Celebrities - Level Ten Studios

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Putting together the “Shameful Brushes With Fame” segment of the Eisenberg Agency website, inspired me to expand upon my own experiences related to encounters with celebrities and publish it to Level Ten Studios...

My only literal shameful brush with fame is a faint recollection of my brother John getting into a fist fight with Rocky Burnette. Rocky is the son of rocker Johnny Burnette who died tragically in 64’. Johnny Burnette was an incredibly gifted singer/songwriter. The Burnette’s home was located directly behind ours. I personally didn't know the family, but frequently saw Rocky at school. Rocky took his father’s passing very hard, and as a result became hostile. I remember for a time, Rocky was in a fight with someone nearly every day. Rocky really loved his dad and went on to become a successful musician himself with hits such as, Tired of Toein' the Line.

Somewhere around this time period Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright, Bonanza) moved into the neighborhood a few blocks away near the "Ralphs" market. As his income and success with Bonanza grew, Dan moved on to a more upscale neighborhood. Our friend, Tiffany Bolling co-starred in an early Bonanza episode, Five Candles and several years back my friend, two time Emmy Award winning producer, Len Stone produced the promo for a new TV show from PAX called "Ponderosa". Ponderosa was a short-lived take-off of the old Bonanza Series. The promo won a Promax award but drew a truck-load of hate mail. The promo was called "Dead Guys".

At 13, I took an interest in the drums and played in a very loud and very bad rock & roll band called the Hallucinations. We tormented the neighbors, including my Pacoima Junior High School Homeroom teacher, John O. Whitaker who lived across the street and a few doors down from our lead guitarist. Mr. Whitaker is the father of Johnny Whitaker who played “Jody” in the popular television series “Family Affair”. If memory serves me, John O. had 9 children! Well into the series, the Whitaker’s lived in a neighborhood that would not be considered great by any stretch. We’re talking Pacoima, California. Remember, Pacoima is mentioned as an “Important” place in Cheech and Chong’s Christmas song.

Pacoima Junior High was put on the map by a mid-air collision and by Ritchie Valens who died tragically in an airline disaster himself. My graphic design career began at Pacoima Jr. High school when my design for the “Torch” (school annual) was chosen and accepted for print. I had the best art teacher, an African American lady, Mrs. Armstrong. This is the only art teacher I had throughout school who was a genuine artist. Of course I still have my copy of the “Torch” and in my class were two celebrities. Rae Clark and Susan Sennett (she married and is still married to Graham Nash). Susan Sennett landed a TV role as Susie Hamilton in the 1973 Ozzie and Harriet spin-off; Ozzie’s girls. It's interesting that Johnny Burnette wrote many of Ricky Nelson’s songs.

Rae Clark was a personal friend of mine during the middle school years. Rae, now a long distance runner and trainer, is currently a hometown legend in Sacramento, California. I believe Rae once held the world record for running 100 miles. Rae was the kind of guy who would climb to the top of a 120’ steel power structure and hang from the center by one arm, catch a badger in his sleeping bag during a camping trip, chase down a Bobcat and bring a Moray eel to biology class. I’m not saying he did any of these things (I wouldn’t want to get him into any trouble). During Jr. High, we had a homeroom relay race competition. As it turned out I ran directly against Rae. I started out ahead, and Rae didn’t catch me. He might have been gaining on me, but I didn’t look back. My homeroom, Mr. Whitaker’s class won the competition. Although Rae had plenty of natural ability, he later worked very hard to develop his abilities to the world-class level. Who knows, perhaps I provided some inspiration. At age 14, we both bicycled from Arleta in the San Fernando Valley to Malibu beach and back. Rae beat me home by a wide margin.

When I entered High School (San Fernando), I became best friends with John McIntire’s (Gunsmoke Television series) nephew Alan. Alan was a person gifted with an exceptionally great personality. I taught Alan how to play the guitar and he was a natural. He was playing bar chords the next day with ease. Alan could get people laughing so hard you’d think they lost it. I haven’t heard from Alan since High School. I hope he is alive and well.

When I was 16, a new neighbor moved in two doors down from us, Chester Grimes. Chester has appeared in many movies throughout the years. commonly as a biker or member of a biker gang. When I knew Chester, he had a very charismatic personality. Back then, he owned a couple of mint condition, army green Mini Coopers. These cars were really quite rare in the United States at that time (1969). Chester worked mostly as a film extra back in the late 60's and 70's. He spent a good bit of his time on his couch sitting by the phone waiting for work to call. Chester reminded me of the character “Angel" in the television series “The Rockford Files” I remember when Chester began developing a good relationship with Actor James Garner. Chester asked me to accompany him to Garner’s home in Bel Aire. There we got the details from James related to watching his home while he and his wife were out of town. I met James Garner at that time and the following week we guarded the property one night from their garage. As Chester and James relationship developed, James trusted Chester to keep his two beloved dogs while he was away. Chester owned two unfriendly Doberman’s. Although Chester made every effort to keep the dogs apart, one day the doberman’s basically tore up Garner’s dogs. Needless to say their relationship was strained from that point on.

In 1980, I went to work for Dennis Roberts, eyeglass designer for the stars. Although I have made eyeglasses for celebrities such as Elvis Presley, Eddie Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Bishop (the white pair he wore for the Grammy’s), Patrick Stewart, Paul Newman, Elton John, Sammy Davis Jr. Robert Redford and Cher, the most memorable moment for me was when I discovered in the Optique Boutique archive warehouse, the very pair of glasses used in the blockbuster film “The Jerk” Starring Steve Martin. This pair of glasses sported the ingenious invention that keeps glasses from sliding down one’s nose... of course only in the film.

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Patrick Stewart when I lived in Los Angeles during the time Star Trek The Next Generation was in production. My wife and I loved the show and I remember commenting to Patrick that I felt it was the best show currently on television. He seemed surprised to hear that. I wonder if he ever watched an episode! If not, that would be in the tradition of the film "Galaxy Quest", where Sigourney Weaver's character is asked of Guy: Did you guys ever watch the show?!! If Patrick hadn't seen an episode of Next Generation, It was most likely because they kept him insanely busy with production schedules and all. I also mentioned to him, that I enjoyed the film, "Dune" but Patrick didn't seem very enthusiastic about the film, probably due of its dismal success. I still think that Patrick is one of the finest actors alive. I remember the line the producers of "Next Generation" made him say in the "Borg" series... "I am Locutus of Borg"! Now there aren't many actors who could pull that one off!! I still wonder if the producers gave him that line on purpose to try to trip him up. There were lots of practical jokes and good times during the production of that series.

As I continued on in the Optical business, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Dr. Mike DeCarlo. Mike’s brother Mark began his television career with a stand-up-comic background. Mark has exceptional wit and didn't hold back during his reign as host of the television show “Studs”. Studs was a dating game-like show with a mature theme. Mike and I would meet socially from time to time where he would tell me some of the comments his brother made during recent shows: For instance, one time Mark asked a contestant what he was looking for in a woman. The man replied; I’m looking for a woman with a good head on her shoulders. Mark replied; “That’s a good place for it to be.” On another occasion Mark asked a contestant where he lives. The contestant, from one of the Baltic countries, replied; "Hollywood". Mark asked him what he liked best about America. The man replied “All of the beautiful women”. Mark said; If you live in Hollywood, I’ve got news for you, those aren’t women you’re lookin’ at!

I met my wife Valerie in California in 1984 after a Santa Monica Vineyard Church service. In the 70’s my wife had a favorite television show called “The New People” in which Tifffany Bolling played the starring role as Susan Bradley. Valerie was surprised one day to notice Tiffany sitting behind her at Church. Over the years Valerie and Tiffany developed a close friendship. Tiffany married Richard Casares and they have a recently married daughter named Seanie. Tiffany has been in a number of films over the years, and her husband Richard was Mike Love’s (Beach Boys) manager. Currently, Richard is executive vice president of Associated Television International. The last time I spoke with Tiffany, she expressed an interest in continuing her acting career. Tiffany still gets fan letters.