PRIME, Our paths may have crossed during the time you worked on that Universal "Big Valley" set.
I've been on too many sets, but was Big Valley the one with Barbara Stanwick?
The day I 'worked' on that TV series, it was taped on a big sound stage which was construced to look like an outdoor scene with a big, rolling hill in the background while we sat in the foreground around a small campfire while a couple of cows could be see coming over that rolling hill.
The day before my arrival they had 'taped' a big scene in which the whole heard of cattle came over that hill.
Do you recall being there?
And is it possible that you were working on the set in which the built huge room with the huge round table in which "Prince Valiant (?)" was the major character.
I was not the guy who was accused of leaning on that huge castle wall and knocking it over .. before they had completed securing it in place.
Interesting to know that you had worked there before the park was constructed.
I was eighteen when I worked as a grip at Universal in 1962, so it wasn't long before the theme park opened. The star of Big Valley was Barbara Stanwyck. Honestly, I don't remember what the set was. Also, I can't envision whether Standwyck was on the set or not. It's interesting to wonder if you and I ever crossed paths.
My time working as a grip was short. Although the shifts were usually 8 hours long, it was common to only get 8 hours off between shifts, which I didn't much like. Everything was unionized. I briefly thought about becoming a set decorator but the road to that was difficult unless you had an in. My only connection was my dad's friend who worked as a painter for the studios. Knowing someone higher up the ladder might have helped.
It's funny that growing up I wasn't more starstruck. When you see celebrities everyday on the street, at school and at the supermarket, it becomes no big deal. For several years my parents and I lived in Encino where several up and coming celebrities also lived and even some big names up in the hills. Our house wasn't far from Liberace's. Alfred Hayes a contract screen writer lived right behind us. His wife and my mom were best friends. Carter DeHaven was one of my lawn mowing customers. His lawn was Bermuda grass. He had TV's in every room. -Really a nice man.
My dad was a Painting contractor who sometimes got jobs at movie stars homes. I have a photo of my dad standing with Cary Grant in the backyard of his Encino ranch. My dad and I worked at Judy Garland's Holmby Hills mansion. This was when she was married to Sid Luft. Liza Minnelli was a 15 year old 'wild child' who lived by her own rules. Lorna and Joey were just kids.
My late wife lived on North Roxbury Dr, in Beverly Hills until she was fifteen. The next door neighbor was Oscar Levant. Big name actors had houses within walking distance of hers. Lucile Ball and Gregory Peck were just up the street.
My dad was a Painting contractor who sometimes got jobs at movie stars homes. I have a photo of my dad standing with Cary Grant in the backyard of his Encino ranch. My dad and I worked at Judy Garland's Holmby Hills mansion. This was when she was married to Sid Luft. Liza Minnelli was a 15 year old 'wild child' who lived by her own rules. Lorna and Joey were just kids.
