I worked for the telephone company in Hollywood in the late 1960s and early 70s. I installed and repaired phones at homes and apartments all over Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. I was enamored of celebrities and movie stars at first, but after a while they are just like everyone else - just customers. I must say, however, that there were a few standouts that I remember well:
Repaired some phones at Burt Reynolds' home. This was right after his "Dan August" days. He was married to Judy Carne (the "Laugh-In" girl with the English accent). He was famous, but not yet a big star. He wasn't wearing his toupe.
Had to put in a phone in a very difficult valley area in the Hollywood Hills for Liam Dunn. Lived in the very nice basement area of his mother's house. Didn't recognize him at first because of the roles he played. He was on TV all the time, played the mayor in "Blazing Saddles," was the judge in "What's Up Doc?" with Barbara Streisand, and played a small part in "Young Frankenstein." But he was in tons of TV shows over the years. He was only in his 40s when I met him, but he looked like he was 70.
I did some work for Sonny and Cher when they just started. They had matching Mustangs with fake wood grain in the notches in the cars' sides. Sonny was very nice and Cher was extremely shy.
Davey Jones of the Monkees and I crossed Hollywood Blvd. at Gower St. together. I was 5'10" and felt like I towered over him. He was going for some breakfast and asked me if I had any suggestions. I suggested he try Norm's coffee shop and then we walked the six or eight blocks together. We chatted and I really liked him. Very down to earth.
I put in a phone for "Ukelele Ike," Cliff Edwards, in the care facility he was at just before he died in 1971. He had a long career as a singer and actor, but was best known for his voice work at Disney Studios. He played Jimminy Cricket and sang the most famous version of "When you wish upon a star" in "Pinocchio." A sweet man, he asked me to come back and just visit him sometime. He promised to play his guitar for me, but he died before I could get back to see him on my own time. He WAS Jimminy Cricket!
There were so many - and I don't want to bore you. I helped the telephone crews that worked at Columbia, Paramount, and Goldwyn studios. I also worked on the old RKO lot (was Desilu at that time) where they made the "Mission Impossible" TV shows. Got to meet all of those folks. The big guy who rarely had any lines in the show was the friendliest to me, but all of the crew and actors were very pleasant. Just working inside the sound stages pulling cable (they had to be installed, moved, and removed after each production company had the soundstages). Saw a lot of commercials made at Goldwyn and met Barbara Feldon (Get Smart) and a very young Farrah Fawcett when they were just getting started.
The most memorable celebrities I met were Mae West, Marlon Brando, Jack LaLanne, and Robert Culp.
I would go to Mae West's penthouse apartment in the top floor of the building she owned on Rossmore Drive to repair a phone on occasion (long cords would get tangled). The apartment was decorated in white, with fuzzy white rugs and carpet. I only saw her a couple of times (she was quite old by then). She always had a young, handsome man, acting as her "assistant."
Marlon Brando lived up in the Hollywood Hills. I only remember him for one thing. He was naked and wearing a long, heavy robe completely open in the front. He came off as gruff and unfriendly when I met him. He told me to "get to it, get it fixed, and get out."
Besides Cliff Edwards, my favorites were Jack LaLanne and Robert Culp. Here are articles I wrote a few years ago for another website of mine. I think you will find them "educational" and somewhat different than the usual celebrity pieces found in fan magazines.
http://justoneopinion.com/jack-lalanne-turns-95
http://justoneopinion.com/robert-culp-r-i-p
I had some good times in those days. Both Hollywood and the phone company are not what they were - and they are the worse for it.
JV
