In February of 1976, I had some free time in my tour schedule with Doc, and I was looking for something to do. An opportunity presented itself which I could not refuse. And as I was still contributing feature articles to the local paper back home, this seemed like perfect fodder…
HOLLYWOOD — “Hello?” I said, picking up the phone.
“Do you want to work in a John Wayne movie?” a voice asked.
“Sure, why not?” I replied. “Good,” said the voice, which belonged to my casting director neighbor Jim. “Be at The Burbank Studios tomorrow morning at 7:30. Western street.” Click.
The Burbank Studios (nee Warner Brothers.) Home of “The Waltons.” “Police Story.” “Maverick.” “The Partridge Family.” I could hardly contain myself. Knowing that this would be a Memorable Experience, I decided to take notes.
Wednesday — So this is the movies. I walked into wardrobe. Saw no one. Suddenly a voice demanded “Name?”“M-m-m-Meuler. Don.” No one in sight.
“Was that four ‘m’s’ or five?”
“One.” Smart aleck. Where was he?
“Here, try these on,” said Wardrobe Voice. A pair of pants landed at my feet, a shirt flew in from another corner, boots and a hat from someplace else. “Dressing room next door,” said Wardrobe Voice. “Thanks,” I said.
“Who are you talking to?” said another extra, entering behind me.
“Oh, no one.”
Here I am on the street, and oh wow! There’s The Duke! John Wayne! I said hello, but he mistook me or someone else. I don’t know how, though. How could he forget anyone named ‘Pilgrim?’
In saying hello, I made a startling discovery: John Wayne is only 5 feet 6 inches tall. I’m not sure how they make him tall on screen, but I think his horse wears lifts. At any rate, I was instructed to kneel in his presence. (I’m 5 feet 9 inches.)
Thursday — Yesterday I was too naive to notice much. Today though, I see it all. While the crew is setting up a shot, which can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or much, much more, the horses and extras just relax; some play cards (extras, not horses), some nap, and some stomp their feet and complain (extras and horses). But when the AD says, “This’ll be picture!” the horses jump to life, snorting and pawing the ground, sending some extras running, and awakening the others.
When things calm down, they shoot the scene. Afterward, the set is a mess. All the extras from the other sets wander in and name-drop. “Joe Forrester.” “Police Woman.” “The Waltons.” Police Story.” And so on.
Friday - Found out the name of this movie. “The Shootist.” Don Siegel is our director. He directed “Dirty Harry,” the original “The Thing,” and many others.
Studios can get confusing. One guy worked two scenes with us before he realized he was on “Western” street, not “Laramie" street. “Isn’t this ‘Banjo Hackett’?” he demanded. We told him he was in the wrong movie. “Aw shoot!” I think he yelled. Movie talk. Means “I made a boo-boo.”
The weather is great, but we lost a half day of shooting. Seems Clint Eastwood came on the set to visit Siegel, and they couldn’t calm down the women (and some of the guys.) Several people had to be excused.
Monday was a holiday. Dick Cavett has been on our set every day. He’s putting together a TV special called “Backlot U.S.A.” Sounds fascinating…
Tuesday - Nearly got killed today. Twice. They didn’t like the first take. I was supposed to run beneath two bucking horses. After the first take, the AD said to me “Watch it! You nearly ran that horse down!” Sorry.
Second take, I barely escaped with my life. But at least I didn’t vex the horses. When I came to, it was suggested that I ask for stunt pay. I shrugged. All in the line of duty. We were dismissed an hour later. A person would have to be crazy to do this all the time.I hope they call again soon.
Everything in the article is all true, except the part about Duke being 5’-6”, which I thought would be painfully obvious to everyone. Silly me; THAT generated a few letters and phone calls.
I left out the best parts; seeing and working “with” Duke, Jimmy Stewart, Ron Howard, and Lauren Bacall; how the 1st AD kept placing me in setups next to Duke or one of the other stars, only to have Siegel check the shot, point at me and say “What’s HE doing there?;” and how utterly un-boring it really was. It didn’t pay much, but then, in hindsight I would have done it for nothing. Also, it was shot on the same set as one of my other favorite movies, “The Music Man,” and it was fun to see how the crew made it look so different, even with all the same buildings and storefronts. I can find myself in the background of several shots (especially since the DVD came out), but I know where to look, and you don’t.
I think it’s about time to watch it again.
