The Charlotte Pendragon Diaries

The Charlotte Pendragon Diaries by Charlotte Pendragon World of Stunt Illusions Part 5 Sometimes it’s not the people who change, it’s the mask that falls off. CHARLOTTE PENDRAGON FEB 3 “In a world where everybody wears a mask, it’s a privilege to see a soul.” Amanda Richardson The Prop Store of London - LA - Nicolas Cage stuntman masks from Drive Angry Stunt actors are faces never seen, the invisible presence behind the settings in a movie performing amazing, dangerous feats to make stars look spectacular. Even though their work is prominently seen in famous movie franchises on the cinematic landscape, they do so inconspicuously without a chance of winning an Oscar. Working behind masks without recognition, they can't decline opportunities like crashing cars and leaping from explosions for a living (and an excellent living they make if they work consistently). But that's why stunt workers are professional. They do it for a living, never receiving the applause and recognition they deserve for their thrills ’n’ spills. To them, there is no career more intoxicating than performing well-executed stunts. Action is the vitality of their life, and their reward is the finish line and seeing their action appear in films and TV Shows. For many, an Oscar sitting on a shelf collecting dust is nothing compared to the honor they receive from successfully executing a breakneck feat. Like a magician in a movie, a stuntman uses his whole body instead of just his hands to deceive the audience into thinking the actor performed a particular stunt. They are the hidden magicians behind the curtain. The magic is broken when the audience discovers their secret. So, the person behind the mask playing the actor must remain a mystery. It’s all part of the illusion of Hollywood, and the stuntman is a wizard. The Lone Ranger Unlike the hero in The Lone Ranger, who, while wearing western attire and a mask and riding a horse, and whose identity is unknown and revealed to the audience only at the end of the series, a stuntman’s identity remains confidential, except for their credit read on-screen during the conclusion of the film. When Jonathan and I performed stunt work, our masks came off only when we played ourselves in TV Specials presenting our illusions. At times, we'd mix our illusions with our stunts, increasing the danger and creating excitement in our audiences. For myself, one time was when I jumped from the edge of a 30 + high boat while heavily chained at Lake Mead outside Las Vegas, where, while underwater, I successfully escaped my restraints. Stunt man and director Gregg Barnett was my safety diver during this Houdiniesque stunt escape I performed on NBC TV Special Houdini: Unlocking His Secrets. I write about this stunt in my article Part Two: The Tao of The Pendragons “There was a build-up of adrenaline in my body as I stared into the water below me as I prepared. When I landed in the water, I sank deep in its depth from the heavy chains securing me, but I was relieved of the anxiety brought on by my fear of heights. So, I was unaware of the threats presented trying to escape the shackles. As I wormed my body out of my constraints, I was comforted by the presence of the famous stuntman and director Gregory Barnett, who was my underwater safety person.” Share Of course, overcoming an adrenaline rush is always a challenge for every performer, whether speaking to a small group or walking over the Grand Canyon on a tightrope. Everyone has their way of handling it. I make it a positive force by focusing on my performance. To calm down my anxiety supercharges, I'll think of something comical to reset my energy. This method always relieved the pressure. I can't stress enough how it matters to be well-rehearsed and prepared before a presentation. When my stunt finished, I felt a blissful joy; it was over, and a high sense of attainment from conquering my fears and apprehension. Jonathan performed his stunt illusion discussed in the same article in the above link, where he successfully escaped an exploding coffin. “Tension was high as the live audience watched Jonathan being constrained and locked in a solid wood coffin with an exploding device added to the top of the box as a timer. A nervous audience continued to watch as the box reached its apex, and time was running out for Jonathan to escape. Time did run out as we all watched the box explode before Jonathan’s exit. Where had he fallen among the debris which landed in the water? It was hard to wrap your head around what you thought, “did Jonathan survive?” Then suddenly, a Sea-Doo interrupted thoughts of his survival, and much relief was felt as the audience watched the watercraft appear closer, driven by Jonathan, who seemingly transcended time and space.” https://open.substack.com/pub/charlottependragon/p/part-two-the-tao-of-the-pendragons?r=127z9b&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web It's an exhilarating feeling caused by the mixture of adrenaline and other brain chemicals when you perform for a live audience — when you have a real audience in front of you responding with authentic feedback and applauding your performance. Especially when given a standing ovation. There is immediate gratification at the finale of your presentation. But when your performance is presented on TV or in a film, you have to wait until the show is released, sometimes months later, before receiving feedback for your performance. The adrenaline rush isn’t the same. It can be not very pleasant being a stunt actor because only your friends and family applaud you for your work. Your work is not mentioned in the weekend reviews, and in rare instances, when a reviewer talks about it, the stunt is commented about with no mention of the player. There is no instant gratification. That's one of the differences between performing for a live audience or on TV or films. Instant fulfillment gives you a big boost of confidence, which you get addicted to, so you look forward to your theater performances. You do not receive this type of satisfaction when you double an actor in a movie or TV Show. Other than your peers congratulating your work, you never get to take a bow and enjoy the audience's response. A stuntman takes his final bow in quietude. When Jonathan and I performed our death-defying stunts as ourselves on TV, we had the best of both worlds: instant gratification on the set and, later, when it released to the public more positive feedback from critics and people on the street recognizing us from TV. A stunt actor doubling for a famous actor receives none of this admiration. It’s one of the reasons I preferred performing magic for live audiences instead of doubling stars like Farrah Fawcett. A photograph of Fred Waugh on the said of the Spider-Man series in 1979. Pictures are here At the top of the Empire State building. Before Jonathan and I committed ourselves to a lifetime of magic, we continued along with stunts. Much of the decision to focus on magic was determined by life events out of our control. A divine presence interrupted the process- whose compass pointed MAGIC. It's interesting how life takes different turns, and it’s never linear, matching our well-laid-out plans. But before that direction was given, we continued with our stunt work while perusing our magic, and there are more stories to tell, like when Jonathan met Fred Waugh, one of the greatest stuntmen and stunt coordinators to have lived, a legend in the business. Jonathan met him during one of his stunts. Jonathan’s talent immediately took Fred, and he took him under his wings. He just saw the potential in someone similar to himself, so he fostered Jonathan through an act of kindness. Our families became good friends, sharing many evenings and weekends. When his kids Ric and Scott were in school studying astronomy, Freddie asked Jonathan to advise them since Jonathan had studied Astrophysics and taught observational astronomy at Fullerton Junior College in Fullerton, California, when their elementary school featured a talent show we were brought in to teach Ric and Scott our metamorphosis, which they performed very well. Our friendship with the Waughs—Fred, Sophia, Scott, and Ric was a close one. Fred coordinated the Spiderman TV series on CBS in the late 70s starring Nicholas Hammond. Spiderman became a training ground for Jonathan as Fred hired him for many stunts in the action-driven TV series. He also encouraged my stunt career, hiring me to double various actresses in scenes on different TV Shows. Too many to name. Below picture is Ric Waugh , a very successful producer, Director, writer and former stuntman. Scott Waugh I posted this last week as well. Pictured here in myself and my good friend Rebecca Myers along with Fred was sons Ric and Scott on the set of When Time Ran Out “I had a very blessed journey with the bringing I had. When you’re working on sets as a stunt man you have a first hand account of the dynamics between actors and directors, because you’re working hard in hand with them. You’re not sitting outside the process watching. You become part of the process. You also see your trade craft and see how movies are made.” Ric Waugh One of the shows Fred coordinated was Buck Rogers. He needed a stunt actress to double Morgan Brittany in a scene called Happy Birthday Buck. Morgan, a successful actress since childhood, is known for her work in Gypsy, Twilight Zones, and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and Adulthood, famous for her role as Katherine Wentworthon Dallas. Her is a remarkable career in film and TV. Fred thought of me because of my similar body structure and hair to Morgan’s. The stunt was a simple stunt scene called a bread and butter stunt. I fell and dragged away to another room in a space scene. I was aware of Brittany since I was a kid, seeing her dance in Gypsy playing the part of Baby Jane and later seeing her in a rerun of The Birds. I also had more recently seen her play Vivian Leigh in Gable and Lombard, a part she played in three different movies, and facially, she had a striking resemblance to the the Gone With The Wind star. Needless to say, I was extremely excited to meet her and play her on the show as her stunt double. Doubling Morgan Brittany in a scene from Buck Rogers I remember showing up on the set of Buck Rogers and Freddie going over the scene with me and rehearsing it a few times before I went to makeup and hair. Walking out, I ran into her in the hallway. I would have loved to have seen the look on my face. I'm sure my surprise probably caught her off guard. Here we were, two strangers dressed precisely the same, with the same hair and makeup, staring at each other. Quickly, Morgan took charge and made her introduction. We exchanged greetings, and her gracious hospitality made me feel welcome. My work went well and made Fred very happy. Just a few earlier years, I would have never imagined falling for a living. Still, I was in a surreal meeting with one of the most outstanding stunt performers, encouraging me to pursue a more serious career. By the close of the day, Morgan and I were friends exchanging phone numbers as we went our separate ways home. In the future, I double her in other TV shows and films, like Wild Women of Chastity Gulch. It was the start of a friendship with Jonathan, and I introduced her to one of Jonathan’s good friends, Jack Gill, another legendary stuntman, who, at the time, like Jonathan, was in the springtime of his stunt career. I'd never been a matchmaker, but it was the first of a few I've been happy to help unite. For their first date, we all went on a double date, taking Jack and Morgan to the Magic Castle to seal their deal. The magic must have worked because today, they are still a couple who recently celebrated one of their anniversaries at the Magic Castle, returning to that romantic, magical setting where Cupid shot some arrows their way. 💘 In first photo is Jack Gill performing a fire stunt, second photo Of Jack and Morgan together. Third photo a portrait of Morgan and Brittany Doubling as Morgan Brittany in the movie Wild Women of Chastity Gulch It was during my work with Morgan that my friend Greg Barnett noticed my resemblance to Natalie Wood. At dinner one time, Greg mentioned one of his future projects was coordinating the subsequent movie starring Natalie Wood in water scenes being shot in Florida after she finished Brainstorm. I’d been a long-committed water baby since childhood and had spent most summers in the pool swimming competitively on a team. It was while swimming in college that I met Jonathan. I had my scuba card, and on weekends, I spent much time in the ocean during the late 70’s and early 80’s, so I was qualified to do the swimming scenes for Natalie. I was excited because I'd seen Natalie Wood for the first time in the same movie as Morgan. I thought to myself, what an uncanny coincidence doubling both these ladies from that iconic film, which piqued my interest, and I curiously watched it later in my teens when often I was told I looked a lot like Natalie Wood. Arrangements were made for me to meet Natalie. Greg and the director were excited because I was an excellent facial double for her, which was more critical for underwater work where wigs and masks posed a difficult challenge. I met Natalie Wood in a wardrobe room at one of the studios. The seamstress looked at me and my physique and thought I'd be perfect and added her encouragement. Mostly, I talked to Natalie about my swimming abilities and what her part would require regarding stunts. She seemed to be comfortable with me, and before I left, she grabbed my hand and said something like, “Charlotte, I'm terrified of water, and I'm depending on you with complete trust.” She told me I would represent her well while expressing her fear of water was so great she didn't like washing her hair. So she would be doing no swimming in the film. I was struck by her terror and her powerful grip on my hand; she wouldn't let go while she talked. Natalie Wood I only met Natalie Wood for a brief interlude between her movies and my work. Our paths crossed just enough to change the course of my life. When I turned on the 5 o’clock news on December 1, 1981, I was in shock with many questions when learning she drowned!? how is that? I thought to myself. I had taught life-saving to lifeguards and understood the psychological makeup of someone fearing water. I can understand why she would be on a yacht, but it was beyond my understanding how she managed or why she would try to launch a dinghy by herself in the middle of the night. I think her “accident” was blamed on drunkenness. Case closed. But many people, including myself, believe possible foul play happened that night. But who would have killed her? Without a thorough investigation, we will never know, and her death, just like John Belushi’s, will continue to remain a mystery. Although we know John used drugs, we have no idea if he injected himself at night; no evidence of any regular heroin use had been found by lack of injection marks, which are regularly seen on heroin users shooting up all the time. Cathy Smith, his drug pusher who finally admitted injecting him, was put in jail for a few years, but no murder charges were filed against her. It was clear to investigators John was not a regular user. There lies the mystery. Natalie Wood and John Belushi died within six months of each other, and both announcements were devastating to the world. Professionally, what that meant for Jonathan and me is we would not be doubling either of these movie stars in future films or TV shows. A massive loss of our anticipated projects. Unexpected and unplanned. Had they lived, Jonathan and I today might be retiring from a lifetime career of stunt work and directing. At the same time as John and Natalie’s untimely demises, it was 1982, and we moved to Las Vegas to headline our first show, Rocky Sennes Wild World of Burlesque at the Holiday Casino, a showgirl review show popular from 60’s through the ’90s’s in Vegas. It was an ample opportunity for us and one we would have turned down if we’d committed ourselves to film projects with Wood and Belushi. From that first showroom in Vegas, our career exploded. While there, we met producer John Stewart, who owned and produced Legends in Concert, a show tributing stars with impressionist artists. Stewart saw us and wanted Jonathan to play Houdini and I Bess in his show. It was an opportunity any magician would have loved to be offered. We turned it down. Not because of the money, and we were flattered to be asked, and the money was excellent accompanying a long-term contract. We turned it down because, like Jonathan astutely said at the time, “I don’t want to make Houdini more famous; I want to make Jonathan Pendragon famous.” so in the future, other than an occasional stunt or two to keep up our health benefits, Away concluded our film and TV stunt careers. We put away our stunt masks and disguises, leaving those things behind as we emerged from our caterpillar casings as The Pendragons performing all over the world as our authentic selves exposing our real faces. The masqusquersde party ended as our masks were dropped. I feel a huge sigh of relief when I bow on stage, happy the show is over and absorbing the relaxing energy. The applause would always rise during our bows, and I felt validated for all the blood, sweat, and tears we put into our work. None hidden behind the disguise of a Hollywood actor. In real life, it's much easier to live transparently and to be yourself. It's difficult to put on different disguises, and drains you mentally if you try to be different people. Remember, everyone wants to see the real you. Be you and not somebody else. Being real requires courage and risk, but the rewards are great. I missed adding this photograph last week in my stub stack. Pictured here is myself next to William Holden, my friend Becky Myers, Jonathan and Bobby Porter man the stunt man playing the child on Jonathan‘s back crossing the river of lava and wind time ran out. Share Thanks for reading The Charlotte Pendragon Diaries by Charlotte Pendragon ! 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The Charlotte Pendragon Diaries

The Charlotte Pendragon Diaries by Charlotte Pendragon Some of My Favorite Substacks 1-31-24 “Don’t forget - no one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell.” Charles De Lint CHARLOTTE PENDRAGON JAN 31 Why is reading important? According to many studies, regular reading has been shown to increase one’s well-being and expand one’s vocabulary. In older individuals, it has been demonstrated to lessen the brain’s rate of decline and improve one’s emotional IQ by enhancing empathy. Reading has been my favorite hobby since I was a curious toddler trying to understand words. My mother encouraged our reading habits as I grew up, which I benefitted greatly my whole life. Touring as a performing artist gave me much free time to explore books from many different countries, giving me a more global perspective of my world. I have a deeper understanding of cultures and much more empathy for individuals. One of the aspects I embrace most about Substack Reads is the access to various writers and their subjects. Here are a few of some of those remarkable Reads I've discovered. On Friday I will continue with my stunt series part five. See you then! Nichola Anne Napora Artist Creator Writer (she/her) Storytelling. Poetry. Purveyor of Magic. • A Creative Adventure • Inner Alchemy • Unconventional Living • Innovation & Human Potential • Imagination Activations • Exploration The Embodied Explorer A Creative Adventure - Storytelling, Art & Poetry Through a Lens of Discovery By Nichola Anne Napora Gila Melamed A nomadic color guru, artist, and passionate traveler on an epic adventure. I share my stories of healing, challenge, and colorful adventure from my time on the road. Follow my blog at Gila’s Nomadic Life I share my stories of healing, challenges, and colorful adventures from my time on the road. By Gila Melamed Michael Newberry Artist and Author The Shrewd Artist by Michael Newberry Articles, Essays, and Excerpts on Art Silver Warrior Writer, author, graphic artist, old languages translator, retired economist, ex-music business hustler. Anti-evil whistleblower, truth teller for decades. Learn how evil works from top to bottom, and how we can fight wetiko together. Wetiko Freaks Wetiko freaks is not an insult, but a potential reality. By Silver Warrior David Ung Magician looking to share his interest and appreciation of the art every Thursday night (US)/Friday morning (AUS) The Art & Appreciation of Magic My thoughts on magic with the aim to level up magicians and build appreciation for this art. Publishing weekly on Thursday/Friday depending on your timezone. By David Ung Jacqueline Rendell I’m a curious being on the adventure of a lifetime. Musician/ Narrator/Truth-seeker Post Post Modern In an inverted world of crumbling constructs & flimsy narratives, we seek to build an island upon which to rest & reflect by asking one question: what is REAL? By Jacqueline Rendell Joshua T Calkins-Treworgy Born and raised in New York, now living in Minnesota, Joshua T Calkins-Treworgy is a small press genre fiction author, father of six, and avid reader. The Storyteller's Corner Discussions on the art of narrative and exclusive fiction from Joshua Calkins-Treworgy. By Joshua T Calkins-Treworgy Blessed Warrior Reina I am a Peaceful Intuitive, Healer, & Writer. I write Poetry, short & long stories, based in personal life experiences. My writing style is Raw & straight from my Heart & Soul. Reina’s Substack I am a Peaceful Intuitive, Healer, & Writer. I write Poetry, short stories as well as longer ones, which are based in my personal life experiences. My writing style is Raw & straight from my Heart & Soul. *Some of my writing will have a trigger warning.* By Blessed Warrior Reina Terra Brooke Writer exploring transformation and adventure. Becoming a Butterfly You'll get stories and tips to support your life journey that are practical, sometimes unexpected, and sprinkled with magic. By Terra Brooke Subscribed Zan Tafakari Not trying to be more clever, just trying to be less stupid. Sharing my learnings with you along the way. Insight Axis Feeding your desire for better knowledge. No bullshit, just personal development. By Zan Tafakari Andrew Beaton American Lit (Draft Project7) is a work in progress. Some of what I post here helps the drafting there. What I am is an imperfect, damaged, night school educated, Cold War survivor, doing better with American Lit Down river from Oceanport, East of Eatontown, a signal fire burned. We were there then. To us, this polluted river was the Carribean as Cold War raged on. By Andrew Beaton Carnicom Institute Carnicom Institute is a non-profit organization working solely for the benefit of humanity. Our goal is to provide the public with beneficial and responsible information through scientific, educational Carnicom Institute Substack Carnicom Institute is a non-profit organization working solely for the benefit of humanity. Our goal is to provide the public with beneficial and responsible information through scientific, educational, environmental, and health research. Dr. Mike Likey Dr. Michael’s Substack My personal Substack By Dr. Michael Likey Aerial Fitness Kristi Toguchi Thanks for reading The Charlotte Pendragon Diaries by Charlotte Pendragon ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribed Circus, Fitness, Performance, Tips and Tricks Aerial Fitness Aerial Fitness strives to create a community of trustworthy, giving, healthy, happy people by creating an encouraging environment where you can be yourself wherever you are in your life. Thanks for reading The Charlotte Pendragon Diaries by Charlotte Pendragon ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. ...

The World of Stunt Illusions Part 3 “I owe it all to little chocolate donuts” John Belushi CHARLOTTE PENDRAGON JAN 20

“I give so much pleasure to so many people. Why can I not get some pleasure for myself? It's all false pressure; you put the heat on yourself, you get it from the networks and record companies and movie studios. You put more pressure on yourself to make everything that much harder.” John Belushi Sometime in the springtime of 1979, I met John Belushi for the first time in the parking lot of the Hollywood Palladium, where the scenes from the now cult film Blues Brothers were being filmed. Belushi was like an overgrown teenager, wilfully embracing mayhem with a mischievous grin and meeting you with a big, giant, friendly hug. He couldn't be kinder, and I sensed he didn't and wouldn't unveil his genuine emotions, attempting to hide them behind a thin veneer. Within a moment of meeting him, I was covered by his warm, loving embrace, a big hug from a bear of a man enveloping all 105 pounds of me when we met. It was a warm welcome by someone who had never heard of me except my husband at the time, Jonathan Pendragon, John Belushi’s stunt double for several scenes in the movie. My first impression of John was one of a genuine, authentic person with a true heart. There was an energy about him unmatched and unaligned with his physical being. His constant kinetic energy was out of synchronization with his overweight body. But in this physical condition, John defied physics and actively participated in hobbies like martial arts and some gymnastics. When meeting me, John cartwheeled over to greet me, spinning around and going upside down. Afterward, he continued displaying other physically demanding feats, including karate moves. He and Jonathan instantly bonded because of their mutual interests and physical activities. What struck me most about John after meeting and observing him that day was a foreboding feeling he wasn't going to be with us much longer. It was an intuitive feeling combined with the understanding that someone appearing out of shape like John and exercising like an athlete was destined for a possible heart attack. I didn't think John had much time to live. My premonition was correct when, a few years later, in 1982, John was found dead in his Chateau Marmont hotel room from a speedball - a mixture of heroin and cocaine cocktail injected in him by his drug dealer friend Cathy Smith. It all made sense; John’s exaggerated kinetic energy was driven by the cocaine he was said to have consistently used but tried to hide from many of his friends and associates. His autopsy revealed there were enough drugs in his body to kill even a healthy man, according to the examining pathologist, and Belushi wasn’t healthy. The autopsy report listed 11 health abnormalities, including “pulmonary congestion with distended lungs,” a swollen brain, a swollen heart with “aorta atherosclerosis,” an enlarged liver, and obesity. John was only 33. It was heartbreaking news to Jonathan and myself to hear of his death. We were teetotalers, so it was difficult to wrap my head around the cocaine and heroin addiction surrounding us in the entertainment industry in the late 70’s and 80’s. Personally, this fatal event contributed to a significant change in our lives. John had been staying at the Château Marmont writing his next movie for Paramount Pictures, which stunts would be an essential part of the film. John considered Jonathan his stunt double and consulted him for stunt ideas for a movie after they united following Blues Brothers. Jonathan was a stunt coordinator on Continental Divide, where he choreographed and doubled John falling down a mountain. It was also where Jonathan met author Hunter S Thompson, and the three formed a triune friendship on the set. John disagreed with Paramount executives and felt disappointed when he didn't please them with his film proposals. But instead, they wanted him to develop their script ideas, which he accepted when they threw $12,000,000.00 his way. So he had mixed emotions about the deal - loving the money but disappointed his script was turned down. One of the biggest hurdles a performer faces is conquering disappointment. It's an assault on your ego and soul to be turned down, but 90% of the time, an entertainer hears the word “NO.” You get depressed and want to quit, and the rejection can make you sad and depressed. You must learn to control your heart, believe in yourself, and focus on the 10% “YESES.” John responded to Paramount’s rejection and offer by going on a cocaine and heroin binge by nightclub hopping in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills the night before his death. Belushi’s disappointment, rejection, and disbelief, combined with feelings of ecstasy, satisfaction, and appreciation, created a perfect emotional storm in his heart, only assuaged by a night of drug consumption. I guess he thought he'd feel better later the next day, but the sun fell on that dreadful time, leaving a void in the universe where this talented and gentle soul once resided. John’s untimely death sent shock waves in the world of entertainment. Many people's lives were profoundly affected, psychologically and emotionally, by financial responses extending to those who had never met John. Everything he was working on was canceled, and the dominos fell from the top echelon at Paramount to a cab driver named Billy Kopecky, whom he met at the Beverly Hills Cafe and went with John to his car to do a few lines of coke. He said Belushi mentioned that many friends he had once helped were now backstabbing him. “He seemed to me like someone who thought the only way he could be accepted by the rock & roll crowd was by doing drugs,” said Kopecky. When I think about how John got into drugs, I believe he just wanted to be received well and worked hard to impress people. He did with me, charming me every time I met him. John and Dan playing Elwood and Jake in The Blues Brothers. I’m this scene John is ready to do back handsprings down the church aisle The way his death deeply affected us was life-changing because, up to that point, we were at a crossroads in our professional life, where our magic career began to conflict with our stunt work. John‘s death was a way to force us to focus more on magic. Eerily serendipitous was Natalie Wood, who had died approximately three months earlier. I was asked to be her swimming double in her next movie following Brainstorm, which I'll discuss in my next Substack. Those two casualties heavily affected our decision to expand our magic career, which was exploding at the time with demands for our performances. The universe does that; when you can't find your compass to locate the correct direction, God will point the right way when our spiritual antennas are working. But you must trust in God and not drugs, or God can’t align your path. I'm unsure how Jonathan landed doubling John Belushi in several scenes of the Blues Brothers, including the ionic back handsprings down the church aisle. By that point in his career, he had made many connections and had worked on several big film projects. The fit of him as John Belushi was perfect, and they became friends. Through Gary McLarty, the stunt coordinator who made thousands of dollars off of the Blues Brothers movie, Jonathan learned much of that money went up noses when Gary commented on Jonathan’s attire, saying something like, “ I can tell you don’t do drugs, Jon, because you wear nice threads” The fact significant players were doing coke on the film including John perhaps was the reason for the poor numbers during filming prompting Lee Wasserman head of Universal Studios to investigate the situation. Although John’s not to be blamed, he did bear some responsibility for some of the failures pointed out by Wasserman. It was discovered on days when Belushi indulged in cocaine, production stalled, and time was wasted. Money was being burned, and Lee Wasserman tried to stop the fire. When it opened, though, Blues Brothers was successful. On June 20, 1980, it took in $4,858,152, ranking second for that week (after The Empire Strikes Back). The film, in total, grossed $57,229,890 domestically and $58,000,000 in foreign box office, totaling $115,229,890, ranking 10th at the box office for the year. So, in the end, everything pulled together, and the film was successful with a considerable cult following today. The most notable features in the Blues Brothers are the musicality, comedy, and amazing stunts. Gary was given a substantial budget for stunt work, which was used for dynamic scenes of gymnastics, demolishing a mall in Chicago, where Jonathan also performed stunts) and to create incredible automobile stunts unmatched in the industry during that time. Jonathan’s performance of his backhand springs down the church aisle, landing at the feet of James Brown, playing the pastor of the Triple Rock Baptist Church, caused Gary McLarty later to comment that Jonathan’s gymnastics upstaged his expensive, daring car stunts, making Jonathan’s feat one of the most memorable in the industry. Comparison to the spectacular chase scenes in the movie was quite a compliment from Mc Clarity. Reviewed by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, who wrote this about the car scenes, “The best is a three-vehicle demolition of an indoor shopping mall, a police car plunging into the side of a large truck, and the "Bluesmobile" leaping across a drawbridge open over water. Gary McLarty's stunt crew deserves a standing ovation”. To this day, everyone remembers the backhand springs. But they can’t always remember recalling the exact chase scenes. When I tell people Jonathan performed the backhand springs for John in Blues Brothers, they get excited because the scene is embedded in their memories. They immediately connect to that particular scene in the movie where Belushi, playing Jake, walks into the church with Elwood, played by Dan Aykroyd, during a church ceremony filled with holy roller-types dancing and singing. John‘s character, Jake, has an epiphany and sees the light, causing him to let loose and negotiate his way down the aisle, avoiding hitting the dancers and singers as he did back handsprings. It was a stellar performance and made perfect by Jonathan‘s depiction of the character Jake, where he dawned pillows under his clothes to give him the needed fat padding to match John‘s look. Jonathan always put his costume on away from John’s observing eyes so John wouldn’t see the wardrobe person stuffing Jonathan‘s costume with the pillows. John performed a round-off, a half cartwheel where you land on both your feet facing the front and then execute your backhand springs from that point. So, editors connected John‘s round-off with Jonathan’s handsprings seamlessly. Likewise when, after Jonathan’s handsprings, editors integrated the last handspring with John’s comedic dancing. It is an electrifying scene perfectly timed between singers, dancers, and actors. It was on the set at Universal Studios, where Jonathan and John became friends. Jonathan was hanging out one day in John’s dressing room when he was tired, so John generously offered him his dressing room bungalow for an afternoon nap. Although Jonathan had his dressing room, he didn’t have a nice bed, so Jonathan took him up on his kind offer and John left to return to the set. As Jonathan dozed into the dream realm, he heard a knock on the door and opened it to find Governor Jerry Brown (California Governor at the time) looking for Linda Ronstadt. He spoke to Jonathan for a moment, assuming he was John, and was shocked to see Jonathan wasn't John. I think the surreal moment freaked both Jonathan and the Governor out. It's hard to say for sure if Jonathan took his nap. Still, the encounter with Governor Brown and his bodyguards was priceless, especially the surprise on their faces when Jonathan wittily informed them he was John’s double. I believe they did a double take and then left the dressing room. It's unclear why Brown was searching for Linda Ronstadt in John’s dressing room, who he was dating at the time. John was very social, wanting many companions and friendships, so naturally, he'd know Ronstadt. Those are Jonathan’s memories told me, so I may not be exact about the details. That day at the Hollywood Palladium, a scene with John and Dan Akroyd performing music with the other Blues Brothers band members was riveting listening and watching them perform Everybody Needs Somebody to Love Scene where Jonathan doubled John performing a few gymnastics, including a cartwheel. Although John could perform one, Jonathan did it because it gave John a rest. Today, when I watch the video of the scene of John and Dan singing, dancing, and playing music, I'm mesmerized by their motion and connection to rhythm. They exert a significant amount of energy, and I begin to understand part of how and why John was attracted to heroin and cocaine. The effects of coke usually make the user feel vibrant and zestful with a beautiful euphoric feeling; it gives you confidence and energy, making you more mentally alert and hyper-aware of your senses. The highs from cocaine are fast-acting and intense, so John was drawn to this drug and used it frequently to maintain his feelings because the lows after cocaine use include anxiety, paranoia, and feelings of low self-esteem. Hence, users increase their usage of the drug to attempt to bypass those negative feelings. As an actor or performer, it's tempting to value its worth because it promotes more straightforward stage presentations. Who doesn't want the exhilarating feeling of commanding the audience? But the good feelings you receive from coke are fake and don't endure time. Without a fix, you feel let down and sick. That's how John chose to live his life by continuously using cocaine and heroin in a perpetual cycle to avoid the horrors of coming down off the drugs. It's hard to analyze all that. The end of filming was celebrated with a huge cast party on one of the large sound stages. It's the best party I've ever been, a party to remember. The concentration of so much talent, eating, playing music, singing, and dancing to the live music of The Blues Brothers, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, and Johnny Lee Hooker was out of this world and unique. I had idolized Twiggy since I was a pre-teen when she came to America during the British cultural invasions led by The Beatles in the early 60’s. There she was at the party, and I met her, we had a drink together and danced. Surreal isn't a surreal enough word to describe the magical experience. I often wonder about the future if John had lived. At what point would he have sought help for his addiction? How would his next film turn out? Would we not have developed our magic show? Where would we be now? The juxtaposition of all those events makes me wonder so much about what stories the other future would have told. Our minds do that. We wonder about alternative future narratives. When I married Jonathan, my mind would wander back in my memories, recollecting my teen connection with Randy and wondering where that relationship may have gone. Then, here I am with Randy. God works in mysterious ways to capture our attention. May John Belushi and Natalie Wood rest peacefully among the angels watching us. With so much information, I'm writing Part 4 of this series. I started out planning only two, but my stories grew, Lol. Until next week, stay magical!

I just told my Nephew about the Chocolate Wafers for Birds.

 

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