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

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Lauren Chapin on the Father Knows Best set at the Columbia Ranch.

Leave meeting early and home to get shopping list I forgot to bring. Grocery shopping at Albertson's. Home (again) to unload and put away. Brenda arrives to clean. Beth home for a few minutes; then Beth and I off for nail place to get pedicures - she stays for finger nails, I head home with two sandwiches. Beth home shortly after me and we eat and talk. I down for nap while she reads today's paper. I up and bring in mail. Beth had fallen asleep. I feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Into office and work on computer. Get some of Dorothy Hack's Father Knows Best photos ready to send to my Columbia Ranch web site friend. E-mail Dorothy for permission. Around 5ish we both into living room to watch Country Strong on pay TV. Good show. After we talk. Later ~

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Filming the original Star Trek TV series at Vasquez Rocks

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls and chips. To Beth's employers' place to change cars - drive her car to car wash to get it washed. See Blue. Drive her car back and pick up mine - home. Make some lunch. Watch Justified while I eat. Beth calls. When Justified is over watch recording of Lawman. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Scan a magazine of hers. Clean up side yard. Into office to work at computer. Watch O'Reilly. Wait on cooking as she is at hair appointment. Start cooking; make salads. Beth home. Help her in with things. Finish cooking and we eat dinner while watching royal wedding preview show. After, put out trash. Get ready for bed. Both work in office. Later ~

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Dennis Waterman; Diane Montford; and me - 1962
When I first met Dennis, I was a 19-year old actor. He was 14 - in Hollywood to do the TV Show, Fair Exchange. Here I am back then with Dennis and Diane Montford, a talented, young actress Dennis was dating (I was the chaperon)

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with girls and chips. Drive over to Beth's place of employment and exchange cars. On to Toyota dealer to get her left brake light replaced. Sit with Bill White and John McCormick while we all wait for our cars. I'm last out. Drive back to Beth's place of employment and exchange cars again - on to home. Fix a quick lunch and watch the recorded Lawman episode for today. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Get a Facebook message from A guy in Wales. Work some more on computer. Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tiles. Start to watch news. Set TV to record royal wedding. Beth home. I cook and we eat. She off to H&I Meeting at Hall. I work on computer for awhile. She home and we watch recording of last night's NCIS. Later ~

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Setting up for high shot with the Chapman Crane - The Gatling Gun (1973)

Home after meeting and check e-mail and news sites with chips and girls. Talk to lady in charge of Pets on Parade booklet. Drive to Lens Crafters and pick up Beth's dark glasses. Call Beth with phone number left by Tom. Work at computer. Into Living room. Turn on TV. Have some lunch and try to watch some TV. Finally I watch today's Lawman episode recorded this morning. Down for nap with girls. Wake up and misty is gone; Daisy slept all the way through with me. Check e-mail. Bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth Clean up side yard. Work in office. Beth home early. Fix some dinner and we eat. After show her end of last night's DWTS. Then we watch a rerun of Hawaii 5-0. She shower and I get ready for bed. Later ~

Monday, April 25, 2011

John Russell and Peter Brown in Lawman

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and girls. Work at computer and photos for awhile. Into living room. When i eventually get settled. I watch two episodes of Lawman while i fix lunch then eat. After that; into bedroom for nap with girls. Up an check e-mail. Bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Drive to bank and make deposit for Beth. on to Lens Crafter and leave her dark glasses to get new screw. Gas up at Nader's - Nader not there. Home and work at computer until Beth gets home. Help her in with her stuff. Start cooking then we eat. Nothing recorded last night so she showers while I turn on her TV in bedroom for DWTS. I work at computer - Later ~

Sunday, April 24, 2011

2011 Easter at Hall
Patty Kaplin; Bob Norman (standing); Paul Hiller; Beth and me

Sleep in day for me. Beth up and to Hall to meet Brenda. I up 6:00 a.m. - check e-mail. Shower and shave; make breakfast and eat while reading Sunday paper. Beth home ands we talk. I work with photos in office. She reads paper. In to fix light lunch for both of us. Beth to her employers' to vet van; then to Hall. I work on more pics; then some TV. Drive to Hall for Easter Sunday function. Brenda in charge; Beth and Paul helping. See Bob Norman; ask about Fran who appears to have had some strokes and is now in Eisenhower. We talk with others then clean up place. Beth and I drive to Mission with left over food. She drops me at Hall to pick up my car; she to her work to drop van. I home first; write here. She in a little later to join me. She showers. I work with photos. We watch last song on show from last night. Then we watch CSI: Miami rerun recorded on Thursday. Later ~

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Uncle George (bottom left) following a scene on Branded set

Grocery shopping after meeting. Home and Brenda helps me unload. I put stuff away. We share some Cheez-Its. Beth home to pick me up and we drive to Orphan Pet Oasis to sign final papers on Daisy. Stop at Mexican restaurant next to Damon's in 1000 Palms for lunch. Home and Beth out to shop while I down for nap with girls. Beth home while I sleep and she starts on my pill boxes. I up and check e-Mail. Into kitchen and help Beth with my pill boxes. Feed girls. Clean up side yard. Into office with Beth - we both work. I start dinner. We eat and talk. To living room and watch Country Western Female Singer Awards Show recorded last night. Into office and search dog pics. Later ~

Friday, April 22, 2011

Virgil Vogel (yellow shirt) directing FBI TV Show in the '70s

To Sam's Club after meeting to shop for Hall. Home and check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and girls. Work at lap top computer for awhile. Chips and salsa for lunch plus mini-cone. Sean calls, he's on way over with my computer. Sean here and installs my computer while installing my laptop. I had virus - $140.00 to fix it. Sean leaves and I down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail and recycle bin. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. Work at computer for the rest of the afternoon. Jimmy George calls from Mississippi. Beth home. I cook and we eat. Beth into office to catch up. We watch last Tuesday's NCIS recording. Later ~

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Raylan hits the floor on Justified

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and girls. Work on computer for awhile. Sean by and he takers my computer then sets up my laptop at desk. He leaves. I to living room and watch yesterday's recorded episode of Justified. Make hamburger and eat while viewing above. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. Into office and write here. Beth home early - starts fixing dinner. Jole here to join us for dinner and talk. We eat and have a nice time. He leaves. We clean up; then to office to catch up on things. Get ready, then: Later ~

Uncle George (R) running lines with Chuck Conners (L - getting hair brushed) on Branded set

Home from meting and check e-mail and news sites with girls and Cheez-Its. Gall Jimmy George and we talk for awhile. Work on computer. Move to living room and watch Roxie Hart, with Ginger Rogers and George Montgomery,(years later to become Chicago, the musical). Make lunch and eat while watching today's recording of Lawman. Down for nap with girls. Up and bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Work on computer. Clean up side yard. Sweep inside tile. Beth home early - she's off for dinner with Theresa Grippi. I watch some TV - mainly The Western Channel. She's home and we talk over ice cream mini cones. Later ~

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Monday and Tuesday April 18, 19

Jimmy Hawkins as "Tagg Oakley" on Annie Oakley set

April 18th:
Usual stuff - pick up Tracker with Beth - home and spend day working at computer. Watch beginning of Valdez is coming with Burt Lancaster. Lunch and nap with girls. Usual afternoon and Beth home and we eat and watch recording of last night's CSI: Miami. Later ~

April 19th:
Stop to talk to Nader on way home from meeting. Home and check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and girls. Jerry here to work on gates; putting up some screen to keep puppy in. Work at computer for awhile. Into living room and watch the end of Valdez is Coming. I follow that with today's episode of Lawman recorded this morning. Make a hamburger patty and eat while viewing above. Drive to Somerro's office for my 6 mos. appointment - all is well. Drive home, bring in mail and feed girls. I open mail for Beth. Clean up poop and pee in my bathroom - I had doggy door closed this morning when Jerry was here working. Down for nap with girls. Wake up and only little one is still beside me. Check e-mail and news sites once again - check Facebook. Clean up side yard. Straighten up house. Watch some O'Reilly. Beth home and start dinner. We eat and talk - ice cream after. Both to office and work at computers. Into living room and watch recording of yesterday's Hawaii 5-0. Later ~

Sunday, April 17, 2011

My Uncle George keeping script on original Star Trek Show

Sleep in day. Daisy slept with us all night. Beth up and off to Hall to meet Brenda. I up 5:45 - shower and dress. Make breakfast and eat with Sunday paper. Trim beard. Make bed and clean up side yard. Beth home. We talk and play with girls. Work at computer. Out back and try to put up dog barrier on gates - no luck, we'll call Jerry. I fix soup for lunch and we eat. She in to work at her computer. I down for nap with girls. Up and dress. Into office and Beth still working on her computer. I check e-mail. Feed girls. Back to office and work. Beth prepares chicken for dinner; gets the sauce ready. She off to MDD meeting. Will call so I can continue cooking. I back to computer. Listen to Sara Palin's great speech from Madison, Wisc. Beth home and we eat. No TV. Work in office. Later ~

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor and Pie - National Velvet (1944)

Grocery shopping after meeting. Home and Brenda helps me bring in groceries and put away. Work at computer. Beth home and we talk a little. Then Beth and I off to nail appointment. I home and make lunch and eat. Snooze some on couch with girls. Beth home and we get ready and to Open Call for 2011 with Harry, Annie, George, Ronice and a few more scattered around the theater. After Beth and I have dinner at Yellow Basket. Stop at pet store to make up a name tag for Daisy. Home and we watch National Velvet with a 12-year-old Elizabeth Taylor. Get ready for bed. Later ~

Friday, April 15, 2011

Cast of The Gatling Gun:
John Carridine, Pat Wayne, Phil Harris, Unidentified, Pat Buttram, Dean Stockwell


Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites. Beth calls. Jimmy George calls and we talk for awhile. Read some interviews online at Western Clippings. Into living room and turn on TV. Fix sandwich. Watch Indian Territory starring Gene Autry, Gail Davis, Kirby Grant, and Pat Buttram. Eat while watching. Then watch today's episode of Lawman, recorded this morning. Down for nap with both girls. Up and bring in mail and trash barrel. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. CD from James Jenkins. Scan the new Cowboys & Indians magazine. Clean up side yard. View the James Jenkins trip photos CD. Start making dinner. Some O'Reilly. Beth home and we eat. No TV. Both work in office. Later ~

Thursday, April 14, 2011

William Shatner joking with actress - Original Star Trek

Drive to Sam's Club after meeting to shop for Hall. Home and check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and girls. Beth calls and cancels me going out for her. Work at computer for awhile. Into living room and turn on TV. Watch last night's recording of Justified. Stop and fix lunch then back to show, eating while watching. After that, watch a Lawman episode. Down for nap with girls. Up and check e-mail. Bring in mail from outside. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Into office and work on computer. Watch some O'Reilly. Beth picks me up and we to Indio/LaQunta - Smart & Final; Office Depot; Pet Smart. Have dinner at Taco Bell. Home. Later ~

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

My Uncle George's trainee, June, with Mike Landon - Bonanza


Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and girls. Beth calls and she's coming by. Leash up girls and Beth here. We take girls over to Beth's place of employment to meet the family. She drops girls and I back home. Continue working at computer. Into living room and turn on TV. Make a sandwich and watch Lawman episode for Tuesday. Watch a little of a Buster Crabbe, Fuzzy St. John PRC western. To office; then down for nap with girls. Up and check e-mail. Out to bring in mail. Feed girls. To computer to check on something. Watch some O'Reilly; start fixing dinner. Some Hannity. Beth home and we eat. Into living room for last night's NCIS recording. Into office. Later ~

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Uncle George (on left with script) running scene with Robert Reed, Florence Henderson (in bed), and director (partially obscured on right)- The Brady Bunch.

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and girls. Work at computer for awhile. To bank and deposit for Beth. Home and sit with girls for a minute or two. Work at computer. Drive to Southwest Thrift Shop and drop bag of clothes. Stop for a Carl's, Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger. Home and watch Sunset in Wyoming with Gene and Smiley. To office for a minute. Down for nap with girls. Up and find Daisy on Beth's chair in living room. Out to get mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. Work on computer. Work on one of my works in progress. Watch O'Reilly. Some Hannity. Start dinner. Beth calls and she's home. We eat. Watch Hawaii 5-0 episode recorded last night. Watch end of DWTS for her. Later ~

Monday, April 11, 2011

William Shatner and deForest Kelly in old age makeup for an original Star Trekepisode

Leave Hall before meeting begins to drive to blood draw. After, stop at Nader's for gas and talk. Home. Let Daisy out of kennel. Hi to Misty. Into office and check e-mail and news sites with cinnamon roll and girls. Try call Jimmy George; leave message. Work at computer for awhile. Into living room for TV. Gene Autry Western, Melody Trail, with Gene, Smiley Burnette, Anne Rutledge. Followed by an Eddie Dean PRC western. Put Daisy in kennel. Down for nap with Misty. Up and check e-mail. Ldet Daisy out of kennel and to side yard. Back to office and finish checking e-mail. Bring in mail. Feed girls. Open mail for Beth. Work in office. Daisy out on own - pees and poops. I clean up side yard. Sweep inside tiles. Turn on O'Reilly. Beth calls. Start making dinner. Watch O'Reilly. Beth home and help here bring her stuff inside. Misty and Daisy happy to see her; as am I. We eat; clean up. Both into offfice. Put Daisy to bed. Later ~

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan on Remington Steele set

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall to meet Brenda. I up; take Daisy out for a pee - shower, dress, trim beard, bring in paper. Cook and eat while reading paper. Clean up with Miss Daisy. Beth home from Hall. We snuggle for a few minutes. I check e-mail. Beth off to buy Daisy supplies while I watch Daisy and misty. She home; turn on TV. The masters is on and we watch. She does my pill boxes. I help. I fix us some lunch and we eat. Daisy down for nap. Beth falls asleep at table. Misty and I into bed room for a nap. Up and into dining room. Masters still on. Feed girls. Clean up side yard. Into office and play on computer. Beth works in office while I entertain our new addition, Daisy; I also entertain Misty so she won't get jealous. Call in dinner pizza order. Half hour later down and pick it up. We eat - she linguine and clams; me pizza. She washes her hair. We watch last Thursday's CSI: Vegas. Little girl down for night. Later ~

Saturday, April 09, 2011

Daisy Lodge

Grocery shopping after meeting. Home and Brenda helps me in with stuff. Put it all away Beth home. Leave for Orphan Pet Oasis a little after 10:00 - taking Misty with us. Arrive and John shows me around - nothing smaller than Misty. Hw finally brings out Godiva - Daisy. Girls get along; Beth falls in love; so we take her for a two week adjustment period. Drive home. Daisy likes side yard; is coaxed into house. I fix lunch and we eat. Beth off to buy puppy supplies, I feed girls. New one eats as fast as Misty. I relax and find out Daisy likes her belly rubbed. Beth home with supplies and dog crate. Brenda here and they do Hall Easter baskets while I down for nap. I up 5:00. Brenda drives me down to pick up burritos. Home and we have dinner. Brenday leaves. I office. Beth stays with Daisy. Bed time: Beth showers while I watch puppy. We bed. Later ~

Friday, April 08, 2011

Birthday party on Bonanza set - see if you can spot Dan Blocker, Lorne Greene. Pernell Roberts, and my uncle George

Leave meeting early and to Sam's Club to shop for Hall. Stop on way home for cottage cheese. Home and check e-mail and news sites with Misty and Cheez-Its. Call from OPO lady re dogs. Call Beth to relay message. Into living room and watch Lawman recording. After that, watch Wednesday's Justified while eating lunch. Into office and check a few online things. Down for nap with Misty. Up and bring in mail. Feed Misty. Open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. Work at computer. Beth home 5:00 - we change then meet Bill and Sunny White at Pacifica for dinner. Home - it's cold - then bed. Later ~

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Capt. Kirk (Wm. Shatner) discusses scene with the director on Star Trek Paramount soundstage

REAL WINDY BY MID-DAY
Leave Hall before meeting begins and to blood draw. Home and check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and Misty. Try call Jimmy George but his mail box is full. Look at some more of George's pictures. No TV. Take off for Indio at 10:30. WIND has started. Search for Office Depot on way but just couldn't find it. On to Indio for my monthly Conservative Round Table at Chinese place. Eight of us there and have a nice meal with a good discussion. Leave at 2:00 and drive to Eisenhower hospital campus for my appointment with Dr. Stone. Talk with Glenda and Heidi. Home after and bring in mail and feed Misty before I enter the house. Check e-mail and news sites. Get a few things done. Beth home early and she starts cooking artichokes. We eat and clean up. She goes about getting prepared for bed. I put trash out, then prepare for bed. Later ~

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Cast Rehearsal table Star Trek TV Series

Grocery shopping (short list) after meeting. Home and check e-mail and news sites with Misty and Cheez-Its. Work on Dawn of Eagles for awhile. Into living room and watch today's episode of Lawman. Then it's an old PRC Billy Carson western Oath of Vengeance, with Buster Crabbe and Al "Fuzzy" St. John. Down for nap with Misty. Up and bring in mail. Starts to RAIN. Feed Misty. Open mail for Beth. Brother Bob sent George's Star Trek behind the scenes photos. Regular chores. Download pics. Beth home and we eat. Later ~

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Buster Crabbe and Ann Robinson on left; Slim Pickens on far right - Gun Brothers (1956) Uncle George was script supervisor

Ann Robinson in tub - Gun Brothers set (1956)

Beth and I leave meeting before it starts - she to pick up Tracker; I head to Bermuda Dunes airport to meet her and bring her back to her employers' place. Drop her and home. Check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and Misty. Work on a few things on computer. Into living room and turn on TV. Start to watch Lawman; then watch Gun Brothers. with Buster Crabbe, Nevelle Brand, and Ann Robinson. Make lunch and eat while watching. Down for nap with Misty. Up and check e-mail. Bring in mail. Feed Misty. Open mail for Beth.

Monday, April 04, 2011

Sterling Hayden and Ruth Roman on Five Steps to Danger set (1957)

Stop at CVS drug store to pick up sanitizer for Hall. Gas up at Nader's station - $3.99 9/10 a gallon. $40.00 to fill half a tank. Home and check e-mail and news sites with Misty. To bank for Beth. Car wash for Dodge journey; Blue helps drying, etc. Home. More computer checking sites and mail. Eventually into living room and TV. Start by watching Lawman recorded this morning; turn to a Buster Crabbe, Fuzzy St. John PRC western (which I've seen a dozen times): then an Eddie Dean western with Roscoe Ates and Jeniffer Holt. Make lunch and eat during my viewing. Down to nap with Misty. Up and bring in mail. Feed Misty. Open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. E-mail from Joel - he won't be here today; will see me Wednesday. Work at computer. Beth calls - she's on way home. Turn on Fox news. Start dinner. O'Reilly on. Beth home and we eat. Nothing recorded last night so we both into office. Once in bed she watches DWTS while I go to sleep. Later ~

Sunday, April 03, 2011

Annie Oakley buckboard race (chase) - from the camera car

Sleep in day. Beth up and off to Hall to meet Brenda. I up 5:30. Shower, dress, trim beard, eat breakfast with Sunday paper. Beth home. She prepares dinner while I work in office. She into office to work some. I make lunch - call her and we eat. She over to run Jo and prepare his dinner. I change clothes and work on computer. We are going to a special Salute the Troops show at the air museum. Drive to air museum and watch the USO show. Fun; good entertainment; and group sing-long. Home and she irons while I start dinner (make salad and heat soup). We eat; then it's into office where we both work. Both into bed by 8:00 - watch some Country Music awards. Later ~

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Filming Bonanza on Paramount Western Street - Uncle George on Left

Grocery shopping after I leave meeting early. Home and unload with Brenda's help. I put it all away. Check e-mail. Take off for nail place. Beth there. We get pedicures side-by-side - look baby pix. I done and leave. Pick up tacos and tostada. Home and eat while watching Carolina Moon with Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and June Storey. Down for nap with Misty. Up and check mail. Beth at kitchen table with mail. Feed Misty. Clean up side yard. Work in office for awhile. Beth to run and feed Jo. I watch some Huckabee. Fix some of dinner. She home and fix remainder of meal. We eat tacos. Clean up; she showers. We watch recording of 1959s Pillow Talk,with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. Recording stops before movie is finished. Disappointed, we go to bed. Later ~

Friday, April 01, 2011

Unrecognized; Patrick Wayne (by left corner of mission); Woody Strode (in white hat); man in uniform is unrecognizable; John Carridine (with hand up - on right); The Gatling Gun - 1973

Home from meeting and check e-mail and news sites with Cheez-Its and Misty. Work at computer. Send some; get some. After awhile, move to living room and watch recording of Lawman from this morning. Beth calls. Fix some lunch then watch Comin' 'Round the Mountain, a 1936 Republic Gene Autry, with Smiley Burnette and a 16-year old Ann Rutherford. Eat while viewing. Down for nap with Misty. Up and bring in mail. Feed Misty. Bring in trash can. open mail for Beth. Clean up side yard. FedEx here with something for Beth; call her about it. Into office and work a little. Beth home and we eat dinner. Both work in office; then it's CSI: Vegas; and bed - Later ~