Home Movie - All Aboard For California (1980?)

It took weeks and sometimes even months to travel west. Now we can [music] glide through the air with the greatest of ease and enjoy the view as well in a matter of hours. As we gaze on the glorious Rocky Mountains and encompass the scenery and urban cities below, it isn't long before we arrive in California. We pass over the Death Valley area and circle over the sprawling suburbia of Los Angeles. Michigan SAC members zoom down the airirstrip and anxiously await to attend the 13th annual sack convention aboard Queen Mary. Our first stop, Hollywood. Motion picture capital of the world and [music] a name that has become synonymous with extravagant entertainment. It's not a city, but just a district [music] of the city of Los Angeles with a population that varies according to the definition of how far it extends. Homes are built everywhere, even on hillsides. The higher, the more expensive. Hollywood probably attracts more types of nationalities [music] than any city of its size in the world. Here are nobility, ex- nobility, the pseudo nobility of a dozen countries, the artistically [music] inclined from every corner of the world who aspired to movie jobs, and the average Americans who live here because [music] they like the climate or else were born here. About 75% of the population is connected with the motion picture industry. California's freeway and expressway [music] system can justifiably be called one of the wonders of the modern world. Below Highland Avenue leads us to the famous Hollywood Boulevard, the center business district, which is 8 miles [music] from Los Angeles and 12 miles from the coast. On Hollywood Boulevard, we can see the [music] famous Chinese Theater, previously known as Groman's, now under new management, The Mans. It's a spectacular adaptation [music] of the Chinese style of architecture designed by Meer and Hower. Concrete slabs in front of the courtyard reveal [music] hand footprints and messages of the stars. The scene of Hollywood's major premieres where actors and movie mogul attend opening performances of new films with the belly of search lights and flood lights, microphones and loudspeakers and roped off aisles covered [music] with carpet. Hollywood Boulevard, known sometime as the Avenue of the Stars, has new stars in set with bronze names of entertainment celebrities continually added each month to the charcoal colored Terzo sidewalks. Labria discoveries have been made in Hancock Park area located right in Hollywood's busy metropolis. [music] This very spot once was the part of a series of pools of sticky oil and tar which continually bubbles and blisters and explodes like conical bells and exhales a pitchy smell. A family group of imperial mammoths have come to drink and splash and shower themselves with trunks full of water. A closer look reveals black asphalt soak into the surrounding soil and underlying the water. The asphalt from the underground oil deposit is pushed about as natural gas rises to [music] escape through the bubbles rising to the surface of water. An astonishing and frightful aspect. When these animals begin to sink into [music] the sticky mass and when they tried to escape were unable to do so because their feet were stuck [music] and the lake swallowed them. For thousands of years, mammals and birds were caught in this death trap of the ages. Thus, [music] the oil and asphalt have preserved these skeletons, making possible their reconstruction from over 100 tons of recovered fossil bones. >> [music] >> After many attempts to raise money for a museum, finally [music] in 1972, George C. Page, a fine and generous man, realizes a lifelong dream by offering to build such a museum. A modern building has been constructed partially underground in form of a donut to save the park atmosphere. Another unique [music] feature is the imprint on the architecture. In addition to the landscaping, the exhibits [music] and the generally evocative mood of the new science structure in Hancock Park to house the labria fossils from its own backyard just a few feet from where they were originally trapped in the bubbling sticky asphalt. A climb to the top of the mound reveals the inner atrum that is enclosed by the museum whose garden with surrounding trees and cascading waterfall is crisscrossed with the shade patterns of the protective grid which covers it. Many voseiferous opponents argued that their green belt was being destroyed if the page museum was allowed to proceed. Instead, it has been added to by the grassy mound that conceals the body of the museum underground, topped by the see-through structural steel fris that [music] both tells the Labria story and gives majesty to the structure. The best known paleontological area in California and one of the richest in the world is Labria Pits in Los Angeles County. Universal Studios is located between Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. It is the third largest tourist attraction in the world. Last year, [music] 3.8 million tourists took the tour or crammed the studio amphitheater. There are no thrill rides [music] per se on the tour. The big kick for tourists is being on the inside, seeing the techniques and special effects that make movies tick. On peak days, some 27,000 visitors take the tour, allet of which is [music] a tram ride that covers most of the lot. An admission charge of875 for adults and 675 for children, apparently [music] doesn't discourage anyone. On busy days, the gates are closed to thousands of persons due to limited parking facilities. The Universal Tour is a wonder in its own right. It entertains millions of tourists without disrupting production of motion pictures and television shows, many of which are filmed on the back lot in view of the crowded [music] trams that ply studio streets. But curiously, tourists aren't as interested in seeing stars in the flesh as they are in [music] the mystery and magic of movie making itself. At first, some executives were concerned that revealing secrets of movie making would hurt the box office. It's just [music] the opposite. People are stimulated to see more movies. [music] Our [music] guide rounds up the tram riders [music] to follow her through state set 30. We walk by the bionic woman's apartment as seen on the $6 million man TV series. However, due to the fact that the musicians were on strike, no shows were being filmed for us to [music] enjoy. In lie of watching, we could participate by taking a screen test and become an instant star [music] in the movie airport. Films are not taken in the middle of the ocean as it looks, but right here on a [music] state set and the background blended in with superimposed slides for actual movie effects background. A 5-hour tram ride takes visitors over a collapsing bridge which reassembles itself back together again just as soon as we make a U-turn and is ready for the next tram tourists. >> [music] >> We continue to travel along to an area that has old states set up for tourist [music] amusement. We are trying to decide which states set to film whether the moving background in a stationary car as in the scene the train robbery or Lily Tomlin's oversized telephone from the shrunken woman movie. He decides to [music] pick up a truck and take it home. Wouldn't you know, he got caught already. And here's a producer, director, and actor getting ready for jailbreak. [music] >> [music] >> Have you any idea how tough it is to bend steel bars? In Hollywood, [music] these are a cinch being made from synthetic. Now for a getaway, a chariot, but no horsepower. >> [music] >> We got to stop a ride. [music] The 30 trams, each with a capacity of 120 passengers, [music] went through western towns, European, colonial, and New York streets and past the burning house. Universal has an [music] enormous inventory supply of props. stage sets, including a jet plane, showboat frontage only, set up by a [music] shoreline, and warehouses full of furniture, paintings, decorations, cars, and wardrobes of clothing from head to toe, which they maintain and use over and over whenever they can. At this [music] waterfront, the special effects were set up for Moses to cross the Red Sea. As we approach the shoreline, water is drained away. The [music] sides form a dam and our tram actually proceeds right through the same path taken by Charles H. We continue to be fascinated by all the movie gimmickry when suddenly we see the fins of a shark glide across the lake and witness a hairy encounter with Bruce from Jaws. [music] [music] Time out for comparing notes, shopping, and lunch break. Well, we really didn't want to go shopping in there anyhow. At least not with our tripods. We even caught a glimpse of Salon going on a coffee break. Universal has four fast food centers on [music] the tour right now. This is the second day opening of the WH Hoppers restaurant specializing in [music] western steaks and chops. Across the circle is the famous Victoria [music] station and a huge Chinese restaurant to keep up with the demand. Busiest spots on [music] the tour are the entertainment center arenas. Trainers feature birds and animals trained for films. The trainer commands the bird to fly through hoops and then fly back and fly up higher [music] and higher. A tourist volunteer places a dollar bill folded in the palm of his extended hand. And the trainer commands the bird to fly and pick up the bill and bring it to the trainer. Thank you. Now, who has a $10 bill? Boomer from the movie Benji captivates the audience with his tricks. The trainer asked [music] the boy to tell Boomer to fetch something for him. Boomer, what did you bring? Are you sure? He asked for a bra. Naughty, naughty. The trainer proceeds to give vocal commands to Boomer as they are required for a particular movie. [music] >> [music] >> Good dog. Now mail a letter. Then go to your dog house. [music] [music] We came upon an old western city. The [music] western show has stunt men falling off buildings with plenty of gunplay besides very realistic scenes of whipping fighting with wooden sticks and sharp knives. >> [music] >> Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. [screaming] Wow. [music] [music] [music] Oh, [music] [music] [music] wow. Wow. >> [music] >> Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. [music] Wow. Wow. Wow. >> [music] >> Perhaps most elaborate and impressive of tours [music] attractions is the latest edition, Castle Dracula. The interior of a moldy and classic castle straight out of Transennylvania. Mechanical bats, zombies, wolves, and other creatures of the night are the supporting cast for The Mummy, Wolfman, Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein, The Incredible Hulk, and Count Dracula himself. Castle Dracula was conceived to demonstrate Hollywood's ability to terrorize and horrify movie audiences. It sends chills up the spines of old and young alike. Can you imagine Danioani opera being performed in Castle Dracula? [music] Amen. [music] Did he shed [music] [music] he? It's the end of the line and time to claim our luggage. Universal provided five colorful shows and nine major special effects productions, most of which [music] are based on a studio, films, and shows. Universal also plans to build new additional parking areas and [music] new attractions at a regular basis in the future. [music] Long Beach is California's fifth largest city and third largest port in the state. Its sandy fluff overlooks the 8mi long crescentshaped beach of San Pedro Bay. From the shore, it stretches north to surround the oil derks of Signal Hill. Long Beach is several towns in one, a seaside resort, a haven for elderly retired persons, and an industrial center drawing its income from oil, shipping, and manufacturing motor cars, airplanes, [music] and soap. Presently, Long Beach is also the home and final resting place of the mighty Queen [music] Mary. On December the 9th, 1967, the Queen Mary was escorted by thousands of small craft to Pier J at Long Beach, where her conversion [music] to her new career as a marine museum, hotel, restaurant, shop, tourist convention complex commenced. Queen Mary [music] being a British ship continues all the regalia of British royal pomp and ceremony at periodic scheduling changing of the guard. We took time to observe and pay tribute. [music] [music] >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> The Queen Mary [music] was and still is the largest passenger ship afloat. She is panled in 56 varieties of exotic woods. Her salons and 384 deluxe stateooms and 12 decks recall the opulence of an era when she was the queen of the Atlantic. and perhaps the most memorable hotel on the Pacific coast. Sack members Ed and Ed greet each other aboard ship and try out their sea legs, then set off in pairs to explore all its floors and bars while Ruth and Eileen search for tourist boutique shops. Eileen and Shirley observe the view from one of the decks while waiting for their husbands George and Ned to catch up. Wonder what these members are looking at. [music] Ah, young romance. [music] No romance here. only kissing cousins, Ed and Theres, while Ed watches positively [music] and decides well aboard ship. Why not be continental? With the approval of George [music] and Eene, the top deck of Queen Mary was now taken over by Michigan Sack members, avidly deciding when filming a sea skit. Positioning camera angles and actors together. Bob and Tony snap a few photos. Danny directs Ruth and Cliff. How they should greet each other with enthusiasm under watchful critical scrutiny. Scene two, take two. Camera set and ready to go. George decides on a more macho love scene. >> [music] >> Everyone ready on the set? Roll them. Camera. Mark it. Action. [music] Gina and Ned were overwhelmed. They were being filmed from four cameras at four different angles. Before we realized it, the sack convention was over. Meetings and [music] seminars concluded, all the trophies awarded, delicious dinners digested, [music] but company enjoyed. And now time to depart from our home by the sea aboard Queen Mary. >> [music] >> Bon voyage everyone. Homewardbound. [music] We'll meet again next year.