Warner Brothers Archives - Author Tony Piazza

My first assignment came out of a “cattle call” that was held at the SF Casting Agency in the summer of 1971. The casting directors for Warner Brothers Studio were present at the office to select from hundreds of people (why, “cattle call”), those to be casted for various “extra” roles during an airport scene at SFO for the film What’s Up, Doc?. The agency had been around for some years, but at that time they were shy on younger people to fill roles as stewardesses and military personnel- thus, I became a Marine- but only for two days.

My first job- playing a Marine

After reporting to the wardrobe truck and changing into my costume, I went to the set which was located at the TWA wing of the airport. The lobby there was enormous- which was lucky because between, cast, crew, extras, and on lookers it was filled to capacity. It was also hot- lit by many photographic lights- arcs, inky dinks, eye lights- you name it!

On location for “What’s Up, Doc” at San Francisco International Airport

If you have ever worked on a set you will understand the saying, “hurry up and wait!”- and we did a lot of waiting! However, the one benefit of that was that I had time to meet a lot of other fellow “extras”, and made many future friends. One particular was Johnny Weissmuller Jr., we talked for hours about his Dad. He referred lovingly to Johnny Sr. as the “old man”, and it was evident in our conversation that we both shared the same admiration of him and his work. We also both had the same movie book, “Tarzan of the Movies,” and discussed that as well. We worked together many times afterward. The last time I ran into him, he was trying to contact a collector who had some of his father’s Olympic Medals (this was just after his father had passed away).

Gabe Essoe’s excellent book, “Tarzan of the Movies”

My friend, Johnny Weissmuller Jr.

All the stars were present for the shoot- and it was a real treat: Streisand was and is undoubtedly very talented- gifted with a beautiful singing voice and an excellent talent for comic timing. Interestingly, she was more attractive in person than on film. She also had a very dynamic personality and exhibited ‘star’ qualities on the set.

O’ Neal I believe was overwhelmed by the crowds that flocked around him. His fame from the television show “Peyton Place” still pursued him and he seemed to shy away from the public when possible.

Bogdanovitch (in his signature tennis sweater) was there directing- very directorial in appearance and style. It was fun watching him in action.

Director Peter Bogdanovitch

I was also exceedingly impressed by a lesser know actress (at the time) who co-starred in the film. She would become a big star later, due to Mel Brooks (who, incidentally I got to work with a few years later)- and I just have to say, “It’s true, It’s TRUE!” and you probably know who I mean. Madeline Kahn stole all the scenes I watched her shoot- and I knew then that she was going places. She was extremely outgoing in front of the cameras and surprisingly shy behind.

Madeline Kahn in her role as Eunice Burns

Another future alumni of Brooks’ films, Kenneth Mars was also present (very funny in person) and Liam Dunn (preacher of Blazing Saddles) also had a role as a judge. Also of note, the screenplay was by Buck Henry, another associate of Brooks (Get Smart).

Kenneth Mars

There is a lot more I could say about this experience; because it WAS my first , the impressions have seemed more lasting. However, I will spare you of further rantings for now- but if you are interested, I will leave it for another day.

———————————————————-

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.

A Visit to Warner Brothers Studios by Tony Piazza

I was in Hollywood on April 22^nd 2010. I hadn’t planned the trip, and the reason for being there was not a happy one. A dear family member passed away and was buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery (Glendale) the previous day. She had a beautiful ceremony in the same chapel that Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman was married during the 1940’s… in LA everything seems to be connected with Hollywood.

Jane Wyman and Ronald Reagan

Famous Warner Brothers water tower

In any case, we decided to spend an extra day there before traveling back home… and ended up at Warner Brothers Studios. I had been there back in the late 1960s long before the studio was opened to the public (this tour, I believe is something recent). We knew the head of transportation and my family was taken on a private limousine tour of the studio soundstages and back lot. The lot was more complete then. They still had the Western set… although they had just torn down the fort from F Troop. One particular soundstage we visited that day was used in Camelot and the Errol Flynn pirate films…it was very large (one of the largest in Hollywood at the time), and the floor could be turned into a tank and filled with water to contain a large pirate ship mock up. We also watched them film The F.B.I. television show…the director of that episode was a man I would work with a few years later on The Streets of San Francisco, Virgil Vogel (I have mentioned him in an earlier story). I also remember seeing Kim Novak stick her head out of her trailer dressing room to see who we were… I still find that funny.

Kim Novak

I was curious how the studio might have changed from the time I had seen it, and so we decided to take the new tour so I could make a comparison. The main thing I noted was that its’ activities seemed to be more focused on television than film production. The Ellen show seemed to be the big item. Feature film work seemed nonexistent.

On another note: It was strange to see Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” outfit in the museum… I remember him wearing that wardrobe when I worked with him back in 1973. Also, another soundstage that we stopped to visit on the tour listed on a bronze plaque (under television productions shot there): The Streets of San Francisco… well, that was not entirely true. The police headquarters interior (and only that set) was there for the pilot and first season; after that, even it was constructed in San Francisco in a converted warehouse on Kearny Street. I felt that the plaque gave the impression that the entire show was filmed there. Most of the soundstages we saw were empty, and the ones that were occupied were set up for sitcoms and live audiences.

Eastwood on location for Magnum Force.

Warners Soundstage.

Bronze plaque outside soundstage 1.

They say you can never go back, and I have to admit that I found it kind of sad that most of the Warner’s magic had disappeared with the passage of time. Location work has stolen away a larger portion of the mystique that the movie studio once held for movie going outsiders. Where once great ships sat in studio tanks and mighty palaces adorn soundstages, now the lots are taken up by administration buildings and (in the case of Universal) Theme Park rides. To a lover of classic Hollywood history the time spent at Forest Lawn seemed a prelude for what came later.

City Street on back lot

———————————————-

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.