Scribblings From the Desert

I am a published author and produced screenwriter living in Rancho Mirage, California with my wife, Beth, and two dogs, Crystal and Misty. I have spent most of my life in and around the Hollywood Motion Picture Business.

Name:
Location: Rancho Mirage, California, United States

Friday, August 31, 2007


Inserted this pic of my mother in BTS book today

Home from meeting and I'm still tired. After e-mail I down for nap. Up and computer. Call Beth, then to Palm Desert for lunch with Tom Snow and Norman Foster at The Elephant Bar. Home for ice cream and TV. Down for another nap. Up, Ed Mohler calls from Louisiana. Work on inserting more photos. Beth home and we eat; then she off to party at Dallas's. I work some more on BTS project. Dan Owen calls. Later ~

Thursday, August 30, 2007


Allied Artists Western Street

Start inserting photos as soon as I get home from meeting. Work all morning, scanning, cropping and inserting pictures. I'll wait for later to add captions. Early lunch; then down for quick nap. Up and get ready - to go to Eisenhower physical "pool" therapy. Beth shows up to keep me company on side lines. This was my second to the last session. Home and back to work. To fish place and pick up fish tacos for dinner. Home and she follows shortly. Eat and ice cream. Try Uncle George, no answer. I watch Bill Sasser DVD of their trip to California a few weeks ago when I went with them to Pioneertown and Garner Valley. I suppose we'll try Uncle George later on before we go to bed. Later ~

Wednesday, August 29, 2007


Richard Boone and me on "Have Gun..." set -`1958

Stop at market on way home from meeting to get Crystal Light for Beth. Home and popcorn while I check e-mail. TV and continue with "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada," with Tommy Lee Jones. Good movie. Lunch and ice cream while watching Gene Autry in "The Old Corral." Down for nap. Hospital calls to say Uncle George has been transferred for an agiogram. Finish nap. Up and feed girls. Sweep. To office and insert photos into "Have Gun Will Travel" Chapter. Beth home and we eat. Called Uncle George in hospital; and John Livers in Montana. Beth to H&I Meeting. Sherry Priess calls - her dog (a Katrina orphan)is on TV with her husband, Bob. I record it for Beth to watch when she gets home. Back to computer and more work on BTS Book. Later ~

Tuesday, August 28, 2007


Republic Pictures' "Brazos Street"

Home then to haircut after meeting. To Beth's place of employment to try to halp her fix her cell phone ear piece - to no avail. Home and computer - work on Republic Pictures Chapter, inserting photos (captions later). To Fish Market Restaurant and pick up fish tacoe ant take to Beth's work. We eat lunch together. Home and ice cream with girls. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Back to computer and continue inserting photos. Beth home and we eat. I back to office and continue working on BTS. Later ~

Monday, August 27, 2007


Republic Pictures' Studio

First day with new format and meeting goes smooth. I stop at Office depot on way home and have format laminated. Home, check e-mails and snack on popcorn. E-mail from Jerry Schneider with Republic Studios pictures - download. Beth by to pick up UPS envelope. Putz at computer then start "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada;" Tommy Lee Jones' movie. Lunch early then nap for hour. Up and to Eisenhower for pool therapy. Beth shows up for support. Home and feed girls. Work on Republic chapter in BTS book. Beth home, we eat. To office. Later ~

Sunday, August 26, 2007


Beth and me with Dick Payne

Today was another sleep-in day until I got a call from Beth that her helper didn't show up. Eat fast then drive to hall and help her finish up. Drop photo disc at Longs and home. Putz at computer while she mops tile. Make lunch and eat; then I down for nap. She off to a bridal shower. I up and feed girls; to pick up pictures and put them in album; then Beth arrives home. Talk a while then fix dinner and eat. Down to watch DVD of "The Queen" Later ~

Saturday, August 25, 2007


Dick Payne

Meeting was a Dick Payne roast - funny stuff. Group Conscious after meeting then shop for groceries. Home and unload. Sweep. Check e-mail. Beth home and we prep for party. Lunch and I down for quick nap. Up and Sheri Preiss is here to help. I feed girls; the people begin to arrive. The party was for Dick Payne, who is leaving the valley and moving back to Ohio to be closer to his family. He fell awhile back and had the good sense to realize he shouldn't be living alone anymore at his age (84). Lotta' friends showed up for ice cream and cake. Fun time. After they all leave, Beth and I eat dinner. She shower, then we are about to watch "High School Musical II" - Later ~

Friday, August 24, 2007


Crystal and Misty - "The Girls"

Home after meeting and do some scanning. Take girls to groomer and drop them off. Home and more scanning. Meet the guys at Elephant bar where we have a farewell lunch for Dick Payne who is going back to Ohio to live near his family. Pick up girls - both clean as a whistle and a pound or two lighter because they were brushed before their baths. Home and down for nap. Up and feed girls. Work on Behind the Scenes book. Brother Bob calls. Beth home and we jockey cars (I used hers to take girls to groomer). cook and eat. Call Uncle George, Both of us to office. Later ~

Thursday, August 23, 2007


Jack Elam

After meeting I go home. To computer and start scanning photos for Behind the Scenes book. Do that all morning. Lunch with the Three Mesquiteers - Bob Livingston; Bob Steel; Rufe Davis. Mail then down for nap. Up and feed girls. Sweep. More scanning then Beth home early. We to my pool therapy then home. Fix dinner and eat. Call Uncle George. She to shower; I to office. Later ~

Wednesday, August 22, 2007


My Good Friend Bob Hoy from "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox"

Home after meeting and straight to computer; snack on popcorn. Beth by to get paper then leaves. I watch Dave's Murder 101 show. It worked for me even though one of the actors in the show told me it was very confusing. Lunch and Gene Autry, Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Mail is late. Sweep. Scan a few photos before Beth gets home. Cook and eat dinner. Call Uncle George. She to shower; I to office. Later ~

Tuesday, August 21, 2007


The Sons of the Pioneers - one of my scanned photos

Home after meeting to check e-mail and snack on popcorn. Scan a few photos; then to Beth's place of employment and drop paper and camera. They're pouring the base for the wall and she wanted to take pictures. I to Sam's Club and shop for Hall. Take hot-dogs back and have lunch with her. Home, mail, ice cream, and TV. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Sweep. Scan more photos, Beth home and we eat. Later

Monday, August 20, 2007


Beth and I with Barry Morse - Lt. Gerard on TV's The Fugitive; forty years after the show was on the air

Directly home after meeting. Check e-mail and popcorn for snack. Then to car wash with the Expedition; then to Beth's place of employment and exchange cars and take the Scion to the car wash. Home and insert a few pix in Fury Chapter. Lunch and TV for a few minutes, Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Call Beth. To Eisenhower for pool therapy. Rick Mesa there because of his recent back surgery; Loren is his driver. Into pool and Beth shows up for support. Home after and fix dinner. We eat then both to office. Later ~

Sunday, August 19, 2007


Gunsmoke Dodge City Set on Stage Three at CBS Studio Center

Slept in today while she got up and went to hall. Up - breakfast with paper, then Beth home. I sweep so she can mop. Send some e-mails asking for photos. Fix lunch and we eat. I down for nap. Up and she's beside me napping. Feed girls, then putz at computer for a while. Robin Anderson by to talk and join us for dinner. She leaves and we both to office. Later ~

Saturday, August 18, 2007


Me with Keith Coffin at Corriganville - 1959

Forgot my shopping list so home to get it, then to Von's (closer), and shop for groceries. Home and unpack. Beth home and reads paper while I work at computer. Fix lunch and we eat. I down for nap early. Up and feed girls. She down for snooze while I search for people who may have photos I need for book. She up and search the Internet. Dinner; then she off to a meeting where a friend of ours is going to be speaking. I watch about 20 minutes of 300 on DVD. I just can't get used to CGI when it's overused. Later ~

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Friday, August 17, 2007



Fury 8mm Video Capture

Home from meeting and set up Snappy on her computer, then capture frames from Fury and Roy Rogers Video of my 8mm movies. To lunch at Las Consuelas with George, Harry, Tom, and Norman. Home and down for nap. Up and feed girls. More video captures of my b&w Fury episode. Beth home and we eat. Talk about our proposed trip next week to get Uncle George his mail (he asked me if we could last night). Call Uncle George and he got someone to bring him his mail today so our trip is now off. She washes her hair and showers. Later ~

Thursday, August 16, 2007


Me at 16 holding gun on Crash Corrigan

Home after meeting and do a flyer for Dick Payne's Birthday-farewell party. E-mail Whiskey Tears synopsis to someone at Dave's place of employment. To Eisenhower for second session of pool therapy; Beth shows up and surprises me. Home and make lunch - TV: Three Mesquiters - "Kansas Terror." Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Sweep. Putz on computer and Beth home and we get ready and drove over to Dori's for pizza (to celebrate Beth's birthday). Drive home, get ready and... Later ~

Wednesday, August 15, 2007


Dick Jones as "Buffalo Bill, Jr." and me

By bank and make deposit on way home from meeting. To computer and start inserting photos and captions in Buffalo Bill, Jr. chapter. Popcorn snack. Call Bob Hoy and talk to his wife, Kiva, for a while. Stop for lunch and part of a Gene Autry Western. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Back to office and do some Snappy video capturing. Search for Fury Video of my 8 mm transfer. Finally find it and will capture frames tomorrow. Beth home and we eat and talk. Try Uncle George but phones are out of order so leave message. Both of us to office. Later ~

Tuesday, August 14, 2007


Brad Johnson, Gail Davis, and Me

Straight home after meeting and dive into adding captions to my Annie Oakely essay for the BTS Book. Stop for lunch and a quick look at TV; then down for early nap. Up and feed girls. Meet Beth at Eisenhower Delores Hope Building Pool where I start pool therapy for my back pain. Home after and fix dinner then eat. To office and plan for tomorrow. Later ~

Monday, August 13, 2007


Just something different - off-road in Utah

Shop for some minor stuff after meeting; then home. Popcorn for snack and check e-mail and catch up on news. Start in on Behind the Scenes by going over yesterdays stuff, then adding captions. Scan more photos. Lunch and some TV. Talk Beth. Down for nap. Up with some thoughts. To shed and retrieve some photos. Feed the girls. E-mail back and forth with Dave Cass; get address I asked for. Back to adding captions as well as changing some photos. Burbank Health Care calls regarding Dr. appt. for Uncle George tomorrow - asks if I will encourage him to go. He's being difficult. Beth home and we eat. Call Uncle George and he will not go to Dr. appointment. Beth and I decide to turn it over and let him do what he wants to do. Both of us to office. Later ~

Sunday, August 12, 2007


Gail Davis as Annie Oakley

Up early and to Hall to help Beth clean. Home, then off to ABC Recovery Center for monthly Alumni Breakfast. Joel Peters, Bill and Sunny White, and Robin Anderson were our tablemates. After we to Kohl's and I buy swim trunks and some t-shirts; she buys sox for Christmas at ABC. By Edie's to pick up mail; then home. I down for nap while she watches Tiger win another golf match. Up and feed girls; then to office and scan Annie Oakley photos for the rest of the afternoon. We fix dinner and eat. Call Uncle George. Later ~

Saturday, August 11, 2007


My brother Bobby and me with Guy Madison

Grocery shopping after meeting then home to put away. To office and start inserting photos into BTS text. Turn on Golf for her. Beth home and is happy golf is on. Fix lunch and we eat. I down for nap. Up and find that she's fed girls. Back to office and continue to insert photos on Wild Bill Hickok Show essay. Stop for dinner; call Uncle George; then both of us to office for a while. Later ~

Friday, August 10, 2007

By post office after meeting to mail book to Bill Ruehlmann, who bought it then left it in my car yesterday when we split up in Garner Valley. Home and computer. Popcorn snack. Beth by for minute. I off to meet Harry, Tom, George, and Norman for lunch at Gorilla-burger. Home and down for nap early. Up and feed girls; then to Eisenhower pool therapy for interview (Beth joins me). My Plantronics bluetooth arrived today. I begin pool therapy for my back next Tuesday. We home and office. I make dinner and we eat. She washes her hair, I putz in office. Later ~

Thursday, August 09, 2007


Garner Valley - Williamsburg Film Festival Gang and Me

To hall for daily chores, then drive to Yucca Valley and meet Bill Sasser and company at Pioneertown. Ed Falkner joins us. Walk street and compare production photos with buildings and sets. They shoot pictures and video. Ed heads home and we off to Garner Valley via route 74. Stop for lunch at Sugarloaf Cafe; then on to Garner Cattle Company. Tour ranch and take photos. First house there was built in 1905. Used in many movies, in particular, Tim Holt Westerns for RKO. I leave and drive down 74; they go other way down - through Idyllwild and on to Banning. I home; Beth there and has fed girls. Download pictures I took and call Sasser to make sure they made it down OK. Dinner with Beth. We to office. Called Uncle George; John Livers; and sister Linda in Denver. Later ~

Wednesday, August 08, 2007


Me and A.J. Fenady

To Beth's place of employment after meeting and pick up Van and take to car wash. To mechanic and pick up Beth; she'd left her car for a oil change and lube. Take her back to work and I home. Putz for a few, then drive to Sam's Club and shop for Hall. Bill Sasser from the Williamsburg Festival calls and we set time to meet in Pioneertown tomorrow morning. Lunch With Beth - hot-dogs. Home and a minute of Gene Autry (I've seen it), then to office and on to bedroom for nap. Up and feed girls. Ed Falkner calls regarding Pioneertown meeting tomorrow. Call A.J. Fenady and chat. I ask if he has some "The Rebel" photos I might use in book. Sweep. TV for min. Marge Henderson calls and we talk. Beth home and we eat. She to shower while I write here. Later ~

Tuesday, August 07, 2007


Haircut after meeting. Get a key made for Beth, then home. To computer with a snack. Answer e-mail and work on BTS project. Stop for lunch; watch Buster Crabbe and Fuzzy while I eat. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Work with Snappy video capture hooked up to her computer, capturing a shot of one of my 8mm Westerns I made as a kid to use in the book. Not great, but it'll work. Insert some photos in manuscript. Beth home and we eat. Both to office.. Call Uncle George. Some more inserting of photos. Later ~

Monday, August 06, 2007


To hall then to blood draw at Eisenhower. Shop for groceries and home and put away. Down to computer and putz awhile. Drive over to Beth's place of employment to take her paper. I home and lunch; then down for nap. Up and feed girls. Sweep. Work on spelling corrections in BTS Manuscript. She home and we eat. Here's a pic of convention committee. Beth back row left peeking through the front row. Later ~

Sunday, August 05, 2007

At MDD at hotel. She up before me and to meeting; I up and get ready. Join Beth, Sheri, and Tina for breakfast. Then I pack it all up, check out, and drive home. Beth stays there to the end as she's co-chairman. I unpack, thank Karen, see girls, check e-mails (57), and rest. Beth calls and I drive to Cat City Mexican Restaurant for committee luncheon. Home with Beth. She's exhausted. We talk, then both lie down and sleep for a few hours. Up and call Uncle George (we called him once from hotel), then she shower, washes her hair, and we both hit the hay early. Later ~

August 4, 2007

Up early at hotel, shower and dress. She up and we finally to breakfast with Sheri and Nancy. To first meeting where Marvin is 10-minute speaker. I to bank and make a MDD deposit. Back hotel and we to Luncheon. PM I nap. UP and change for banquet. To banquet and good speaker. Room a little earlier and bed. Later ~

August 3, 2007

Beth to golf course with Sheri; I to hall and clean up, then home. Work at computer for a bit - add some captions, then shut down. Karen here to dog sit girls; Beth by to pick me up and we to Doral Hotel in Cat City for Maad Dog Daze convention. Check in and hi to all. She as co-chairman has a lot to do. I to room and nap. Up later and change; she does too, then to opening meeting where she leads and I read Chapter Five. Good speaker. To room and bed around 11:00. Later

Thursday, August 02, 2007


Andrea's mom - Jane "Poni" Adams w/ Johnny Mack Brown
By Office Depot again after meeting to get some last-minute Xeroxing done for Beth. Home and right into copying photos from Andrea's mom photo book. Then I begin inserting photos into Behind the Scenes manuscript. Jerry Schneider sent me directions which made it easy. Stop for lunnch and an olf Lone Star John Wayne Western. Down for nap. Up and feed girls then sweep. Bakc to photo inserting and finish first chhapter except for captions. Beth home and makes calls regarding Maad Dog Daze. We eat. I back to office. She starts packing for the convention this weekend. Later ~

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Sent my new essay out over the Internet before meeting. After: by Office Depot again and post office (sent both of my books to my Uncle George). Home and work on inserting essay into Behind the Scenes manuscript. Now at 199 pages 1.5 spaced. Note to BBB regarding his blog. Putzed around on computer; then to her place of employment and run a new flag up the pole. Home for lunch and a little Gene Autry on the Western Channel. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Sweep some. Beth home and very anxious - working on fixing something for the convention (Maad Dog Daze). I back to computer. My note posted on BBBs blog. Bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Continuous coverage on Fox. Call Uncle George. Eat and desert alone. To computer and write here. Later ~