Author Archives: Ralph

FILMED April-November 1980 170 days after we wrapped production at the Newhall Airport on the unfinished two-hour movie/pilot, OIL, I was back at Filoli, filming scenes at the entrance of the mansion. I considered it a resumption of the OIL … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 I returned home from the Newhall Airport with my head buzzing. Producer Phil Parslow had told me that George Peppard had been fired; that the Shapiro’s had gone to the executives of ABC with the announcement that … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 I returned to Los Angeles over the weekend (I don’t remember whether I flew back Saturday evening after completing that day’s filming or on Sunday) and on Monday, April 28, we began our final twelve days of … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 Filming began on Monday, April 14 in Woodside, California. I flew to northern California on Friday, April 11. As I remember we were billeted at an inn in San Mateo, and I had the weekend to settle … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 Monday morning, March 3, 1980, I reported to the 20th Century Fox lot to start my prep of OIL. The previous two days I spent much of the time at Sarane’s house, where stunned relatives and friends … Continue reading →

FILMED April-November 1980 Sarane. A beautiful name. An unusual name. Sarane was my first cousin, and her mother created the name. As per Jewish custom she was named for a deceased relative and given the Hebrew name (phonetically) of Sora, … Continue reading →