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Tiger Beat - May 1970
The
Day Our Lives Were Threatened
 Hi Babe! Life this past month has really been hectic, most of
all because a huge fire broke out during "Brides" filming and scared all of us
half to death!
You may have read about the fire - the Los Angeles Times made it
headlines - and I was right there in the middle of the action.
We film at the Columbia Ranch in Burbank and the morning had been
pretty normal, no problems with shooting. I was just finishing my lunch when I began
to smell smoke.
BURNING WEEDS - At
first I didn't think much about it. I assumed weeds were being burned somewhere on
the lot. Then the smoke got thicker and smellier and it dawned on me that the ranch
must be on fire. I tore out of my dressing room and raced through the set, yelling
a warning to everyone who might be inside buildings and unaware of the threat. The
sets there were very old and dry. I knew the wood would crackle and burn in an
instant.
About this same time, Robert Brown and Bridget were having lunch in
a nearby restaurant, Sarantino's, and they were in the middle of an interview when they
glanced out of the window and saw smoke puffing up from the ranch. They jumped out
of their seats and ran out the door, leaving their interviewers sitting there speechless.
They raced back to the set and that's when I saw them.
SAVE THE SET - We all
had the same idea: save the set! I tore off my shirt and started pulling
hoses and muffling flames with anything I could find. The firemen came screeching
into the ranch and I jumped up on the trucks, helping them. Everyone - stars,
directors, extras - fought the flames. But we lost the Western street anyway.
"Brides" used the street scene all the time, like whenever
we were supposed to be visiting somewhere besides Seattle. The set was used in the
famous movie, "High Noon," and only two years ago in the Monkees' movie
"Head."
Part of the "Flying Nun" set, right behind the Western
scene, was also lost and Sally Field was quite upset. The house you see sometimes in
"I Dream Of Jeannie," originally built for the "Blondie" series, was
burned to the ground.
$2 MILLION LOSS - We
all felt terrible about the fire and the $2 million damage but even more important than
the money, we all thought, was the fate of 22 rabbits which had lived for two years right
near Stage 29. Feeding and watching the 15 adults and 7 babies was close to all of
us. . . and when we discovered all 22 of them, safe and sound, we almost forgot our
sadness at the other losses!
The director on the show we were filming that day, ("The Last
Winter" is the name of the segment) brought the show in on time, even though we lost
a half day of filming. He was really freaked for a few days. . . our show was the
first he'd directed for Screen Gems, and he was worried enough without having a huge fire
interfere!
I wish the fire hadn't happened but since it did, I wish you all
could have seen how everyone pitched in and helped the firemen battle the flames.
There weren't any stars or bosses or super executives that day. . . just people trying to
stop destruction. Once everyone was assured all the people were taken care of, the
next concern was for the horses. People who didn't even ride were leading the
animals to safety.
REPAIRS NEEDED - I
don't know whether the studio plans to rebuild the sets that were burned. Certainly
the "Flying Nun" damage will have to be repaired but otherwise, I guess maybe
the Western street will just be crossed off. The ranch is still closed until the
insurance company finishes investigating it.
Guess that's it for this month, Babe. Take care and remember.
. .
Until we're together. . .
Love,
Bobby
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