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1-19 of 19
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Charles Richard Moll was an American actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the role of Aristotle Nostradamus "Bull" Shannon, the bailiff on the NBC sitcom Night Court from 1984 to 1992. He has also done extensive work as a voice actor, typically using his deep voice to portray villainous characters in animation and video games, most notably the voice of Two-Face in Batman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Moll passed away on October 26, 2023 at the age of 80.- Actor
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Muscular and ruggedly handsome tough guy actor Steve Oliver was born as Stephen Oliver Welzig on November 29, 1941 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father was a garage mechanic. Steve had three brothers and one sister. He grew up in Riverside, California. Steve not only worked various jobs as a cab driver, roughneck, bounty hunter, and fitness instructor to the stars, but also served a brief stint in the U.S. Navy, working on an old World War II mine-sweeper during the early part of the Vietnam war prior to embarking on an acting career. Moreover, Oliver was an honorary member of the Hell's Angels in his youth and even participated in both boxing matches and martial arts events. Steve made his film debut as brooding romantic biker gang leader "Brahmin" in Russ Meyer's Motorpsycho! (1965). He got the job by staging a fight scene in Russ's office in which he broke the producer's desk with a display of such force he was hired on the spot. He went on to portray similarly rough'n'tumble biker gang leaders in the enjoyable drive-in exploitation features Angels from Hell (1968), Werewolves on Wheels (1971) and Savage Abduction (1973). Oliver was, likewise, excellent as sleazy gigolo "Terry Shaw" in The Naked Zoo (1970) and, once again, personally cast by Steve McQueen, he was memorable as legendary boxer "Gentleman Jim" Corbett in Tom Horn (1980). Stephen was quite funny as sneering beefcake bully "Dugan Hicks" in the amusing Crown International comedy romps, The Van (1977) and Malibu Beach (1978). Perhap best known as the dangerous "Lee Weber" on the popular soap opera TV series, Peyton Place (1964), he was brought on the series to stand up to Ryan O'Neill, the elitist bully no one else dared confront. Oliver did guest spots, usually as strong villains on such TV shows as The Streets of San Francisco (1972), CHiPs (1977) and Starsky and Hutch (1975). Steve was a good friend of Pat Boone and gave his life to the Lord. He concentrated on writing screenplays after he stopped acting in the early 90s. A fighter to the end, he walked out of chemotherapy and returned to his home in Big Bear, California to face his pending end. Steve Oliver died at age 66 of gastric cancer on March 5, 2008 in Big Bear City, California.- Carol Brewster was born on 25 February 1927 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Cat-Women of the Moon (1953), The Barkleys of Broadway (1949) and Untamed Women (1952). She was married to Chester Gray and Arne J. Gerritsen. She died on 1 February 2013 in Big Bear Lake, California, USA.
- Ed Thrasher was born on 7 May 1932 in Glendale, California, USA. Ed was married to Linda Gray. Ed died on 5 August 2006 in Big Bear Lake, California, USA.
- Stunts
- Actress
Definitely not your average 'prairie flower', brunette Evelyn Ruth Finley was known as the most accomplished stunt rider in the western genre. Famous director William A. Wellman was one of many who regarded her as the best in the business. She worked with horses from early childhood and grew up a tomboy on her father's ranch. Her dad had promised 'to put her into pictures', but how she eventually arrived in Hollywood is unclear. Winning a beauty contest as 'Miss Albuquerque' might have helped. The year was 1936 and her first picture was as stunt double to Jean Parker. By 1940, Evelyn was under contract at Monogram where her skills in the saddle quickly promoted her to leading lady opposite the likes of Tex Ritter, Tom Keene, Johnny Mack Brown and Buster Crabbe. As blonde Eve Anderson, she got to star in one of the last serials made at Columbia, Perils of the Wilderness (1956). However, Evelyn preferred the stunt work to acting, often doubling on horseback for glamorous stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Loretta Young. She remained involved in her area of expertise, either actively or as technical adviser, well into the 1980's. When not working in the film industry, she toured as an equestrian performer at different circuses. Evelyn was inducted into the Stuntmen's Hall of Fame.- Ralph Hodges was born on 13 January 1929 in San Bernardino, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Mysterious Island (1951), Bruce Gentry (1949) and The Sea Hound (1947). He died on 8 June 2014 in Big Bear, California, USA.
- Marion Weldon was born on 19 September 1913 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for Dodge City Trail (1936), Desert Patrol (1938) and Knight of the Plains (1938). She died on 21 July 1989 in Big Bear Lake, California, USA.
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Production Manager
- Producer
Donald C. Klune was born on 22 January 1929 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an assistant director and production manager, known for Can't Buy Me Love (1987), Prizzi's Honor (1985) and Hang 'Em High (1968). He was married to Page Shelburne Whidden, Christina Kennedy Mears, Maria Ann (Gladys) Korda and Suzanne Beal (Diana Jean Fernholtz). He died on 3 December 2003 in Big Bear Lake, California, USA.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Harry Sweet was born in Teller County, Colorado, in 1901 and moved with his family to Reno, Nevada, in 1916. While in high school he was a movie projectionist for several theaters in the city. He also was a talented acrobat.
He arrived in Hollywood in 1919 and immediately went to work as an actor for L-KO Studios, which was supervised by Universal Studios. Sweet made only one film there because Universal shut down L-KO as a precautionary measure during the Spanish Influenza Epidemic of 1918-1919. He then moved over to Century Films, where he appeared in Baby Peggy and Brownie the Wonder Dog comedy shorts along with other animal shorts that included the "Century Lions" and the "Century Dogs."
In 1924, Sweet left Century for Mack Sennett Studios, where Richard Jones, the supervising director for Sennett, assigned Sweet to direct the studio's leading comedy players. Sweet directed Ben Turpin in "Romeo and Juliet" (1924) and "The First 100 Years" with Harry Langdon. Sweet followed with a number of other directing assignments for Sennett. Although he continued to act, he took on more and more directing assignments.
In 1930, RKO Studios hired Sweet to supervise its short subject department. There, he helped Edgar Kennedy - a second-string comedian to Harry Langdon, Harold Lloyd and other big comedy stars of the day - originate the "Mr Average Man" series. The series of comedy shorts became a big hit and ran through 1948.
RKO released the first "Mr. Average Man" film, "Lemon Meringue," on Aug. 3, 1931. Sweet also directed a pair of "Whoopie Comedies" with Kennedy and Florence Lake. "Rough House Rhythm" was released in April 1931 and "All Gummed Up" followed a month later.
An experienced pilot since he was a teenager, Sweet took writer Howard "Hal" Davitt and Vera Williams, a 20-year-old actress who used the stage mane Claudette Ford, on a flying trip on June 8, 1933, to Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County to scout film locations. At about 7:15 p.m., the plane lost power and nose-dived into the lake. Davitt and Williams were killed on impact and Sweet drowned.- Dave Witthuhn was born on 3 October 1952 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was married to Manuela Witthuhn. He died on 20 July 2008 in Big Bear Lake, California, USA.
- Additional Crew
- Stunts
Stephan Miller was born on 6 May 1968 in the USA. He is known for The Postman (1997), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) and Hollywood Safari (1997). He died on 22 April 2008 in Big Bear Lake, California, USA.- Ted Wray was born on 12 October 1908 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for Double Cross (1941). He was married to Louise Armstrong. He died on 26 January 1950 in Big Bear Lake, California, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Martin P. Baumann was born in Youngstown Ohio in 1904. After studying in Catholic school till age 16, in 1920, headed west to California with his older brother, Leon. Both boys figured that being in "Moving Pictures" would be a good life.
They decided a name change (to sound more French vs. German) was in order so they legally changed their last name to Beaumon, which means "Beautiful Me".
Working hard in "bit parts" (which were not credited in those days), Martin and Leon lived in boarding houses all over Hollywood-On Seward, Wilcox, Vine, Eleanor-all within walking distance of Paramount, Sunset Gower, Raleigh Studios and old Warner brothers. Getting to MGM required a Red Car ride. Standing outside the studios waiting to be chosen for possible roles was standard practice.
The Beaumon boys' house mates included John Wayne and Clark Gable. Since they were all broke and the same general size, their shared suit was worn by the man with the "call" that day.
Sometime in the mid-twenties, Martin served in the Merchant marine on the infamous "SS Southern Cross" surviving the rough seas and near-disastrous storms.
By the 1930s Martin (Marty) was tired of the Hollywood life so ventured to Santa Barbara until the great quake there destroyed the tire store where he was a manager.
Back in LA Marty hooked-up with a business partner who was interested in the San Bernardino mountain resort of Big Bear Lake. In 1935 they visited the town and decided to open up a Milk bottle toss for the amusement of visitors for a summer. Marty's business partner Mac, happened to be the brother-in-law of Albert Hanson, who at that time was the President of the West Coast chain of Fox Theatres.
With their Hollywood connections and the love of Big Bear, Marty and Mac decided to make a go of staying full-time. This was 1938 and very few souls ever braved the winters in the San Bernardino Mountains! Marty built himself a small cabin in the back of the business.
The milk bottle toss evolved into a shooting gallery and eventually amusement arcade. The actual heavy metal target gallery was purchased in the 1940s from the Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier when that amusement Park was in a state of disrepair during WWII. Marty bought out his partner Mac and decided to go it alone.
During World War II, Marty served in the US Navy on the USS Pasadena in the Pacific Theatre as a Gunners Mate First Class. His business was held together by a few loyal employees until he returned after the war.
Marty's burgeoning business catered to the Hollywood crowd, who spent time off in Big Bear. Frequent visitors were old friends Clark Gable, Mel Blanc, John Wayne, Gene Autry, Andy Devine and Leon's fiancé, Loretta Young, among others. Newer regulars were Michael Landon, Lorne Green,Dan Blocker and all the cast from "Bonanza" which frequently filmed in Big Bear.
When the first Technicolor film, "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" was On Location in Big Bear, Marty "signed on" for bit parts and was also hired as the animal keeper. Having a 22 caliber Shooting gallery and an arcade with old Pinball games, the cast and crew spent much of their time off with Marty. He taught little Spanky McFarlane how to shoot a gun. Many child stars of the day had their first experience with a real gun at Marty's gallery - "Beaumon Amusements".
At age 44 Marty married a girl that he met through his brother, a Catholic Priest. He had 5 children (who grew-up and worked) for his business - an amusement Arcade, shooting Gallery and Snow equipment rentals until his death in 1972.
In addition, Marty was the clerk of the Board of Education of the Big Bear Schools for many years, was the First Exalted ruler of the Big Bear Elks Club, and owned many houses in the Big Bear area.- Bonnie Barrett was born on 27 January 1921 in Stockton, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Over the Fence (1923), Open Spaces (1926) and Bachelors' Babies (1925). She died on 9 December 2000 in Big Bear Lake, California, USA.
- Actress
Corleen Clemons was born on 24 July 1898 in Oklahoma, USA. She was an actress. She was married to Vernon Nolan Johns and George Calhoun Creswell. She died on 9 October 1974 in Big Bear, California, USA.- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hal Davitt was born on 8 December 1892 in Boone, Iowa, USA. Hal was a writer and assistant director, known for Captain Thunder (1930), The Speed Demon (1925) and Mickey's Big Broadcast (1933). Hal died on 18 June 1933 in Big Bear, California, USA.- Roger Beck was born in 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He died on 15 December 2009 in Big Bear, California, USA.
- Kenneth O'Rourke was born on 1 May 1913. Kenneth was a producer, known for Engelbert Humperdinck: Blazing a Silver Trail (1993) and The Irish in America (1995). Kenneth died on 19 June 1997 in Big Bear, California, USA.
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Doug Taylor was born on 9 February 1951. He was a producer, known for Cutthroat Island (1995), Casualties of War (1989) and Cocktail (1988). He died on 17 November 2005 in Big Bear, California, USA.