spock.

Talent existed everywhere and Cinematographer Conrad Hall photographed 15 episodes. He was the man behind the lens for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in 1969. This series ended abruptly due to a schedule change. it would be located as the lead in for Lawrence Welk. The opposition was Jackie Gleason, my dad’s favorite guy. It was an attractive show for a younger audience, so this change to a mature time zone lead in failed. I watched it. I love this show’s opening television take over. It seemed real. You can tell by my kid picture. This TV is for watching Combat, back off Space Men.

My last post was located on the Universal Backlot, featuring The Birds, in 1963. 21 miles away, these Zanti creatures were terrorizing MGM, by way of The Vasquez Rocks. MGM Lot 3 fits the landscape needed to match up those real rocks with sets built at MGM. Lot 3 is the most rustic backlot ever built.

A 67-acre playground of bombed out European Villages, Western Towns… complete with blowing tumbleweeds, jungles with canoes, tall ships and even a paddleboat. Half-tracks, tanks, jeeps, trains and planes are parked everywhere. All these sets have a 1400-acre oil field directly behind it.

The Baldwin Hills are the backlot extension very few are aware of. But you have seen them. Laurel and Hardy and The Little Rascals used dirt roads. These roads can easily get you lost. They are located right behind MGM Lot 3. I worked on Beverly Hills Cop 2 in the hills overlooking these sets. We were firing bazookas; “Dent Industries” was an fictitious oil company. I recently saw an episode of the Highway Patrol. It starred Broderick Crawford himself in 1955. He was pursuing oil larceny suspects. They were robbing payroll with a Bazooka of all things. If you live long enough, everything happens twice. Bazooka attacks, 30 years apart. I also met Charles Bronson up here, overlooking this studio, on Deathwish 4.

We chatted about the Twilight Zone episode titled- TWO. He starred with Elizabeth Montgomery in that classic on MGM Lot 3. We were pointing sets out, where they stood, from atop these hills. Then we talked –The Dirty Dozen. The famous climax on a backlot located in England. Yep, “The Chateau” was on a backlot across the ocean at MGM’s British Studio. Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson and John Cassavetes fought for their lives as the Chateau goes up in flames. This show happens to be my all-time favorite movie along with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. My 3rd favorite is Kelly’s Heroes.

So, these hills are extensions of the backlot, and Howard Hughes owned a hilltop overlooking Desilu. Howard was going to build a mansion up on the top. It would overlook Los Angeles and the distant Hollywoodland sign in the Hollywood Hills. However, something happened in 1924. Richfield/Standard Oil discovered oil reserves up here. An oil boom sprouted wells surrounding this entire area. Howard sold the property to Charles Wright. He stated, “The last thing I want to see is oil wells out my living room.” Wrightcrest became a Culver City Street. Charlie built himself a mansion where Howard had planned to build one. This change came after crude was discovered.

Rance McGrew and Mr. Garrity and the Graves have the hills off in background in those classic Twilight Zone episodes. Combat avoided camera angles that would connect to these hills.

What’s cool was this lot was a wildlife area due to its location. Skunks, possums, raccoons-like the one that took out hunting dog- Rip and Hyder Simpson. This is-that place, The Hunt was done here. Rod Serling would walk these trails developing concepts and plots. I daydream here too.

Owls, hawks, crows, and doves combine aviation forces here. Snakes, squirrels and gophers complete this fun backlot. Horse stables still exist up in these hills. When Combat filmed, birds took flight and rodents took cover on the safer oil field side. Filming turned into escape time for these critters who fled this studio home when Combat yelled “ACTION”

When the lot was quiet, you could hear the churning oil wells. MGM Lot 3 was the best backlot in history. The legend of Arnold Gillespie and his MGM ocean still resonates back here in this wilderness area.

Lastly, The Zanti Misfits was ranked #98th on TV Guide’s 100 Greatest Episodes of all-time.

That’s today’s story, everywhere I go –I kick up movie dust

Good news…I have regained control of my TV- just in time to watch some quality reruns!

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden

The Cruise-Snap shot- 1924

January 18, 2025 Phantom of the BacklotLeave a comment

Yes, this property with the oldest Make-up trailer in existence is more than it seems nearly 100 years later. One doesn’t need to look to closely to visually see clues linking this parcel to a green past. Fact is- everything is green. Every door on the property has green on it somewhere. That includes Marion’s portable room. While removing some handles inside, the color green appeared as a base color.

Green happens to be the color Paramount/RKO. It’s my believe that this Make-up trailer was built at Paramount Studios in the silent film days. Do to the lack of distribution connections to theaters, it was a pivotal transition period. To go big, you need theaters. MGM’s rapid rise was do to the Loew’s theater chains.

Universal was starting its monster movie tradition at the time. They began with The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera. Lon Chaney was the Marion Davies of monster movies. Carl Laemmle was not a big player in Hollywood’s early years. However, his films have stood up to the test of time. The world, as uncle Carl found out, loves to be scared.

Hollywoodland was a chess board. Studios sprouted up from Lankershim Blvd in Hollywood to Washington Blvd in Culver City. They appeared in various locations in between. Paramount studios lies in the center of Hollywood. It is positioned between the Culver City lots and the San Fernando valley movie facilities. These facilities include Warner Brothers and Columbia.

Adolph Zukor and Jesse Laskey joined forces formed Famous Players Film Company in 1916. The deal resulted in the incorporation of eight film production companies making up this newly formed company. The results would be one of the most successful silent film companies in it’s era.

Cosmopolitan Pictures, Randolph Hearst’s company, was headquartered in New York City, from 1918, to 1923. It’s then, he moved his Silent Motion Picture company to the west coast. Basically, he is following in the footsteps of Thomas Ince, who followed the sunset west just a few years before. Thomas Ince started his left coast facility on the beach, Inceville Studios was born. The studio with lighthouse, most have simple water towers…

But difficulties with weather do to gray skies and wind blowing sand made Mr. Ince think twice about his location. Soon after, he relocated his studio to what is now Sony. It was previously known as MGM and, before that, Triangle Studios. Thomas Ince’s friendship with city founder Harry Culver grew stronger. As a result, Thomas Ince left the Triangle Colonnade. He built another studio just a couple blocks away.

The Plantation Building, styled after George Washington’s Mt. Vernon estate, would become the Ince facility and location this man dreamed of. But the cost of such a first class facility reached deeper into Mr. Ince’s pockets that he had change for.

Enter; Randolph Hearst

Both entrepreneur’s having moved west when the studio systems were getting off the ground, had leverage. Ince is Swiss army knife of all things in making films. Randolph Hearst has content. His Cosmopolitan stories are all potential- movies to be. They have huge readership, so films based of these stories have a huge publicity advantage. Plus, he had a leading lady he promoted named Marion Davies. Randolph was a one star film producer, all things Marion… his true love!

Feb 12, 1924- it is around this time in 1924 that puzzle pieces were being set up. Nowhere is Paramount part of the contract. A move was on from Paramount to Culver City and Ince and Hearst were planning out the next moves. MGM was not the plan.

*Charlie Chaplin and Marion Davies were tied at the hip…*

Randolph and Marion’s trip west started off on the Paramount lot. It’s here that it’s my belief this mobile 100 year old dressing room was built. Green paint, found under some of the handles- is the big clue. The Make-up trailer is built with incredible craftsmanship. The arch door entrance and the mirrors built into the walls behind the entrance are proof to this day. Even the trailer wheels are cleverly hidden in the walls. You do not see the 1915 era tires when inside this once carpeted lavish trailer. A trailer pulled by –horses.

In my research of this property in Culver City where this trailer has ended up, I keep finding more connections. They link to a famous and somewhat romantic time in history. This horse drawn trailer is located just beyond a Koi pond. A statue from antiquity stands in the center of the pond. A house, completed in 1924 provides shelter for the star who this was set up for. The living room looks out into this backyard compound. The kitchen window looks out into the Ince backlot. In later years, this area adjacent to this compound was where Stalag 13 would be situated.

*Statue from antiquity, peers inside this Make-up trailer*, *from a dried up Koi Pond.*

My belief is this was the center of what was to be a Cosmopolitan Pictures, Ince Productions merged corporation. The foundation for this merger was set before the ill-fated cruise aboard the Hearst yacht. Unfortunately, something went terribly wrong. If Mr. Ince had survived that voyage on the night of November 19, 1924, Hollywood’s history would be different. This corner would have become the Cosmopolitan section of this merger. Ince has his corporate office in the Plantation Building.

Had this cruise gone as planned, the Hearst newspapers would be touting this company merger. It was all set up. There would be no MGM involvement. We wouldn’t need to deal with Louie B Mayer’s dictatorship. Just two producers have agendas that can work together, or so I believe. Hearst built a famous 19-room bungalow for Marion at MGM. This happened after the failed merger. It would have been built right behind this compound. It is actually where you would build it due to utilities connections and sewer tie-ins. The backlot or ranch only had one bathroom for the entire lot. It was located along Higueria street because that was the utility tie-in for the backlot.

Hal Roach Studios is a short walk as is the Ince main lot. Even MGM is a bike ride distance away. This was being set up as the Cosmopolitan Center of the Culver City Film universe. It’s ironically Triangle shaped, this parcel of land time forgot.

This cruise involved Marion Davies, Thomas Ince, Randolph Hearst, and Charlie Chaplain. If it had returned to shore without incident, this was the new big player. But since details of what happened differ on board, that we will never know.

Imagining the stories these mirrors can tell create *goose bumps.*

It’s said, Thomas Ince most likely died of indigestion. A combination of salted almonds and alcohol. Marion Davies would claim that as his cause of death. It was completely accidental. A clue to verify indigestion was found inside the make-up trailer itself.

*Page’s Silver Mints*…***aid digestion.***

*Digestion mints were popular in this ancient trailer that also sports bottles of imported Italian wine. These tins were inside on shelves.*

*This make-up room probably knows everything, imagine the discussions in front of these mirrors the days following Mr Ince’s death* *and the rumors of scandal that* *reverberated through Hollywoodland.*

But what I do know is this, a brand new house in 1924 still exists. On this probably soon to be developed property lies a very mysterious Koi Pond. Original to the house, exquisite tiles, large Koi, and statue, from probably Rome. A Make-up room is accessible next to it. A house with mysterious items is covered in some cases with green paint, even if only lightly.

But for the compound being green, that will be in my story going ahead. I am still involved with this area actively. I want to make sure we don’t lose items that have been overlooked for decades. This is private property and well protected, don’t get any ideas.

It is my conclusion that this yard is a snapshot in 1924 history. This area is more proof that Ince/Cosmopolitan was going to be a major player and competitor to MGM. Because of Ince’s death, MGM was plan B.

Proof of my theory is- all these things still exist in this infamous time line. I reconnected with this item, which I first came in contact with in 1972. I had to cut the lock off. Once the door opened, the spirits that saw all this history were awoken. They know what indeed was going on here. These spirits have now become part of my life. The mirrors in this room have seen more history than just these legends that brought this corner together.

This is the ultimate alternate ending to what was and what was suppose to be…

If there was ever a more appropriate title...

I send out this invite:

I would give anything to have a conversation with someone. This person should have been inside here while working on a film or TV series. This trailer was still in use for Hogan’s Heroes. Lucie Arnez would be a person of interest. Her father installed the modern intercom/stereo system. It was custom built by the Panatron Corporation. I have that confirmed by the Panatron company itself.

Desilu would be the last film connection. After that, this trailer disguised itself as a garden shed for the next 50 years.

***Marion’s trailer*** was in use before and after this event, imagine the stories it’s heard from those involved. It’s too bad this section of Hollywoodland was forgotten when this film was produced. **Marion’s Make-up room** *should have been used,* if you like **realism**… anyways.

“*Bon voyage everybody.*..when we return, we will be **Ince/Cosmopolitan Pictures**“

**Front page news**…*The Hearst Newspaper had this story on 3rd page, adding fuel to the speculation…*

Take a deeper dive on – Phantomofthebacklots –You Tube

Written and lived by Donnie Norden…

The Evolution of the MGM Records Label.

December 21, 2024 Phantom of the BacklotLeave a comment

Music tames the Savage Beast. This Metro Goldwyn Mayer label was supreme. Let’s play a stack of some 45’s today …shall we?

MGM Records began in 1946 –when the King of Beasts started spinnings his head in circles…

The “other” MGM King. Of all the artists you would expect on the MGM Label, Elvis Presley was not one of them. In 1954, he signed his first contract with Sun Records.The next year, RCA Records took on his record contract.

This moment was connected to the MGM label, Apple would become The Beatles label.

2013- The British Invasion Flag flies above Sony, Stages 27/29, formerly MGM Studios.

Take a taste of this. Turn up your Marantz Stereo and light the living room up in colorful patterns with a sound reacting Light Organ… if your hip!

Artists signed aboard include…

Louie Armstrong, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Mickey Rooney, and Tony Bennett graced the stage. Leslie Caron, Richard Chamberlain, and Maurice Chevalier added to the charm. The Cowsills, Bing Crosby, and Jimmy Durante entertained the masses. Billy Eckstien, 5 Man Electrical Band, and Eydie Gorme mesmerized the audience. George Hamilton, Jack Jones, and Hugh Masekela captivated listeners. Donnie Osmond, Mel Torme, and Eric Burdon and War thrilled fans. Hank Williams, Tony Sheridan and The Beatles—also known as “Beat Brothers”—and Three Dog Night were unforgettable. This part of the studio specialized in sounds and soundtracks. Over time, the sounds faded away. They disappeared like the studio itself.

Three Dog Night, an All -Time Favorite of mine, seen here in 1972, on float in the Rose Parade.

Put -some “Whiskey in Your Water” and continue…

Never too late to cherish an iconic MGM experience, A studio most famous for legendary musicals…Many large bands continued on, under RSO Records, Robert Stigwood’s label. The Bee Gees, Peter Frampton, Earth, Wind and Fire, Billy Preston etc, performed on the MGM backlot in 1977. That year became my own “Rocker” on the set of SGT. Pepper.

This label was originally developed for releasing MGM Soundtracks from MGM Films. It quickly evolved to include several musical genres. Nevertheless, it maintained an accent towards Country Western. MGM’s western collection is interesting because it includes western films, trains, and carriages. There are also horses, western streets, and legendary musicians influenced by country artists.

MGM created the old west right here in Culver City. They shuffled in Singing Cowboys. They developed and delivered music for this studio to market.

This MGM label took off as a major player. Its competitors in the early 50’s were Columbia, RCA, Decca, Capital, and Mercury. MGM manufactured their cataloged at the studio more legendary for films. the only label besides Columbia that are dual film/records. But MGM forever will be-King of Beasts!

In the mid seventies, I was found at this studio on a daily basis. I was part of this Rock and Roll landscape. Polygram took over this label as MGM divested all its assets. The 1970 MGM auction was the beginning of the end of MGM as we knew it.

The 50’s and 60’s

Connie Francis, Hank Williams and Conway Twitty led the way for record sells. 45’s turned into ten inch 33-1/3. That brought on album covers, and artwork, instead of paper envelopes with vinyl wrapped inside. In 1961, MGM bought Norman Granz’ Verve record label and MGM became-A rock label. The Righteous Brothers, The Velvet Underground, and The Mothers of Invention.

These artists were not happy with MGM’s censorship, and often released content without artist approvals. Welcome to the world of MGM labels and holding stables. Actors and films came before musicians and tunes. Studio higher ups gave them all a take it or leave it response. Censorship ruled supreme as Rock Music was taking off. In the mid 60’s, MGM distributed a new Kama Sutra label, The Lovin’ Spoonful signed on. Acid Rock competed against Vietnam protests. Tough times make for great music, L.S.D was a music gateway. MGM was buying artists from other labels to hedge the future. This label evolved from singing cowboys to singing hippies!

MGM bought in the the colorful decade to come by signing Eric Burden and The Animals. But profits plunged. MGM Records lost 18 million dollars to close out the 1960s. Records in music stores were unsold.

The 70’s–I became a member of that culture…

Nothing funner than L.S.D on the MGM backlot while listening to Acid Rock, just sayin!

MGM was busy auctioning off their soul right after Woodstock changed the music world forever in 1969. One entity was headed upwards while the other was sinking below the surface. MGM executive Mike Curb, a future Lt. Governor of California, fired 18 groups who publicized …the use of drugs!

“I couldn’t be fired” since I was just a Trespasser with his own personal…Hole in the Fence. I counter cultured and embraced escapism- literally and figuratively. I was a rebel with a cause who did not want to end up in Vietnam. President Nixon agreed and praised Mr. Curb. for his unrelenting attitude against drugs. Drugs became a huge item going ahead in Hollywood. Stars were using drugs. Cocaine use was an issue at every studio. When I began my long career at Universal, several major stars would take “powdered lunches.” Dirty stories for another time. Alcohol and cigarettes were no longer enough.

My hero, WW2, veteran, Lee Marvin. The leader of The Dirty Dozen. In the 80’s, “Maggot” Telly Savalas could be found at Universal. He was often in a limo, at Telly’s Bar at the Sheraton Universal. A big mirror was inside, driven around the property. Prefabbed “white lines” were also inside. The studio that promoted drug films, such as Cheech and Chong, hosted a wrap party on Stage 4. It was a legendary drug fest. Drug use escalated effecting in someway almost every star we had on the lot!

As I was experiencing MGM first hand in the early 70’s, MGM switched to “bubblegum” acts. Sammy Davis Jr, Petula Clark, and The Osmonds. These successful performers helped stabilize MGM financially.

In 1972, a conglomerate of Dutch /German Polydor and and Phonogram was buying into the U.S market. Polyvgram was now the MGM record label. The merger failed and was reduced to going forward with soundtracks from MGM films.

The 80’s

After the merger of Metro, Goldwyn, Mayer Inc. and United Artists in 1982, the label discontinued all together. For me, I became employed at MGM. My dreams came true” and I worked for the last MGM entity still using the MGM logo. MGM Film laboratories was the final MGM department identified as MGM.

My job took me all over MGM Lot 1, Job description” Reel Router.” The processing of film is very involved, from waxing to reduce projector noise, editing of course, and color corrections. Cannery Row was one of our films, starring Nick Nolte, Deborah Winger, and John Huston. Based off a John Steinbeck novel. Almost entirely shot with clever Art Direction using MGM’s main lot. the only lot still standing.

In 1972, Raquel kicked ass dressed like this, in 1982 she” kicked ya and flipped ya.” She won a match race that paid her –extremely well…

I wanna tag team with her…I’m a great skater! I watched Roller Derby, L.A Thunderbird’s, The Olympic Auditorium. Announcer, the legendary Dick Lane.

During the making of Cannery Row, a lawsuit occurred involving the original casted star and MGM. Additional legal entanglements came under scrutiny, focusing on stolen MGM raw stock film. It was being hijacked and resold to Hollywood film labs. The F.B.I arrested the perpetrator “on set.”

Meanwhile back in the MGM lab, I walked in on a pile of cocaine in the “film timers” studio. The color correction involved magenta, cyan, and all things color. It took place in a state of the art post production facility. Expensive consoles corrected the 35 millimeter prints based off the timers recommendations. A huge movie screen completes the interior of this facility. Next to a basket of fruit and tasty munchies was a pile of “blow.”

Cocaine became as prevalent at “craft service” as snacks themselves. no one hid it, you were welcomed by it. An MGM security guard named George Barner was hired to catch me a decade ago. He ran a sting operation to bust employees. He used a famous Hollywood watering hole across the street, still operating as a bar today, The Backstage.

CHiPs Television– wasn’t safe, either. The star, Tom Reilly, was arrested for drug use and relieved of duty. End off Watch, end of his involvement in that hit series. MGM then started searching star dressing rooms when actors on set. MGM Studios would disappear. It would fade to black. Nonetheless, the Acid trips and drug use would continue. I would experience much more at Universal.

The Who “Long Live Rock” was a song and signal of more to come…

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden

Behind the Scenes: Animal Actors at Universal

December 7, 2024April 27, 2025 Phantom of the BacklotLeave a comment

“Welcome” from some of the most friendly stars in Hollywood.

It’s a Wild World- applies here. You may remember the Eagle that would take paper money from visitors hands and bring it back to the handler. That’s how we pay these guys…

Things to note; Three car Pink and White Glamour Trams, an open air Universal Amphitheater. and Castle Dracula towers above the theme park.

Lassie made this show famous. “He” had his own T.V series at Universal.

I was wrapping out a show one late Friday night. I ran into three escaped dogs on New York Street. They were taking their own guided tour. Because of predator dangers, I wrangled them up, put them in my vehicle, and security reunited them to their handlers.

Before it was an actor stage, we had a zoo. It was located behind Courthouse Square.

This guy is the biggest star and has been know to escape into the studio. He has a mind of his own.

Every Which Way but Loose… describes my animal tale.

Who’s the bigger Ham here? I say Erik!

I saw this scene filmed…This is Culver Blvd, my street corner. Erik and his Kawasaki are on back a trailer, attached to a camera truck.

Get me outta here…

“I love donuts” this was how my boss was confronted… face to face.

These actors never strike or complain…

In my career at Universal, I saw a lot of things. Early on, I worked as a tram driver. On this particular morning, drivers and guides were notified. An Orangutan was on the loose somewhere on the backlot. Apparently, it escaped its cage, located just behind the famous Universal City sign overlooking the San Fernando Valley. But the tram tour must go on, “Keep your eyes open,” was the orders issued. A manhunt was on, an all points bulletin that affects the entire studio.

A Dragnet was taking place, but no need to panic the public, act like it’s part of the tour. Animal trainers scoured the lot with tranquilizer guns, because this “most wanted” could kill you bare handedly. Not that he would. He’s a friendly beast. He works around the public all day performing at The Animal Actors Stage. When not guest starring in some movie or T.V show.

As if King Kong was loose, undercover operations vehicles scoured the backlot. The theme park had to be cleared first, because the paying public had to be provided a safe haven. That sequence took place before the park opened. He could be anywhere, on our 473 acre movie studio.

I was one of the first tours to embark that summer morning. I drop off guests at the I Love Lucy stage for a taste of Movie Magic. Videos of Robert Wagner welcome you. I take my empty tram back towards tram dispatch to grab another load of customers. As I drive behind our original Property Department, I notice it is full of ancient Chinese vases. Night Gallery Pictures from Rod Serling’s T.V series also fill the department. I see commotion on the hillside above. Branches snap and foliage disturbs in a jungle type setting. This setting connects the lower lot to tours. He is swinging vine to vine, like in a Tarzan Movie.

Our featured star was just playing in his own rain forest, having escaped from a barred, dank cell. Who can blame him really, I sadly called in his location and he was instantly apprehended without incident. He even performed at his 11 A.M showtime in the popular stage of unemployed movie animals. This show is their back up gig when not in front of the cameras.

The 90’s have arrived quickly. I am now an electrician. I am part of all production taking place on the lot. A de-ja-vue is taking place, I’ve seen this movie before. An orangutan is once again on the loose, this time it’s 5 A.M, as employees are arriving for work. A misty mountain fog permeates the parking area above the collapsing bridge animation. I was driving up to pick up my boss, Tony G. He arrives an hour after my call time. He parks on a steep hillside. It’s pitch dark, and the fog does not help. Shadows are what you see, not employees. Tony gets out of his truck and places donuts and coffee on the roof of his vehicle. Seeing a figure coming his way, he mistakes the shadow as another employee from our shop.

He locks his truck when he realizes, this is not an electrician, it’s an Orangutan. Like a Hitchcock thriller, he is face to face with something that could ruin his day. Tony quickly jumps back inside the cab of his truck. He leaves a dozen donuts and a cup of coffee on his roof. The Animal Actor approaches Tony through his car window. Tony is very frightened at this point. He has entered…The Jungle Book.

Call it Gorilla’s in the Mist if you will since we are Universal Studios. The lead actor has the lead boss in a quandary. The goodies on his rooftop entice our Orangutan star, who apparently likes donuts. Now the ape is feeding itself in the bed of Tony’s truck. The coffee gets poured out on the windows as Tony gets an up close and personal early morning star treatment. Our star, now with a sugar buzz, decides to go from car to car, looking for more pastry. Employees notify security who contact the animal handlers, who were once again on the hunt.

As they arrive with a tranquilizer gun in hand, the ape is snapping car antenna’s. Not in a mood for negotiating…”shots fired”

Our star is apprehended and life goes on as usual in this land of…Movie Magic!

My friend and former boss passed away today, April 26, 2025. Tony Grillo, a great man with many accomplishments. He helped me get the right job for me. He takes with him many great stories so I share this one with you guys on a sad day. R.I.P Tony, from all the guys who worked for you and with you….

Written and Lived by….Donnie Norden.

Bongs, Backlots, and Rock & Roll: 1970s Tales…

October 13, 2024December 7, 2024 Phantom of the Backlot8 Comments

The “paraphernalia” used in today’s adventure. Bamboo grows along the studio fence on Van Buren Street. A 10 foot high chain link fence is a less than formidable separation. It stands between my friend’s apartment building, carport, and these iconic stages.

The herbal product imported from Thailand that is easy to come by at Public School. You don’t have to go to Thailand, Primo is the word best describing this very tasty and exotic import. Tastes like flavorful dark, rich coffee when smoked in a Bong. Bold, relaxing, and extremely intoxicating…

We start this story on the Main Lot of Laird Studios. We still call it Desilu, since that’s the name it was for most my childhood. In picture 3, top row, you can see my friend’s apartment building-bottom right of frame…yellowish building.

It is on Van Buren, the property line separates the main lot from his apartment complex. This was a popular destination amongst “stoners” since top quality ‘smoke and hallucinogenics” can be obtained. Like a neighborhood “7-11” minus the Slurpees. Run by long haired teenage entrepreneurs named David and Steve. They join me and best Pal “Pat Rich” on all that takes place in today’s story.

Before we head to the backlot where Stalag 13 is located, we go up into the ancient dressing rooms. These rooms overlook Van Buren Street. Bruce Lee lived in a Duplex right below this- no longer existing stage. Amazon Studios casualties include many legendary stages. That’s not -progress.

My hero- not Batman anymore-Catwoman

Here is the rooftop of the soundstage in we are exploring today in a Batman episode. Dressing rooms built on the exterior of these stages. This is the only lot I have seen with stages that have dressing rooms attached to the top. They are accessed by long stairways. Don Kirshner films his legendary rock and roll video concerts here. Often our neighborhood pals would be used as fillers for audience. I saw Elvin Bishop do a taping of “Fooled around and fell in Love” his hit song.

Under that rooftop-this storage area is discovered ...

This beaten up TV is eerily similar in every way. It looks just like the set I’d sneak on the MGM Backlot to watch Twilight Zone. I also used it to watch Combat episodes. A TV you can run with usually ends up looking like this.

This was backlot entertainment…Sadly this cassette player fell to its death on the MGM backlot in the church steeple in Combat Village. A song was playing by Led Zeppelin-Kashmir. It’s a long fall. The music was heard during the fall, before impact crashing down on cobblestones, 4 stories below. Needless to say- all my portable electronic stuff had really fun lives. Tonight’s recordings feature this recently released comedy album that everyone in school listens to…

We arrive at The 40 Acre backlot for uninhibited “fun and Games.” Just four teenage Stoner Boys. We have a bamboo bong, Ty Stick, matchbooks from a local bar “Sarna’s,” and a Panasonic tape deck. I record songs and albums on cassette tapes for studio parties.

Where comedy and rock music combine- in the Guard Tower at Stalag 13. “Take another hit, of fresh air and California Sunshine” Quick Silver Messenger Service gets this guard tower party started! This is how our brains functioned this day…

These photos were taken by me in the grassy hill right above the tree stump, overlooking the camp in 1974. The rigid pipe is for the sprinkler system. We would turn it on and lay in hammocks we put up on top of the hill overlooking the Stalag. Sadly, I was going in to specifically photo expose this Stalag when before my eyes, it was being removed.

They weren’t tearing down the lot. A show titled The Fortune was about to build a village. The show starred Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson. They only left the utility shed pictured with a snow painted roof. Foreground in last picture are some rope cots and other props stashed behind this house below us. The camp stood until 1974. That’s when I liberated the stump with help from Pat. When entered for the first time late 1972, the camp was perfectly in tact. A native plant you see in the top 3 photos actually is like sandpaper. Finesse is required at this point. When you cut through it, it can scar you up. What doesn’t around here?

From the Front Lot to the Backlot-we double dip this afternoon and evening…Summer 1973

We start our journey “Dazed and Confused”

Pat and I peddle our bikes to an Apartment Complex built behind Desilu Studios. It is best known to kids for what can “be had” from tenants inside units. Two friends live here-Steve and David. Long hair, very popular hippie types, Public School friends.

David shows us his Bong Business. From Bamboo shoots that separate the Desilu Main lot and his parking complex-Pat and I are impressed by his craftsmanship. Airtight with wax inside for sealing and water-proofing this smoking device. They are known to be the best Bongs in Culver City. I’m equally as interested at the main lot behind this free growing bamboo. The conversation shifts from Bongs to trespassing.

Pat and I are told that these brothers often trespass starting from this high fence blocked by bamboo. They then go up into the ancient dressing rooms built along the backside of these soundstages. They point upwards to stages looking down on us where we stand on delineated-painted parking stalls on blacktop. Since Laird became owner, backlot security, more specifically the “Guard Dogs” no longer exist on the backlot. It’s become a “Teenage-Wasteland” that more often than not is completely uninhabited by adults.

These brothers offer us a tour of the front lot dressing rooms. They assure us it’s almost completely safe. They also share some exploits from their life along this fenced property. These two brothers have more history trespassing this front lot than anyone else I know. We shy away from front lot trespassing. The consequences are severe, like a visit to jail. Also, hiding places are few and far between. But-not wanting to be…”Chickens,” Pat and I accept their invitation with one lone stipulation “we carry no contraband.”

This is advanced trespassing when you sneak around soundstages. No distractions needed-bring your “A game”

We climb the fence using bamboo like Koala Bears. We squeeze in between and step on the chutes, like a ladder built by nature. An easy refreshing climb from a bamboo jungle to a concrete, secured jungle. All paraphernalia is left at their house because lots of things can go wrong here. We hug the interior fence line and reach a stairway. The stairway ascends upward to a long walkway. The walkway is in front of all these rooms I have been looking at for many years. I have never attempted to occupy these rooms.

This is so exciting not knowing what’s inside and the adrenaline is more powerful than any drug at this moment. I choose a random room and turn the ornate glass handle to enter…open sesame.

Inside, we are greeted by a musty smelling vacancy that suffered extreme water damage. A smelly couch with room enough to change costumes and mirrors for make-up to be put on the actors. Tiny bathrooms finish the room off. The last stars to be up here had to be long ago. Wood stuff is rotted and the smell gets to ya. The floor has tiles with black and white patterns. We now see before our very eyes something we have been wondering about. We try other door handles that do not even have locks. We enter several other dressing rooms. These rooms all have their own stories-if they speak.

We go back down one of two stairways up top here. We mosey into what was a soundstage. Now it is a stock unit storage area. Props and walls, every studio has storage like this. There is activity on the lot and we are forced to hide as we hear voices. We are tucked away in an obsolete corner surrounded by set walls kept for storage. A hole in broken drywall allows us to peek inside a mysterious room, but not big enough to fit through. What we see is film cans, tiny thin ones with Lucy stamped on them. We don’t see any door attached to this room. Access is maybe from the front where we would most likely be seen. Well, we got our fill and answered several questions on what we have been looking at for several years. We backtrack back to the fence we entered to now exit to head down Van Buren to the backlot.

March on Starship Troopers…

Now we are soldiered up. We are carrying a bong and a Panasonic tape deck for some backlot partying. We choose Stalag 13 as our destination of choice. I was just here a week ago and I still have a “hickey” on my neck, from Maureen. It’s fading like those joke shop tattoos we buy on Main Street. But, this is real-done by a real hot girl.

As we enter, we pass down Western Street. So far, we are the only folks on this backlot. We slowly walk up Western Street and I push play on my cassette deck. “Cisco Kid” by the band War begins to set the mood. It’s as if this song is written for this street. We pass a saloon as the lyrics “Poncho drinks the Wine” is versed. I’m already high and we haven’t partaken in our session yet.

We arrive at Stalag 13, around the corner from Western Street. In minutes, we are in a guard tower. I was just making out in the guard tower last week with Maureen. Today, its all boys as we situate one boy for each of the four interior walls of this guard tower. Our feet connect center stage like spokes on a wheel. We break out the contraband. Before I turn back on the music and comedy, I casually flip the hair off my neck. This exposes hickey for all to see. Boys will be boys

We talk and spark up, we start with “hot girls” as a topic. Susan Dey of the Partridge Family seems to be a topic that gets beat around the most. Peggy Lipton of the Mod Squad is also often discussed. We all agree Linc has a pretty cool Afro. You don’t see “AFROS” on TV, but you do on city streets.

We too are a Mod Squad…

Just the mentioning of all our female actress’s practically ignites our red covered booklets of Sarna’s matches. My pop brings these home almost daily, from a bar right across from the studio.

The bubbling sound of a “Bong at work” intersects with deep conversation. This conversation is sophisticated, as only 13-year-old stoners can deliver. We cover everything from Pro Football and the undefeated Miami Dolphins to the World Champion Oakland Athletics. We also cover Vietnam, a place none of us want to end up. “Our Thai Stick comes from that region. Soldiers smoke this,” I point out as I suck on my bamboo peace pipe. “It’s called the Golden Triangle” as I burn my finger talking too long. Last week- I was sucking on Maureen’s neck up here. Today, she’s been replaced by a piece of bamboo and a stick of Thai.

Must be explained: The object of taking a bong hit is to consume the entire hit. This includes the herb loaded in the chamber. When this successfully takes place, the bubbling sound turns into a hissing sound. This is usually simultaneously followed by coughing. Then a large smoke plume often appears, and possibly death...just kidding.

As my lungs clear up in this Stalag 13 guard tower, I tell Dave and Steve a bong story. The story involves Pat and took place in my backyard. “I have several cartridges of blank ammo I got from MGM- left over from Combat. Pat was coming over to my house. I wanted to greet him with a bamboo bong hit. We never use cheap plastic reproductions. As he walks through my back gate, I greet him with my peace pipe. “I got one ready for ya,” I hand him a lighter and bong and step back. He does not know below the herb-in the chamber is gunpowder from Combat. So I’m not exactly sure what will happen next.

“Ignition” at the spark of the match. A massive flame engulfs his face. It was a blinding flash that disappeared as fast as it ignited. Pat has a goat styled beard growth that was smoldering, after the flame flashed out. He couldn’t see briefly. That didn’t stop him from trying to punch me out. Blindly, his swings miss their target as he smolders. I never laughed so hard. Pat at this moment, as when this happened, sees no humor in this story. Once again, he kicks me with those stupid boots he always wears.

He may need counseling, this event really seems to bother him.

We are sitting cross legged on the floor, our heads still remain below the frameless, glassless windows overlooking the Stalag. We can’t be seen, the tops of our heads are below wood framing. But I’m sure at times can be heard- a long ways away. The more we pass the bong the higher each of us gets. Faces change shapes as the effects of being stoned are happening before our eyes. “Take another hit-of fresh air”

We all do Sergeant Schultz impressions …”I see nothing but colors” is my anecdote as each stoner does his own Sgt Schultz. The beauty here is we go home and watch the reruns on T.V, at home- it’s like this series is still going on. In our lives it is. David does a solo verse of a song titled Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath.

David says he ran into Tom Laughlin, better known in these parts as “Billy Jack”

He continues, ‘We were skateboarding down Ince Blvd. He passed by us on a motorbike and waved.’ “Interesting,” I exclaim! “Every set on this backlot has Billy Jack written inside it, you know.” I elaborate on his story. “Someone has an obsession for “One Tin Soldier” around here.” I continue “I’m glad Billy isn’t security around here, then again, he’d work with us. “

Cheech and Chong take stage in this guard tower. Sister Mary Elephant opens the comedic part of this deep mind journey. Pat and I find anything to do with nuns extra funny since we both served a long sentence at St. Augustine’s. We were both kicked out before 8 th grade. We were told, as were our parents, we have been seen trespassing out of MGM. We were spotted by a station wagon full of nuns, of all things.

The final straw was attaching a strange boy to a rope attached to the school flagpole. We buckled his belt to the rope reserved for flags. They then hoisted him upwards. The school had lots to explaining to the parents and we were told to get our education elsewhere. That leads us to where we’re at now…elsewhere it is!

After spilling the Bong water, a necessary component in Bonging, “we- cotton-mouthed long hair freaky people,” call it a day. We have been laughing non-stop for what seems like days, as for now, we’re just really thirsty…

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden. R.I.P. Patrick Rich you are missed.

A Most Mysterious Location- Vasquez Rocks

September 13, 2024September 13, 2024 Phantom of the BacklotLeave a comment

Strange Space Craft are known to come and go from this desolate location that doubles as… The Outer Limits

The Zanti’s invade Vasquez Rocks

“What’s up there?”

“Welcome tiny visitors”…

This craft took off -To the MGM Backlot 3, and MGM Security- known for their shooting prowess- finished this job off on the Backlot. The Zanti Misfits-The Outer-limits

Folks are not always welcome…“People are Strange” applies here.

Who runs this place that has no clocks- just shifting sands to register time…

“Beam me up Scotty…NOW!

My favorite visitors have arrived…

No room for humans here…I wore that helmet at MGM. 1974 T.V series... I had long hair sticking out and a guard who hates me showed up and ran at me. I didn’t move because I had a pass. I also had on Ape hand gloves and a rifle. What a sight to see, crew was around corner having lunch and put on what actors took off to eat. I was more imposing than security. Only thing missing was my horse, which was tied up when this all took place. A great story in my first book- Hole in the Fence

Whose in charge here?

Cowboys and Aliens both roam around here…

We need more cowboys…

Gathering forces…

“We need the most Bad Ass Cowboys in these parts Lee- We’re under attack from Outer Space!“

This calls for a Singing Cowboy- Roy Rogers is on his way Maybe he can bring Peace– On location in “The Fall Guy”

“Just be careful and …I love You!“- My mom use to say that to me every time I walked out the front door.

The Battle for –Ayahuasca…Blazing Saddles 1974

I hear Hollywood is sending in troops..

“We can clean this up”…Says Andy Griffith to a young Jeff Bridges

This film (Hearts of the West) was also filmed on the MGM Backlot in 1975. The following year-Jeff Bridges would return to the MGM backlot for an extended stay on the Block Buster “King Kong” Lots to say on that in my second book – The Uninvited Visitor. Recommended reading unlike anything done on the subject.

“Captain Kirk is our friend out here, you remember that youngster !” says Andy Griffith.

Play dead if your out numbered…

Turns out–In pre historic days...”They made movies here!“-Used as Bedrock in The Flintstones.

Yabba -Dabba – Do... Your mileage may very!

Something called –The Flintstones…Talking about My Generation

(Bed Rock ) can be found at this location.

Blazing Saddles then and now…

Austin Powers – Dr. Evil’s Lair found it’s way to Vasquez Rocks

This film also used the Universal Backlot-New York Street became “London” for a few shots.

1931 -Dracula – picture left is a stage coach opening scene -to the right is a combo matte painting of castle and Vasquez Rocks. Stage Coach headed to castle in both pictures

Vasquez doubles as Tibet- this is my favorite picture of all things done here…Spooky Cool History..“.Lets slide out of here to 1996”

We have arrived in style 1996-“There’s Jerry, Sliding in !

Sliders was a Universal T.V Sci-Fi series broadcast from 1995-2000.. I went On-Location with this show and we filmed at Vasquez Rocks. I operated a Wind Machine, to blow dust in background of a tiny house put together out in the middle of ‘No where.” One of Hollywoods true gentlemen starred in this series, Mr Jerry O’ Connell. My picture with him is from another series that never aired, The Munsters. In the picture on the right, he is in costume as Herman Munster. After 2 weeks of shooting and a boat load of money to build interior/exterior versions of 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Universal had to pull the plug as Director Bryan Singer became entangled in serious legal problems. The concept of this remake was to make a sinister version of America’s Favorite Monster Family.

Location directions- I was a wind machine operator on the TV series- Sliders

We used 4 Ritter Fans a Full Throttle to create Tornadoes. Hot fun in the summertime. Running wind machines with Special Effects is the funnest aspect of my job.

This is a wind machine, better known as a Ritter Fan. Operated by electricians in unison with Special Effects. We control throttle and air speed. Effects tosses debris (leaves, dirt, trash etc) or water in front of the blades for rain storms. They are silent at low R.P.M’s so dialogue can coincide as wind blows on actors. The fan blades are wood and are as big as a propellor on a plane. Actors ‘I’ve Blown Wind Nn” -seriously- include Harrison Ford in the feature (Crystal Skulls), Tom Cruise in (War of the Worlds) and (Minority Report) and my two favorite Pirates, Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, and a ship load of crusty lads aboard – The Black Pearl. Subtle ocean breezes we can control. I want to salute Special Effects for all they do to create what’s needed, there is no such thing as ‘we can’t” -the sky is the limit. Welcome to My World, It’s fun place to be, and I can control the weather.

The World Famous Vasquez Rocks ;

Located in the high desert near Agua Dulce- this park features 932 acres of spectacular rock formations and is a favorite filming location for Hollywood. The history here began in Prehistoric times, so naturally- The Flintstones Production Company built the town of Bedrock on this site. The village is nestled under jagged sandstone rock formations. Estimated to have to been created 25 million years ago. The San Andreas Fault helped shape the rocks we see today.

Included in a long list film history include the 1931 classic Dracula, Blazing Saddles-1974, Austin Powers- The International Man of Mystery -1997.

The Name Vasquez Comes From;

In 1874-Tiburciuo Vasquez, one of California’s most notorious bandits, used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. That sounds like movie to me.

Two episodes of Bonanza were filmed here- first in 1964-(Between Heaven and Earth)-a perfect title to describe this area. Joe Cartwright, while climbing the rocks to see the terrain, loses his rifle in a crevice. He becomes reckless and embarrassed. Ben realizes something is wrong and gives him guidance.

In 1966, Bonaza returns in an episode “Ride the Wind.” Sounds like wind machine call to me. The plot- in a nutshell-The Pony Express comes to Virgina City and Little Joe decides to team up with them. That takes us to our Vasquez Rocks location. Indians harshly react to express riders invading their land.

I included a map in this post and I highly recommend visiting this special yet mysterious place with such deep history…

Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden.

Follow me back to 1976 in my most recent book …”The Uninvited Visitor.” Available on Amazon. The Book with King Kong on the Cover.

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