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Another personality I had the opportunity of meeting (and having my picture taken with) was character actor Dick Van Patten - who was best known for such TV fare as "Eight is Enough" and the Mel Brooks comedy series "When Things Were Rotten" (and his film credits range from Disney's "Freaky Friday" and "The Shaggy D.A." to Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs" and "Robin Hood: Men In Tights").
The time: July, 1988. The place: San Francisco. I was in town for the annual National Puzzlers' League convention (being held in Berkeley), and I was staying with a friend of my sister's, who lived in San Rafael on the other side of the bay (just a stone's throw away from George Lucas' "Skywalker Ranch"). I had a few spare days to do a little sight-seeing, prior to said con. So, on one day I went up and down the Pacific Coast (touring towns like Monterey Bay, Carmel, and Gilroy). Another day, I went to the famous Exploratorium and walked the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge.
But the day I will remember the most was when my sister's friend took me on a guided tour of many other San Francisco sites, including Chinatown, Telegraph Hill, Fisherman's Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square (traveling part of the way by cable car, of course). It was at Ghirardelli Square where we'd stumbled upon a camera crew who was filming ("on location") some scenes for a made-for-TV movie entitled "Going To the Chapel", and the director needed some 'extras' in the background - while two of its stars were having a scripted conversation in the foreground - so we'd volunteered.
The two stars? They were Dick Van Patten and Scott ("Family Ties") Valentine - the latter performer being the lead, as an impending bridegroom. My sister's friend and I pretended to have a conversation (without speaking aloud, so our voices wouldn't override those of the principal actors). We'd done three 'takes' of the same scene, but (apparently) we'd end up on the cutting room floor...
During a break between 'takes', I was able to get Mr. Van Patten's autograph, while my sister's friend took a picture of the two of us. (I have since misplaced said autographed item, but I still have this photo for posterity.)
FOOTNOTE: As for "Going To the Chapel", the made-for-TV movie (whose all-star cast included Cloris Leachman, John Ratzenberger, Eileen Brennan, and Mark-Linn Baker) debuted in October, 1988, only to tank in the ratings. Believe it or not, it was defeated that same night by a biopic about Liberace (I $#!+ you not)!
UPDATE: Since this photograph was posted (several years ago), Dick Van Patten passed away on June 23, 2015 (due to complications from diabetes). He was 86.
The time: July, 1988. The place: San Francisco. I was in town for the annual National Puzzlers' League convention (being held in Berkeley), and I was staying with a friend of my sister's, who lived in San Rafael on the other side of the bay (just a stone's throw away from George Lucas' "Skywalker Ranch"). I had a few spare days to do a little sight-seeing, prior to said con. So, on one day I went up and down the Pacific Coast (touring towns like Monterey Bay, Carmel, and Gilroy). Another day, I went to the famous Exploratorium and walked the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge.
But the day I will remember the most was when my sister's friend took me on a guided tour of many other San Francisco sites, including Chinatown, Telegraph Hill, Fisherman's Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square (traveling part of the way by cable car, of course). It was at Ghirardelli Square where we'd stumbled upon a camera crew who was filming ("on location") some scenes for a made-for-TV movie entitled "Going To the Chapel", and the director needed some 'extras' in the background - while two of its stars were having a scripted conversation in the foreground - so we'd volunteered.
The two stars? They were Dick Van Patten and Scott ("Family Ties") Valentine - the latter performer being the lead, as an impending bridegroom. My sister's friend and I pretended to have a conversation (without speaking aloud, so our voices wouldn't override those of the principal actors). We'd done three 'takes' of the same scene, but (apparently) we'd end up on the cutting room floor...
During a break between 'takes', I was able to get Mr. Van Patten's autograph, while my sister's friend took a picture of the two of us. (I have since misplaced said autographed item, but I still have this photo for posterity.)
FOOTNOTE: As for "Going To the Chapel", the made-for-TV movie (whose all-star cast included Cloris Leachman, John Ratzenberger, Eileen Brennan, and Mark-Linn Baker) debuted in October, 1988, only to tank in the ratings. Believe it or not, it was defeated that same night by a biopic about Liberace (I $#!+ you not)!
- - - - - - - - - - UPDATE: Since this photograph was posted (several years ago), Dick Van Patten passed away on June 23, 2015 (due to complications from diabetes). He was 86.
Category Photography / Human
Species Human
Size 900 x 589px
File Size 306.8 kB
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