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January - February, 2003 50 Years Ago... by Carla Whalen The lot was humming with activity in Allen, Slim Pickens, Eddy Waller, Roy the years 1952 and 1953. Republic Pictures Barcroft, Rod Cameron, Forrest Tucker, owned the facility, continued to produce Harry Carey, Jr., John Agar and Jim Davis; feature films, and was beginning to enter with cowgirls Mary Ellen Kay, Penny into television production. Republic made Edwards, Marjorie Lord, Estelita Rodriguez forty-six features in ’52 and ’53, of which and Gale Storm. The most famous feature twenty six were westerns starring big B- of this two-year period was The Quiet Man movie cowboys Allan "Rocky" Lane, Rex starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald and Ward Bond. This was shot mostly on distant location in a very rainy Ireland, with the interiors done back here on the lot on what are now Stages #9 and #10. Republic also continued producing the "cliffhanger" serials it was famous for and Bill Williams, Kit Carson produced four 12-episode Chapterplays during 1952-53; Canadian Mounties vs. over three-hundred fifty B-westerns, Atomic Invaders, Radar Men from the Moon, including fifty-six Gene Autry and eighty- Zombies of the Stratosphere and Jungle Drums two Roy Rogers singing cowboy oaters. By of Africa starring Clayton Moore, who was the early 50’s Republic’s production schedule taking a break from his role as "The Lone was the lowest it had been since 1935, and Ranger." Republic produced Commando Cody most shows were shot on location leaving the – Sky Marshal of the Universe as a television stages available to independent producers. series at a cost of under $20,000 per In 1952 Republic made a deal with episode. The 12-episode continuing story Revue Productions, the television arm of following heroic Commando Cody’s quest to MCA (Music Corporation of America). defeat the villainous "Ruler" was ultimately Revue moved onto the lot in 1952 and re-edited and put into theatrical release. With produced five half-hour series between 1952 the television audience growing very quickly and 1953; Biff Baker, U.S.A. starring Alan the demand for material for air was strong, Hale, Jr., Kit Carson starring Bill Williams, so Republic began releasing their enormous City Detective starring Rod Cameron as a library of films for broadcast, among them continued on page 4 Q U E What was the first toy advertised on S network television? T I O Answer on Page 4 N January - February 2003 Production Schedule That 70’s Show Carsey-Werner-Mandabach/FOX Carla’s Café . .5692 Screen Actors Guild Grounded For Life Car Wash . .5042 Carsey-Werner-Mandabach/FOX CBS Supply Station . .5001 Award Nominees Passions Cellular Phone . .6221 NBC Studios/NBC Actor in a Telefilm or Miniseries Client Services . .5458 Just Shoot Me Coffee Bar . .5979 Sean Hayes Universal/NBC Martin & Lewis Computer Training/Rentals .6221 Half and Half Dry Cleaner . .5679 Actor in a Comedy Series CBS Prods./UPN Emergency Line . .5555 Sean Hayes Regular Joe Hair Salon . .6157 Will&Grace Touchstone TV/ABC Bernie Mac Internet Access . .5218 Good Morning, Miami The Bernie Mac Show Warner Bros./NBC Joe’s Gym . .5458 Notary . .5837 Actress in a Comedy Series Will & Grace NBC Studios/NBC Pager Rental . .6221 Jane Kaczmarek Malcolm in the Middle Safety Hotline . .6078 Yes, Dear Megan Mullally 20th Century Fox/CBS Shoe Repair . .5679 Will&Grace My Big Fat Greek Life Brad Grey TV/CBS Comedy Ensemble Still Standing 20th Century Fox/CBS Malcolm in the Middle Regency Ent./FOX Less Than Perfect Touchstone TV/ABC According to Jim Touchstone TV/ABC Bernie Mac PLEASE REMEMBER TO... Regency Ent./FOX Lizet Boyd Drive within the Accounts Receivable 8 mph speed limit. on the birth of your daughter Olivia Rachel 1-1-03 Stop at all Stop Signs. Avoid blocking the roads when 2/14 you park. Michael Klausman 2/15 Studio Employee Golf League President, CBS Studio Center Banquet-Carla’s Cafe on the birth of your grandson 2/17 President’s Day Holiday CBS Newsletter Editor Seth Evan —Tamara Tuell— 1-12-03 January - February 2003 Good Guys Wear Black by Tony Alan Banks the heart of any show, the puppeteer to the classic Newhart and the gritty, puppets – the UPM or Unit Production groundbreaking Hill Street Blues. The Manager. progression from AD to UPM was a natural Still Standing has been blessed with all process. Randy helmed the pilot for Titus the above in its freshman season here at and Townies, both here at CBS Studio CBS Studio Center. Friends, now is my Center. Townies was a short-lived series that time to firmly ensnare myself a position for introduced America to Jenna Elfman. The next season by sucking up to the best UPM rest as they say, is history… in television, Still Standing’s very own Randy The absolute desire to be the best has Cordray, the man in black. propelled Randy to a unique level of The UPM is an orchestrator, oratator, efficiency. Nevertheless, trust me, you will respirator, motivator, demonstrator, never be able take the AD instinct out of his rejuvenator, terminator, reciprocator, and blood. It simply will not happen. Randy gladiator. Part drill sergeant, part Cordray’s "quiet please" death stare could psychologist. A good UPM is able to tap frighten the hair off Don King’s dome, it dance through the heavily armed minefield of could freeze molten lava, it could chase the production while juggling hand grenades and hump off a camel…. If only it could silence sharp objects – blindfolded. It takes a certain the grip room! personality with a unique temperament to The environment and overall attitude on find the delicate balance the job requires and Still Standing are a direct tribute to the our man in black is a master of the trade. UPM. We are a hard-working, caring group Randy Cordray spent the last five of professionals who truly respect one seasons as UPM on the wildly successful another. It makes for an extraordinary work Randy Cordray Dharma and Greg. After the show came to its environment, so Randy, we thank you. end, he was thrilled to have the opportunity So, if you see the man in black out and Is there anyone out there looking to to ‘come back home’, back to his all-time about the Studio grounds, take the time to tell produce a hit show? Hey, it’s easy. All you favorite lot, CBS Studio Center, the studio him hello. You’ll discover that it’s "Randy here”. need is a skilled, focused director not afraid where he honed his skills while blistering his to take chances; a superb, trusting, talented feet as a 1st assistant director back in the cast; a sharp, witty writing staff blended to glory days of CBS/MTM. Known as one of perfection; a hard working crew and an eager, the most organized and hard working AD’s competent production staff. Piece of cake. in the business, Randy thrived and survived KCAL/KCBS All the above are crucial elements in the at the CBS/MTM lot, working on a variety success of a television sitcom. However, of forgettable shows: The Two Of Us and behind the scenes like a constant fog lurks Easy Street, to television gems such as the MOVE Plans are currently underway to further develop the CBS Studio Center North Lot into the new home of KCBS and KCAL, along with five radio stations. We are in the very early stage of analysis and design. Preliminary meetings have taken place with the City of Los Angeles and the residents of Studio City to explain our proposal. Early reaction has been positive. The project is expected to take three years to complete and we are hoping to make the move from Columbia Square, at Sunset and Gower, early in 2006. Al Ellena will represent the Studio during the design development and construction process. We will keep you posted as plans Halloween 2002 develop. Some members of Still Standing crew support their “Man in Black”. Montgomery, Wagon Train starring Ward 50 Years Ago... Bond and Robert Fuller, Alfred Hitchcock Presents hosted by Alfred Hitchcock, Schlitz continued from page 1 Playhouse of the Stars, Heinz Studio 57 and General Electric Theater hosted by Ronald Reagan. Also on the lot was Reagan’s ex-wife Jane Wyman, hosting Fireside Theater. Jane Wyman would return thirty years later as the star of Falcon Crest. Revue Productions moved off the lot in 1958 when MCA bought Universal Studios. Cast of Wagon Train M Squad, starring Lee Marvin, Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, starring Darren McGavin, Bachelor Father, starring John Forsythe, Leave It To Beaver starring Hugh Beaumont, Barbara Billingsley, Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow, Buckskin starring Tommy Nolan, The Restless Gun, starring John Payne, Tales of Wells Fargo starring Dale Lee Marvin, M Squad Robertson, Cimarron City starring George police detective chasing bad guys from Mexico to New York City (all on the backlot sets), Meet Mr. McNulty starring Ray Milland as a college professor, and Pride of the Family co-starring Natalie Wood as the teenage daughter. Revue also began producing the first of the half-hour drama Alfred Hitchcock, Alfred Hitchcock Presents anthology shows that would continue throughout the decade – Chevron Theater, Revlon Mirror Theater, and Pepsi-Cola WHAT THINGS COST IN 1953 Theater. The Pepsi-Cola show was hosted by Car $1,850 Arlene Dahl and was shot on (today’s #) Stage 9. Thirty years later her son, Lorenzo Gasoline $0.29 per gal. Lamas, would work on that stage co-starring in House $17,500 the Lorimar series Falcon Crest.