LIVE Magazine Vol 7, Issue #169 Nov 1-Nov 15 2013

Exclusive LIVE Magazine photos
by Peter Brandt
On the evening of Sunday,
October 27, 2013 in the
bustling city of Hollywood,
amid the ambient sounds
of distant fire engines and
planes flying overhead, four
1960s classic police cars made
their dramatic entrance onto
Sunset Boulevard as stunned
pedestrians and gawking
motorists passing by witnessed
the arrivals of original cast
members of Stanley Kramer’s
madcap epic comic caper
film, “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad,
Mad World,” including Mickey
Rooney, Barrie Chase and
Marvin Kaplan, who were
returning to the Cinerama Dome for the 50th Anniversary Screening and
Celebration of the movie which received its World Premiere there on
November 7, 1963. Intended as an homage to the penultimate scene of
the movie, in close tow behind the cast members in another vintage police
car were Stanley Kramer’s wife and daughter, Karen Sharpe Kramer and
Katharine “Kat” Kramer, who were armed with memorabilia from the film,
including the original hubcap from Jimmy Durante’s character’s car in the
movie, the original program and photos from the World Premiere of the film.
Karen Sharpe Kramer, the widow of the late Stanley Kramer’s wife, and
Tait Forman, Marketing Coordinator for The Decurion Corporation, which
currently owns the Cinerama Dome, and also the great-grandson of William
R. Forman, who served as President of the Pacific Theatres Corporation 50
years ago, were on hand to receive accolades from The City of Los Angeles in
observance of the historic occasion.
Kimberly Rodriguez, Central Area Representative of the External Affairs
Department attended the event on behalf of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
to present certificates of congratulations proclaiming October 27, 2013 as
“It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Day in Los Angeles.” Steven Whiddon,
Hollywood Field Deputy for Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell of District 13
presented certificates of congratulations to both the Kramer and Forman
families, and Councilmember Tom LaBonge of District 4 stopped by to offer
best wishes to all.
Actor and comedian, Jeff Garlin, star of the current television show, “The
Goldbergs,” served as Moderator of a Q&A with the original cast members of
the film in attendance and Karen Sharpe Kramer. A special new permanent
exhibit in the lobby of the Cinerama Dome was unveiled, commemorating
the building of the venue 50-years ago and the first film presented there,
Stanley Kramer’s “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” Actress Barrie Chase
also brought along to the event her Manuel Pertegaz designer ball gown and
I. Magnis coat which she wore to World Premiere of “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad,
Mad World” at the Pacific’s Cinerama Theatre on November 7, 1963.
Also in attendance at the event were: Lisa Hackett, the daughter of the late
Buddy Hackett, who starred in the film; Barry Maiten, owner of the four
classic police cars he provided for the VIP arrivals; Karen Stetler, Producer
for The Criterion Collection, which will soon be releasing a new 50th
Anniversary DVD and BluRay version of Stanley Kramer’s film, “It’s A Mad,
Mad, Mad, Mad World;” and Mad World fans, who provided some never
been seen before footage of the original World Premiere 50 years ago.
Also in attendance were four of the original dummies for the characters in
the movie played by actors Mickey Rooney, Sid Caesar, Jonathan Winters and
Peter Falk. The dummies were on loan for the day, courtesy of Donelle
Dadigan and Hollywood Museum. Artist Dave Woodman, who created
the 50th Anniversary logo for the film, and filmmaker Gary Takasian, also
attended. Original movie cast members, including Stan Freberg and Sid
Caesar, who were unable to be in attendance at the event, sent along the
following comments:
A Note From Stan Freberg (Deputy Sheriff):
“Stanley Kramer was my friend. He was a sweet man. He didn’t have a
mean bone in his body. I was very proud that he selected me to create all
the advertising for his wonderful film ‘It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.’
“When I remember my work on the film, a couple of things come to mind.
During the shooting of one of the commercials, I had the entire cast together
on the set. After numerous takes, Buddy Hackett suddenly dropped his
pants, ruining the shot. I said to Buddy, ‘You ruined the take.’ Buddy said:
‘It doesn’t matter.’ I said, ‘Of course it does. It’s a master shot, so we have
to do the whole things over.’ Kramer was standing next to me and said, ‘If
you killed Hackett now, there wouldn’t be a jury in the world who would
convict you.’
“Another afternoon, Kramer asked me ‘What size shirt do you wear?’ I said,
‘Seventeen, thirty-five but why do you ask?’ He said, ‘I’m putting you in the
film.’ He then cast me as a Sheriff’s Deputy sitting next to Andy Devine. In
the first cut of the film he gave me actual lines, but Universal said, ‘Nobody
will sit still for a four hour movie.’ Kramer then was forced to cut my lines.
My wife Hunter said, ‘To have Stan Freberg not say a word would be like
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057193/
LoS
ANGELES
5 STAR DININ
Marcel Marceau (the famous mime artist) suddenly speaking!
“Hunter and I are always thrilled to have opportunities to share memories
about Stanley (we love the name Stanley) with his beautiful, talented
widow, Karen Kramer. Audiences around the world have loved this film for
SUBTITLE
(ALL CAPS)
50 years and we are sure they will for at least the next 50!” – Comments
from Stan Freberg, October 27, 2013
A Note From Sid Caesar (Melvin Crump):
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together that night in the hotel dining room to work through the scene.
We discussed the scene, and though I never acted as the leader, I did give
the group the benefit of sketch comedy experience.
“The next morning we were out on location at 8:00 a.m. We did the entire
scene in one take. Stanley was ecstatic. ‘What are we going to do for
the rest of the day?’ he asked, tongue in cheek. Not that he was really
worried.
“Happy 50th Anniversary to the Kramer family, my fellow cast and crew
members and to the Cinerama Dome on this momentous occasion in film
history!” – All the best, Sid Caesar, October 27, 2013
The film, “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” was produced and directed
by the late award-winning filmmaker, Stanley Kramer. This is event was
also in celebration of Stanley Kramer’s current Centennial Celebration
(www.stanleykramer100.com), as well as part of a celebration marking the
50th Anniversary of the Cinerama Dome.
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In the movie, Spencer Tracy leads an all-star cast as Captain T.G. Culpepper
in a madcap pursuit of $350,000 in stolen cash pursued by colorful group
of strangers, including: Jonathan Winters as Lennie Pike; Buddy Hackett
as “Benjy” Benjamin; Mickey Rooney as Dingy Bell; Edie Adams QUARTER as Monica PAGE AD
Crump; Sid Caesar as Melville Crump; Milton Berle as J. Russell Finch; 5.1042 X 8.0748
Ethel Merman as Mrs. Marcus; Dorothy Provine as Emmeline Marcus; Phil
Silvers as Otto Meyer; Dick Shawn as Sylvester Marcus; Terry-Thomas as
Lt. Col. J. Algernon Hawthorne; Jimmy Durante as “Smiler” Grogan, Peter
Falk as a Third Cab Driver; Barrie Chase as Sylvester Marcus’ girlfriend, and
cameo appearances by Stan Freberg as Deputy Sheriff; Marvin Kaplan as
Irwin; Andy Levine as the Sheriff of Crockett County; Jack Benny as man
driving a Maxwell offering help in the desert; Joe E. Brown as the union
official giving a speech at a construction site; Leo Gorcey as First Cab
Driver; Zazu Pitts as Gertie the Switchboard Operator; Eddie ‘Rochester’
Anderson as Second Cab Driver; Jim Backus as Tyler Fitzgerald; Buster
Keaton as Jimmy the Crook – Culpeper’s boatman crony; Don Knotts as
the nervous motorist; Carl Reiner as the Rancho Conejo airport tower
controller; Jerry Lewis as the motorist who runs over Culpeper’s hat; The
Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Joe DeRita) as Rancho
Conejo Airport firemen and The Shirelles singing “31 Flavors” in Sylvester’s
home scene (voices only).
The original World Premiere of the movie was held on November 7, 1963
was attended by bevy of notables including Senator Edward Kennedy and
his wife at the time, Joan Kennedy, as well as by Senator Robert Kennedy
and Ambassador to the United Nations, Adlai Stevensen II. President John
F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy were also slated to attend as well, but
didn’t make it, as they had plans to be in Dallas, TX later that month.
To learn more about other upcoming Stanley Kramer Centennial
Celebrations, please visit the website, www.stanleykramer100.com. To
learn more about other upcoming films screening in the Cinerama Dome’s
50 Anniversary, please visit the website www.arclightcinermas.com.