M.C. Gainey, Noel Guglielmi, Kim Richards reminisce about their time in Hazzard County

Guest blogger and avid "Dukes of Hazzard" fan Brian Lombard may seem to be on a mission to meet each and every one of the folks involved in the "Dukes"! He's making great progress, following up his October 7 report with this one from a show in New Jersey this past weekend.

The Chiller Theatre con is the biggest on the East Coast. Held twice a year in Parsippany, New Jersey, each show offers more than 100 stars and draws thousands of fans. If you go, don’t even bother looking for parking.

With that many stars in attendance, it’s hard to NOT find someone associated with "The Dukes of Hazzard." And this weekend, I found three.

First up was M.C. Gainey. Gainey is a member of a very unique fraternity – one of only two actors to have appeared in both the original television series and the 2005 feature film. So his is a unique perspective. I asked him what he remembered about filming the 1982 episode “Bad Day in Hazzard,” in which he played a hired gun holding the cast hostage at the Boar’s Nest.

Actor M.C. Gainey, left, and author Brian Lombard.

“I was using Daisy as a human shield when Bo and Luke first walked in. I picked her up and swung her around, and the director yelled ‘Cut.’ Catherine Bach ran off the set in a hurry, and I found out that when I was swinging her, her top had come undone! That was one of my first acting jobs ever, and I was afraid that they were going to fire me.”

He needn’t have worried. More than 20 years later, Gainey would be cast in the remake as none other than Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, a character he had tormented in the original series (see Gainey in his original role below).

“Warner Brothers, they wanted me to play him goofy, just like James Best had," Gainey said. "Now, Best was a friend of mine, but I made the decision to play him tough. I modeled him after a police officer who used to pick on me when I was in high school.”

When asked what he remembers about the film, Gainey added, “that dog (Flash). We were shooting the courtroom scene on a Friday. The script called for the dog to yawn, but he just wouldn’t do it. The trainer assured us that when we returned to set on Monday, the dog would yawn on cue, and sure enough he did. I don’t know what he did to make that happen.”

Next up was Noel Guglielmi. In 2000, he appeared in the second made-for-television movie "Hazzard in Hollywood."  It was an early role for the actor, one for which he wasn’t even credited. In fact, he has no lines in the film at all. But he is almost always seen standing side-by-side with Amaury Nolasco’s character of Cypriano, one of the many folks who befriended the wayward Dukes.

Eagle-eyed fans may recall that in the previous film, 1997’s "The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion," all of the General Lee’s jumps were recycled from the original series, due to the unavailability of 1969 Dodge Chargers. By 2000 however, enough had been procured to shoot an original jump for the second film, and Guglielmi (shown below) was on hand for the fun.

“It came down hard!" he said. "It was done. They jumped like 1,500 of those on the TV show, Bro." (Most actually estimate this number at around 300.) "But once it’s jumped, you can’t use it anymore. Ever.”

When asked what it was like working on the film, Guglielmi offered nothing but praise.

“It was the final film with the original cast. It was a great to be a part of that.”

Finally, I got to speak with Kim Richards. These days, she’s most famous for "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and for being the aunt of Paris Hilton. As a child star, she made a name for herself in the classic Disney film "Escape to Witch Mountain," and was a regular on the television series "Hello, Larry."  But it was her role as Nancy Lou, Cooter’s estranged daughter in “Cooter’s Girl,” that I most wanted to talk to her about. We didn’t have that much time, as an aggressive handler was moving her line along as quickly as possible. She did, however, say that it was a fun experience, and she was surprised that I remembered it. I suspect it’s not a role that people often mention!

Actress Kim Richards with author Brian Lombard.

Brian Lombard is the author of "Bradypalooza: The Unauthorized Guide to TV's Favorite Family."

Images are courtesy Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

Dennis Haskins talks "Dukes of Hazzard" at New Jersey appearance

Special thanks to fellow author Brian Lombard, once again, for this great report from the field ..
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This past weekend saw the return of the Chiller Convention to Parsippany, New Jersey. The stars always come out in full force for this event, and this weekend was no exception.

As with most Chillers, I always look for actors who might have spent some time in Hazzard County. This go-round there was only one to be found, Dennis Haskins. Haskins will always be known primarily for his role as Mr. Belding in the long-running NBC series "Saved by the Bell," a role that he admits would not have been possible were it not for "The Dukes of Hazzard," a show he became involved with during its initial production in Conyers, Georgia. Eagle-eyed fans will remember Haskins from the premiere episode “One Armed Bandits,” in which he played Moss, a customer at the Boar’s Nest who got a little too friendly with barmaid Daisy.

A native of nearby Chattanooga, Haskins (shown above left, with Brian Lombard) was heavily involved in music promotion and management prior to becoming an actor.

“I was working for Greg Allman at the time and somebody suggested that I go audition for the part,” Haskins said of his first entry into the "Dukes" universe. “After doing the pilot, I decided to move to Hollywood and become an actor full-time.”

After moving west, Haskins would make two additional appearances on the series, which itself had just relocated from Georgia. He played a barbershop customer whose car is stolen in “The Late J.D. Hogg,” then later played one of the visiting heavies in “Cale Yarborough Comes to Hazzard” (shown below, with fellow actor Al White).

“That was fun, chasing Cale around. Being from the South, I was a big fan of his.”

Those parts would lead to others, which would eventually lead to his being cast as Mr. Belding, in "Saved by the Bell"’s first incarnation, "Good Morning, Miss Bliss."  Though it would be retooled into "Saved by the Bell," Haskins remained the only adult actor in the cast to survive the transition. And once the cast of teens graduated fictitious Bayside High, Haskins would remain as principal for several seasons of "Saved by the Bell: The New Class."

“All possible because of Dukes,” Haskins admits.

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Brian Lombard is an avid fan of classic TV, and the author of the "Bradypalooza" guide to "The Brady Bunch."

Photos courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

Still living in the "Land of the Lost"

By Brian Lombard

In 1974, producers Sid and Marty Krofft launched their latest Saturday morning live-action TV series “Land of the Lost.” Unlike their earlier shows, including “H.R. Pufnstuf” and “Lidsville,” the series employed a stable of professional science-fiction writers, creating a series that was often deemed too smart for Saturday morning. Helmed by David Gerrold, the writer who cut his teeth on “Star Trek,” the team included such notables as Ben Bova, Larry Niven, and D.C. Fontana.

This level of care and attention that was given to the series has contributed to its longevity. Forty years later, the series continues to be popular, with weekly airings on MeTV, DVD and video releases, and a 2009 movie adaptation starring Will Ferrell (which original fans steered clear of). Not bad for a mere 43 half-hour episodes.

During its first two seasons, the series starred Spencer Milligan as Rick Marshall, a park ranger from California. Rick’s two children were played by Wesley Eure as Will and Kathy Coleman as Holly.  There were also a series of recurring characters, including Cha-Ka, a pakuni “ape boy” played by Philip Paley, and Enik the Altrusian, played by veteran character actor Walker Edmiston. 

Wesley Eure, Brian Lombard, Kathy Coleman, and Philip Paley at Chiller, spring 2015.

Before the third and final season began, however, Milligan quit the series when a dispute over merchandising royalties could not be resolved. He was replaced in the cast by “Planet of the Apes” actor Ron Harper as Will and Holly’s Uncle Jack.

Today, Eure, Coleman, and Paley are regulars on the convention circuit, frequenting the annual "Star Trek" convention in Las Vegas and the bi-annual Chiller Theatre convention in New Jersey, among others. The three have remained very close through the years, which becomes clear during their panel discussions.

Cha-Ka, Will and Holly sing the “Land of the Lost” theme song in a panel discussion.

They’ve also gone all-out to please their fans. Eure commissioned an artist to create a replica of one of the show’s more famous props – a Sleestak skull. As “Land of the Lost” fans know, the Sleestaks were the lizard-like humanoid adversaries of the Marshall family, who gained wisdom and knowledge in their library of skulls. The Sleestaks were in fact the barbaric descendants of Enik’s Altrusian race.

Sleestak skull replicas on display at Chiller, October 2017.

The first time I got to meet them was at Chiller’s spring 2015 event. The trio were very approachable and appreciative of their fans. 

For 2017, the trio had two new additions to their presentation. The first is a yellow, inflatable raft in which they invite fans to sit and pose for photos. It pays tribute to the show’s opening credits, which depicts the Marshall family on a less-than routine expedition.

The Marshall Family as shown during the opening credits.

The other addition is much more significant to die-hard fans: the original Enik costume as worn on the show. The piece was bought by private collector Keir Neubauer in 1998, who later had it restored and refurbished. Neubauer takes great delight in discussing the piece with fans, and allowing them to take photos for a nominal fee.

Brian Lombard poses with the restored Enik costume at Chiller, October 2017.

Beyond conventions, the trio have taken other avenues to capitalize on their success. In 2014, Coleman released her autobiography “Lost Girl,” which has since been rebranded as “Run, Holly,Run!: A Memoir by Holly from 1970s TV Classic Land of the Lost.” The book talks of her early rise to fame, her even earlier marriage and subsequent divorce, and the pain of substance abuse.  Fans looking for inside info on the series itself may not get what they’re looking for here, so your best bet for series gossip is to attend a convention.

While filming “Land of the Lost,” Eure was simultaneously starring on the NBC soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” appearing as the original Mike Horton. He spent nine years on the series before being let go in 1981, when rumors of his sexual orientation overshadowed his success on the show.  Remember, this was 1981.

Wesley Eure as Dr. Michael Horton, 1981.

Since then, Eure has co-created a children’s series for PBS entitled “Dragon Tales,” and also published two children’s novels, “A Fish Out of Water” and “The Red Wings of Christmas.”

Paley went to law school, later served with a firm in Santa Monica, and now runs his own litigation and technology firm in L.A. These traits served him well in the late 1990s, when Rodney Shepperd, guitarist for the band Sugar Ray, publicly claimed that he had played the young pakuni. Paley took litigation against the band, who later issued a public apology.

Spencer Milligan, the show’s original patriarch, found modest work in the industry before leaving Hollywood for good. He now resides in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where he's active in directing local theatre and shuns the Hollywood spotlight. In 2009, he gave a rare interview preceding the Universal theatrical release, declaring that while he enjoyed working with the kids, for him, the series is deeply set in his past.

Walker Edmiston (below) continued to do voice-over work and guest star spots throughout the 1970s and up until the early 2000s. The next time you happen across the 1977 classic “Smokey and the Bandit,” pay attention every time you hear a police officer speaking on a CB. No matter which state, no matter which character, they were all done by Edmiston, except of course, for Jackie Gleason. 

His notable cartoon work during these years included “The Transformers,” “Adventures of the Gummi Bears” and “Jem.”  Edmiston died in 2007, and was interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Walker Edmiston, 1926-2007.

 

Interested in owning your own Sleestak prop replica?  Visit www.lucasfrancisstudio.com for ordering information.

 
An avid fan of classic television, Brian Lombard is the author of "Bradypalooza: The Unauthorized Guide to TV's Favorite Family." See his other BRBTV News Blog posts on film site Franklin Canyon Park, the grave of Esther Rolle of "Good Times," Charles Cyphers, Burt Reynolds, Dennis Haskins, and several other "Dukes of Hazzard" costars.

"Arrow" and "Flash" stars converge on Heroes and Villains con in New York

Many thanks once again to guest blogger Brian Lombard, filing this fab report from the field after meeting cast members from a couple of our favorite shows this past weekend at the Heroes and Villains Fan Fest ...
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While many Americans were spending the holiday weekend in their backyards or at baseball games, fans of the TV series’ “Arrow” and “Flash” descended on the Big Apple for the Heroes and Villains convention. Both casts were well represented, and they were joined by actors from their sister shows “Gotham” and “Legends of Tomorrow.” I love all of these shows, so my attendance was a foregone conclusion.

I always love the opportunity to get a star’s autograph, and this convention offered plenty of opportunities for that. First on my list was Neal McDonough, known in the “Arrowverse” as the evil Damien Darhk. I’ve been a fan of his since I saw him get assimilated by the Borg back in “Star Trek: First Contact,” but I always like to ask the stars about their lesser-known roles. Or at least ones that aren’t generally asked about at sci-fi conventions. With that mind, I asked him about “Walking Tall,” a film he made with Duane “The Rock” Johnson in 2004.

“That was fun,” McDonough said. “Duane is such a nice guy and we just had so much fun making that movie.”

Remembering that Damien Darkh seems to have an extraordinarily long life span, I asked McDonough just how old he’s supposed to be anyway.

“158,” he quipped, with a wink in his eye.

Next up was John Barrowman, perennial villain/ally/villain Malcolm Merlyn. Before “Arrow,” Barrowman made his name in the “Doctor Who” spin-off “Torchwood,” a series I know nothing about. I noticed he was wearing a Superman ring on his finger, and I decided to comment on that instead.

“Nice ring, Mr. Barrowman.”

“Thank you. You don’t know how many people like my ring ….. Brian" (reading my name on the post it note).

“Well, I didn’t want to bore you with another 'Arrow' question you’ve heard before.”

“Not at all. I’m just delighted I could throw a double entendre at you and it went right over your head.”

Nervous chuckle. “Thanks, Mr. Barrowman. I really enjoy the show.”

The other thing I like about these shows is the opportunity we get to have our photos taken with the stars. Budget be damned, there were two I simply had to have – Danielle Panabaker, aka Caitlyn Snow from “The Flash,” and a duo shot with “Arrow’s” Stephen Amell and David Ramsey. Unlike many conventions I’ve been to in the past, the photo sessions were very well-run and efficient. The lines moved very quickly and I had my prints in less than a minute. That said, you have to respect the actor’s time, and not bog them down during this process.

Once the photo ops were over, I went back for a few more autographs. I’m a big fan of Captain Lance, so I made my way to meet his alter ego, Paul Blackthorne. He was away doing his own photo ops at the time, so I was now first in his line, which quickly grew and grew. Fortunately we didn’t have too long to wait.

When he returned, I introduced myself and he thanked me for coming. He seemed the jovial type, so I asked him if Captain Lance was planning to attend any more of his daughters’ funerals next season (two girls with three funerals between them). He had a laugh at that, and said “God, I hope not. I don’t think his heart could take it. Been down that road too many times!”

I thanked him and quickly moved on to my final get of the day, Willa Holland, aka Thea Queen, aka Speedy. I met her, I got her autograph, and it was all very impersonal.

All in all, a fantastic convention.

Brian Lombard, shown above with Stephen Amell and David Ramsey, is quite fond of television both classic and modern. Check out his book "Bradypalooza: The Unauthorized Guide to TV's Favorite Family" on Amazon.

Photos courtesy of Brian Lombard;

please do not copy without permission.

Ain't we lucky we've got 'em ... From "Good Times" to hard times for grave of beloved late actress

BRBTV welcomes guest blogger Brian Lombard once again for this special report from the field on a beloved actress from one of our favorite classic TV shows ...

Pompano Beach, Florida might not sound like somewhere you’d expect to discover a TV star’s final resting place. But its where you’ll find Westview Community Cemetery and its most famous resident, Esther Rolle. Rolle, who rose to fame in the 1970s as Florida, the matriarch of the Evans family on “Good Times,” passed in 1998, and was interred with her family, which had connections to both the community and to Westview itself.

Westview was founded in response to the segregation of the 1950s. It is considered to be an historically black cemetery, though cemetery officials have downplayed that moniker. One former board member (and Rolle family member) said “``there are some whites out there. It`s not many, two or three, I think, but there are some.”

A few years before Rolle’s passing, a community organization sought to revitalize Westview. After 40 years in service, it needed an upgrade. Tricky roads, outdated burial equipment, and a lack of greenery were all issues to be addressed. More than 20 years later, they’ve yet to be resolved.

As a result, visitors coming to pay their respects to “Florida Evans” don’t have any trouble finding her grave. Rolle’s grave is the only one that bears a headstone, and a recognizable one at that. It stands alone atop a sea of burial vaults, the likes of which this author has never seen (see second photo below). I’ve visited the final resting places of more than 200 celebrities in 17 states, and I’ve never seen vaults like this above ground.

The proposed repairs never took place, and eventually, the cemetery was closed by the city. Two entrances remain closed 24/7, while a third is kept open for family and loved ones of those already interred. In fact, as I was leaving that day, a man who identified himself as Westview’s business manager asked why I had been taking pictures. After explaining my interest in Rolle and “Good Times,” that seemed to satisfy him.

Just last month, the Sun-Sentinel published a story on the cemetery’s fate.

It’s a case of life imitating art. While you might expect to find Florida Evans in Westview, you would never expect to see Esther Rolle, who delighted and continues to delight fans to this day.

Rest in peace.

Brian Lombard is an avid fan of classic TV, and the author of the "Bradypalooza" guide to "The Brady Bunch."

Photos by Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

From a starship captain to a family Bunch -- TV worlds collide at L.A's Franklin Canyon Park

Many thanks to guest blogger Brian Lombard, who offers this closeup look at a fun filming site on the West Coast.

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Franklin Canyon Park is a public park in the hills of Los Angeles. While you may have never heard of it, you’ve most likely seen it, as it has been used in countless films and television series. The iconic introduction to “The Andy Griffith Show,” wherein Andy and young Opie head out for a day of fishing, was filmed in the park. But it wasn’t Andy Griffith that drew me there on a recent visit to L.A.

My interest in the park was twofold, the first involving the final frontier, the second involving a very lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls. Yes, both “Star Trek” and “The Brady Bunch,” two of my favorites series, filmed memorable episodes in the park, so I knew I had to see it firsthand.

In June 1968, “Star Trek” came to the park for production of an early third-season episode entitled “The Paradise Syndrome.” The story finds Captain Kirk joining a tribe of Native Americans after losing his memory on a doomed planet that the Enterprise has been sent to intercept. Much of the story was shot on the shores of Franklin Lake, including a specially designed set piece involving an obelisk. The piece is infamous among “Star Trek” fans, as its cost overruns resulted in the series ending location shoots with this episode. As a result, the third and final season would shoot exclusively indoors back at Paramount Studios, using pre-existing sets over and over (and over) again.

Finding the area where the obelisk once sat is fairly easy to do. Today, it's home to a picnic table and a trash can (below), belying its more popular position in pop culture history.

Look across the lake and you’ll see the area where the Indian village set once was, though it was only used for exterior shots. This is also the area where, just a year later, the Bradys would set up camp in the first-season episode “A Camping We Will Go.” (See the black box in the third photo below.)

Didja notice? Captain Kirk performs CPR on a boy who was pulled from the lake, and Cindy Brady is seen soaking wet after having fallen in herself. But no one is ever actually shown in the lake itself. That’s because back in the '60s, the lake was used as a backup water supply, and park rangers were quick to tell the productions no swimming. In the case of “Star Trek,” canoes were rented for the express purpose of filming on the lake, but instead were shown merely being cleaned on shore.

Today the park is home to locals out for a jog or letting their dogs stretch their legs. Even if you’re not a fan of these classic series, it’s still a scenic and beautiful way to spend an afternoon. But like the Bradys, better bring your own lunch, as there’s no fish to be found in that lake!

Brian Lombard is the author of "Bradypalooza: The Unauthorized Guide to TV's Favorite Family," and a really big fan of classic TV!

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Screenshots and photos by Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

Lyle Waggoner makes New Jersey appearance

Our friend Brian Lombard comes through again ... The often-elusive Lyle Waggoner, whom we remember so fondly as Steve Trevor on the original "Wonder Woman" 1970s TV series, is out and about, doing cons now, evidently. He's making an appearance right now, this weekend, in New Jersey at a venue that shall remain nameless, for the bad experience we had there several years ago (an fried notebook, among other things -- don't ask). But Brian sends us this fun, fresh photo of himself and Mr. Waggoner, who did, indeed, compliment Brian's shirt ...

Photo courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

"Shazam!" star Jackson Bostwick talks about those sweet moral segments

Friend and fellow author Brian Lombard (of the Six Feet Under blog) dropped in on Jackson Bostwick of TV's classic "Shazam!" at an East Coast appearance this past weekend. Brian had a particular question to ask the star of the '70s Saturday-morning live-action show. This fan had always suspected that the moral segments shown at the end of the episodes (don't talk to strangers, do your homework, ya know ...) were all shot in one day. Bostwick confirmed that they were, and at Franklin Canyon Park, a site used for the original "Star Trek" series, as well as "The Brady Bunch." (Read more about it in this January 2017 post by Brian.) Bostwick also said the moral segments were his idea. So fun!

Photo courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

Watch out for your wallet around that (third) Boss Hogg!

Special thanks to fellow author Brian Lombard for sharing this photo with BRBTV. This is Brian with actor Christopher McDonald at this past weekend's Monster Mania event in New Jersey.

Fans of "The Dukes of Hazzard" know McDonald as Boss Hogg from the 2007 prequel movie The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning (if ya watched it -- it wasn't well-received!). McDonald told our friend that the "Dukes" movie was "a fun gig" and he loved riding around in the General Lee.

McDonald has done a wealth of other work over the years, notably the voice of Harvey Dent in the "Beware the Batman" animated series, the voice of Jor-El in "Justice League" and its "Superman" sister series, and the voice of Clark Kent / Superman in "Batman Beyond."

Photo courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

It's a report from the field: Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con '19

We love the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con here at BRBTV but didn't manage to make it this year. Our pal and fellow author Brian Lombard was there, though, and caught some great photos.

You know, it used to be, a couple years back, that Brian in his Gilligan costume was the only cosplayer at this event! This one is more an autograph show, after all, and it skews to another generation, so it's much more about the great celebs of classic TV shows and movies who appear. But look what's happened ... folks are getting into the spirit, so to speak ...

Photos by Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

A tribute to two dearly departed Hoggs ...

Thanks to our friend Brian Lombard for snapping these photos ... There are several cast members of "The Dukes of Hazzard" that many fans never got a chance to meet, as they're no longer with us. One of them is our beloved Lulu Hogg, Ms. Peggy Rea, whose urn is located at Santa Barbara Cemetery.

Les Tremayne was Big Daddy Hogg, and we also know him and love him as Mentor on "Shazam!" as well. Brian tells us this one was hard to snap, as it was high up, but it's at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

Photos by Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

ElectraWow and DynaMite: Can you believe Judy Strangis owns her DynaGirl costume?

It was a reunion of the two gals from classic Saturday-morning TV's "ElectraWoman and DynaGirl" over the weekend, and our buddy Brian was there -- and he even filed a report with BRBTV.

At an autograph show in New Jersey over the weekend, Brian, shown above in his Gilligan cosplay, got a chance to chat with Deidre Hall, left, and Judy Strangis, the stars of the iconic superhero series. They're looking great, he reported, first of all, but he also asked them about their amazing so-'70s costumes from the show, all awash in eye-catching oranges and yellows. What happened to the costumes? What were they like? How many costumes did each gal get for the filming? 

BRBTV was guessing it was "one" for the latter question, given the short time frame that the series aired, along with the minimalist's budgets that shows produced by the Kroffts were known for (admittedly, by brothers Sid and Marty). Well, yeah, Judy said, she just had one DynaGirl costume for the filming -- and she owns it now! So fun!

Judy didn't always own the outfit, though, she told Brian. A friend gifted her with it recently. She has the costume framed at her home (which Lynda Carter, by the way, has  done with her own screen-used Wonder Woman costume, though she had more than one for filming; Heroes and Icons recently reported that she actually owns two of the costumes). 

Of Judy, "Her husband/handler told me he has yet to see her wear it," Brian said. (Perhaps that was a bit of a joke on the hub's part, but it's adorable.) Deidre Hall, who went on after the show to much fame on daytime soaps, does not have her own ElectraWoman costume, however, she said.

Two modern photos courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

Jeff Altman signs this great photo for BRBTV

Oooohhhh, this author was thrilled to see the signed photo her fellow author Brian Lombard nabbed from Mr. Jeff Altman, aka Hughie Hogg of "The Dukes of Hazzard," on a recent trip to Las Vegas. Altman performed stand-up -- as is his nature in the post-"Dukes" years -- with some other comedians at the Tropicana Hotel, and Brian was lucky enough to be sitting near the front, and was even blessed enough to chat with the star after the show. "He holds the record for most appearances on David Letterman," Brian says. "He clearly enjoyed playing Hughie and was delighted to see the photo." The club inside the Tropicana where Altman was appearing, Brian says, is part of the Laugh Factory franchise there, a world-famous comedy club originally opened in L.A. by Pauly Shore's father.

We love the way ole Hughie signed this! Thanks so much, Mr. Altman -- you were an amazing Boss-in-Training! And thanks so much to Brian!

Charles Cyphers recalls his time on "Isis," "Wonder Woman" and "The Dukes of Hazzard"

Special thanks to guest blogger Brian Lombard!

Halloween is almost here, and among the many annual traditions is Monster Mania, a horror and sci-fi themed convention In Hunt Valley, Maryland. Last weekend saw the likes of such masters of horror as George Romero, Dee Wallace Stone and Meg Foster, among many others.

 

While horror has never been my go-to genre, the convention always allows for the opportunity to meet with the actors and discuss some of their other roles, the ones that the con organizers don’t necessarily advertise on the flyers. Early roles in television and film, before they made it big.

Dee Wallace Stone was amazed that I brought up her 1977 episode of Sid and Marty Krofft’s TV series "Bigfoot and Wildboy," as most fans were interested in discussing "Cujo" or "E.T." Meg Foster was equally amazed that anyone remembered her trilogy of episodes on the series "Quantum Leap," rather than her role in Rob Zombie’s "Lords of Salem." But inevitably you’ll find a role on their IMDb page that’s just ripe for a BRBTV guide. Enter Charles Cyphers.

 

Most famous for his role as Sheriff Brackett in the "Halloween" movie franchise, Cyphers began his career like any other actor, taking roles in television and film hoping to establish a name for himself.  And fans of BRBTV are sure to have seen his work.

 

Charles Cyphers as Sheriff Leigh Brackett in "Halloween" (1978).

 

In 2012, BRBTV released "Superchicks: A Guide to TV’s Wonder Woman and Isis." Cyphers has the distinction of having appeared in both series.  So I asked him to discuss those two early roles.

 

“'Isis,' that was one of my very first roles,” he said. “And I got to play a car thief.” 

Cyphers and I had been discussing his roles and their availability on DVD. He was not aware that "Isis" was released until I mentioned it. 

“That really shocks me. I had no idea that that series was still around. Just the other day, I got a royalty check, a BIG one, for 'The Six Million Dollar Man.' For the DVDs. 'Isis'?  Never saw a thing.  I don’t know who owns it, but we shot it for Filmation.”

 

On "Wonder Woman," Cyphers played Kurt in the first-season episode “Wonder Woman in Hollywood,” one of the episodes in which a very young Debra Winger played Wonder Girl.

 

“That was a great episode for me. The director (Bruce Bilson) was a friend of mine, and while we were shooting that episode, he was also directing me in a play. He would tease me about that for a long, long time. And Lynda Carter, yes, she was great to work with.”

 

A few years later, Cyphers would appear in two different roles on "The Dukes of Hazzard," as chronicled in "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" He appeared in one of the very first shows shot in Hollywood, “Limo One is Missing.” Five years later, he would return to Hazzard in the sixth season’s “Dead and Alive.”

 

When asked about the experiences, Cyphers says that he had a lot of fun filming "The Dukes," but he adds that “those boys were full of themselves. I had more fun on 'Wonder Woman.'”

Brian Lombard is the author of "Bradypalooza: The Unauthorized Guide to TV's Favorite Family."

Recreated "Munsters" mansion casts a creepy-cool shadow over Texas

From one classic TV house to another! On Saturday, you saw some fresh photos from Southfork Ranch, home of classic and even-not-so-classic "Dallas" TV action. Now, that same photog, author Brian Lombard, sends more photos of a TV variety, this time from an earlier decade. It's a recreated "Munsters" mansion, also located in Texas. You can learn more at the site's Facebook page. Looks like a whole lotta ghoulish fun ...
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Waxahachie, Texas, just outside of Dallas, is home to a unique piece of pop culture history. The Munster Mansion, a meticulously re-created shrine to 1313 Mockingbird Lane, and the '60s TV series "The Munsters."

Created by mega-fan Sandy McKee and her husband Charles, the house revisits every room depicted on the series, which only ran for two seasons. 

Unlike the recent "Brady Bunch" house renovation, which relied on actual Hollywood blueprints, the McKees created their dream house by simply watching the series, building the house from the ground up, and furnishing it to exacting standards. 

A number of "Munsters" stars have visited the house since it was built more than 20 years ago, including "Grandpa" Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, and Marilyn #2, Pat Priest. The McKees hold regular charity events, which the stars have donated their time to. 

For any "Munsters" fan, or fans of classic TV, it's well worth the detour on your next Texas road trip.

Photos by Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission

Universes collide: "Star Trek" meets Hazzard County in this con report

There are some surprising cross-overs from the "Star Trek" universe to the classic "Dukes of Hazzard." A fan of both of those pop-culture giants, author Brian Lombard graciously offers BRBTV this report from the field, following his trip to Las Vegas for the "Star Trek" convention last week. He spoke to three "Trek" stars who also happened to do some time in Hazzard County ...

First up was Andy Robinson, Garak from "DS9." He first appeared in “The Hazzardville Horror,” then later in “The Treasure of Soggy Marsh” as two different characters. After discussing "Trek" and his work with Clint Eastwood, I asked him about Hazzard, and he let out a pretty good belly laugh, as did his handler. He referred to it as “the payment for all my previous sins.” He was joking, and he was quite complimentary of the series. He said that in most productions he’d worked on, the casts and crew always took themselves very seriously, but with Hazzard, everyone was just so easy to work with. He described the mood on the set as fun and energetic. I pointed out to him that he had the unique opportunity to appear in both a Bo and Luke show as well as a Coy and Vance, and he said the mood didn’t vary. Both casts were easy to get along with. I didn’t get any photos with Andy, but I did have him sign a copy of his "DS9" novel.

Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes on stage during last week's "Star Trek" convention in Las Vegas.

Next was Tracy Scoggins. She appeared as Officer Linda Mae Barnes in “New Deputy in Town.” Most of her 8-by-10s were sci-fi stuff. I told her I had brought a photo, and she was pleasantly surprised to see her Hazzard past laid bare (see below). I asked her what she recalled about the show, and she said that she wrecked the patrol car! It was a very simple scene, where all she had to do was drive up to the mark, get out, and arrest Bo and Luke. When she got out of the car, however, she forgot to apply the parking brake, and the car rolled down the hill into a tree. It was probably the first time a police car wasn’t intentionally wrecked on the series. Since she had a lot of scenes with Sorrell Booke, I asked her about working with him, and she had nothing but compliments for him. She then added that after doing the episode, she enrolled in James Best’s acting school, and the two had remained friends until he passed a few months back.

Finally, I got to talk with Jonathan Frakes. They had assembled all of the "TNG" actors in one area, and his was by far the longest line, even eclipsing Data’s, much to my surprise. I stood in that thing well over an hour, but it was worth it. I pulled the attached photo out of my bag and placed it before him. Like Scoggins, he was not anticipating a Hazzard photo! He grabbed the photo, stood up, and walked over to Levar Burton’s table. He said “Levar, Jamie Lee Hogg!” The look on Levar’s face said it all. Shock that anyone would remember it. (As an aside, I was concerned that Levar might have an issue with it, given the recent fracas over Hazzard in the media). Frakes came back and I asked him if he could still talk with a Hazzard accent. He answered with his name, “Jamie Lee Hogg.” I then said to him, “Wow, Counselor Troi AND Daisy Duke?” He said “I’m a lucky guy, aren’t I?” To which I said, “You’re the man.” We did the fist bump, and that was it.

Photos courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.