There’s only been a few times in our 70-odd episodes that we’ve had the opportunity to watch a movie WITH one of its stars right beside us… (Peggy Stewart watching Dead Man’s Gold with us leaps to mind.) With this episode, we get to “strike gold” again. We’ll be watching “The Magic Sword” (a rare color movie for us) with its star who grew up in our valley, Gary Lockwood. You know Gary from 2001: A Space Odyssey, and trekkers will know him as the first officer with god-like powers in the pilot for Star Trek. However, you may not have seen him in this very early — but starring — role. Directed by B-Movie king Bert I. Gordon, The Magic Sword also stars Basil Rathbone. And watch for an appearance by Maila Nurmi playing The Hag. You may her know better by her 50’s horror hostess persona on TV: Vampira.

ABOUT E.J. STEPHENS

E.J. Stephens spends his days as an archivist/historian for a movie studio and his nights as a caped vigilante.

When not fighting evil-doers with derring-do and aplomb, E.J. writes Hollywood history books (which nobody reads), leads tours (which nobody goes on), and co-hosts “SCV in the Movies,” (which nobody watches). E.J. is also on the board of directors of the Friends of Hart Park (but he never attends the meetings).

He and Kimi, his wife, best friend and co-conspirator, live in Newhall.

ABOUT BILL WEST

Bill West is a movie nut who serves on the board of Friends of Hart Park, gives tours of the Hart Mansion and maintains the Friends’ website and newsletter.

In his “spare time,” Bill writes software for Walt Disney Imagineering, where he has contributed to Star Tours, Toy Story Midway Mania, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and other Disney attractions worldwide. Previously, he wrote software at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he met his wife, realtor and model Liliana West.

Bill lives in Santa Clarita with Liliana, their son Josh, and their pets which include Hannah the Dog, Luigi the Canary, Butterscotch the Guinea Pig, and a cat whose name he can’t pronounce but is Polish for “Kitty.”