American television series
| Hollywood Backstage |
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| Genre | Entertainment |
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| Written by | Paul Werth[1] |
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| Directed by | Rick Spalla Sr.[1] |
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| Presented by | John Willis
Army Archerd |
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| Country of origin | United States |
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| Original language | English |
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| Producer | Rick Spalla Sr.[1] |
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| Production locations | Los Angeles, California
London, England
Boulder, Colorado |
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| Release | 1964 (1964) –
1968 (1968) |
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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]
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] film/TV specialty auto customizing shop of George Barris,[8] 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,[9] and Mamie Van Doren riding a motorcycle with Dave Ekins.[6]
References
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