Rick, now that you mention it there is a resemblance. Similar features. Richard Jaeckel was not a superstar but he was the epitome of a hardworking and busy actor. He seemed comfortable in that role. He was a sturdily built man and seemed more than man enough for any of his costars. He'as one of those actors that make you glad he's in the movie or TV show that you're watching.Rick Farris wrote:Westerns . . .Randyman wrote:I got the western channel recently. I'm reliving my childhood watching all these old westerns; The Virginian, Wagon Train, Have Gun-Will Travel and on and on.
Rick, did your grandfather ever work on any of the old classic westerns? Richard Jaeckel was on the Virginian tonight, he had to be one of the hardest working actor during the 50's, 60's and 70's. He's played everything, cop, priest, cowboy, etc. Ever work with him Rick?
Randy
When I first went to work for Michael Landon, an assitant director asked if I was related to Richard Jaeckel. I was asked that several times when I was younger. I guess they saw a resemblence. I never worked with the man, but some of the old timers at the CBS lot in Studio City told me he was a good guy. As for my grandfather, I know that Warner Bros. loaned him to Republic Pictures on several occasions during the 40's & 50's to light some of their Westerns, but which ones I have no idea. My uncle Bob was the lighting gaffer on "How The West Was Won" back in the early 60's. My Grandad did work with James Garner on the original "Maverick" series at Warner's, as well as "The Law Man" and "Sugar Foot" with Will Hutchins. I visited him on all those productions when I was a kid, as Warners had a small Western set on the back lot. The Studio also had an annual Rodeo/Picnic out in Saugus for it's employees, and all the Western stars such as Garner would ride their horses in a parade prior to the rodeo. Of course, that was when real movie makers ran the studios. My grandad, I'm proud to say, was Warner Bros. top light man for many years. He was on a first name basis with studio chief, Jack Warner.
By the way, "The Virginian", "The Big Valley" and "Wagon Train" were all fimed just down the block from where I live today at the CBS lot, which had been Republic Studios until the 60's. The Wild, Wild, West was also filmed there in the 60's. Some of the exteriors were filmed in the West San Fernando Valley at what was known as Warner Ranch. Warner Ranch is now known as Woodland Hills, and is a major real estate development. Other movie ranches were the Spahn Ranch (where the Manson gang holed up) in Chatsworth, Correganville in the north Valley, and the Big Sky movie ranch in Simi Valley, where we filmed exteriors for Little House on the Praire (That was where the Walnut Grove set was built). The North West SFV was not developed in those days and was a perfect backdrop for Westerns. On Little House, I had the pleasure of working with most of the old timers that shot the original Bonanza series. In other words, I can light a Western too, if necessary, and light it GOOD! (Little House is considered a Western production with stage coaches, buck boards, horses, wranglers, etc. and I wore my Tony Lamas when lighting those sets)
Great post Rick, you have a great family history and lineage in the business.
