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| Site Index / My Book / Blog Index / Family /Wayman Communications / Benton / Christian CLICK HERE TO E-Mail US Copyright 2008 by Gordon Wayman All Rights Reserved Site Designed by WAYMAN COMMUNICATIONS |
It was in 1978, the same year I met Nixon!
It was another time when my "Benton Connections" paid off. When my friend, Kent
Alsobrooks and I were planning to see President Nixon in August of 1978, we were
planning on spending about two weeks in the Los Angles area. We also knew that Lynn
Bolin a former Benton resident who's mother still lived in Benton, was the Vice-President of
NBC Day Time Programming. We met her mother and asked that she contact her
daughter to set up an appointment for us to meet her. She did.
Lynn's office was on the grounds of the 20th Century Fox Studios in California. We arrived
at the famous gate and the guard had our names listed on the board and let us drive in.
We parked the car and found her office.
During our short visit she asked if we wanted to see some shows while we were in LA. We
asked to see "Welcome Back Kotter" and "The Tonight Show". She made some calls for
us. "Welcome Back" was no problem, but the "Tonight Show" was hot and all the VIP
tickets were gone. She could tell that we were disappointed. So she went the second mile
and said, "I'll tell you what I will do. I will have my Secretary meet you from inside and let
you in at the door before the ticket holders come in."
After we left Lynn's office, she bought us dinner in the Fox Restaurant where all the stars
ate. However, before we ate, she told us we could walk around the studio. We did just
that. We saw them film "Love Boat", a pilot show Lynn was producing called "WEB", and
"MASH".
When we were walking into the studio that was marked "Love Boat", there was a sign on
the door with the words "Do Not Enter when Light is On". We did not see the sign and we
walked in on the action. The Director yelled, "Cut!" We were cussed out and asked who
we were and what we were doing there. We said we were guests of Lynn Bolin and we
were touring the studio. The Director called her office to confirm and said that we could
stay for 5 minutes! The scene was exciting because it was a love scene in a ship cabin
with Sid Ceaser and Ruth Buzbee.
The night when we went to the "Tonight Show", we went past the long line of people trying
to get in. We went past the VIP Booth, straight to the door. At our scheduled time, Lynn
Bolin's Secretary was waiting for us inside. We walked in. We were the first in the studio.
She had us sit anywhere we wanted and we waited in an empty studio. About 10 minutes
later the studio audience came in.
On the show, the guests listed on the sign outside included Erma Bombeck, Johnny Mathis
and some unknown comic. However, during the show Johnny was interrupted by the
producer. Johnny said, "We have a surprise guest! He needs no introduction." Dean
Martin walked onto the stage and the audience went wild. The only joke I can remember is
that Dean had a drink in his hand and Dean said, "Johnny, This is the first drink I had
today, (pause), with my left hand!"
My visit to the Tonight Show was a great experience.
We will miss you Johnny!
It was another time when my "Benton Connections" paid off. When my friend, Kent
Alsobrooks and I were planning to see President Nixon in August of 1978, we were
planning on spending about two weeks in the Los Angles area. We also knew that Lynn
Bolin a former Benton resident who's mother still lived in Benton, was the Vice-President of
NBC Day Time Programming. We met her mother and asked that she contact her
daughter to set up an appointment for us to meet her. She did.
Lynn's office was on the grounds of the 20th Century Fox Studios in California. We arrived
at the famous gate and the guard had our names listed on the board and let us drive in.
We parked the car and found her office.
During our short visit she asked if we wanted to see some shows while we were in LA. We
asked to see "Welcome Back Kotter" and "The Tonight Show". She made some calls for
us. "Welcome Back" was no problem, but the "Tonight Show" was hot and all the VIP
tickets were gone. She could tell that we were disappointed. So she went the second mile
and said, "I'll tell you what I will do. I will have my Secretary meet you from inside and let
you in at the door before the ticket holders come in."
After we left Lynn's office, she bought us dinner in the Fox Restaurant where all the stars
ate. However, before we ate, she told us we could walk around the studio. We did just
that. We saw them film "Love Boat", a pilot show Lynn was producing called "WEB", and
"MASH".
When we were walking into the studio that was marked "Love Boat", there was a sign on
the door with the words "Do Not Enter when Light is On". We did not see the sign and we
walked in on the action. The Director yelled, "Cut!" We were cussed out and asked who
we were and what we were doing there. We said we were guests of Lynn Bolin and we
were touring the studio. The Director called her office to confirm and said that we could
stay for 5 minutes! The scene was exciting because it was a love scene in a ship cabin
with Sid Ceaser and Ruth Buzbee.
The night when we went to the "Tonight Show", we went past the long line of people trying
to get in. We went past the VIP Booth, straight to the door. At our scheduled time, Lynn
Bolin's Secretary was waiting for us inside. We walked in. We were the first in the studio.
She had us sit anywhere we wanted and we waited in an empty studio. About 10 minutes
later the studio audience came in.
On the show, the guests listed on the sign outside included Erma Bombeck, Johnny Mathis
and some unknown comic. However, during the show Johnny was interrupted by the
producer. Johnny said, "We have a surprise guest! He needs no introduction." Dean
Martin walked onto the stage and the audience went wild. The only joke I can remember is
that Dean had a drink in his hand and Dean said, "Johnny, This is the first drink I had
today, (pause), with my left hand!"
My visit to the Tonight Show was a great experience.
We will miss you Johnny!
