I went to Louisiana with the expressed purpose of learning more about Alligator Hunters, their lifestyle and secrets. I was there tending bar in a Honky Tonk called "The Happy Hour" know by the 'Locals,' as Bob the Bartender, no more. As a Writer of screenplays, I had learned tending bar was like being in a confessional. A great way to get information. So, I was in the area when Roger and the 007 Production Company arrived in New Orleans. I saw his picture in the local paper and called him at his hotel.
 

I was introduced to Guy Hamilton by Roger. That day he had discovered the local Actor was afraid to do the sequence in the streets of New Orleans. The crowd scared him. He froze up. Guy Hamilton asked me to step in and play the part of "Hamilton" which I did.

We were half way through with the killing of my character, Hamilton, and it started to rain. We had to stop production after a day and a half into the sequence. As you know, you cannot start shooting a sequence in 'hard light' and finish in the rain. It won't edit together. So we had to start over after the storm passed. As I recall, it was a total 'shoot' of 3 or 4 days.

The rigged coffin: It had rungs under it, front and back. They dropped it over me in the street, I hooked my feet on the back rung and pulled myself up on the front rung and hung there out of sight. The 'Pall Bearers' carried me off down the street. I hung inside until I heard "cut." It was like holding a 'chin up' when doing a pull up exercise

Roger and I are still friends today. That friendship started back in the middle fifties when we were both under contract to MGM Studios. We did the Hollywood Scene together. Roger was married to the singer, Dorothy Squires, at the time.

Roger was and is a professional, always well prepared Actor. We had a good time working together and remembering our youth. I'm really proud of the good work he is doing for UNISEF.

Please relate the John Carradine "tuxedo" joke and his inebriated stupor while working on one of your films--it's not Bond but it's colorful and insightful into a legendary star of "old" Hollywood.

John was the Actor's Actor. He had a photographic memory. He could read a page of dialogue once and know his lines. An amazing man.
 
He told me the story of his early days in Hollywood. "People used to think I was part Vampire because I only came out at night. The truth of the matter was I owned one suit of clothes and it was a tuxedo"! (and he laughed)!
 
One of the movies we did together was, "Cains Cutthroats." John played a Preacher who was also a Bounty Hunter. The last day of principle photography, we started at first useable light and kept shooting from day for day into night for night and when we had been working almost 24 hours we were on the last scene. To combat the cold of the night, John had been nipping on some brandy. In fact, he seemed quite tipsy. But when he was called to perform in the exterior scene on a Western Street with lots of dialogue, he didn't miss a beat. When the Director called, "Cut. Print!" John just about fell over. On the screen, as audience, you would never know his condition.

What is your current profession?

Professionally, my wife, Mary Ellen and I are just beginning to become active in events like, Hollywood Celebrities and Collectibles (Ray Court). We have signed up for a table at the upcoming Collectable Show at the Burbank Airport Hilton April 22 and 23. We are just learning how it works and enjoy meeting old friends in the movie industry. We have been invited to attend the opening of the Western Museum in Lone Pine, CA, in June (I think) and have attended the Memphis Film Festival as a guest. As I'm sure you know, there is a whole circuit of Film Festivals around the country.
 

We are also very active in community work. In particular, sharing our understanding of The Baha'i World Faith, what we believe is the latest Revelation from our Creator. If you haven't heard of "Baha'i," from the Persian to English it simply means, "a follower of the light." You will find plenty of information on the web: www.bahai.org There is no clergy in Baha'i. We are very active in our Baha'i Community here in Los Angeles sharing The Faith.

I wish you all the best. Good luck and keep the wind at your back!

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