Author Tony Piazza

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A Writer’s Journey: From Stargazer to Chronicler and Back. Updated.

December 9, 2013 By tonypiazza 4 Comments

A Writer’s Journey: From Stargazer to Chronicler and Back. Updated.

 

By Tony Piazza

The San Francisco bay area has played host to a number of motion picture and television production companies over the years. Why? A cinematographer once told me that San Francisco with its’ numerous hills and magnificent views of the bay made it the second most photographed city in the world, with Rome being awarded the first. I would like to add is a former citizen, both born and raised there, that San Francisco, with its Barbary Coast history, dark foreboding alleys, and fog-shrouded streets was chosen by production companies because it provided the perfect backdrop for their films dealing in crime, detection, and mystery. A few motion pictures that come to mind is D.O.A, Dark Passage, The Lady from Shanghai, The House on Telegraph Hill, and most notably The Maltese Falcon. Author Dashiell Hammett had his roots in the city, and even though Nick Charles’s first case for The Thin Man was in New York, its movie sequel landed the detective, wife Nora, and dog Asta with relatives in the bay area. Television also viewed San Francisco as a prime candidate for their crime series; San Francisco Beat a.k.a., The Lineup and Sam Benedict being two early examples.

 

 

I was extremely fortunate as a youth and young adult to share in this history. My father was a San Francisco police officer who was assigned back in 1959 to act as liaison to visiting film companies. He provided security, crowd and traffic control, technical advice- in essence, anything that involved the logistics of assisting with their film production. He worked closely with directors searching out locations and with stunt coordinators orchestrating car chases.  This assignment gave my mother and me under the rope access to these productions and the unique opportunity to meet stars, directors, and technicians. He did this for seventeen years, and in the process made a name for himself. I eventually became directly involved in the 1970s, working as an extra, stand-in, and bit actor. Signed with the largest of the modeling/casting agents- the Brebner Agency, I was given opportunities to work on such shows as Magnum Force, The Streets of San Francisco, and The Enforcer, and becoming friends with the likes of Clint Eastwood, Karl Malden, and Michael Douglas. It was quite a surreal experience for a man in his early twenties. When I sat in theaters or watched television I saw myself up on the screen opposite these great ones. Even today, when I sit down and pop a DVD of Streets into my player I’m not just watching a show, but reliving memories. It’s like viewing home movies.

Working on “Magnum Force”

My first recollection of being on a film location was in the late fifties. I was taken by my mother to Candlestick Park to visit my dad on the set of Experiment in Terror. The film starred Glenn Ford, Lee Remick, and Ross Martin. Somehow during our visit, we ended up being an extra in the audience at the ballpark under the direction of Blake Edwards. What a thrill, but I didn’t really understand that then. As an inquisitive four-year-old, I was just confused why we were cheering for a ball team that wasn’t there.

As time passed, however, I did become more cognizant of events around me, and totally appreciative of the opportunities that my dad’s associations brought me. I got to meet my heartthrob Ann Margret filming Once a Thief, visit with the very cool Steve McQueen at San Francisco General Hospital on location for Bullitt, joke around with Raymond Burr and the cast of Ironside, and nearly bought the car that Dirty Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) drove in the film of that same name. And although I was too young when the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock filmed Vertigo, I did see him later on the set of his last film, Family Plot.  Marching down the center aisle of Grace Cathedral on his way to his director chair, Hitch red-faced, and huffing and puffing reminded me of an Archbishop on his way to conduct mass. Later, when I became part of the crew of The Streets of San Francisco (initially as a stand-in for Michael Douglas and then Richard Hatch) I was able to live out my childhood fantasies, by playing cops and robbers right up there on the screen. Not too many young men can say that. I also had the privilege to visit with Steve McQueen again on Towering Inferno and be invited for a drink “with the guys” by Paul Newman.

 

 

For many years, I’d shared these stories with a select few- family, friends, and co-workers, and dusted off my photograph album occasionally for those who might be interested. But, as time went by and gray hairs started sprouting on my head I started thinking about leaving a legacy. With no children to relate my stories, I was afraid that there wouldn’t be anyone left to pass on the unique history that my family was a part of. It was at that moment in my life and in this mindset that I discovered the Turner Classic Movie site, and was introduced to blogging. Presented here was a new venue to tell my stories to interested individuals- and fascinated they were. Quite frankly I was surprised by their response and amazed at the audience which I quickly developed. I had to shake my head, and tell myself that I really had fans, and not just of local friends, but members that stretched around the globe!

 

 

 

 

We’ve all heard the phrase, “be careful what you wish for,” that certainly applied here, for now, I was expected by my audience to supply regular postings. To fill in-between the stories of my experiences- for ones’ memory can be limited at times, I decided to see how my audience would accept my attempts at writing fiction. My first book, “Anything Short of Murder”- a hardboiled detective thriller set in the Hollywood(land) of the 1930s was the result and became an instant hit amongst the TCM audience. It was their e-mails and messages that convinced me to publish the story from its serialized form into a complete novel. Now some four books later- and working on a fifth, all this has become history. In addition, as a writer, I’ve branched off to form my own author’s site where at last count I share some one hundred plus posts of my film and television experiences. I also published a memoir in e-book length, “Bullitt Points,” the story of my meeting Steve McQueen and a personal account of the making of Bullitt. This experience brought me full circle, for all the proceeds from the purchase of the book goes to McQueen’s charity, The Boys Republic, and that allowed me to once again enter the celebrity circle and meet Steve’s son, Chad McQueen.

 Tony Piazza and Chad McQueen

A year later we met again when I was invited to speak about Bullitt at its’ 45th Anniversary event in San Francisco.  Chad was the guest of honor- there to accept a proclamation from the city to honor his dad. In every aspect, the celebration was a real thrill!

Chad-Piazza

Chad McQueen and Piazza

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Reflecting back over the last few years I find it amazing how much I’ve accomplished in my writing career. I don’t take credit for it. For what success I’ve had, had more to do with the blessed opportunities given me, and the blood, sweat, and long, tiring devotion that my dad had put into his work. I’m just a storyteller relating his own special tale. My only regret is that my dad couldn’t have been here to share in the joy that the telling and sharing of them has brought me.

Every writer has his or her story to tell. It’s a journey that doesn’t start with fingers on a keyboard, but with the first breath taken in life. Experiences to me as a writer are what bricks are to a mason. I use them to build stories that I hope will leave a lasting impression on my reader’s minds.

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For more celebrity posts by Tony Piazza go to:

www.authortonypiazza.com

 

 

To help the boys at The Boy’s Republic, and read more about my experiences meeting Steve McQueen:

www.bullittpoints.com . Also available on Amazon & B&N websites.

 

 

About the author:

Tony Piazza is a Central Coast mystery writer, film historian, presenter, and a veteran storyteller well-known for his passion for writing and movies.

He is the author of five mystery novels, “Anything Short of Murder”, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon,” “A Murder Amongst Angels,” “Murder is Such Sweet Revenge,” and “Murder Will Out” available in print and e-book format through Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. Piazza’s non-fiction e-book, “Bullitt Points,” published through SansTree, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the classic Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt” and the involvement of the Piazza family in the production.

Piazza worked regularly as an extra and stand-in on multiple Hollywood movies and television shows shot in San Francisco during the 1970′s, including “Towering Inferno,” “High Anxiety,” “Magnum Force,” and “Streets of San Francisco.”

His inventory of stories reads like a Who’s Who of Hollywood from that era: Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, Darren McGavin, Paul Newman, Karl Malden, Michael Douglas, Raymond Burr, Walter Matthau, Fred Astaire, Robert Vaughn and Leslie Nielsen.

Piazza is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and SLO Nightwriters.

 

COMING SOON, the audiobook of “Murder Will Out,” read by Broadway actor, James Romick. Watch for it.

 

#SteveMcQueen, #Bullitt, #Bullitt50thAnniversary, #Alfred Hitchcock, #ClintEastwood, #MelBrooks, #FredAstaire, #DirtyHarry, #MagnumForce, #ToweringInferno, #PaulNewman, #RaymondBurr, #MichaelDouglas, #RobertVaughn. #LeslieNielsen, #GlenFord, #JamesStewart

Filed Under: Film and Television Tagged With: A Murder Amongst Angels, Alfred Hitchcock, Ann Margret, Anything Short of Murder, Asta, Author Tony Piazza, Blake Edwards, Bullitt, Bullitt Points, Chad McQueen, Clint Eastwood, D.O.A., Dark Passage, Dashiell Hammett, Dirty Harry, Experiment in Terror, Family Plot, Fred Astaire, Glenn Ford, High Anxiety, Ironside, James Stewart, Karl Malden, Lee Remick, Leslie Nielsen, Magnum Force, Mel Brooks, Michael Douglas, Nick and Nora Charles, Once a Thief, Paul Newman, Raymond Burr, Robert Vaughn, Sam Benedict, San Francisco Beat, San Francisco movie locations, Sisters in Crime, SLO Nightwriters, Steve McQueen, The Curse of the Crimson Dragon, The Enforcer, The House on Telegraph Hill, The Lady from Shanghai, The Lineup, The Maltese Falcon, The Streets of San Francisco, The Thin Man, The Towering Inferno, Towering Inferno, Vertigo

A Short Observation about Meeting the Famous Perry Mason. By Tony Piazza

February 7, 2013 By tonypiazza 14 Comments

ErleMasonPerry1

Perry Mason was the creation of Erle Stanley Gardner. Gardner was a bestselling author who had a total of 135 million of copies of his books available during the time of his death in the late 1960s. Eighty of his novels and short stories featured Perry Mason, a fictional defense attorney who along with his faithful secretary Della Street and private investigator Paul Drake helped solved murders in which his clients were accused.

 MasonPerry3

 Author Erle Stanley Gardner

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 Early Perry Mason pocket book

Gardner’s Mason stories were featured on radio and films. On radio his mysteries were serialized in 15 minute segments that were presented in the soap opera format popular at the time. There were six Perry Mason feature films produced between 1935 and 1937. Four of them starred the same actor, WARREN WILLIAM with rotating cast members in the other roles. The final two films featured RICARDO CORTEZ and DONALD WOODS as Mason.

 MasonPerry5

Early film’s Perry Mason- Warren William

By far, the most famous Perry Mason actor was RAYMOND BURR who played him in the television series that ran on CBS from 1957 until 1966. (Later he would reprise the role for twenty-six television movies (NBC) starting in 1985). They had a marvelous cast on the original show which included, BARBARA HALE as Della Street and WILLIAM HOPPER as Paul Drake. Ms Hale would return later for the television movies.

 MasonPerry7

Raymond Burr (as Perry Mason)

Raymond Burr had a marvelous sense of humor and a quick wit. To state one example; during the run of the original series a fan approached him insisting to know: “How come you never lose a case?” To which Burr responded straight-faced- “Madam, you only see the cases that I try on Saturdays.”

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Raymond Burr (Mason) and Barbara Hale (Della Street)

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William Hopper (Paul Drake)

I met Raymond Burr after his run with Perry Mason in 1966. He was beginning a new series called “Ironside”.  The show was filming in San Francisco and my father was assigned as liaison to the visiting Universal Studio film unit that was producing the series. I was twelve at the time and had gone down to the location (the S.F. cable car barn) with my mother, aunt, and cousin. I remember my mother telling Raymond Burr how much she enjoyed him as Perry Mason, and he replying in that deep, distinctive voice, that “they were making this new series (“Ironside”) and hoped that she’d enjoy it as much”. I also recall my cousin being tongued-tied as “Ironside” co-star Don Galloway kidded with her. She ended up blushing several shades of (not gray) red throughout it. Everyone in the cast was terrific and there was a great deal of fun and energy on the set. I collected autographs- as most kids my age had done – and which I still possess (see below). One of them was from television’s “Maverick” star, JACK KELLY who was guest-starring on that segment (actually the pilot for the show).

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“Best Wishes Raymond Burr” – Piazza autograph.

Unlike “The Streets of San Francisco” which I would join as an actor/extra/stand-in some years later, “Ironside” was not filmed entirely on location. A few key scenes were shot in San Francisco with the actual cast, but the majority of the action took place either on the Universal backlot or soundstages. Second unit filming in San Francisco was more common in this production, using doubles for the actors, or cars (running shots) or buildings in the city for establishing shots.

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 Don Galloway- Piazza photo.

The following year (during the filming of an episode for the second season) I was on location again, this time at a mansion in the Pacific Heights District. Raymond Burr was as warm, friendly, and jovial as the first time I’d met him. I’d brought the family 8mm camera down and the whole crew performed for our home movies! They were all a great bunch. The producer on the show CY CHERMAK even took charge of our camera and filmed me shaking hands with Raymond Burr and my mom getting a kiss on the cheek.

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Youthful  future author shaking hands with Raymond Burr. My father grinning in the middle.– Piazza Photo

The legacy of any celebrity in the minds of their fans doesn’t always rest with their performances on stage or in front of the camera, but how their personality stands up when they interact with the public. Raymond Burr rates high on my list of truly nice individuals. And no matter if he’s playing a nasty Hitchcock villain, Detective Ironside, or Perry Mason, I cannot help but smile and appreciate the real man who seemed to appreciate people and make them feel welcomed in his presence.

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My mother’s special moment- Piazza Photo.

Trivia: Actor William Hopper (Drake) was the son of gossip columnist HEDDA HOPPER.

                 Barbara Hale’s son, actor WILLIAM KATT (“The Greatest American Hero”) played Paul Drake Jr. in nine of the Perry Mason television movies.

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Tony Piazza (Courtesy of Charlotte Alexander)

Tony Piazza is author of the 1930s Hollywood murder mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder,” which had its roots on the TCM fan website. His second novel, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” was published next in early 2012, and in November of 2013 his second Tom Logan Mystery, “A Murder Amongst Angels was released.” In July of 2015 his latest Logan mystery, “Murder Is Such Sweet Revenge” was made available for purchase, and has since been an instant bestseller. All are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. He was an actor/extra during the 1970s and worked with such legends as Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Karl Malden.  His non-fiction e-book “Bullitt Points” is an in depth look at the making of “Bullitt” from a person who was there. Look for it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites,  or at the link posted below. All profits go to the Boys Republic charity: www.bullittpoints.com.

Tony Piazza is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and SLO NightWriters.

NEW!

The novels that started it all. The first and second novel in the Tom Logan mystery series have become audio books- read by actor James Romick, and is available on Audible, Amazon, and I-tunes.

http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Such-Sweet-Revenge-Piazza-ebook/dp/B0134QMJJ6/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449786866&sr=1-3&keywords=tony+piazza

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NEW!

MSSR Cover ad

The NEW Tom Logan mystery, “Murder is Such Sweet Revenge” is available in print, e-book, AND NOW audio book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. For audio- Audible, Amazon, and I-tunes.

Also:

My earlier bestselling novels, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” and “Anything Short of Murder” now joins “A Murder Amongst Angels” and “Murder is Such Sweet Revenge” on Amazon’s Kindle at a new, low price of $2.99. Now you can have hours of adventure, thrills, mystery, and romance for the price of a cup of coffee- and just as stimulating! Look for it on Amazon. Print versions have also been reduced.

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Also: The new Tom Logan mystery thriller, A Murder Amongst Angels . 

Find them all on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever fine books are sold. Also available for $2.99 on Kindle.

 

amongstangelsfront cover 3

 

Filed Under: Film and Television Tagged With: Author Tony Piazza, Barbara Hale, Bullitt Points, Cy Chermak, Della Street, Don Galloway, Donald Woods, Erle Stanley Gardner, Hedda Hopper, Ironside, Jack Kelly, Paul Drake, Perry Mason, Raymond Burr, Ricardo Cortez, The Greatest American Hero, Warren William, William Hopper, William Katt

Locations of Film, Television, and Soon, My Novel- Part 5. By Tony Piazza

November 7, 2012 By tonypiazza 6 Comments

 

PART FIVE

A continuation of my visit to film and television locations in the Los Angeles area as a means to “walk the walk” of my novel’s characters and bring realism to my storytelling. This week, The Los Angeles City Hall.

Poster from “The War of the Worlds” courtesy Paramount Pictures

 

The Los Angeles City Hall building although not featured as a focal point in my new novel, is nevertheless mentioned, and therefore worthy of inclusion in this series of articles. Completed in 1928, it is the center of government for the city of Los Angeles, California. The mayor’s office and city council chambers and offices are located here. Its official address is 200 North Spring Street in the Civic Center of downtown Los Angeles. Once a dominating structure, it is now dwarfed by taller, newer skyscrapers.

L.A. City Hall (Photo by Piazza)

City Hall was designed by the architects, John Parkinson, Albert Martin, and John Austin. Its construction was started in 1926 and was dedicated two years later in April of 1928. Its’ tower stands 454 feet high and contains 32 floors. In design, the tower’s shape is based on the Mausoleum of Mausolus located in present day Turkey.

Another view of L.A. City Hall (Photo by Piazza)

On March 24, 1976 it was designated a Los Angeles Cultural Monument.

From George Pal’s “The War of the Worlds” (1953) courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Model of City Hall before destruction (Courtesy of Paramount)

Model of City Hall destroyed by (martian heat ray) special effects (Courtesy of Paramount)

To me, having grown up in the 1950s, it will always be the Daily Planet building of the Adventures of Superman– the early TV series which starred George Reeves as the Man of Steel.

Adventures of Superman (George Reeves)

Of course this building has also been seen in other film and television productions.

For example:

 Dragnet-feature (1987)

Feature Films:

  • War of the Worlds (1953) starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson
  • The Bad News Bears (1976) starring Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal
  • Dragnet (1987) starring Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks
  • Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 (2011) starring Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler

 Jack Webb as Joe Friday- Dragnet (TV)

 Television:

  • Dragnet (1951-1970) starring Jack Webb.
  • Perry Mason (1957-1995) starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
  • Adam-12 (1968-1975) starring Martin Milner and Kent McCord

These are just a sampling of films and television shows in which it appeared. It is indeed a landmark of Los Angeles, almost identifiable to the city as the Golden Gate Bridge is to San Francisco. I couldn’t write of 1930s downtown Los Angeles without a mention of this cultural monument.

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Look for the sequel to Anything Short of Murder coming in 2013

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Tony Piazza is author of the 1930s Hollywood murder mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder,” which had its roots on the TCM fan website. His next novel, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” was released early 2012 and is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. He was an actor/extra during the 1970s and worked with such legends as Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Karl Malden.  His non-fiction e-book “Bullitt Points” is an in depth look at the making of “Bullitt” from a person who was there. Look for it where fine books are sold, or at the link posted below. All profits go to the Boys Republic charity: www.bullittpoints.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Film and Television Tagged With: Albert Martin, Ann Robinson, Anything Short of Murder, Atlas Shrugged, Author Tony Piazza, Barbara Hale, Bullitt Points, Byron Haskin, Dan Aykroyd, Downtown Los Angeles, Dragnet, Gene Barry, George Pal, George Reeves, Grant Bowler, John Austin, John Parkinson, Kent McCord, Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles film locations, Man of Steel, Martin Milner, Raymond Burr, Tatum O'Neal, Taylor Schilling, The Adventures of Superman, The Bad News Bears, The Curse of the Crimson Dragon, The War of the Worlds, Tom Hanks, Tony Piazza, Walter Matthau

Locations of Film, Television, and Soon, My Novel- Part 2. By Tony Piazza

October 18, 2012 By tonypiazza 4 Comments

PART TWO

A continuation of my visit to film and television locations in the Los Angeles area as a means to “walk the walk” of my novel’s characters and bring realism to my storytelling.

 

 Hill Street Station

 What is Angel’s Flight? The title of a church hymn? A love poem by Byron? Or a roller coaster ride at Six Flags. Of the three, the latter perhaps comes the closest. It is a mode of transportation that Angelinos have taken since the early part of the last century- 1901 to be precise. I guess you could best compare it to the cable cars of San Francisco, except instead of climbing many hills it climbs only one- Bunker Hill.

 Angel’s Flight at original location

This funicular now connects Hill Street with California Plaza, it has since 1996, but prior to that it was located nearby to the north running from Hill Street to Olive. This was the location when my detective Tom Logan rode it regularly to reach his apartment atop Bunker Hill in Anything Short of Murder (2010).

 Another view from Hill Street

Completed in 1901 with funding by Colonel J.W. Eddy, the Los Angeles Incline Railway consisted of two cars the Sinai and Olivet, which were transported by cables driven by a powerful engine situated at the upper station. There were two terminus  the one above on Olive Street and the lower at the west corner of Hill Street at Third. As one car ascended, the other using gravity descended. It continued this service to passengers at the original location for 68 years.

 California Plaza station

It had a fairly good safety record, although a fatal accident did occur at its original location in 1943. A sailor trying to walk up the track was run over by one of the cars. Then later (2001) in its new location, an 83 year old man was killed and several others injured as the car Sinai suddenly reversed directions and accelerated downhill hitting the second car. After an investigation by the National Safety Transportation Board, the problem was identified and re-engineered, and the newly restored funicular re-opened approximately nine years later in 2010.

 Angel’s Flight from Hill Street (original location)

Angel’s Flight appeared in films; The Turning Point (1952) crime drama starring William Holden and Edmond O’Brien, the remake of M (1951) starring David Wayne, and Robert Aldrich’s, unusual take on the Mickey Spillane Mike Hammer potboiler, Kiss Me, Deadly (1955) with Ralph Meeker. With these crime noir films, and many others not listed, no wonder this historical railway found its way onto the pages of my novel Anything Short of Murder and its soon to be released sequel!

 The Turning Point (1952)

Kiss Me, Deadly (1955)

Television crime dramas also featured this L.A.attraction. Perry Mason (1966) with Raymond Burr, Dragnet  with Jack Webb, and The City of Angels (1976) just to name a few.

Perry Mason (1966)

I enjoyed visiting and riding on this historical landmark (as designated in 1962 and October of 2000) and knowing its association to film and television crime dramas, noir, and a mention in two Raymond Chandler novels- of which his detective Philip Marlowe is figuratively, Logan’s godfather- it shouldn’t be a surprise to my readers why I’d included it in my books.

 

BONUS: Click on LINK below for my video ride on Angel’s Flight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDoytSahkck&feature=youtu.beVIDEO trip on Angel’s Flight

 

 

Look for the new Tom Logan mystery coming in 2013

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Tony Piazza is author of the 1930s Hollywood murder mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder,” which had its roots on the TCM fan website. His next novel, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” was released early 2012 and is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. He was an actor/extra during the 1970s and worked with such legends as Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Karl Malden.  His non-fiction e-book “Bullitt Points” is an in depth look at the making of “Bullitt” from a person who was there. Look for it where fine books are sold, or at the link posted below. All profits go to the Boys Republic charity: www.bullittpoints.com.

Filed Under: Film and Television Tagged With: Angel's Flight, Anything Short of Murder, Author Tony Piazza, Bullitt Points, Bunker Hill, cable cars, California Plaza, Colonel J.W. Eddy, David Wayne, Downtown Los Angeles, Dragnet, Edmond O'Brien, Funicular Railway, Hill Street, Historical Landmark, Jack Webb, Kiss Me Deadly, Los Angeles, Los Angeles film locations, M, Mickey Spillane, Mike Hammer, Olivet, Perry Mason, Philip Marlowe, Ralph Meeker, Raymond Burr, Raymond Chandler, Robert Aldrich, Sinai, Six Flags, The City of Angels, The Curse of the Crimson Dragon, The Turning Point, Tony Piazza, William Holden

A Handshake from Raymond Burr by Tony Piazza

July 3, 2012 By tonypiazza 1 Comment

A HANDSHAKE FROM RAYMOND BURR by Tony Piazza

Raymond Burr as Perry Mason.

RAYMOND BURR (Rear Window, Perry Mason, and Ironside). Below is a fun photograph; unfortunately I had to take it off a frame from my parent’s 8mm movie so it is blurred. The home movie was shot one summer afternoon (1969) in the neighborhood of San Francisco’s Pacific Heights. Universal was filming an episode for the second season of “Ironside,” a crime drama on the NBC network. This was the second time I met Raymond Burr, and both times he was a lot of fun, extremely warm, and pleasant to visit with. DON GALLOWAY, his co-star (in the back row), had a real sense of humor. In our home movie he was clowning around throughout the filming,  jumping around like a jack-in-the-box. Another co-star seen in the home movie was the attractive actress BARBARA ANDERSEN (she guest starred on the original Star Trek)…needless to say I spent at least a minute (of 3) shooting footage of her towards the end of the home movie!

Frame from home movie- getting a handshake from Raymond Burr

The producer of the show CY CHERMAK took the home movie. When we started shooting all of us were all standing there like we were posing for a still picture. Raymond Burr suddenly spoke up and said, “Hey, this is a moving picture, let’s do something!” He reached over and shook my hand, and then kissed my mother’s friend and my mother on the cheek. He then leaned over to my dad, and whispered, “Your wife is cute, do you mind if I take her to lunch?” Don Galloway, as I mentioned before was very animated behind us jumping up and down like a school kid. Everyone on the cast of that show was terrific.

The Cast of Ironside (Top: Mitchell and Galloway. Bottom: Burr and Andersen)

 My first visit to the location of “Ironside” was the summer before, during a scene they were filming for a first season episode. It was at the San Francisco Cable Car Barn Powerhouse on Washington and Mason Streets, and I believe it was a “shoot out” they were filming. On that day I collected a book full of autographs (which I have 45 years later! ). They not only include those mentioned above, but DON MITCHELL (co-star regular, Mark on the show), and guest stars ANTOINETTE BOWER (Star Trek) and JACK KELLY (Maverick).

“Ironside” ran on NBC from September 1967 until January 1975- a total of eight seasons. The story centered on a wheelchair bound chief of detectives, Robert T. Ironside (Burr) and his police force companions (Mitchell, Galloway, and Andersen) who solved murder cases in San Francisco. A bit of trivia; their headquarters was the old Hall of Justice Building near Chinatown that was torn down shortly after the stock footage was taken. Actually stock shots were not uncommon on the show. Most of it was shot on the Universal lot, but occassionally they did come up from the studio to film some scenes with the cast on location.

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Tony Piazza is author of the 1930s Hollywood murder mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder,” which had its roots on the TCM fan website. His second novel, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” was next released early 2012, and in July of this year, his latest Tom Logan Mystery, “A Murder Amongst Angels” was published and is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. He was an actor/extra during the 1970s and worked with such legends as Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Karl Malden.  His non-fiction e-book “Bullitt Points” is an in depth look at the making of “Bullitt” from a person who was there. Look for it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites,  or at the link posted below. All profits go to the Boys Republic charity: www.bullittpoints.com.

Also: The new Tom Logan mystery thriller, A Murder Amongst Angels is now available!

Find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever fine books are sold. Also available for $2.99 on Kindle.

amongstangelsfront cover 3

Filed Under: Film and Television Tagged With: Antoinette Bower, Anything Short of Murder, Barbara Andersen, Bullitt, Bullitt Points, Cy Chermak, Don Galloway, Don Mitchell, Ironside, Jack Kelly, Perry Mason, Raymond Burr, Steve McQueen, The Curse of the Crimson Dragon, Tony Piazza

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  • “A MURDER WELL-SCRIPTED” is Reminiscent of a Classic Old Hollywood Murder Mystery
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