In thinking about what Im going to say in my acceptance speech on Monday night, naturally my thoughts first run to the MGM Studios. In just four months it will be 59 years ago that I first took those steps up to the Administration Building. Just the day before, I had literally run away from home. My new place of residence was The Warwick Hotel, corner of Wilcox Ave. and Sunset Blvd. Room 317, which had cost me $12.50 for the first week. That was 50 cents more than the train ticket from San Jose, California. Some nerve I had upon turning 18 years old. I just walked up there, asked for Mr. Leslie Petersons office, and announced that I am here. Mr. Peterson did know who I was; but since I didnt have an appointment, he could have easily dismissed me. Instead, after waiting a few minutes, I was led into his office, and I found that he was a true gentleman; engaging me in conversation and inquiring as to how and why I got there. Looking back, I think everyone must have been laughing at my nerve. I guess, in some cases, thank God for ignorance. After chatting a while, Mr. Peterson called in a man named, Al Onorato. Mr. Onorato was head of Casting at MGM Studios. (I didnt know that. But then, what DID I know in those days?) All the details of this initial meeting are in my book, so I wont go into all of that here. Instead, this post was inspired by a photo that a Mr. Malcolm James put on his page yesterday. It was a picture of the main lot; and I wrote and tried to explain the whats and wheres of it all. So, for everyones enjoyment and edification, Im posting some pictures of MGM, as I found it, that 29th day in February of 1956. Click onto the pictures for the full indentification and commentary.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 14:01:16 +0000
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