Author:
Cheryl (thankful)
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Date Posted: 00:55:51 02/12/08 Tue
I have been carrying a note from actor John Schneider.
It has been in my purse since the day I recieved it.It was
sent to me by a ex who is also an actor in Hollywood and
worked with John on the set of "Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman". I met John in 1979. I was a runaway teen trespassing on the Burbank Studio lot. I mistakenly walked on the Hazzard County set during filming. By the time I got to the "Courthouse", John was taking a break, sipping on a cup of coffee and walking in my
direction. Behind me was a motorcycle security guard fast
approaching me. My stomache was in knots as I
knew trouble was following me. John and I crossed paths just as the guard pulled up to me. I was so scared, I
couldn't look in the direction of themotorcycle when he yelled for to me to stop.
I'd guess the look of desperation on my face gave John
the quick thinking idea to save me.
John spoke fast and yelled to the guard , She's with me."
Those were the nicest three words I'd heard in a very long
time. I'd been in Hollywood for only two weeks.
Left my home and family in New Orleans.
Caught the Grayhound bus with a one way ticket and seven
dollars in my pocket. Ofcourse if my parents
had known this they,would never had let me go.
My eldest sister Angie and her husband drove
me to the Grayhound bus station thinking I'd only
be gone for two weeks. Little did they,
or anyone in my family know, I had no
intentions on going homesoon. I was in search of Shaun
Cassidy and my American dream.
I had the crush on Shaun Cassidy that gave me the wild
urge to plan this trip to
Hollywood since I was sixteen. The Hardy Boys was a staple on my television. I worked at a local Pizza resturant toafford his records and played them over and over again til it made the rest of my sibling muffle their ears with pillows or hum loudlytheir own favorite tunes.
At age sixteen I also joined a "The New Orleans Police
Law Enforcement Explorers" I, along with other teens volunteered and worked side by side with the Police Personal of their Community Relations Division. We assisted Police with croud control at the Superdome, the Mardi Gras and other City Wide functions and road with them to simple community calls. At age seventeen I won the nomination for President of Explorer Post 560. Was
award at a Police Banquet as "Explorer of the Year"
and "Most Outstanding Explorer".
At age eighteen I resigned my position along with my
job to go to Hollywood. It was a very long, and scary
three day bus ride. I was cold at night and hungry most
of the time. Afraid to spend my money as I didn't know
when the next time will come that I'd have any again.
I felt alone, I missed my family, and visions of being homeless
and begging for food entered my mind more than once.
All those feeling changed when I saw the sign on the
freeway reading "Welcome to California".
After the guard left, John and I shook hands in an official
introduction. He invited me to watch the Dukes of Hazzard
being filmed. He introduced me to the cast then offered me his
directors chair. I remember sitting in it proudly, like I was suddenly crowned Queen of Hazzard County.
The chair had John Schneider monogramed on the back
and pockets on each side that hung halfway to the ground
which housed his script. I don't think I laughed
as much in my life as I did watching Bo and Luke being chased by Roscoe in the General Lee.
When they broke for lunch I decided to say goodbye
to John and thank him for his kindness. John invited me
back and said if I had any trouble at the gate just call
for him on the set and I'd get in, no problem.
John, really had no clue what he had done for me.
I was a lost soul when I walked on that studio lot.
I had no friends, I was home sick and lonely. Depressed
from an interview I had with Actor Cornel Wilde when I
went on my first casting call the day before. And to top it
off, I had a big fight with a live-in relative of my new boss
just that morning.While waiting for the bus to Hollywoodland
where I lived as a housekeeper and nanny for the
family of Director
Robert Lieberman I met a runaway. His bed just happened
to be the bench I was occupying. He was a teen about
the same age as I. Eighteen or
nineteen. He told me how to sneak on the studio lots
without getting caught. That was how my mission started
at Burbank Studios.Most of my day was spent watching
television and game shows being filmed.I was a regular
at tapings of "The Dating Game", "The Newlywed Game", "Hollywood Squares", "The Love Connection",
"The John Davidson Show", "That's My Momma",
"The Facts of Life","Sanford and Son", "Good Times".
If there was a free ticket to be gotten, I was there.
Bright eyed and bushy tailed. There I sat, in each of
the shows, smiling and laughing and having a jolly old
time.As soon as the tapings were over and the laughter
stopped I had to go back to reality. I followed the crowd
outside of the studio doors. My question to myself was
always, "What am I going to do now?"
I'd take a walk to the Farmers Market behind CBS
Studios just to droll at all the goodies for sale to eat.
I had no money to buy any so I convinced myself that
the smells would suffice. Then, I'd walk to the corner
looking left and right down the four way street on
Sunset Boulevard, wondering which one of the four
directions I should walk next. It really didn't matter
which one I chose.
Atleast three of
them would take
me to another new
place.
Left was Beverly Hills, right
was downtown Los Angeles,
behind me was the Wilshire
District.
In front of me....The fourth was the way to my Uncles
apartment on Argyle.
The only home I knew
at that time but the last
place I wanted to go.
I didn't like him and he
hated me. He was a stranger,
a cousin to my mom. I had never met him, nor spoken
to him, nor heard my mom talk of him til I
decided to go to California. When mom told me she
had a cousin in California, I had a one track mind.
He immediatly turned into my favorite relative. My ticket
to a warm bed. My only connection to Holywood.
So I was willing to meet him, live with him
(after all it was only for two weeks).To him,
I turn out to be just an intrusion. A homesick
teenager who ate all his food and took away his
privacy in his small one bedroom apartment and ran
up his phone bill calling long distance to New orleans.
My only solice, my only friend, was in Burbank on the
Warner Brothers Studio lot.John showed me compassion
that I had not had in years. I was a stranger in trouble
and he came to my rescue. The next time I went back to
the studio I
went straight
to the guard
shack and
had them call
John to ok my visit.
This time they were in a big wharehouse like studio.
Not outside as they were the first time.
When John and mine eyes met he was way across on
the other side of the room finishing a taping. He looked at
me and smiled.
Then he raised
up his arms and
held them high
across the room til
we were face to face.
John leaned over and gave me a hug. The tightest bear
hug I had ever experienced. He literally lifted me off
the floor and he said hello to me
and how nice it was to see me. I didn't like him and he
hated me. He was a stranger, a cousin to my mom.
I had never met him, nor spoken to him, nor heard my
mom talk of him til I decided to go to California.
When mom told me she had a cousin in California,
I had a one track mind. He immediatly turned into
my favorite relative. My ticket to a warm bed. My
only connection to Holywood. So I was willing to meet him, live
with him (after all it was only for two weeks).
To him, I turn out to be just an intrusion. A homesick
teenager who ate all his food and took away his
privacy in his small one bedroom apartment and ran up
his phone bill
calling long
distance to
New Orleans.
My only solice,
my only friend, was in
Burbank
on the Warner Brothers Studio lot.John showed
me compassion that I had not had in years. I was
a stranger in trouble
and he came to my rescue. The next time I went back
to the studio I went straight to the guard shack and had
them call
John to ok
my visit.
This time they
were in a big
wharehouse like studio.
Not outside as they were the first time.
When John and mine eyes met he was way across
on the other side of the room finishing
a taping. He looked at me and smiled. Then he raised
up his arms and held them high across
the room til we were face to face. John leaned over
and gave me a hug. The tightest bear
hug I had ever experienced. He literally lifted me off the
floor and he said hello to me
and how nice it was to see me.The feeling I got from
that hug was powerful to say the least. I had awakened
on the wrong side of the bed that day but after that hug
I was dancing on air.
When they started
filming again, I
watched them til
the next cut and
had to leave
to find the bathroom.
Walking in the bathroom I recognized actress Jane
Wyman at the sink washing her hands.
I recognized her from the television show "Falcon Crest"
and followed her to the set
in hopes to get a
glimpse of Lorenzo
Lamas.
He was more
handsome then
I ever imagined him
to be. I was too scared to talk
to him but I'll never forget the chill I felt when he smiled at me.
I didn't feel comfortable inside that set so I quickly left.
That day, I also watched a filming of "The Love Boat"
and "Fantasy Island".
Actor Mark Harmon whizzed by me on a bicycle and I
wondered what he was doing
there. I thought about chasing after him but decided not to.
After chasing James McNichol the week prior, my
running days were over. (Well, except for the day
Andy Gibb recieved his star on the Hollywood Boulevard
"Walk of Fame".
That day I was amongst hundreds of "Shadow Dancing"
fan sprinting down Hollywood Boulevard after Andys limo.
I was window
shopping on the
boulevard when I
saw James
McNicole. "Family"
was one of my favorite
television shows back then and I had
not long ago sat in on a live taping. Kristy McNichole,
James' sister, was
top on my list back then.
Just getting a glimpse of him walking in my
path was not satisfying
enough for me so I
decided to follow
him. I had
never followed a famous
person before, just the thought of it excited me.
It was as if I were in a Pink Panther movie,
da dum, da dum, ...my adrenaline
sky rocketted. After a half block or so he caught
on to me. I know this because
his pace doubled after he looked back in
my direction. And my ducking into a
nearby store peaking out one eyed didn't
help my situation.
His doubled pace went from a fast walk to a slow
sprint. I kept up with him alright.
But when his sprint became a full blown Olympic
Gold Medal chase I lost him when
he short cutted in a alley behind one the the
stores near Highland Boulevard.
I used my 19 year
old psychology on
the next
star I got to see close
up. It was
Willie Aames. I decided I'd do the opposite.
Be calm, not chase, or act like I was crazy
mad to see him. It turned out to be a pretty
inmature stunt though. I felt really bad
afterwards but there was no way for me to
appologize for my yes,
stupidity.
Willie Aames had a
small concert at
Disneyland. I was
there, front row center.Perfect spot.
I can see him, he can see me. The screaming in my ears
were deafning.I remember the floor of the stage opening,
girls yelling to the top of their lungs, pulling at
their hair and dancing to the sudden beat as if there
were at a Beatles concert. The noise of the crowd was
at it's max by the time the stage was at it's peak.
Willie started singing to his hearts content, girls pushing
in every direction trying to get closer to the stage.
They were singing along with him, beepbopping,
swaying to the beat. Then, there I was,a stick in the
mud. Making my own statement.
I just stood there, like a bump on a log.
Front row center.Not singing, not dancing,
not even smiling. Staring straight up into
Willies flaring nostrils.
Making him
uncomfortable
and loving the
moment.
I knew, without a
doubt he noticed me.
During each song he sung, our eyes met.
I could tell I was making him
uncomfortable. That gave me power. I had his
attention.Between his sweet
singing words
and his foot
tapping he
was secretly
mores coding,
"and what the heck is your problem?"
From the start of his first note to the end of
his last song I stood there.
Like Kroptonite to Superman. Taking some of
his power. He had a second concert that night,
I was still in the park but I know
he was happy he didn't see my face when he rose again.
My high only lasted til I got in my car. It was a
long drive home that night and as I replayed the
concert in my head I felt bad for my actions.
Mr. Cornel Wilde wasn't impressed with me during
our interview that day
and told me to go back to New Orleans. He told me,
I'd never become an actress.
I decided to join an acting school. The
Theatre of Performing and
Related Arts on
Wilshire in Los
Angeles.
Within a month
I was cast to work
in a Coca Cola
commercial with Ray Parker.
Soon after I was cast to be a roller skater in the movie
"Roller Boogie"
with Linda Blair. (I had a lot of fun working in
that movie.)Jimmy
Van Pattern
taught a bunch of
us extras how to
juggle) and
within a few months I had a
character role in the movie "Fullmoon High" with Adam
Arkin and worked several
episodes of the television show "Making a Living "
with Actress Ann Jillian.
After my last day of filming "Making a Living".
I wrote a note to
Mr. Cornel Wilde telling him how I had become an
actress and told
him of all my accomplishments since our interview.
During the time I was cast to work in movie
"Beastmaster" I recieved a letter
personally from Mr. Wilde. It was a letter of apology.
He also congratuated me
for jobs well done.
I turned down
the work in
"Beastmaster"
because
I was really acting to
prove a point. After Mr. Wildes letter,
I did not continue my
studying at Theatre
of Arts nor did go on anymore casting calls.
In the beginning I would go to the studio to see
John and the Dukes
film two or three
times a week.
Whenever I was
feeling down
and I had a bad day. I'd
go the see John.No matter where he was when he first
saw me he'd hold up his arms and keep
them raised til we were face to face and he'd again
give me a big teddy bear
hug lifting me off the ground.
The more I started liking myself, the less I was going to
the studio. The more
love I felt, the less I needed that hug.The one hundred plus stairs
that led from the bottom of Beachwood Drive to the top which was Hollyridge.
One day after visiting John and having my (Last bear
hug theropy session) I decided to
take the steps. The only view up the long steps
were the wooded back yards of the homes on Hollyridge.
I was half way up the steps and heard someone
crying further up in a yard near me. When I looked
through the trees
I could see a
figure of a man
kneeling, crying
near a newly covered
patch in the ground.
It was getting dark so We could see eachother .
I asked him what was wrong? He told me that his
favorite cat just died. I told him
that I was sorry to hear it and went on my way.
By the time I
was almost to
the top of the
steps I was still
thinking about
the crying man
and started to cry myself. I had held back tears
for a long time, trying
to be stronger than I was, but that really set me off.
I started crying so hard I couldn't seeing
the steps in front of me. So I just sat there,
balling my eyes out for the stranger and his cat.
Then I started thinking about my parents and
sisters and brothers and started crying even harder
because I had missed them so much. My "poor homesick
me" cries soon turned into cries of guilt and I cryed
out loud for all the people I had hurt in my life and
all the people I was mean to.I cried about chasing
Jimmy McNichol and playing the staring game with
Willie Aames at his concert at Disneyland. I cried
so much my eyes hurt and my nose was running
with no tissue at hand. I can imagine I was a sore sight to see.
By the time I
regained my
composure and
made it to the top
of the steps I felt so many burdens were lifted from
my shoulders during that cry. I felt, to say the least,
reborn. I felt an incredible happiness come over me.
I sat at the top of the steps I found myself thinking
about the guy again crying for his cat. Out of the clear
blue I heard myself say, "Why can't he be as happy as I am?"
Those words really
shocked me. I never
though of my self as
being really happy.I
remember the last time I went to see
John and the Dukes being filmed Enos was getting
ready to film his own show. He invited me to watch his
show being filmed as well. An entire year had past and
what a diffence a year made for me. The first time I walked
on that lot I was lonely, alone, depressed and homesick.
The last time I saw John and the Dukes film I was happy,
still working for the
Liebermans, seperately this time. I was still living in
Hollywoodland with
Mrs. Lieberman and her two kids and working as a
housekeeper for Robert and his partner Ed Shapiro.
I was also working for Director John McTiernan at the
time as a housekeeper for he and his wife and
volunteering at three different places helping the
poor, sick, elderly and runaways. On my last day
at the studio as I was about to enter the exit gates
I recongized actor Sidney Poitier walking across my path.
When I stopped to say hello he invited me to
watch him direct the movie
"Stir Crazy" with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.
What an adventure
I had that year.
I also met
Greg Evigan and
Jack Klugman
at the Universal Studios and watched B.J
and the Bear and "Quincy" being filmed.
I met Richardo
Montalban and
many, many
famous
people in that industry.
I went to Hollywood right after high school in 1978.
I was working for actor
LeVar Burton in 1984 when I quit my job to elope in
Las Vegas with my now
husband Sgt. Steven Alexander. Steven was
a diver in the Canadian Navy when we met.It
was definately love at first sight. We got married
on our third date.It will be thirteen years this August.
After we married he joined the United States Army.
He has served our country in Bosnia, Aphganistan,
Korea and will soon be serving his second one year
deployment in Iraq. We live on a military base and have
four beautiful children.
Ages 20, 12, 09, 1nd 02 our 09 year old was named after
LeVars wife Stephanie and daughter Michaela.
Living in Hollywood was a one in a life time experience for me.
I loved going to the studios and watching the shows
being filmed.
But..............
Nomatter what show I watched or what actor I met.
Nothing or no one compared to watching
Boss Hogg, Crazy Cooter, Uncle Jessy, Enos, Daisy,
and the Duke boys and getting bear hugs
from John Schneider.
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