By Joe Rinaudo
CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11
Chapter 13
To say that the collectors and film dealers that Dave and I met along the way were interesting and sometimes very unusual would be an under-statement.
There was this film collector Dana who was blind! Yes, a blind film collector! You would go over to his apartment in Glendale (California) and ring the doorbell three short times. This would alert Dana that it was a fellow film collector outside and not a salesman or some other riff-raff or person he might not want to see (pun intended). If Dana couldn’t get to the door his wife would greet you. Yes, she could see. You would then enter the living room where Dana was seated in a big easy chair pointed toward a very large window. Dana would sit and listen to the people and traffic going by outside. This other than film collecting this was his major form of entertainment. He especially enjoyed it when the children would walk by his window on their way to and from school. So as the kids would walk by, they would see this skinny balding old man staring out blankly at them. He never wore glasses to cover his blind sunken eyes which made his look a bit more disturbing. A stoic figure with arms resting on each armrest of the chair with his long boney fingers hanging over the front of each armrest. Of course, this always got some kind of negative reaction from some of the bolder kids. It got more disturbing in the summertime. Since his apartment didn’t have air conditioning he would perform this routine shirtless! One time on one very hot summer day when I was standing near the big window and bearing witness to his shirtless performance (in his chair with his skeletal sunken chest exposed and staring blankly out the window) The crypt keeper had nothing on him! I saw some kids walk by and one made a comment: “There’s that spooky old man again and it’s not Halloween!”
Normally the kids would make faces or stick out their tongues at him thinking that he could see them. I assumed that the kids were trying to get a reaction out of him which, much to their chagrin, never happened. Some of the girls would not look at him but scream and run by quickly! Each to his own as to what one might consider entertainment.
So now it was time to talk business. You would then follow Dana into a back bedroom where he had as 16mm projector set up. He would point to a stack of film that contained the one that you wanted to purchase. You would then find the film and hand it to him. He would ask you which is reel one. He then would completely thread the film on to the projector flawlessly! Once the film would start, he would ask you about the print quality. Like if it was a dupe print or had some scratches, etc. Of course he could hear the quality of the sound. We would usually watch the entire film or just spot check the reels as necessary. Dana would have already run all of the films that he wanted to sell so he could know how many jump splices or missing scenes the print might have by listening to the sound track. Dana always gave a return/refund policy if you were not happy with the print quality once you screened it at home.
Now comes the money part. Dana always preferred cash. Once the deal was made, he would trust you to hand him the correct amount of money. If change was to be made, he would hand you his wallet and you would take the correct amount of change. Remember this was all on the honor system. The world of the film collector was a small one and any wrong doing got around fast. Once you are on the bad boy list most collectors would have nothing to do with you. We all assumed that of the end of the day Dana’s wife could do a full accounting of the daily receipts.
Speaking of the film collector’s world being a close knit one. There was one collector who Dana had made a big deal with. This collector stole several hundred from Dana’s wallet and put back ones in their place! Once Dana’s wife found the discrepancy the word went out about what this collector had done. Two collectors (who were good friends with Dana) went to this collector’s home (with a baseball bat) and got all of the money back! No one wanted to deal with this collector after that. This reminds me of a quote I once heard: “No three things keep a person more honest than a strong set of principles, a good upbringing and witnesses.”
There was another collector that Dana told me about. He was called “the postman”. This is because he was a postman in real life. Dave and I called the postman and dropped Dana’s name. We were invited over to his house in Los Angeles. He lived in an old bungalow at the top of a set of stairs that seemed to go on forever. He worked the late shift at the post office so he would sleep during most of the morning then after work would watch films. You could never call too early and only go over to climb Mt. Stairs in the evening. It was quite a challenge to descend the zig-zagging stairs with an arm full of film. Did I forget to mention that there were no railings? During this time in my life, I suffered from bouts of insomnia. The postman said that I could call him during these moments of unrest. We would talk about old films and sometimes he would run a film while on the phone so I could hear the sound and his narrative as to the quality of the print. This would go on into the wee hours of the morning until I could hardly hold the phone to my ear and finally drift off to sleep. One time the postman called to say that he had some “fun films” that we could show at a party. As it turned out the films were porno! At the same time friend of mine was getting married and he wondered if I could show a porn film at his bachelor party (which was to be held the house of one of his friends). So, I bought some of the porno films.
At the party I ran old films that had a wedding theme with Laurel & Hardy and Buster Keaton. After running the old films as a surprise, I ran the first porn film. As the porn film was running I heard a voice behind me ask: “Is running film like this illegal?” When I looked back, I saw the person who asked this question doing a line of cocaine!
There was a film company that rented copyrighted films and sold films that were in the public domain. Or so we thought. You see, once you had dropped enough names and the owner of the company began to trust you, he had “under the counter” films (that were still under copyright) that you could purchase at a very reasonable rate. These films were really under the counter. Once he showed you the secret list of films that were available, he would then reach under the counter (which was the front desk) and hand you the film that you had picked out from the list.
Dave and I had purchased a few Laurel & Hardy and Three Stooges two-reel films this way. As I recall all of these were $35.00 each. Some of the Three Stooges films were pretty nice. He told us that somewhere along the line he had made his own dupe negatives. One time when Dave and I went in to get a few more under the counter two-reel films we were told by the owner that Columbia Pictures had found out about his under the counter deals with the Three Stooges films. Instead of confiscating his negatives and remaining prints, Columbia just said sell off the remaining prints and don’t make any more! So, with Columbia’s blessing, we purchased as many of the Three Stooges films that we could afford to.
There was always the rumor of a big-time dealer who was very eccentric. He was extremely secretive and hard to contact. He could get you almost anything you asked for because he was somehow connected with the big Hollywood elite film collectors. Dave and I had asked around as to how to contact him but no one seemed to want to divulge this information.
One day Dave and I were at the home of Mr. Nobel Hickie getting our R.C.A. projectors repaired, as you might remember from Chapter# 11 Nobel was the R.C.A. technician for the M.G.M. Studios and was connected with the Hollywood “in crowd”. Nobel is going through the usual amplifier sound checks (without his teeth) when a tall distinguished man walks in and politely sits down. Nobel finishes up his toothless amplifier test and calmly puts his teeth back in and says: “Hello Bob”. The man nods to Nobel and says hello to Dave and I. Nobel introduces us to Bob. Bob asks about our R.C.A. projectors and what kind of film do we collect. We told him that we like the early comedies of Buster Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, W.C. Fields, The Little Rascals and Etc.
Bob then asks Nobel: “Are these guys okay?” I wondered just how Bob meant that. Much to my relief Nobel responded that we were good guys to deal with. Bob goes on to say that if there is any film that we find hard to get he can help us get a copy but only under the strictest secrecy. Nobel says that Bob is a great contact for many of the big Hollywood film collectors. Dave and I realized just who we were talking to. Bob was most likely the eccentric film dealer who we had been trying to get in touch with!
There was an early sound feature that I was always looking for. Bob told me he only gets “top drawer” prints. There is a money back guarantee if there was something wrong with the print. As a note in hindsight there never was a problem with the quality of Bob’s prints. It was cash only and delivery must be in a neutral place. Never at Bob’s house.
It was agreed that a neutral meeting place (for the exchange of the film and money) would be in front of Roads End market in Glendale. Near the corner of Roads End Street and Glendale Avenue near Forest Lawn Cemetery. Bob drove an older Cadillac four door sedan. The blue paint was slightly faded and the off-white layer that was on the roof of his car was pealing in spots. His car was not hard to miss. At this time, I am still driving my 1929 Model A Ford. So, the routine that Bob required for our clandestine meetings was for whoever arrived first was to pull into the Roads End Market parking lot and wait for the arrival of the second half of the meeting The first car was to flash its lights followed by the second car flashing its lights as a signal that we were meeting with the correct car. Of course, I always thought that this was a bit odd as how many other black 1929 Model A Fords would be in the same area at this exact moment. This was the routine that Bob required for our meetings to continue. I figured that this cloak and dagger approach to our meetings a bit strange but this was part of the eccentric nature of Bob. So, I thought, what the hell, this is fun!
Once the headlight flashing confirmed who we were, I would get into the passenger side of his car and make the cash payment and we would discuss the print that I had just purchased. We would then go to the trunk of his car and he would open it and hand me my 16mm print. His trunk was always full of film. Mostly 35mm prints. One time Dave and I saw a 35mm print of something called Star Wars in his trunk. Bob said that he also had a 16mm print for $600.00 and this film was not in theaters yet. Dave and I both passed on the offer as new films were not something we wanted. Besides we certainly didn’t have the $600.00 to spend on an unknown film!
As the years went on Bob would feel comfortable enough to drive over to my house in Glendale to make his deliveries. He would pull his Cadillac into the driveway and honk twice (two shorts as I remember). I would go out to sit for a while in his car and consummate the deal.
Bob was always impeccably dressed. He always had a crisp shirt with a starched collar and wore a tan golf cap with pressed pants and polished shoes. However, the lack of up keep of Bob’s car did not match how he was attired. I am reminded of a quote by Benjamin Franklin: “Never judge a man by how he dresses but by what he drives.” So, Dave and I always wondered what Bob’s house must be like? Little did we realize that we would soon have the answer.
After years of gaining Bob’s trust Dave and I were finally invited over to Bob’s house. Bob wanted me to look at some exterior lamps that he wanted me to restore for him. We were also to pick up a print that Dave wanted to buy. The house was a reminder of the days of old Hollywood gone by. It was a two- story Spanish and (like his car) care worn, a bit tattered and needing paint. As we rang the bell at the front-door we heard dogs barking inside and Bob yell in a very loud voice: “SHUT UP!” Then the barking ceased. Bob opened the small viewing door to see who it was. He asked if we liked dogs. We both agreed that dogs were alright by us. Bob slowly opened the door. When we walked into the entry-hall we were met with the horribly strong smell of dog feces! Dave and I didn’t know what to do! Hold our breath or leave. We decided to endure this trial as we had made the trip for two important reasons. Lamp repair and film pick up.
As Bob led us into the living room, he explained that his wife had passed away and he had met a younger German woman that had the same love of doge as he. They both go to the pound and rescue dogs that are about to be euthanized. They had about 30 dogs in the house kept in the back rooms. When I asked where are the lamps that he wanted restored (hoping that they were outside so we could get some fresh air). Bob took us up to the second floor where we were introduced to his younger dog loving companion. Fortunately, the lamps were on an outside balcony. So, Dave and I got a reprieve of fresh air from the horror awaiting us below. Dave and I both agreed that when we go back into the house, we must conduct his film purchase as quickly as possible. Once back down in the living room, Dave asked for the film. Upon hearing Dave’s voice the dogs began barking uncontrollably. Bob yells: “SHUT UP!” Then all was quiet on the western front! As Bob handed Dave the film he began to explain the condition. As Bob was doing so a dog walks into the middle of the living room and takes a huge crap on the carpet then calmly walks off. Now Bob doesn’t skip a beat in his explanation of the film’s quality paying no attention to what’s just transpired on his carpet. Was this a common occurrence? We suspect the answer would be YES! We thanked Bob and the dogs started barking again. With Bob’s “SHUT UP!” Dave and I quickly made our escape to the outside atmosphere.
Another film collector (sometimes dealer) was Martyn Kearns. Marty was a great guy and very knowledgeable about film history. He contributed a lot to the film hobby and was always willing to try and find a print that a collector might want. Marty was one of the original film collectors visited by the F.B.I.
One day I went to Marty’s apartment to pick up a print that he had found for me. Marty lived in a secure apartment complex where he had to buzz you in. While I was visiting with Marty his bell rang and when he asked who was there? A very loud gruff voice exclaimed: “This is David Bradley! I’m here to pick up my print of the Mummy!”. Marty looked worried and quickly searched around for the 16mm print. I have heard of David Bradley. That he was a big film collector who had mountains of money. He seemed to spend this mountain on film and making copies for his collection. As a matter of fact, he would go to one of the largest film labs in the Los Angeles area. Since he spent so much time (and money) there, he and his little dog (which he carried in with him) had free run of the entire lab. He was also very generous about lending film to collectors that he knew. His prints were always excellent “top drawer” quality but if you didn’t return his film to him in the time you promised, he would call you and raise holy hell about you not returning his film! That’s a call no collector wanted to have happen as David was a force to be reckoned with! Marty once told me that when David was at his apartment dropping off a film. David had asked to use Marty’s phone. While talking pleasantly to Marty (as David was dialing the number) the victim answered the call, David suddenly said in a very gruff and loud voice: Where is my god damn Film! You had better get it back to me today! When he hung up David continued the conversation with Marty where he had left off. Of course, in the same pleasant tone that he was using before the call. No wonder why Marty was in such a hurry to find David’s print!
So now I was about to meet the famous David Bradley! When there was a loud knock on Marty’s door and as he opened it there was David Bradley dressed in a white 1920’s sailor’s costume complete with a sailor’s cap and an Oliver Hardy mustache! I looked at Marty and Marty just looked at me as he handed the print to David. David then tipped his sailor’s cap and walked away without saying a word. I asked Marty why David was dressed like that since this was the middle of July and any Halloween costume party was months away. Marty said that David always liked Oliver Hardy’s sailor character in “Men O’ War” (1929) and this must be David’s tribute to Ollie because he had heard stories of David going around town dressed like this.
A good friend of mine since middle school was Elaine Labby. Elaine and I always had the same interests we both liked old film and records. We both collected Edison phonographs. When in high school, I went over to Elaine’s house to hear her Edison Diamond disc phonograph.
I got to meet her parents. Her father Dave Labby was working at the channel nine television station as a sound engineer. Dave’s hobby was photography and liked anything photographic. Dave was always bringing home old films that were being discarded by the T.V. station. In those days a show like The Twilight Zone was printed on 16mm film with the sponsor’s commercials printed in as part of the half hour show package. Because the sponsor paid for the entire print it belonged to the sponsor and not to the studio. The sponsor usually never wanted the show back and left them at the T.V. station. After so many shows piled up, the station had to dispose of these shows due to needed room and storage costs. So, these shows were usually thrown away. I purchased many old television shows from Dave. Dave also had old projectors, projection lamps and projection lenses for sale. On weekends I would drive over to Dave Labby’s house to watch some old television shows and other items that he had for sale. This was in a back bedroom where he had a projector set up with cans of film all over. As I entered the house, I would greet Mrs. Labby who was always seated in the living room sorting through her religious papers or reading the bible. Both of Mrs. Labby’s parents were in the ministry.
On this particular day I was meeting with Dave to watch some old black and white Popeye & Betty Boop cartoons from the 1930’s. I was also going to look at a zoom lens that Dave had found for my projector. There was a large reel on the projector. Dave said that the cartoons were spliced together as the reel was too large for just one cartoon. Dave said that he did not have time to watch the cartoons but we could screen them together. At the same time, he could demonstrate the zoom lens. So, the projector flickers to life with a great Popeye cartoon from the 1930’s. The film was projected on a back wall of the room. Dave produces a piece of white card board. He demonstrates how the zoom lens can go down from a four-foot square picture on the back wall to one foot square by focusing the image on the white card board held one foot from the lens. Dave then refocuses the lens back to a four-foot image on the back wall so we can watch the rest of the cartoons with a larger image.
We watched three or four cartoons when suddenly a color image that was spliced on the end of the reel appeared showing women in tight leather bikinis doing somersaults and other interesting gyrations! This must have been some kind of S. & M. soft porn. Probably shown at a bar or men’s club as a gag reel with the cartoons in the beginning! Just then as Dave and I were watching in somewhat entertaining and stunned surprise. Who should walk in but Mrs. Labby! Without missing a beat, she starts screaming: “NASTY! NASTY! NASTY BOYS!” As she starts hitting Mr. Labby with her bible! Dave lifts up his right arm fending off the blows and with his left hand reducing the picture as small as it can get with the card blocking the image. all the while describing how small he can make the picture with the zoom lens (or in this case the small size of the card). Through the whole ordeal Dave was looking at me making his pitch about the zoom lens totally ignoring the screaming and pummeling he was receiving! What a salesman!
Her attack complete Mrs. Labby exits the room slamming the door behind her! Now I have to ask Dave if there is any way out of the back bedroom without having to traverse the gauntlet by seeing Mrs. Labby. Dave said that the only way out is through the living room. I asked if I could climb out the window? Dave said you only have to go quickly by her and face the music once but I have to live here! So, with a deep breath I ran the gauntlet. All I can remember is passing by her as she screamed at me: “YOU ARE A NASTY, NASTY BOY!” I knew that I couldn’t go back there for several months!
To be continued…
