The Lone Pine Festival 2008

By Carl Glass

After an absence of three years, it was great getting back to Lone Pine, California and experience once again the beauty and majestic backdrop of the eastern Sierra Nevada’s, along with the wonder of natures geological past activity. Lone Pine was and still is the film industry’s best kept secret. After 19 festivals the town continues to honor those who have been a part of its history in television and film, particularly in the western genre. Economic uncertainty definitely played a role in a lower attendance, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of those who came from all parts of the country to join together in the common bond of meeting other fans and honoring those who made movie going a real pleasure. 

There were so many memorable moments from the celebrity panels and personal dialogues to getting back in the film locations, the museum, watching the pre-parade events and just roaming around the town. And to experience this with my lovely wife Leslie and great friend, columnist/author Bruce Dettman really made it a complete experience. I wish to thank my friend actress Beverly Washburn for her generosity and optimistic spirit. Kudos to Bart Williams and Phyllis Coates for their kindness. ‘Katie West,’ the ‘Western, Celebrity Artist & Patriot’ reaching out to Leslie and I. Actor Jon Locke for the many…and I mean many… behind the scene stories from movie and TV production sets, and the kind words about George Reeves with whom he appeared in the 1956 film Westward Ho, The Wagons. And a final special thanks to actor ‘Richard Anderson’ for his sensitivity in getting out of his seat and helping this ol’ ailing boy get on the bus.   

Lone Pine Film History Museum--lots of cowboy nostalgia!

Bruce Dettman

Two things set Lone Pine apart from a hundred other similar looking small towns in California, the magnificent surrounding countryside—characterized by a range of stunning mountains and festooned with an uncanny arrangement of mammoth rock formations and boulders, which has been exploited in countless Hollywood productions—and the unique annual festival which celebrates and commemorate this history.

My recent trip to Lone Pine with Carl and Leslie Glass was a whirlwind of activity and festivities, from screenings of many sagebrush productions, to celebrity panel discussions targeting various aspects of film and TV work, to autograph signings and photo opportunities with a myriad of performers, writers and behind the scenes people. Top on the list for me, in addition to spending time with Phyllis Coates who logged many hours in the saddle during her extensive B-western days, was the opportunity to meet and talk with the likes of Denny Miller of Wagon Train, Richard Anderson of The Six Million Dollar Man and many TV westerns, veteran bad guy John Locke who I cornered for hours at a dinner shindig, the beautiful Audrey Dalton who graced many a movie and TV series, Jacqueline Scott who, among numerous other roles, many of them in western productions, was close to my heart and memory for having played David Jansen’s sister in  the classic Fugitive TV series, plus many others.

Though chaperoned by a nasty cold front that sprung up out of nowhere and impacted the comfort level of all the attendees—particularly during the parade when the celebrities had to appear in topless convertibles—the event, somewhat marginalized by the country’s current economic woes—was a most enjoyable and memorable one which I will not soon forget.

Signing and Q & A Panels

...and the Parade

It was cold in them thar Alabama Hills!

The Bishop Experience

By Leslie Glass

One of the things that set this festival apart for me was finally getting to take Carl to Bishop, CA where I was born. We were late in getting reservations for Lone Pine and the only rooms left were in Bishop...53 miles north! We stayed at a motel just down the road from the hospital and I took Carl on a jaunt while Bruce stayed in bed and watched MEET THE PRESS.

I took him to Mill Creek/Round Mountain a few miles north of Bishop. From there we climbed the mountain. In the picture below, where the shadow falls is the road up to Scheelite where I lived.

So...what do you think? This is all that is left of the little Union Carbide Tungsten* Mine labor camp called Scheelite. The mine was called "The Mine in the Sky." It was approx here on the right side of the road (left photo). Last time I went there, the cabins were gone, but the foundations were still there. Now the only thing left is the chimney from the foreman's cabin (right photo). There was a creek to the south and deer in the road! Carl was quite impressed that I would live so far out...and up.

Carl has finally understood...and appreciated...my fascination with geology! When I would tell people I climbed rocks for fun as a kid, no one could quite understand what that meant until they see the Alabama hills and the unique rock formations that populate the area. I spent many summers in Bishop and it was good to finally be able to show Carl why I have always loved the area.

The festival, meeting with old friends and making new ones, the museum, not withstanding the freezing wind...have all contributed to the wonderful time spent in the Owens Valley this October...

Until next time...

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