January - CBS Studio Center

January - February, 2003
50 Years Ago...
by Carla Whalen
The lot was humming with activity in
the years 1952 and 1953. Republic Pictures
owned the facility, continued to produce
feature films, and was beginning to enter
into television production. Republic made
forty-six features in ’52 and ’53, of which
twenty six were westerns starring big Bmovie cowboys Allan "Rocky" Lane, Rex
Q
U
E
S
T
I
O
N
Allen, Slim Pickens, Eddy Waller, Roy
Barcroft, Rod Cameron, Forrest Tucker,
Harry Carey, Jr., John Agar and Jim Davis;
with cowgirls Mary Ellen Kay, Penny
Edwards, Marjorie Lord, Estelita Rodriguez
and Gale Storm. The most famous feature
of this two-year period was The Quiet Man
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
produced four 12-episode Chapterplays
during 1952-53; Canadian Mounties vs.
Atomic Invaders, Radar Men from the Moon,
Zombies of the Stratosphere and Jungle Drums
of Africa starring Clayton Moore, who was
taking a break from his role as "The Lone
Ranger." Republic produced Commando Cody
– Sky Marshal of the Universe as a television
series at a cost of under $20,000 per
episode. The 12-episode continuing story
following heroic Commando Cody’s quest to
defeat the villainous "Ruler" was ultimately
re-edited and put into theatrical release. With
the television audience growing very quickly
the demand for material for air was strong,
so Republic began releasing their enormous
library of films for broadcast, among them
Bill Williams, Kit Carson
over three-hundred fifty B-westerns,
including fifty-six Gene Autry and eightytwo Roy Rogers singing cowboy oaters. By
the early 50’s Republic’s production schedule
was the lowest it had been since 1935, and
most shows were shot on location leaving the
stages available to independent producers.
In 1952 Republic made a deal with
Revue Productions, the television arm of
MCA (Music Corporation of America).
Revue moved onto the lot in 1952 and
produced five half-hour series between 1952
and 1953; Biff Baker, U.S.A. starring Alan
Hale, Jr., Kit Carson starring Bill Williams,
City Detective starring Rod Cameron as a
continued on page 4
What was the first toy advertised on
network television?
Answer on Page 4
January - February 2003
Production Schedule
Carla’s Café . . . . . . . . . . .
Car Wash . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CBS Supply Station . . . . . .
Cellular Phone . . . . . . . . .
Client Services . . . . . . . . .
Coffee Bar . . . . . . . . . . . .
Computer Training/Rentals
Dry Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency Line . . . . . . . .
Hair Salon . . . . . . . . . . . .
Internet Access . . . . . . . . .
Joe’s Gym . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Notary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pager Rental . . . . . . . . . . .
Safety Hotline . . . . . . . . . .
Shoe Repair . . . . . . . . . . .
.5692
.5042
.5001
.6221
.5458
.5979
.6221
.5679
.5555
.6157
.5218
.5458
.5837
.6221
.6078
.5679
Screen Actors Guild
Award Nominees
That 70’s Show
Carsey-Werner-Mandabach/FOX
Grounded For Life
Carsey-Werner-Mandabach/FOX
Passions
NBC Studios/NBC
Actor in a Telefilm or Miniseries
Sean Hayes
Martin & Lewis
Just Shoot Me
Universal/NBC
Actor in a Comedy Series
Half and Half
CBS Prods./UPN
Sean Hayes
Will&Grace
Regular Joe
Touchstone TV/ABC
Bernie Mac
The Bernie Mac Show
Good Morning, Miami
Warner Bros./NBC
Actress in a Comedy Series
Jane Kaczmarek
Malcolm in the Middle
Megan Mullally
Will&Grace
Comedy Ensemble
Will & Grace
NBC Studios/NBC
Yes, Dear
20th Century Fox/CBS
My Big Fat Greek Life
Brad Grey TV/CBS
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
Regency Ent./FOX
PLEASE REMEMBER TO...
Drive within the
8 mph speed limit.
Lizet Boyd
Accounts Receivable
on the birth of your daughter
Olivia Rachel
Stop at all
Stop Signs.
Avoid blocking
the roads when
you park.
1-1-03
2/14
Michael Klausman
2/15
on the birth of your grandson
CBS Newsletter Editor
—Tamara Tuell—
Seth Evan
1-12-03
Studio Employee Golf League
Banquet-Carla’s Cafe
President, CBS Studio Center
2/17
President’s Day Holiday
January - February 2003
Good Guys Wear Black
by Tony Alan Banks
Randy Cordray
Is there anyone out there looking to
produce a hit show? Hey, it’s easy. All you
need is a skilled, focused director not afraid
to take chances; a superb, trusting, talented
cast; a sharp, witty writing staff blended to
perfection; a hard working crew and an eager,
competent production staff. Piece of cake.
All the above are crucial elements in the
success of a television sitcom. However,
behind the scenes like a constant fog lurks
the heart of any show, the puppeteer to the
puppets – the UPM or Unit Production
Manager.
Still Standing has been blessed with all
the above in its freshman season here at
CBS Studio Center. Friends, now is my
time to firmly ensnare myself a position for
next season by sucking up to the best UPM
in television, Still Standing’s very own Randy
Cordray, the man in black.
The UPM is an orchestrator, oratator,
respirator,
motivator,
demonstrator,
rejuvenator, terminator, reciprocator, and
gladiator. Part drill sergeant, part
psychologist. A good UPM is able to tap
dance through the heavily armed minefield of
production while juggling hand grenades and
sharp objects – blindfolded. It takes a certain
personality with a unique temperament to
find the delicate balance the job requires and
our man in black is a master of the trade.
Randy Cordray spent the last five
seasons as UPM on the wildly successful
Dharma and Greg. After the show came to its
end, he was thrilled to have the opportunity
to ‘come back home’, back to his all-time
favorite lot, CBS Studio Center, the studio
where he honed his skills while blistering his
feet as a 1st assistant director back in the
glory days of CBS/MTM. Known as one of
the most organized and hard working AD’s
in the business, Randy thrived and survived
at the CBS/MTM lot, working on a variety
of forgettable shows: The Two Of Us and
Easy Street, to television gems such as the
Halloween 2002
Some members of Still Standing crew support their “Man in Black”.
classic
Newhart
and
the
gritty,
groundbreaking Hill Street Blues. The
progression from AD to UPM was a natural
process. Randy helmed the pilot for Titus
and Townies, both here at CBS Studio
Center. Townies was a short-lived series that
introduced America to Jenna Elfman. The
rest as they say, is history…
The absolute desire to be the best has
propelled Randy to a unique level of
efficiency. Nevertheless, trust me, you will
never be able take the AD instinct out of his
blood. It simply will not happen. Randy
Cordray’s "quiet please" death stare could
frighten the hair off Don King’s dome, it
could freeze molten lava, it could chase the
hump off a camel…. If only it could silence
the grip room!
The environment and overall attitude on
Still Standing are a direct tribute to the
UPM. We are a hard-working, caring group
of professionals who truly respect one
another. It makes for an extraordinary work
environment, so Randy, we thank you.
So, if you see the man in black out and
about the Studio grounds, take the time to tell
him hello. You’ll discover that it’s "Randy here”.
KCAL/KCBS
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
develop.
50 Years Ago...
Montgomery, Wagon Train starring Ward
Bond and Robert Fuller, Alfred Hitchcock
Presents hosted by Alfred Hitchcock, Schlitz
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.
continued from page 1
Cast of Wagon Train
Lee Marvin, M Squad
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
anthology shows that would continue
throughout the decade – Chevron Theater,
Revlon Mirror Theater, and Pepsi-Cola
Theater. The Pepsi-Cola show was hosted by
Arlene Dahl and was shot on (today’s #)
Stage 9. Thirty years later her son, Lorenzo
Lamas, would work on that stage co-starring in
the Lorimar series Falcon Crest.
Between 1953 and 1958 Revue
produced many other popular television
series; The Crusader, starring Brian Keith,
Soldiers of Fortune starring John Russell,
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
Robertson, Cimarron City starring George
Alfred Hitchcock, Alfred Hitchcock Presents
WHAT THINGS COST IN 1953
Car
$1,850
Gasoline
$0.29 per gal.
House
$17,500
Average Annual Income $4,700
Minimum Wage
Cast of Leave It To Beaver
A
N
S
W
E
R
Mr. Potato
Head
in 1952
$0.75 per hr.