I worked there many times.   It is a strange name and so called for lack of knowing a better name for it.   Through the years it has had many names:

It’s a very small studio yet catered to the biggest stars.   My first booking on the lot was when it was called Samuel Goldwyn Studios in the 1950s.  I was one of the office workers in the movie “The Apartment”.

As you can see in the movie there were about 200 extras in the office set.

Were do you put so many extras between scenes?  Why on an empty stage right across the little alley between the two stages. And what do so many extras do to pass the time for the two or so weeks we worked in the office and Christmas party scenes?  Poker for sure, (nope no pitch – no cowboys)  chess, lots of gabbing… one enterprising extra bought a radio and other things then held a raffle to pocket some extra money.

Another extra bought his saxophone and began playing for us.   He was obviously professional.  In addition there was an old beat upright piano.   After a couple of days when the doors of the two opposing stages were about halfway open, the saxophone player was enjoying himself and us with some 50s jazz.   Jack Lemmon was idly walking around and apparently hearing the music came over to our stage.

For a few minutes he listened to the sax player.   Then without a word he sat down at the beat up old piano and began playing in perfect harmony and rhythm with the sax player.     And a few minutes later Shirley MacLaine wandered in and watched our little jazz combo.   After a while she went into a little improv dance.   At the height of this the AD called the principals in for rehearsal for the next scene.

From that time on, every time Jack and Shirley were not busy they came to our area and our little jazz ensemble resumed.   You could see they were enjoying themselves immensely.   I think the director was secretly pleased at our antics as it put us in a very good mood for the Christmas party set.  :)

The exquisite arches on Windward St were turned into the Mexican Border town where Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh strolled until suddenly they were stunned by the loud fiery car explosion.   That’s also where I have one of the few shots in which you can see me clearly… .     I was booked there for 3 nights…. it was summer and the climate was pleasantly warm despite the cooling Pacific breezes.    I always enjoyed working with and watching  Janet Leigh and Charlton Heston two of the best artists in the Hollywood community  in their role interpretations.

The same as the family oriented Christmas gathering, the studio took care of it’s regular stand-ins.   Therefore when The Robert Taylor Detectives went on hiatus I was automatically booked on one of the many other productions.  This included the David Niven Show, the Big Valley, Wanted Dead Or Alive, The Rifleman, Richard Diamond Private Detective,  and all the other regular series on the lot.  I often stood in for David Jansenn when his regular stand-in was not available.   Dave always treated me to lunch when I stood in for him.  :)

Here is one of the moments I was booked on the Rifleman during a Robert Taylor hiatus:

I found a web site dedicated to The Rifleman that has many interesting discussions and information about this series:

 http://themccainranch.myfreeforum.org/

First at the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center. I’m wearing my flower Happi Jacket.  My son was the video operator and when he closes in on the young lady that is his girl friend Amber.

At the Higashi Honganji Obon.   It was so crowded we had to dance in place.  I think next year they will have to move the Obon into the street.

Then the Nisei Festival where I wear my Matsuri Happi Jacket:

Finally the delayed Cherry Blossom Festival.

This year the Shiawase Samba was the favored dance at all the festivals and it is my current favorite:

I also danced at the Zenshuji Soto Mission, Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temples but could not find a videographer.   Just as well, my timing was off and I did not look my best.  :)

The Nisei Week closing ceremony featured Taiko Project; take a look:

    He told me that he talks to her very often.   I asked him to relay to her how much I enjoyed watching her dance sequence during the Ten Commandmants filming.   Especially since Mr. DeMille, the absolute perfectionist, insisted she perform her dance over and over until he was finally satisfied. 

Some actors are so compelling that I have to be careful from getting too engrossed with their acting. In the third pause of the clip can you see how I was getting caught up in Jane Seymour’s excellent rendition.  Towards the end of the  scene she had tears coming to her eyes and I found my eyes beginning to tear in sympathy.

If you plan to watch this entire episode soon- don’t look at this clip as it will have some spoilers.

Never heard of Johnnie Ray?     He became an overnight success in the early 1950s because of the instant popularity of his two signature songs, “Cry” and “The Little White Cloud That Cried“.   Twentieth Century Fox was quick to take advantage of his popularity by casting him in this movie.   

I remember this moment vividly because I had a bruised disc in my spine and kneeling down was absolute agony.     I have never left a booking once I accepted it so I continued for the two day shoot.   

What about Marilyn Monroe?   She was not known for disciplined punctuality… so in the middle of the first day we broke for several hours as the director wanted to finish a scene with her when she suddenly appeared.   I did not work in that scene and only saw her fleetingly as she came on and left the set.    We were discouraged from hanging around the set while she was working.