/ phantomofthebacklots Take a a trip back in time to a 67 acre wonderland known as MGM lot 3. Most famous for War television in the 1960’s - this lot is like Disneyland- but with weapons.
Donnie, this is so great! My wife and I love it. I grew up in Baldwin Hills between La Cienega and La Brea. My wife grew up in Cheviot Hills and also knows all the Twilight Zone episodes. Thanks so much for producing this video. By the way, I bought your book, I recommend it to anyone who loves these old backlots.
Loved this video and thank You very much for sharing it .👍👍 I’m a big fan of the Back Lots can’t get enough of them. And again thank You so much for sharing it.🙏🏼
This was so fascinating! My wife and I love old Hollywood and all it offers. We live in Bakersfield and visit often. For both of us it represents a wonderful time in history. Thank you so much for your channel and your passion for the movie industry. One of my friends, Henry Miller Jr. and I discuss his and his fathers work doing Special Effects for so many movies dating back to the thirties. We do so enjoy all you share. Thank you!
Grew up with everything on television in the 1960’s in pj’s with teeth brushed and in the floor in front of set loving every minute, drenching bedtime on a school night….☹️….thank you for sharing. Billy
I would absolutely love to see a video about your experiences on the Universal lot. Sneaking in as a kid, but also your experiences working there. Any ghost stories or spooky happenings on the lot and in soundstage 28. Thank you for your time. The stories and pictures of your experiences are very much appreciated.
Amazing remember being in school waiting on the bell 🔔 to ring and walking home to watch Combat after homework 📚 and supper 🍽️ these kids that were on the set and the dirt bikes on the mountains what a lucky🍀 bunch and the thought of people just driving by and behind the fence and these Twilight zones being made, and how we have all grown ole watching and enjoying everything. Thank you, Billy
My first time here, This is interesting and informative. Sometimes watching information on backlots and the inside studios the movies were made in can be even more interesting that the actual movie itself. Thank You for the tour !
I did a back lot tour here in 1963, right after they finished shooting Marlon Brando's Mutiny on the Bounty. They still had many of the sets in place. I remember seeing several mock-ups of the Bounty including a large, burned model that was used in the final scene of the movie. I remember seeing the Cotton Blossom, and sets I recognized from Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959). They had wind machines that were surplus WW 2 airplanes and large ship models that they blew around in big lake...Lots of trains and railroad equipment. For a kid this was really exciting. So this was where all the magic was created...It was like peeking into the magician's bag of tricks ! I've since toured all the major studio back lots, but this was the best !
I remember those days when dad would ask me, "What did you find out today?" After running around all day in the summertime. No cares in the world 😇! Except getting caught when up to trouble, like swiping grapes from furit stand 😋! If the clerk told your Paw you more then likely had to sleep on your stomach for a couple of days after he dusted the seat of your pants 🤣! What a time!😥
I would have loved to have been able to visit the MGM Backlots in their heyday, such a pity it was all ripped apart and sold off. Thank you for sharing this.
I love it as I love MGM. Gave a tour myself of MGM when LA Conservancy went through before the studio's Leo the Lion was being replaced to the next new Studio Company.
My brother and I attended Farragut elementary school back in the mid sixties. We never made it to lot 3 but we and some friends were able to sneak into lot 2.
I remember seeing old Rawhide episodes and reading somewhere that a couple of seasons were filmed at MGM Culver City. Can anyone confirm this for an old Gil Favor/Rowdy Yates fan? I also remember hearing the MGM Western sets were torn down in 1988?
I got to sneak onto Disney in Burbank before the lot was turned into office buildings. It wasn't like Metro, but there was small town America and the Alamo and more.
I grew up in Cheviot Hills and spent a lot of time in Culver City and on this backlot and many others. There was at least one oil derrick, a wooden one, just the other side of the trench and hidden by the eucalyptus trees. Do you also remember the MGM rod and gun club? Oh, and we may have some mutual friends from the Culver Crest area and the flatlands. Where did you grow up?
Don't know were the lone ranger was filmed but i saw a white pickup truck in the background driving in the hills during an episode and obviously that didn't belong in that time period
Did I miss something? You never told us what year those pictures of you and your friends were on the backlot and on the ships? How old were you and what year was it? Thanks...
High Definition for some reason ruins the look of these older television shows and movies. It is too sharp a view even though it may be clearer. The magic of film is lost in high definition.
Donnie, this is so great! My wife and I love it. I grew up in Baldwin Hills between La Cienega and La Brea. My wife grew up in Cheviot Hills and also knows all the Twilight Zone episodes. Thanks so much for producing this video. By the way, I bought your book, I recommend it to anyone who loves these old backlots.
Amazing stories of days long gone
Oh to be a kid again! Loved the behind the scenes of some of my favorite movies.
Loved this video and thank You very much for sharing it .👍👍
I’m a big fan of the Back Lots
can’t get enough of them. And again thank You so much for sharing it.🙏🏼
This was so fascinating! My wife and I love old Hollywood and all it offers. We live in Bakersfield and visit often. For both of us it represents a wonderful time in history. Thank you so much for your channel and your passion for the movie industry. One of my friends, Henry Miller Jr. and I discuss his and his fathers work doing Special Effects for so many movies dating back to the thirties. We do so enjoy all you share. Thank you!
Grew up with everything on television in the 1960’s in pj’s with teeth brushed and in the floor in front of set loving every minute, drenching bedtime on a school night….☹️….thank you for sharing. Billy
Just. Wow. Amazing stories!
Absolutely sensational! Exciting, as if I was really there. Terrible injustice what was done to this historic lot. It will never happen again.
I would absolutely love to see a video about your experiences on the Universal lot. Sneaking in as a kid, but also your experiences working there. Any ghost stories or spooky happenings on the lot and in soundstage 28. Thank you for your time. The stories and pictures of your experiences are very much appreciated.
Amazing remember being in school waiting on the bell 🔔 to ring and walking home to watch Combat after homework 📚 and supper 🍽️ these kids that were on the set and the dirt bikes on the mountains what a lucky🍀 bunch and the thought of people just driving by and behind the fence and these Twilight zones being made, and how we have all grown ole watching and enjoying everything. Thank you, Billy
My first time here, This is interesting and informative. Sometimes watching information on backlots and the inside studios the movies were made in can be even more interesting that the actual movie itself. Thank You for the tour !
18:53.i loved this episode,one of the rare funny twilight zones
Wonderful!!! History preserved in photos 😊
Awesome Awesome Commentary. This video needs more views, Thank you for sharing
I did a back lot tour here in 1963, right after they finished shooting Marlon Brando's Mutiny on the Bounty. They still had many of the sets in place. I remember seeing several mock-ups of the Bounty including a large, burned model that was used in the final scene of the movie. I remember seeing the Cotton Blossom, and sets I recognized from Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959). They had wind machines that were surplus WW 2 airplanes and large ship models that they blew around in big lake...Lots of trains and railroad equipment. For a kid this was really exciting. So this was where all the magic was created...It was like peeking into the magician's bag of tricks ! I've since toured all the major studio back lots, but this was the best !
Excellent! Thanks so much for this.
Would have loved being a kid with you back then!!
The Outer Limits was also filmed there.
I remember those days when dad would ask me, "What did you find out today?" After running around all day in the summertime. No cares in the world 😇! Except getting caught when up to trouble, like swiping grapes from furit stand 😋! If the clerk told your Paw you more then likely had to sleep on your stomach for a couple of days after he dusted the seat of your pants 🤣! What a time!😥
I would have loved to have been able to visit the MGM Backlots in their heyday, such a pity it was all ripped apart and sold off. Thank you for sharing this.
Very cool. Golden Era of film.
Brilliant!
I love it as I love MGM. Gave a tour myself of MGM when LA Conservancy went through before the studio's Leo the Lion was being replaced to the next new Studio Company.
My brother and I attended Farragut elementary school back in the mid sixties. We never made it to lot 3 but we and some friends were able to sneak into lot 2.
I remember seeing old Rawhide episodes and reading somewhere that a couple of seasons were filmed at MGM Culver City. Can anyone confirm this for an old Gil Favor/Rowdy Yates fan? I also remember hearing the MGM Western sets were torn down in 1988?
I got to sneak onto Disney in Burbank before the lot was turned into office buildings. It wasn't like Metro, but there was small town America and the Alamo and more.
I grew up in Cheviot Hills and spent a lot of time in Culver City and on this backlot and many others. There was at least one oil derrick, a wooden one, just the other side of the trench and hidden by the eucalyptus trees. Do you also remember the MGM rod and gun club?
Oh, and we may have some mutual friends from the Culver Crest area and the flatlands. Where did you grow up?
Don't know were the lone ranger was filmed but i saw a white pickup truck in the background driving in the hills during an episode and obviously that didn't belong in that time period
@ around 21min is that palomino, Mr. Ed? his muzzle is darker but flinches just like Bamboo Harvester would.
Did I miss something? You never told us what year those pictures of you and your friends were on the backlot and on the ships? How old were you and what year was it? Thanks...
In the words of a more modern MGM movie, they might have moved the tombstones but they certainly left the bodies.
Hard G on Gillespie.
What is the title of your book and where is it available for purchase? Thank you.
The name of the book is
Phantom of the back lots presents A hole in the fence by Donnie Norden.
Combat was filmed in the trench.
High Definition for some reason ruins the look of these older television shows and movies. It is too sharp a view even though it may be clearer. The magic of film is lost in high definition.
Agreed. I think all the new movies in UHD and 4k look TOO real... still not used to it.