The Backlot

How true - and astute of you, PJ. Just this afternoon, I was driving home from Arizona to the West San Fernando
Valley. As I drove on the 134 freeway - having visited my parents in Prescott, AZ - I passed the Hollywood Way
exit - between Toluca Lake and Burbank - and I thought of that small Warner Brothers Ranch...and all the memories
it holds.

The "Kravitz"/"Partridge Family" façade has been totally redesigned to the point of not being recognizable. The
church opposite the "Bewitched" façade no longer exits. But so many other facades - including "Jeannie",
"Bewitched", "Gidget"" and the park. still stand.

Skipper, do you live in L.A.? If you don't, and you can afford a few days of a visit, I can tell you two things:

For many years, the Official Bewitched Fan Club from Harpies Bizarre would come to L.A. and their president arranged
an annual afternoon at the ranch. They would eat lunch in the park (where Sam and Tabitha often visited) and stroll
the "streets." I don't know if they still do this, but you can certainly email someone at Harpies Bizarre (a great
site, btw).

The other thing is it might be easier now to get onto the lot. Here's why:

When they tore down the New York section, they build a few soundstages, as well as Warner Brothers offices. When
I visited it wasn't unusual to see professionally attired people (of all ages) eating their lunches in the park! Why?
Because it IS a park, with grass, trees, the famous fountain and the swimming pool!

What I did pre 9/11/01, was call Warner's and tell them I was an indie filmmaker (I actually was) and wanted a
"scouting pass." They would say "sure" (hoping I would rent shooting time at the lot), and my name would be
left with the security guard. When I arrived, they gave me a two hour pass. I had to keep it taped to my shirt, and
I could roam the streets. Nobody bugged me, and everyone was very nice.

To see this lot for the first time is quite a thrill. As you would guess, everything is much smaller than it appears on
TV. Even the BW facade isn't that large. And most - including BW - are indeed facades. In other words, you open
the front door and there's nothing there but dirt and beams. When I visited, the BW facade had a ladder inside, so
technicians could climb up to the "upstairs" windows. Very fascinating. The "Jeannie" facade is actually an office
for maintenance (tools, and such, for the gardeners, etc.).

The first time I went (in 1990) the feeling I got was similar to revisiting your childhood street - I felt as if I'd already
been there.