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

Sunday, November 30, 2008


That's Matt Dillon's (James Arness's) Hat I Have On


Jane Adams and Johnny Mack Brown

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 6:00 - shower, dress and eat breakfast with paper. Trim beard then vacuum the house. Check e-mail and news sites. Beth home and we talk for awhile. Work in office. Fix a simple lunch and we eat. I down for nap with girls; she reads paper and makes phone calls. I up and feed girls. She out to buy toys for mission. I watch some TV. She home and cooks dinner. We eat then watch The Monarchy, a documentary we recorded last week. Both to office. Later ~

Saturday, November 29, 2008


With Our Girls

Grocery shopping after meeting - Beth to Edie's. Home and put away groceries. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and peanuts. Read newspaper. Watch latest re-run episode of Entourage. Eat some lunch and watch some of The Tall "T". Beth home and we talk - then drop her car at shop for an oil and lube. Home and I down for nap. She putzes, talks on phone and reads paper. Up and feed girls. Talk to Beth. To office and work for awhile. She reads paper then joins me in office. Talk Theresa and Colin in Montana. Beth fixes corn on the cob and we eat. After she showers, then we start watching West Side Story - she falls asleep so we stop show and get ready for bed. Later ~

Friday, November 28, 2008



Iverson Ranch Western Street

Stop to say "Hi" to Nader at station on way home. Once there I check e-mail and news sites with girls, pretzels and peanuts. Watch last night's episode of Entourage then Beth calls. Over to her place of employment with paper. Pick her up then stop to get some meds for me; on to Sam's Club to shop for Hall. We have hot dogs for lunch. Drop her and she off for nail appointment. I home and "Hi" to girls. Check computer. Call Paul Isenhower in North Carolina and we talk Westerns. Down for nap with girls. Up and Beth is home and already fed girls. To office and answer Bill Sasser e-mail regarding Iverson Ranch Western Street schematic. Work in office with Beth. She in to kitchen to make salad. We eat. Then we putz around in office. Brother Bob calls. Then CSI: Vegas recorded last night. Later ~

Thursday, November 27, 2008


"Walkiin' Talkin'" Charlie Aldrich

BIG MUSLIM TERROR RAID IN INDIA LAST NIGHT; Scores killed.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Home from meeting in Beth' car as she needs mine to transport Thanksgiving food to Hall later. I get her some gas then home where I check e-mail and news sites with girls and popcorn. Watch last night's episode of Entourage; then drop off Beth's cell phone to her at work. Home and phone rings: Charlie Aldrich, my old boss when I worked at Corriganville 50-years ago calling. He's 90 now. We talk nearly an hour. Talk Beth; then down for my nap with girls very early. Up and feed girls. Take off for Hall. Arrive and they are setting up. Beth arrives with food and unload. problems with no drinks and no plates - eventually taken care of. Good dinner and fellowship. I home; she stays until end. I work at computer when I get home. Beth finally home - she talked to Shannon on way back. She showers and I get ready for bed. We watch Without a Trace recorded Tuesday night. Check e-mail. Later ~

Wednesday, November 26, 2008



Several shots of CBS Studio Center (Republic) back lot

Woke up to RAIN! Home after meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls and peanuts and pretzels. Work for awhile at desk. TV: Watch Entourage episode from last night. Then Rocky Lane Western - Rough Riders of Durango; while eating lunch. Beth calls and I get some stuff for her. Down for nap. Up, pick up neighbors' mail and ours; open. Feed girls. To office and read e-mail. Beth home early. We talk then I start dinner; she to office to work. We eat; then we watch NCIS recorded last night. I to office while she showers. Later ~

Tuesday, November 25, 2008


John Wayne and Yackama Canutt duke it out in The Man From Utah

Stopped to gas up with Nader at the Exxon on corner; then home and snack with girls while I check e-mail and news sites. Work some at desk; then off to drop paper and some other things to Beth at her place of employment. Home. Do a few things in office then TV: John Wayne in The Man From Utah (1934)- my first time seeing it all the way through. Lunch while watching. Talk Beth. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Pick up neighbors' mail and ours. UPS delivers a DVD. Open mail. Shuck corn for dinner tonight. Clean up side yard. Sweep floors. Change batteries in smoke alarms. Beth home and we talk. She cooks the corn; then we eat. TV after: CSI: Miami. Later ~

Monday, November 24, 2008


Cast of Entourage

Drop off DVD for Stephen Bowie at post office, then home. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and popcorn. Work a little on computer. To bank with deposits for Beth. On to her place of employment to drop paper and a file she needed. Home. Watch two episodes of Entourage: a good show I've been missing for quite a few years. Have some lunch. Down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. No mail yet. Sweep floors and clean yard. Call from Olsen regarding KOS 8mm. Talk Tom Snow. Talk Beth. Work some more. Beth home and we talk. Cook and we eat dinner. Both to office and work. She watches Dancing With the Stars while I try to sleep. Later ~

Sunday, November 23, 2008


Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 6:00; shower, dress, breakfast with paper. To office - discover Ernie Haase & Signature Sound on a web site then look them up on youtube.com - Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iWY_hXW8Kg -
Beth home and I play a few Haase videos for her then she off to meet Edie for a shopping spree (for the mission). I spend a little time on comuter then into living room and watch a couple episodes of Entourage I recorded - liked it. Then while having lunch, I watch Gentlemen with Guns with Buster Crabbe and Al "Fuzzy Q. Jones" St John. Down for nap. She home while I'm sleeping. Up and she's fed girls. She's reading paper. I putz on computer. Send some Haase videos to Shannon and Cass. Beth cooks dinner. We eat and talk. She to shower; I set up TV. We watch an episode of Law & Order I recorded a while back. Later ~

Saturday, November 22, 2008


Shooting a Scene on The Fugitive Set

Grocery shopping after meeting; Beth to Edie's to work. I home, unload and put away. Check e-mil and news sites. Read paper with girls and peanuts. Some TV and lunch: football and a documentary. Beth home. She eat and we talk. I down for nap. She cleans. Up and she's fed girls. Work on computer. We watch Huckabee then Television news documentary on Fox while having salad for dinner. To living room for Hot Shots, with Charlie Sheen. Get ready. Later ~

Friday, November 21, 2008


And Action! - The Book I'm a About to Advertise in True West Magazine

Stop by Nadar's station on way home from meeting to buy dessert for tonight. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and popcorn. To credit union at 9:00 to deposit check. Home and talk to Tom from True West about my ad. Send him contract. .JPG of cover and my ad copy. Transfer The Honkers from VHS to DVD for Steve Bowie. Meet Tom Snow, George Widman, and Norman Foster for lunch at Mexican place in Palm Desert. Home and call Beth. Cookie with girls; then down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls and open mail. To office. True West ad proof arrives and I OK it and send it back. Work at computer. Turn on Fox news. Beth home and she cooks some corn. We eat and talk. She to office; then we watch CSI: Las Vegas recording from last night. Later ~

Thursday, November 20, 2008


Steve Ihnat and Me on The Honkers set


Some of The Honkers' Cast & Crew

Leave meeting early and home (Beth to work as her employers' are flying out); I check e-mail and news sites with girls. Screenmobile here and guy fixes wheels on slider screen. Talk Beth. Work some then Sean Keating (Computer guy) here to work on Beth's computer. An hour and a half later he has it running smooth again. I pick up Beth and drive her to Bermuda Dunes airport -stopping for s chili dog - and she picks up a vehicle of her employers' and drives it back. I drive home. Cookie and whip cream with girls then down for nap. Up and feed girls. Open mail. Phone conversation with Stephen Bowie, who is writing a piece on Steve Ihnat. Cal Tom Snow; talk Beth - she's on way to Sherry (hair dresser). I sweep and put out trash. Watch some O'Reilly. Beth home and we eat. Watch Withoug a Trace recording. Both to office. Later ~

Wednesday, November 19, 2008


The Durango Kid


Charles Starrett (Durango Kid) on the set

Leave meeting early so Beth and I can make an 8:45 appointment in Indio regarding Trust. No Bob and Eva. On way home stop and get some fresh corn; then drop me at Hall to git my car. I home and change - hi to girls - then off to meet Beth at Bermuda Dunes airport where she's dropped car for her employers. Drop her at her place of employment and I home. Fix some lunch and watch Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette in Trail of the Rustlers a 1950 Durango Kid episode. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Talk to ad guy for True West regarding my ad for And Action!. Open mail. Sweep floors. Talk Tom Snow and try call Ross. Beth in later as her employers are here; so I fix a couple of salads. She home and we eat. Some phone calls then we watch recording of NCIS from last night. Later ~

Tuesday, November 18, 2008


Dave O'Brien, Tex Ritter, and Guy Wilkerson

Haircut with Sherry after meeting; to lock shop to get keys made for Beth; then home. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and peanuts. To bank to make deposits - I got a royalty check for And Action! yesterday. On to Smart and Final in Cathedral City to return something for Beth. Then on to Beth's place of employment to drop off newspaper which was late again this morning. Home and lunch with Tex Ritter, Dave O'Brien, and Guy Wilkerson in Flaming Bullets, filmed at Corriganville. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Open mail. Shorten a pair of pants I will wear tomorrow. Turn on Fox News. Beth home and Ron by - she to his place and pick up an old TV. She home and cooks. We eat with O'Reilly. TV, we watch CSI: Miami recording. Later ~

Monday, November 17, 2008


Bob Steele

Home after meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls and last of popcorn can. Drive up to Costco and pick up my new glasses; on to Sam's and shop for a couple of things for Hall; then by her place of employment to drop off paper that hadn't been delivered when we left this morning. Home and lunch with girls and Bob Steele in Thunder Town. Wait up for delivery of painting and phone battery. Call Beth then feed girls. Down for nap. Up and call Tom Snow; check my e-mail. Sweep floors; clean up girls' yard. Beth home and we talk. I fix dinner and we eat. Both make call. Both to office and work. Later ~

Sunday, November 16, 2008


Misty and Crystal in Back Yard

Sleep-in day. Beth up and off to Hall. I up 6:00. Shower and dress. Breakfast with paper. Trim beard. Work at computer. Ross calls. Beth home and we talk - both to office. Let girls run in back yard. She fixes a nice salad for lunch. She out to shop and to run by her place of employment. I down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. Talk with Beth. She does my pill boxes while I open pill packs for her. I to office to watch some football. Beth made corn-on-the-cob and salad dinner. We eat; then we watch recording of last week's Without a Trace. She showers and we get ready for bed. Later ~

Saturday, November 15, 2008


11 Years Ago Today

Today is our 11th Wedding Anniversary.
Grocery shopping after meeting. Home and unload. Check e-mail and news sites with peanuts and girls; joined by Beth and we talk. Putter around while time flies. Fix us some lunch and we eat. I down for nap with girls. Up from nap and feed girls. Bring in mail and open it. Beth cleaning. We talk for awhile - to office together and check on her computer's birthdate (she'll probably get a new one soon). Pick pizza from Poppa Dan's; home and we eat. Then we watch a pay per view movie, 88 Minutes - with Al Pacino. During movie Beth gets a call from security place. Nothing serious. Both get ready then. Later ~

Friday, November 14, 2008


John Ford (R) rehearses with John Wayne (center) and Ward Bond (L)on set of The Searchers


With Andy Devine on Wild Bill Hickok set - 1951

Straight home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with popcorn and girls (getting to be a regular habit, isn't it?). Talk Beth and work for awhile on computer. Take off for Sam's Club and do the Hall shopping. Beth had done some of it yesterday so it wasn't that difficult. By Beth's place of employment to pick up ironing; then off to Chinese place by Pavilion's for lunch with Tom Snow, Norman Foster, and George Widman. Byron Quisenberry called. Gas up on way home and call Byron. He was supposed to drive over this week for lunch but wasn't able to do that. Home for dessert with girls - then down for nap with girls. Up and feed the girls. Open mail. Work at computer; then pick up side yard and sweep floors. Back to office. Beth home and we talk. I cook then we eat. She washes her hair. She watches a dance on DWTS computer replay. We watch CSI: Vegas recording. She gets phone call. We finish show. Later ~

Thursday, November 13, 2008




Guns of Navarone

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls and popcorn. Work on a few projects. Talk to Beth. To AT&T to get battery for her phone - not in stock anymore so I order one. By Long's Drug Store; then home. Watch Buster and Fuzzy in Overland Riders - filmed at Corriganville. Lunch while viewing. Being in mail; call Beth; then down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. Open mail. Clean up yard; sweep tile. Work at computer. Beth home and I feed her so she can take off for an alumni meeting at the ABC Club. I watch the rest of Guns of Navarone recording. Beth home and she watches pieces of Tuesday's Dancing With the Stars. I to office. We get ready for bed. Later ~

Wednesday, November 12, 2008


On the Bonanza set - 1960s


Last Night at the Cathedral City Veterans Memorial Display

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with popcorn and girls. Work on a few things. To living room mid-morning and run Guns of Navarone recording; continuing through my lunch and I still don't finish before stopping and going down for a nap with girls. When I was an aspiring screenwriter, I used the Carl Foreman script for Navarone as my bible, I found it so well written. Up from nap and feed girls. Brother Bob had left me a message that he would be by at 3:00 so we could do some Trust banking. He and Eva showed up on schedule and we did our banking. Home and clean up yard. Work on computer. Talk Tom Snow. Beth home and we talk. She fixes dinner and we eat. Then we watch NCIS recording from last night. Later ~

Tuesday, November 11, 2008


Veteran's Day at the Lodge's


Monogram Ranch


Walker Cabin - both "Ghost of Hidden Valley" Locations

Blessings on Veterans Day
Straight home from meeting to check e-mail and news sites with popcorn and the girls. Talk Beth. Work on computer for awhile. To living room and watch Ghost of Hidden Valley with Buster Crabbe and Al "Fuzzy" St. Johns while eating lunch. Down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. No mail - holiday. Delivery from QVC for Beth by UPS. Clean yard and sweep tiles. Talk Beth again. Talk Tom Snow. Beth home and we talk; then we off for cathedral City to see the Veterans Memorial Flags. Dinner at new Mexican place. Home 0 get ready for bed - then watch recording of CSI:Miami. Later ~

Monday, November 10, 2008





The Garner Valley Ranch Movie Location

Stop at Office Depot on way home for calendar and ink for Beth; Christmas popcorn for me - one of those BIG cans which are not so big this year. Home and check e-mail and news sites with new popcorn and girls. Work for a spell; then try contacting the seller of an e-bay painting Beth bought last Thursday which we've had PayPal trouble getting the payment to the buyer. TV with lunch - Colorado Sunset with Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette filmed at the Garner Valley Ranch I visited a year or so ago with the Williamsburg Film Festival guys. Garage door guy here to fix the rubber piece that had come undone. Down for nap. Up and feed girls. Mail. To office and work. Call from Walt Olsen re KOS DVD. Talk Beth. I start making dinner. Watch O'Reilly until she gets home; then we eat. After she showers and watches TV. I into office and work. Later ~

Sunday, November 09, 2008


Kirby Grant, Jane Adams, Fuzzy Knight

Sleep in day. Beth up and of to Hall. I up 6:00 then shower and dress. Breakfast with Sunday Paper. Trim beard. Beth home and we talk and snack. Work a little at computer; then we off to do some shopping - she shops, I stay in car with radio. To Cat City to see American Flag setting but no flags up yet - will probably on Tuesday which is Veterans Day. On to Indio and search for store that is no longer there. She buys some mission clothes and we head for home - stopping for a chili dog on the way. Once here I gas her car up and bring home an ice-cream sandwich that we split. Then I down for nap while sh reads paper and does some cleaning. She feeds girls before I get up. I up and work a little more on computer. Read a magazine story, To office where I'm joined by her. To kitchen and fix dinner. We eat and talk. To office. Later ~

Saturday, November 08, 2008


With Keith Coffin at Corriganville - 1959 (16-years old)

Grocery shopping after meeting, then home, unload and put away. Check e-mail and news sites with girls and peanuts. Work for awhile then Beth gets home from nail appointment. We talk and I fix lunch. We eat. Both to office and I on to nap with girls. Up and she's already fed girls. Bring in mail. P.M. spend some time talking and working at computer. Watch Huckabee Show while eating dinner. To living room and we watch old tape of License to Kill. Later ~

Friday, November 07, 2008


AJ Fenady, Nick Adams, Irvin Kershner - The Team Responsible for The Rebel TV Series

Home after meeting and check e-mail and news sites. Sam is here lacquering the front porch tiles with another coat. Work for awhile. Talk Beth. To pick up dog food for girls; the pick up AA cards for Hall. By Beth's place of employment and pickup ironing - see her. On to Mexican place at Country Club and Monterey for Friday lunch with Harry Badely, Tom Snow, Norman Foster, and David Bradshaw. Afterward I drive home and take things into house. Quick cookie with girls then we all down for a nap. Up and feed girls. Open mail and read some of Boyd Magers' Western Clippings newsletter. Two nice stories about Andy Fenady and The Rebel. Clean tile floors and clean up girls yard. Work at computer for awhile. Beth home. We talk. Copy a Trust letter and send to brother Bob. She makes salad and we eat. Beth showers and we get ready for bed; then we watch recording of CSI:Vegas from last night. To office for a few minutes. Later ~

Thursday, November 06, 2008


Paramount Westen Street - Home to Bonanza - Now a Parking Lot

Stop ans pick up a few things on way home from meeting. Home and Beth is there talking to Sam, She leaves and I put Expedition in garage. Sam sealing front porch tiles. I check e-mail and news sites. Do a little work while girls and I have some peanuts. Take off for Indio a little after 10:30. Stop by Leather Plus to talk to Joel Peters; then on to Chinese place for my monthly conservative round table luncheon. Called Ross from car. Drove home after and when I arrived I fed girls and opened mail. Down for nap with girls. Up later than usual and sweep tiles. To office and work some. Beth home and we talk. Cook and eat. Both to office. Later ~

Wednesday, November 05, 2008




Home after meeting to meet Tile cleaner guys and let them in. Beth shows up followed by Damon, owner of tile cleaning company. Guys help Beth unload some stuff from her car; then she and Damon size up the job at hand. They leave and guys start cleaning. Girls are out in side yard for the day. Take them water. Then I retire to office and putter for awhile. Check e-mail and news sites - mostly Fox, as they are fair and balanced. Guys finish cleaning then leave for lunch. I make lunch and eat in office watching DVDs on my computer (first time I ever tried it). Talk Beth. Call brother, Bobby. Down for nap (girls are in yard). Up and bring in mail. Feed girls in yard. They're being pretty good about it all, considering. Open mail. Reset photos, knick-nacks and plants (the guys had already brought in most of the furniture). To office and work. Turn on TV - Beth home and we sit and talk. Fix dinner and we eat. Both to office and work. Later ~

Tuesday, November 04, 2008


Roscoe Ates


Eddie Dean

After meeting I drive to (eye) Dr. Williams Office to get my eyes examined for new glasses. After that I go to Costco and order new glasses. Home and check e-mail and news sites. Listened to Rush while I was driving. Work at computer. Talk to Beth; Ross calls. Have lunch while I watch Range Beyond the Blue with Eddie Dean and Roscoe Ates. Down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. Bring in mail and open it. To office and follow election news. Talk Beth.

Monday, November 03, 2008



The Late, Great Jimmy Stewart

Stop at Office Depot on way home from meeting to get something done. Home and check e-mail and news sites with girls and peanuts. Work on list for Beth. Beth here and drops some stuff; checks her e-mail, etc. She leaves and I sit down to watch an old (recorded) western but The Naked Spur is just starting so make some lunch and eat while watching that Jimmy Stewart classic. Down for nap with girls. Up and feed girls. Bring in and open mail. Clean floors. Work in office until Beth gets home. Cook and we eat while watching O'Reilly. Both into office and work. Later ~

Sunday, November 02, 2008


The Roy Rogers Show - On the Set with my 8mm Camera

Changed Clocks Back to Standard Time.
Sleep in day. Beth up and to Hall. I sleep in until 6:15. Shower and dress. Breakfast and paper. Beth back and we drive to Edie's where we drop her car. Then it's on to the ABC Recovery Center for the monthly Alumni breakfast. No Whites - they're still at sea. Call Dick Payne; Ross calls. After we stop and Beth picks up more clothes for mission; stop at Smart & Final; then by Edie's again where I drop her off to work. I drive home. Girls excited to see me. Check e-mail; then down for nap with girls. Up from nap and Beth has already fed girls. Sit with her while she does my pill boxes. Into office where she joins me and we both work on computers. Finally into kitchen and she prepares dinner. We eat and talk. She reads the paper while I surf TV channels. I into office do do a few things. Later ~

Saturday, November 01, 2008



Filming the Buffalo Bill, Jr. TV Show

Grocery shopping after meeting; then home, unpack and put away, with Beth's help. Check e-mail and news sites. P-nuts with girls. Beth works in yard while I work at computer. Drive the girls to vet with Beth so they can get shots. Home with girls. Fix some lunch and we eat and talk. Ross called. I down for nap while she cleans. Up and she's already fed girls. Bring in mail. To office and we both work on computers. Watch Huckabee Show and fix dinner then eat. After that Hannity & Combs. She washes hair. We watch recording of Without a Trace TV show. Later ~