Hollywood Backstage (1964 TV series)

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]

Hollywood Backstage
Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell attending premiere of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Egyptian Theatre (1964)
GenreEntertainment
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)

Format

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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]

References

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