Duke of Hazzard: A Memorable friend

[forbiddenplateau]

I have been carrying this note written from John Schneider, dated June

10, 1997. It has been in my purse since the day I received it.

It was sent to me by a ex who is also an actor in Hollywood and worked

with John on the set of "Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman".

I met John in 1979 when I was a runaway teen trespassing on the Burbank

Studio lot.

I mistakenly walked on the Hazzard County set during filming. By the

time I got to the (courthouse", John was taking a break, sipping on a

cup of coffee and walking in my direction. Behind me was a motorcycle

security guard fast approaching me. My stomach was in knots as I knew

trouble was following me.

John and I crossed paths just as the guard pulled up to me. I was so

scared, I couldn't look in the direction of the motorcycle when he

yelled for to me to stop.

I'd guess the look of desperation on my face gave John the quick

thinking idea to save me. John spoke fast and yelled to the guard ,

She's with me."

Those were the nicest three words I'd heard in a very long time.

I'd been in Hollywood for only two weeks. Left my home and family in

New Orleans. Caught the Grayhound bus with a one way ticket and seven

dollars in my pocket. I was in search of Shaun Cassidy and the American

dream.

After the guard left, John and I shook hands in an official

introduction. He invited me to watch the Dukes of Hazzard being filmed.

He introduced me to the cast then offered me his directors chair.

I remember sitting in it proudly, like I was suddenly crowned Queen of

Hazzard County. The chair had John Schneider monogrammed on the back

and pockets on each side that hung halfway to the ground which housed

his script.

I don't think I laughed as much in my life as I did watching Bo and

Luke being chased by Roscoe in the General Lee.

When they broke for lunch I decided to say goodbye to John and thank

him for his kindness.

John invited me back and said if I had any trouble at the gate just

call for him on the set and I'd get in, no problem.

John, really had no clue what he had done for me. I was a lost soul

when I walked on that studio lot.

I had no friends, I was home sick and lonely. Depressed from an

interview I had with Actor Cornel Wilde when I went on my first casting

call the day before. And to top it off, I had a big fight with a live

in relative of my new boss just that morning.

While waiting for the bus to Hollywoodland where I lived as a

housekeeper and nanny for the family of Director Robert Lieberman I met

a runaway. His bed just happened to be the bench I was occupying. He

was a teen about the same age as I. 19. He told me how to sneak on the

studio lots without getting caught. That was how my mission started at

Burbank Studios.

John showed me compassion that I had not had in years. I was a stranger

in trouble and he came to my rescue.

The next time I went back to the studio I went straight to the guard

shack and had them call John to OK my visit.

This time they were in a big warehouse like studio. Not outside as they

were the first time.

When John and mine eyes met he was way across on the other side of the

room finishing a taping. He looked at me and smiled. Then he raised up

his arms and held them high across the room until we were face to face.

John leaned over and gave me a hug. The tightest bear hug I had ever

experienced. He literally lifted me off the floor and he said hello to

me and how nice it was to see me.

The feeling I got from that hug was powerful to say the least. I had

awakened on the wrong side of the bed that day but after that hug I was

dancing on air.

When they started filming again, I watched them until the next cut and

had to leave to find the bathroom.

Walking in the bathroom I recognized actress Jane Wyman at the sink

washing her hands. I recognized her from the television show "Falcon

Crest" and followed her to the set in hopes to get a glimpse of Lorenzo

Lamas.

He was more handsome then I ever imagined him to be. I was too scared

to talk to him but I'll never forget the chill I felt when he smiled at

me.

I didn't feel comfortable inside that set so I quickly left.

Mr. Cornel Wilde wasn't impressed with me during our interview that day

and told me to go back to New Orleans. He told me, I'd never become an

actress.

He pushed me down one day and the next John picked me up.

I decided to join an acting school. The Theatre of Performing and

Related Arts on Wilshire in Los Angeles.

Within a month I was cast to work in a Coca Cola commercial with Ray

Parker. Soon after I was cast to be a roller skater in the movie

"Roller Boogie" with Linda Blair and within a few months I had a

character role in the movie "Fullmoon High" with Adam Arkin and worked

several episodes of the television show "Making a Living " with Actress

Ann Jillian.

After my last day of filming "Making a Living". I wrote a note to Mr.

Cornel Wilde telling him how I had become an actress and told him of

all my accomplishments since our interview.

During the time I was cast to work in the movie "Beastmaster" I

received a letter personally from Mr. Wilde. It was a letter of

apology. He also congratulated me for jobs well done.

I turned down the work in "Beastmaster" because I was really acting to

prove a point. After Mr. Wildes letter, I did not continue my studying

at Theatre of Arts nor did go on anymore casting calls.

In the beginning I would go to the studio to see John and the Dukes

film two or three times a week. Whenever I was feeling down and I had a

bad day. I'd go the see John. No matter where he was when he first saw

me he'd hold up his arms and keep them raised until we were face to face

and he'd again give me a big teddy bear hug lifting me off the ground.

The more I started liking myself, the less I was going to the studio.

The more love I felt, the less I needed that hug.

At one point, it had been months since I'd seen John. When I went to

the set, he smiled at me as if I was a long time school friend coming

to see him. He lifted me up high, hugged me as and said, "Were ya been?

and How are you?"

I hadn't been going to the set because I started working as a volunteer

at a hospital in Hollywood as a Candy Striper and also volunteering at

Hollywood Community Services helping them deliver meals to the homes of

the poor and shut ins.

When Hollywood Community Services got the call to turn a home donated

to them on Beachwood Drive into a Runaway Shelter. I was there to help

them clear the house and transform it to OPTIONS HOUSE.

The same runaway teen I had met on that bus bench turned out to be one

of OPTIONS HOUSE first teens to reside in that house.

I remember the last time I went to see John and the Dukes being filmed

Enos was getting ready to film his own show. He invited me to watch his

show being filmed as well.

An entire year had past almost and what a difference a year made for

me.

The first time I walked on that lot I was lonely, alone, depressed and

homesick.

The last time I saw John and the Dukes film I was happy, still working

for the Liebermans, separately this time. I was still living in

Hollywoodland with Mrs. Lieberman and her two kids and working as a

housekeeper for Robert and his partner Ed Shapiro.

I was also working for Director John McTiernan at the time as a

housekeeper for he and his wife and volunteering at three different

places helping the poor, sick, elderly and runaways.

On my last day at the studio as I was about to enter the exit gates I

recognized actor Sidney Poitier walking across my path.

When I stopped to say hello he invited me to watch him direct the movie

"Stir Crazy" with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.

What an adventure I had that year. I also met Greg Evigan and Jack

Klugman at the Universal Studios and watched B.J and the Bear and

"Quincy" bing filmed. I met the cast of "Love Boat" and met many, many

actors.

But.............. Nomatter what show I watched or what actor I met.

Nothing or no one compared to watching Boss Hogg, Crazy Cooter, Uncle

Jessy, Enos, Daisy, and the Duke boys and getting bear hugs from John

Schneider.

[Capt_Redneck]

Thank you for sharing all of that with us here at HazzardNet...

I am very jealous of your accomplisments. You should be very proud of what you have done and how you went about it. My hat's off to you...

Isn't it funny or lack thereof of a better word what effect the Dukes has on people. This story proves it....

Once again thank you for sharing....

Darrell

[Jamanda]

A great story! We're all proud.

Just another little tidbit in your story. The address of the pad the Monkees lived in in the 60's sitcom was on Beachwood, and it was named after that street in Hollywood.

You may have more connections than you know you do. Keep up the good work!

[bethie88]

That's a great story. I love John, because he's one of those people who never got too big for his fans...

[Dixie Lee_01]

That's a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing, and I am so happy he and they helped you out so much. The Dukes are like that... John especially is like that. <smile>

I am happy for you.

[Garrett Duke]

That is a great story! Thank-you for sharing it with us!

-Garrett Duke-

[MaryAnne]

This is a great story. Thank you for sharing it. Yet another example of the positive influence and effect the Dukes can have on someone....and be part of that which turns things around in their lives.

Not bad for just a little ol' tv show...

[DaneyDuke]

Yet another example of the positive influence and effect the Dukes can have on someone....and be part of that which turns things around in their lives.

Not bad for just a little ol' tv show...

=) You got that right.