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Herbie J Pilato 
Herbie J Pilato
I write, produce, direct, act, live in, and sing the scripts of life.
Published Oct 8, 2023
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Established in 1934 by Columbia Pictures, the historic Warner Bros./"Columbia Ranch" backlot in Burbank, CA was recently demolished to make way for redeveloped real estate.
As the author of Twitch Upon a Star, and The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery, both about the star of television's iconic Bewitched series, I was interviewed in 1996 by TV's Entertainment Tonight for a special tribute to the actress (who died from cancer in 1995).
Dan Weaver, a terrifically talented producer and equally wonderful human being (who died in 2018) was a segment producer for Entertainment Tonight at the time.
It was Dan's idea to tape the interview in front of the Bewitched house on the Columbia Ranch backlot complex, which was located at 411 North Hollywood Way in Burbank. The facility also housed the exterior for other TV homes such as I Dream of Jeannie, Hazel, The Partridge Family, Gidget, Father Knows Best, Life Goes On, The Middle, and so many more.
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Like all the movie and TV home exteriors on the Columbia Ranch, the Bewitched house was in reality a facade. You'd walk through the front doors, and you'd see nothing but lumber, nails, bolds, and hinges holding it all together. There was no "interior" to the Bewitched residence or any of the exteriors of the homes utilized at the Columbia Ranch for various TV shows and movies through the decades.
But from the outside? The Bewitched house, the I Dream of Jeannie house, and the others, indeed once lined a magical street of TV and movie dreams.
As I look back at that special day in front of the Bewitched house, and now, in view of the recent demolishment of the Columbia Ranch, the memory becomes all the more magical, poignant...and bittersweet.
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This is so sad
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sherri rabinowitz
Producer at Sherri's Playhouse
8mo
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I'm so sad, I loved that backlot, I have been there as an actress, and as a tourist on the tour. I even passed through it on the way to seeing an episode of sitcom on the lot. I always looked for my favorites as I passed. Sadly, no pics, this was all before cells that you can take a pic with, so it is just in my memory now. So many times, so many memories. Only one backlot left.
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Robert Nelson
Manager/Photographer at The White Owl Studio/ Nelson Creative Spaces, LLC
8mo
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I've worked in that "neighborhood" a lot. Although I've retired to my photography studio now, it's still a shame to see it go. It was very user friendly plus it was easy to park! I guess the main lot still has it's small town backlot and the lagoon, Paramount has it's city, Universal has still has multiple backlot areas, and there all of the various ranches, but backlots seem to be fading out. I always felt that they were easier on the crew and caused less havoc in the real neighborhoods. Oh well.
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