Hollywood Backstage (1964 TV series)

Last updated
Hollywood Backstage
Genre Entertainment
Written byPaul Werth [1]
Directed byRick Spalla Sr. [1]
Presented byJohn Willis
Army Archerd
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerRick Spalla Sr. [1]
Production locationsLos Angeles, California
London, England
Boulder, Colorado
Original release
Release1964 (1964) –
1968 (1968)

Hollywood Backstage, with various presenters including John Willis and Army Archerd, [2] is an American TV series that features a behind-the-scenes look at the glamour of the Hollywood film industry. It originally ran from 1964 to 1968 [3] and was originally titled Hollywood Star Newsreel. [2]

Contents

Format

John Willis narrates as cameras capture historic behind-the-scenes footage of film sets, charity functions, celebrity roasts, star interviews, and various Hollywood events. These include the premieres of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), the first film to open at the Cinerama Dome; The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) at the Egyptian Theater; The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965); Viva Maria! (1965) [2] ; Battle of the Bulge (1965); Zsa Zsa Gabor attending Doctor Zhivago (1965) [4] ; The Blue Max (1966) [5] ; and Fantastic Voyage (1966) at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. [6]

Visits to film sets include Kiss Me, Stupid with Kim Novak (1964), Colorado location filming for Stagecoach (1966 film) starring Ann-Margret, Divorce American Style (1967) with Dick Van Dyke and Debbie Reynolds [2] , Who's Minding the Mint? (1967), and The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967). [6]

Miscellaneous segments include Edward G. Robinson at the dedication of his wax figure at the defunct Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park, CA [2] , the opening of Gazzarri's Hollywood a Go Go on the Sunset Strip, [7] and a tour of now-gone historic back lot of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio in Culver City, California. [6]

Interviews include Sonny & Cher, Nancy Wilson, Janet Leigh [2] , Red Buttons [5] , Lorne Greene, [6] , Trini Lopez, Robert Wagner, [6] Carolyn Jones, [8] and Mamie Van Doren riding a motorcycle with Dave Ekins. [6]

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References

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