The Pictures:
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Michele and I arrived at the airport at EXACTLY the same time! She was just stepping off he shuttle bus as my husband was dropping me off at the terminal. We laughed at how we had both set multiple alarm clocks and still woke up on our own. We had a wonderful flight at 6:15 a.m.on Southwest Air to Burbank. Janette and her husband Bruce picked us up outside the terminal in their rental green Windstar van. Knowing it MUST be them (no other green vans at the curb and that’s what I heard they were driving) I introduced myself to the van’s driver, who denied being Bruce. What a prankster! I apologized and tried to explain why I thought he was the person I was looking for when he laughed and told me he was kidding. I knew immediately this guy was ok if he was comfortable enough to kid with us at first go. Bruce and Janette were both starving and we all went to breakfast at a local restaurant called Paty’s, where we got to know more about each other. They were both relieved (understandably) that we weren’t a couple of airheads who were going to embarrass them at the studio. We also discussed our objectives and things we wanted to do at the studio. Michele and I had talked on the plane and both commented if there was ONE person we wanted to meet, it was Frances Reid (Alice), being she’s the matriarch of the show and someone we adored. Both Bruce and Janette were so sweet and concerned that our trip may be a disappointment. They had heard that security had tightened up at the studio and they weren’t sure what or how much we’d be able to see. We all agreed that we would simply be introduced as their friends. That was perfectly fine with me as I was not there to get scoops, but to enjoy the special rare treat of a visit on the set.
Bruce pulled into the side of the studio where Salem Place was. Much to my surprise it was also the entrance to the Guest Relations Office (gift shop) for the studio. Could we give up an opportunity to have a picture taken at Salem Place? I think not! Like giddy teenagers we posed in front of and peered inside the set. Ballistics, Java Café, etc.. I was surprised how small the location actually was.
We went into the Guest Relations office and looked at the NBC items for sale. I got a DOOL mug, naturally and Bruce got a mug for a friend of theirs. Being my purse was locked in their van, Bruce bought the mug for me and used his NBC discount card (what a guy!). He mentioned to the clerk that we were headed for the DOOL set and she offered to let us go through the door behind her counter. She didn’t need to ask twice! The four of us walked into the DOOL warehouse for all their sets and props. We looked around at chandeliers, furniture, props, etc., all marked with names like Jonesy’s townhouse, Kiriakis living room, etc. Michele and I were in awe, almost pinching ourselves that this was all REAL! Bruce excused himself to look for Fran Bellini, one of the Stage Managers for the show and their friend.
Although he told us to wait for him there, Janette grabbed us and told us to follow her. Always paranoid (007 I’ll never be, haha), I was worried we’d get grabbed by the security people, but Janette had been there enough times to know otherwise. We wandered around looking at the props until we saw Bruce and Fran walking towards us and we were introduced to her. She was very happy to see Bruce and Janette and very gracious to Michele and I. She invited us to look around the studio we were in (it wasn’t going to be used until later in the day) and take pictures. She didn’t have to ask twice!!! While they talked, Michele and I posed and looked like Japanese tourists in the Kiriakis living room, hallway and front door , Commander Abe Carver’s office, and the "Empress" Express.
We rejoined Fran, Bruce and Janette. Fran asked if there was anyone in particular we were hoping to meet and Janette told her Frances Reid (Alice Horton). Fran told us that Frances was taping at the moment, but she would make sure to introduce us before she left for the day. Being Janette’s and my purse were in the car and it wasn’t parked on the lot, the four of us left to relocate it before doing anything else. Fran loaned Bruce her card so that we could get through the turnstile (like at the fair) and we walked out to where Bruce had parked, just down the street from Salem Place. On the way we saw the driveway where they tape a lot of outdoor scenes like where Mike and Carrie jogged and the tall stairs and bench used often. I got a picture of Michele on the stairs. We pulled into the lot and it took a while for Security (Pinkerton) to clear us, but they finally did. Bruce said it never fails, so he wasn’t disappointed, haha. Security gave us an assigned parking spot (18B) which we found to be right outside the Days door and where the stars parked. We got a paper with the assigned parking spots for the day and Patrika (Nancy) was parked right next to us and Roark, Christie, Sami, etc., right behind us. WOW! Krista Allen (Billie) parked in the same spot the next working day.
We returned to the corridor between the two studios and found Fran sitting at her podium/desk. She had a black and white monitor there to see what was going on inside the studio. She called the actors out when they were needed. Think of the corridor as a 4-way street. If you go left or right, you’re in a Day’s Studio where all the sets are for the scenes. Ahead and behind are rooms used as dressing rooms, wardrobe, hairdressers, etc. The dressing rooms located closest to the studios belong to Louise Sorel, Suzanne Rogers, Deidre Hall and Frances Reid. We were able to watch a scene being taped with Roark (Mike) and Frances (Alice) in the hospital. There’s a good description of the studio in the Day’s Family Album on Page 181 if you have it.
FRANCES REID(Alice Horton)Frances came out and Fran introduced us, saying we were looking forward to meeting her. Frances was every bit the lady I expected. She asked my name and after introducing myself, I told her how I had watched the show since it came on the air. I told her that many a time I had asked myself how Alice would handle a situation I was facing and how much I loved her character. She was very taken with that and posed with me for a couple of pictures. Before Frances came out, Roark had appeared too and not knowing if we could catch him again, Michele had him signing some matts she had brought with her for herself and friends. There were to go with pictures she had from the DOOL Fan Club Luncheon earlier this year.
ROARK CRITCHLOW(Dr. Mike Horton)After Frances left, with the help of an assistant, I joined Michele and Roark. We congratulated him on the news of his and Maria’s new baby due later this year. I asked Roark to sign some matts I brought as well. When I told him one of the matts was for a man, he thanked me for telling him that (being he signed them LOVE, haha) and we mentioned the receiver loves Christie. He asked if we wanted HER autograph too and I immediately said yes. Roark took the matt and ran downstairs to her dressing room for the signature. Laney will never be the same, haha. Michele and I took turns posing with Roark for pictures. We both had a camera, as did Janette and agreed to send each other copies of all the pictures after they were developed.
Austin Peck walked out of the set and we asked for a picture, but he was in a hurry and said on his way back. I figured nature called. It was mentioned not to stop any actors on the way to the set, only on their way out, so as he was returning to the set, we didn’t even ask him, but he turned and apologized and was getting focused on his next scene and would get us later. We said ok, no problem
The crew went on 5 minute break (they do that a lot, union rule?), Bruce took us into the mixing room for the show. He introduced us to the gentlemen there and after getting their ok, took us and introduced us to the neighboring room, the Music Room. In there we met Stephen Reinhardt, the music director, and Jim Thomas. They graciously let us sit in there with them for about 45 minutes and we chatted with them about the show, the music and watched their monitors of what was going on inside the studio. We watched as they added the music to the scenes we take for granted on the show. When we asked, Steve said he had complete control over what music is used and only the producer could say otherwise. He explained how pre-released music must be approved by the recording artist/firm before they can use it. Sometimes they aren’t successful. They had suggested using the RISKY BUSINESS song and have Lucas do a Tom Cruise impression, but were turned down. Would have been a great scene too, IMHO! It was interesting to hear different comments made by the guys about the different actors/actresses. One claimed it was good that Austin was born beautiful, because… They both commented on how quiet the Will actors are compared to so many other of the kids on the show. (The mom loads them up with donuts before driving them to the studio, so that they are crashing when they arrive). They said the "Abby" twins were very energetic and ran around the studio playing.
On the monitors there, we watched Austin and Sami over Will’s bedside being he was in a coma from the car accident with Lucas. Lucas was in another room in ICU. The twins that play Will are as quiet off-screen as they are on-screen. The first twin they brought out didn’t feel like talking that day and they brought out the other twin, Taylor, who would say Mommy, Daddy, as called for in the script. I was surprised how much time Alison Sweeney and Austin Peck spend with the twins. They explained to us that the boys feel very comfortable with them as a result. (It’s no surprise why the kids go to Austin so easily after watching this too). We watched a scene where Austin prays over Will’s ICU bed for his recovery with a tearful Sami next to him. On cue, Roman (Josh Taylor) was suppose to walk in, but didn’t. We laughed as we heard someone say to throw a brick at Josh. (Someone off camera said he missed his cue because he doesn’t know what a prayer sounds like.) They re-shot that scene a few times until it was done right. Roman walks in and finishes the prayer and little Will opens his eyes and comes out of his coma. During a break someone walked into the music room (who, we don’t know) and we thanked the two men for taking the time to talk with us and left.
In the hallway Bruce saw Don DeSimone, (Fran’s husband and the lighting director), and excused himself to talk with him for a few minutes while we waited. We took advantage of the time and used the ladies room (dinky little thing). A table with orange juice was there and Michele and Janette tried it and said it was delicious. We went back to the hallway and waited for Bruce. Someone walked by and kidded Bruce about the women with him and we learned it was Phil Sogard, the Director. I kept hearing this echoing SOGARD SOGARD in my head (those who get the feed will understand that as they do that when reading his name off the beginning clipboard).
Next Bruce took us to the Sound Effects Room where we met Randy Padgett. He showed us all his sound effects equipment and how he has the most frequently used sound effects programmed to use on the keyboard in front of him. He has the 2 monitors in front of him showing what they’re doing in the studio to watch to put the effects in and communicates with the other crew members with the microphone you see snaking in the picture. He played the doorbells, phone ring, background noise for hospitals, restaurants, etc. Very interesting. Unfortunately the scene they were doing at the time was still Will in his hospital bed, so all he could do was the oxygen mask noise (which was soon taken off Will), the heart rate monitor and the background noise in the hospital corridor. I think he was disappointed not to show us more of the sounds in action. He explained that the voice overs (when people talk to themselves, which as we all know they do a LOT of in Salem) are done separately, preferably in the sound booth in the music room as there is less background echo noise, or on stage in between takes. Although we didn’t see one done there, we did on the set for Sunset Beach set. Randy told us he and Tom Kafka, the other sound effects technician, swap shows every six months and this was his last day on Days of Our Lives as he was going over to the Tonight Show for the next six months and Tom Kafka will be at Days.
When another 5 minute break was called, Bruce wanted to get over to the Tonight Show set. The technician told him to just cut through the set they were taping on being they were on five (break), so we followed Bruce and Randy onto the set they had just been taping on! We walked into the hospital ICU room and Bruce stopped to talk with a few other crewmembers that were sitting around talking. Michele and I were taking in as much as our eyes would take in. Across the aisle was the set for Will’s bedroom in the Kiriakis estate. and the Titan Photo Lab.
The Audio Engineers told us to feel free to take pictures being they’re on break, but we only had a few minutes. That’s all it took for Michele and I to whip out our cameras and become Japanese tourists again. We started and began our photo session in Will’s ICU room and Josh Taylor walked in and asked if we wanted him in the picture. Duh, did he need to ask again. Nope! He posed with Janette and Bruce first, then with the 3 of us gals. I got a great picture from that one (thanks Bruce!) on my camera. We had to scurry off as they were starting to get ready to work again. We ran into Josh several times after that and he was very nice. We joked with him about still being there.
We followed Bruce down different corridors and into another studio where the Tonight Show is taped. Bruce found a cameraman friend named Hugo who offered us sodas they have in a refrigerator backstage for the crew and guests. We accepted and talked with Hugo. Bruce mentioned we wanted to see the show and Janette told them she didn’t want to stand in line outside for 2 hours (like most people have to do). Hugo told us he would see what he could do. Jay was rehearsing with Brandi, the guest singer that night. The studio was freezing, but Michele told us she learned on the Official NBC Studio Tour that they keep it cold all day and turn off the ac during the taping because it’s so loud. Hugo offered to treat us to lunch on the show, but we thanked him and told him to eat his burger (which was getting colder and colder) and that we had to move on.
Also backstage was Al Magnone who does little stints on the show. He took us into the control room for the show where Bruce’s old friend Mike Stramisky, the Technical Director was. Bruce asked if we could take pictures and Al turned on the lights for us to get a better shot. I asked Al if I could get HIS picture too and he posed, then handed me a preautographed handout of himself from the show
We walked outside and saw Jay Lenos’ car outside and got a few pictures enroute to the commissary for lunch.
We walked outside and Bruce asked Janette if he could go catch up with some of his friends while we ate at the commissary. Michele and I were excited to actually eat in the famous NBC Commissary we’ve heard talk about and the 3 of us gals did so. It’s cafeteria style and we all got a sandwich. I ordered a BLT and I couldn’t believe how much bacon they put on it! Prices were very reasonable there too. Janette got a table near the door. We sat there getting to know each other better and watched as different stars walked through. Although we didn’t get to meet or get Bryan (Bryan & Kevin were together, I didn’t recognize Kevin because Michele used their real names, not their characters’ names ;-)) Dattilo’s (Lucas’) picture, he walked in and got his lunch while still in his robe and slippers from the scene he was taping. What a ham, haha. Kevin, Austin, Roark and a few others came in to get their lunch as well. Some of the Sunset Beach crew walked in and even though we don’t watch that show, recognized a couple of them. Roark recognized us and said hi when he passed our table. The suggestion came up to ask him to join us, but nerves failed. Bruce came by with Hugo and said Hugo would know in 10 minutes (at 1:30) if he was needed to work that night. He and Hugo left and the 3 of us gals eventually cleared our table and found a ladies room to freshen up.
We ran into Bruce at the Sunset Beach studio. Security is a lot lighter there. Bruce found a few people he knew while he worked there and we saw all their sets before they started taping. One of the crew and Bruce reminisced about their being close to the bomb at the Atlanta Olympics while they were there working. Scary! We saw various rooms and cars they used for their sets. The scene they taped was on a Java internet café set. We sat right behind the camera as they rehearsed. Bruce rejoined us and took us back into the mixing room. We watched the same scene we watched being rehearsed, taped. They did a voice over where one of the characters read some lines that the characters in the scene were suppose to hear on a cassette player. (I want one of those cassette players like they have as the sound quality was excellent, haha.)
Bruce took us into the mixing room for the Saved By the Bell sitcom. Neither of us watched the show, but it was interesting nevertheless to meet the technical people.
Realizing we were hungry for more Days of Our Lives stuff and only had so much time being we had to be at the Tonight Show by 4, Bruce took us back to the infamous corridor between the studios and dressing rooms.
Back at the DOOL studio, we stood in the hallway for about an hour, kind of in limbo, but it gave us the opportunity to meet and get pictures of the actors/actresses. Christie Clark walked by several times before I finally asked her if we could get a picture of her. She appeared shy to me, as she turned around and said yes right away. A picture was taken with Christie between Michele and I. She is such a teeny little thing, especially next to me (sigh). The temptation to say something about her hair was in my mind, but never got to my lips, haha.
JAMES REYNOLDS(Commander Abe Carver)James Reynolds (Abe) walked by a couple of times, but when we thought it was a good time, asked for a picture with him. What a gentleman he was. He put an arm around both Michele and I for the picture. I congratulated him on his new office (wink) and he said he was happy about it too.
What Abe doesn’t know, hehe, is when the three of us were waiting for Bruce to return, we went back to the studio with his office in it. I had brought a small mallard duck statue (about 2" wide) with me from a birthday cake decoration and put it on one of the books in his bookcase behind his desk. We’ll see if they notice it or not and if we see it on the show.
One of the hair stylists was very friendly and talkative. Janette asked him about Lauren’s (Kate’s) hair style and he told us he didn’t do the original cut, but keeps it styled that way and she has great hair. He told her how he does it. We saw him shortly thereafter fluffing Lisa Linde’s (Ali’s) hair in the hallway next to us by giving it a vigorous hand massage. They were having fun while he was doing it. She was finished for the day as she was in her street clothes. Again, the temptation was there to say something about Christie’s hair, but I bit my tongue, haha. Some of the male crew commented how they like the men’s hair styles done.
AUSTIN PECK (Austin Reed)Austin Peck walked past and asked if we still wanted that picture. We said YES and Michele and I again planted ourselves under an arm (it was a rough job, but SOMEONE had to do it, haha). I think any height I was to get in life went sideways as I felt like a midget next to most everyone there and I’m 5 ft. 5". Lisa Linde (Ali) was still hanging around the hall and offered to take the picture for us. What a sweetheart!! She took the picture on both Michele’s and my camera and I asked if I could get her picture too. She posed serious in one and then did a hopping happy jump afterward and I told her to do that again, which she did and I got it on Michele’s camera.
While standing there we couldn’t help but notice all the cast outfits hanging on the wardrobe racks right next to us. There hung Swamp Girl’s dirty jeans (and they were filthy, let me tell ya) and must have been a size 3. We saw the tshirt with fake blood on it (where Franco was shot?), a uniform and many beautiful gowns that were from the Empress Express scenes. The wardrobe department sat right in the room where we were standing.
KEVIN SPIRTAS & PATRICKA DARBO Dr. Craig and Nancy WesleyNext Kevin Spirtas and Patricka Darbo walked passed on their way to the dressing room. He was in his Dr.’s jacket and she in her candystriper outfit. I asked her for a picture and she asked if we wanted Kevin in it too. What a silly question, haha. When I told her yes, please, she ran down the stairs after Kevin and brought him back up. They both are a kick in the pants and we had a group pose. I told her Nancy was just mean, mean, mean and I was glad DOOL got a REAL person for the part. Being heavy set myself, I think she knew what I meant. She was really nice and you could see they have a good relationship off screen.
Renee Jones (Lexie Carver) was wearing a teeny little purple dress (for the wedding) and was in a hurry every time we saw her, so we didn’t stop her, just said hi and told her we thought she was gorgeous as she walked by. Lauren Koslow (Kate) was also walking around the halls going to makeup and hairdressing as she had a scene coming up. She had on a brown and beige outfit that reminded us of taffy. All of these women are so petite, but they say the camera adds 10 pounds.
On the cork board above us was a bunch of cast calls and parking assignments for the next day’s show. We drooled as we saw all the other cast members who would be there the next taping day and that we missed. We all were disappointed that Drake wasn’t taping that day. We learned he had hurt his leg in a skiing accident and had a little limp. He was scheduled to work the next work day though.
Bruce rejoined us and told us we needed to run to the Tonight Show. He said we could wait in the GREEN ROOM to go on the show. On the way there he had us pop into the LA NBC news mixing room where we watched Kelly Lang do her promos for the upcoming news show and the first few minutes of the show. What a treat! We all were amazed at how complicated all the equipment was and so many buttons to remember. Bruce explained all the cables and how they worked. I was really intrigued about the technical side of the show.
We walked quickly to the green room passing Ray Liotta’s dressing room where he was standing and getting ready for the show. In the green room, where the family and friends of the guests and show crew wait to get seated, we were able to help ourselves to a gourmet buffet with sandwiches, chocolate covered strawberries, sodas, and other goodies. We no sooner finished those when a Tonight Show Page came in and asked for the name of our party. He came back later and escorted us to our taped off seats in the front row of the balcony. We could see everything perfectly from there and the guest chair looked right out at us. Jay Leno himself does the warm up. He came out in jeans and casual shirt and explained how the show is taped and who was on, etc. He asked for questions and someone asked for a picture with him. Being no cameras are allowed to be used in the studio, he called the gal on stage and someone from the show took a poloroid picture and gave it to her. A few other people did the same thing., then Jay excused himself to go to get dressed for the show. His warm up man explained they were going on hiatus for the next week and had some freebies to give out. These included plastic travel mugs, frisbees and tshirts for the show. People were like animals (me included) vying for the freebies. One girl went on stage and did very seductive dancing for it and did the same for the Kevin in the band section. All she got was a t-shirt, but she was happy with that.
The show started and during the short commercial breaks, the pages took their places by the chain to the stairs going to the stage. Apparently they’re real leery of people trying to get on the stage or after Jay. After the show finished and Jay thanked everyone for coming, the pages started filing the audience out the back door. We were surprised when our Page asked us to follow him and Hugo was there also. We were taken up on the stage and got to meet Jay Leno and get our pictures with him. Only about 10 people in the audience got that honor. Hugo had asked Jay’s publicist if we could have that done and a lady with the camera took the pictures. She clicked a picture for everyone in the group and said it will be sent out by the show. Bruce filled out the card and the pictures will be sent to him and then they’ll send them to us.
I offered to be Jay’s guest host during their week off, haha.
Bruce had arranged to meet a friend at a restaurant across the street and Janette drove Michele and I back to the airport. We got there an hour ahead of our flight (7 pm for 8 pm flight) and we went in to get our boarding pass. We found out the flight was delayed due to technical difficulties, and wouldn’t leave til 9:15. We got boarding passes 5 and 6 and nested in a couple of chairs to wait the 2 hours. We took turns going to the Taco Bell booth at the airport for dinner and read the scripts we were given for upcoming shows. Our plane arrived and we took off at 9:15 and landed about 10:30 p.m. Michele grabbed the shuttle to the parking lot and Ray (my husband) picked me up. We got home in time to tape the Tonight Show we saw taped. I was disappointed in not seeing myself there, but hey, I KNOW we were there and know what VIP treatment we got there too. I finally got to bed at 1:15 a.m. It had been a LONG day, 21 hours, but one I’ll never forget.
For those of you who can’t share the same experience, hopefully this recollection gives you some of the thrills that we got. Some people have asked me if seeing the sets may have ruined some of the magic of the show. Although I know how the sets are arranged, I have to say my visit made the show even more enjoyable. I now listen for the music and picture Steve and Jim putting it in. When I hear a sound, I know where it REALLY came from. I can picture the actors leaving their sets in their outfits and running down to their dressing rooms on those 5 minute breaks. Yes, it’s still magic to me, and seeing the teamwork displayed by the cast and crew make the show even more special than before. To them it may be just a job to pay the bills, but to this Days fan, it was a rare and special treat.
Linda and Michele