Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

Notice...I have had to make a change to my channel removing my shorts. Although some of them have gained many views, I need to return the format of my channel back to long version videos. I may create another channel just for posting my shorts, if I do, I hope to transfer all of them over.

Photo of the day...present day view of Morris Island, SC...This is the area where a very small piece of land still exist from Battery Wagner aka Fort Wagner. Remember movie Glory? The grand assault on 18 July 1863 led by the 54th Mass under the command of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw took place resulting in high casualty rate that day for the Union. Just as seen in the movie, Shaw would be buried in the ditch before Wagner with his slain soldiers. In reality in this view looking to the North, Wagner lies under water in the Atlantic Ocean just to the east (right)of this view. completely dissolved and absorbed by the ocean waves and current.

6 hours ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

New Video Post Today - March 15, 2026...check it out, walk with me and see the sites of Kings Mountain Battlefield Museum and Trail. This particular battle in the Upcountry of South Carolina changed the course of history later causing the defeat of the British during the American Revolutionary War. The men of the upcountry of South Carolina just wanted to be left alone. When British Major Patrick Ferguson decided to destroy anyone who would not be loyal to the Crown, he found himself messing with the wrong bunch! He would loose his life at the hands of the locals who assembled to stop him in his tracks. These local boys did not attack with the usual Rev War tactics, they fired from behind trees, etc. , something the loyalist were not used to.

1 week ago | [YT] | 1

Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

check out this new channel featuring a young bushmaster ! You will be amazed at his skills! Help build his channel by subscribing and like, share his videos with your friends.
youtube.com/@scwoodsman?si=d1m_UruI7qrhYYcK

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

Hello Everyone ! My newest video was uploaded late yesterday afternoon. If you have not seen it yet...here it is ! This is about a Hollywood Casting Director, Ruth Burch. You have seen her in the end credits of so many television shows from the 1950's through the 1960"s. Her story is remarkable. She worked for Hal Roach Studios, David O. Selznick Studios and Desilu. During her time she was the only female casting director in the business. She lived to be 99 years old, passing away in the Motion Picture and Television Home in Woodland Hills, CA. This a a very rare look at her career, finding anything on her is nearly impossible, but I think you might find what I found out to be interesting.

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 1

Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

I was fortunate to have at least got a chance to see this famous sound stage in June 2012 and take this photograph. Little did I know it would in the not too distant future be destroyed. This is or Was Stage 28, known as the Phantom Stage, located at Universal Studios, California. In 1925 "Phantom of the Opera" featuring Lon Chaney, was filmed here. The set was built to represent the "Paris Opera House". Over the years many other Golden Age Films used this stage such as Dracula with Bela Lugosi 1931, The Bride of Frankenstein 1935 (used for filming special effects of a miniature interior laboratory and exterior of the same, Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" 1960 (interiors of the Bates House), The Birds 1963, and the list goes on ! In 2014, Universal decided to demolish this stage, known to be the oldest sound stage in the world. At the time of demolition, there was still much of the old set from Phantom of the Opera that still sat in place. Fortunately, what was left was disassembled and put in storage before the facility was torn down. What do you think about this? Post your comments ! Thanks for checking out my channel and hope you will subscribe and take a look at some of my videos.

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 6

Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

George Reeves was and always will be Superman as far as I am concerned. This screen shot is very special to me as he is on the road going to the top of Blair Hill of the Baldwin Hills. Behind him in the lower left you can see the remains of Tara, the mansion from Gone With The Wind. Ironically, Reeves was in the cast of actors in that movie. In one scene he is shown on the front porch of that very set!

That is on the 40 Acres Backlot in Culver City, CA. If that sounds familiar to you, this was the Desilu Backlot formerly RKO. In addition to the ruins of Tara, what was left from the "burning of Atlanta" would become the streets of Mayberry used for filming exteriors of The Andy Griffith Show. Other famous sets there would include the outdoor set for Hogan's Heroes and Camp Henderson for Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.

The old backlot was razed in 1976 and new buildings were built there included some sound stages. Although these changes took place, the site can still be visited and the streets layout is pretty much the same and you can match up locations from these shows. By the way, Superman took off from the alley next to the theater (later used as part of Mayberry) quite a few times.

Feel free to join in with post of your own and be part of this community !

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 10

Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

I have had to modify my channel trailer video to reflect the new name for my channel...Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith. If you have already seen the trailer, nothing else has changed. Still trying to come up with what works best. Thank you for your patients. Thank you all who have already subscribed to my channel. I am now at 5900 subscribers ! If you have not subscribed and would like to help me climb the Youtube ladder, please consider subscribing.

1 month ago | [YT] | 9

Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

I am still experimenting with trying to find the best title for my channel. Trying to keep it short but long enough to be effective is showing the content that I like to produce. Battlefields includes my exploration of historical battle fields of the United States. Backlots includes my exploration of filming locations of both classic television and movies. Andy Griffith includes all things Mayberry from exploring episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle USMC, filming locations, nostalgia, Mayberry events such as Mayberry Days , Meet Ups, etc.

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3

1 month ago | [YT] | 8

Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

Hey, if you have not seen it, please check it out. My video about Texas John Slaughter. The title of the video is "Texas John Slaughter Ranch Tour". New release Saturday, January 7 at 5:00 p.m.

He was Sheriff of Tombstone, Arizona in the years following the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral between the Earps and Clantons. I am showing some rare photographs and also take you on a tour of his ranch at San Bernardino in Douglas, Arizona. This is real history ! The little Big Man cleaned up the mess left by the Earps in Tombsone, helped in the US Army capturing Geronimo and even had a confrontation with Poncho Villa. Walt Disney presents did a TV series about him where Betty Lynn (Barney Fife's girlfriend on the Andy Griffith Show) played the part of his wife in the show. It is all in this video. If you love real western history, you have got to see it. Hope you like it and let me know what you think about it !

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 2

Battlefields, Backlots, and Andy Griffith

Did you know? In this scene where Sgt. Carter is harassing Pvt. Gomer Pyle when he first arrived for boot camp, they were just outside of soundstage #8 at Desilu Studios on Cahuenga Blvd. Hollywood, where interrior views on the show (Gomer Pyle USMC) were filmed. Labeled as warehouse 8 and the large elephant door is the entrance to the soundstage.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 6