Hollywood Studio Magazine (November 1966)

HOLLYWOOD GOES SAN FERNANDO VALLEY? THERE ARE SIGNS and portents that Big Time Hol¬ lywood may be following the trend of the times and mov- ing to the San Fernando Valley. Film production in the immediate years ahead may be concentrated in the go-go Valley, if we are to believe the printed rumors. Runaway RUSS CARLSON GIVEN FAREWELL PARTY BY W. 0. WATSON - SOUND DEPT. In the September issue of STU¬ DIO MAGAZINE we mentioned briefly that Russ had retired after twenty years with Universal City Studios. It gives us great pleasure to be able to elaborate on the party tendered Russ by the Sound Dep’t., by including a couple of pictorial highlights of the affair which was held at MERRICK’S. Billy Ray Hedg- cock was responsible for getting the pix in our hands. Dept. head, W. O. Watson (1) presents one of many tokens of esteem from his well wishers to Russ as Mrs. Carlson stifles her amazement (Ed. note: Quite appropriately this gift is resting on an E.T. ???, however in case not an electrical transcription! Russ and his Mrs. C. reflect their pleasure at the goodwill gestures from their friends of many years. Russ and Florence pause to admire a gift, "A gag retirement card," as Allan Bode and Ron Pierce loo.ks on. production is coming home and it is running thisaway. With Universal having breached the ramparts at Cahuenga Pass, oth- er film makers are bound to press on the advance to other broad Val¬ ley acres that represent the growth/ space potential necessary to the bur- geoning film production of the fu- ture. Rumors to the effect that the maj- or Studios were contemplating Val¬ ley spreads have been rampant for the past two or three years, and now the hearsay has, to some degree, solidified. Witness: The 20th Century-Fox is barking a transfer to Malibu. The MGM Lion is stalking a Stu¬ dio ponderosa in the Thousand Oaks vicinity. Most dramatic of the “new Stu¬ dios” projected is the vast rental complex aanounced by newly- formed Hollywood International Studios, Inc. Headed by Executive Director Tim Sullivan and Presi¬ dent John D. Glynn, Hollywood In¬ ternational plans an eventual 105 sound stages on 1,200 San Fernando Valley acres. The Corporation, which will function primarily as a landlord, will locate the Studio near the intersection of the San Diego and Golden State freeways. Embrac- ing land known as the 0‘Melveny Ranch. HIS, which terms itself a “Service Organization,” is now busy assembling a board of directors heavily gold-braided in fiscal, busi- ness and arts experience. “Our pur- pose,” say the Organization chiefs, “is to keep the motion picture in- dustry where it belongs - here!” Equipped to offer production fa- cilities and Services to match those of the long-time major Studios, HIS will represent a Mecca to Holly- wood’s countless independent pro- ducers. Financing will be by private, institutional and brokerage sources. The gargantuan Studio layout would be constructed in phases. Sullivan, newly turned 54, is a former actor/producer and Glynn, 38, is an executive in two savings and loan banks in the Newport Beach area. Although independent produc¬ tion is still very much a Hollywood “in” big studio facilities are a must if below the line costs are to be kept under control. And the big studio’s place in the scene would appear to be an ever- more important one. Visitors from the stix still see them as Symbols of the Hollywood myth and, as Uni¬ versal has proven with its studio tours, are willing to pay to “see the Stars” at work. Twentieth Century-Fox may be the next to conduct a tour business, since this would greatly pleasure the adjacent Century City Organiza¬ tion. The swank Century Plaza Stands close upon the current studio back¬ lot, and tours would attract hotel customers. This could be a sister plan to that announced by Universal which also envisions a hotel satellite to the studio. 20th is currently offer- ing a tour setup, but only for off-the- lotVIPS. DRUM CITY ACQUIRES SPIKE JONES COLLECTION Arnold Frank and Roy Harte, owners of Drum City - Guitar Town in Van Nuys, have acquired the Spike Jones collection of sound ef- fects instruments for their museum. The museum contains rare and un- usual musical instruments from all over the world. Other rare items in their collec¬ tion include: a Voodoo Tahitian tri- bal drum, which was donated by ac- tor William Holden; African rhythm logs, used for sending messages thru the jungle; a Shellbaum, a German marching instrument over a Century old; and the largest base drum in the world... over seven feet in diameter. Frank and Harte started their collection of instruments about ten years ago, when they purchased a set of East Indian Tabla Drums in a Brooklyn pawnshop. Their stock has increased thru the years until its present total is 200 instruments. The museum, which is open to the public on Mondays thru Saturdays, is located at 15255 Sherman Way in Van Nuys. 7