One of My Dad's Movie Star Pals
My father, Murl Mitchell, was the head plumber at Paramount Studios while my sis and I were growing up. He didn't have much respect for most of the movie stars of the day because of their behavior and lifestyles.
That didn't keep him from loving the movies as entertainment though, and as a family, we went to the local theater nearly every Friday night, no matter the movie. We stayed for both of the double features, and there was always a comic, the news (scary because it was during the war), and Keno during the intermission.
One of dad's favorites, and a friend was the Indian star, Rodd (we spelled his name Rod) Redwing. Besides being an actor, he was a stuntman, and expert in firearms and trick shooting. He acted in over 300 feature films and many television shows. Often, the gun and shooting special effects seen in Westerns were actually done by Redwing rather than the star. Among those he taught the art of fast draw were Charlton Heston, Jerry Lewis,, Alan Ladd, Ronald Reagan, and Fred McMurray. He also could throw a knife faster than a man could draw a gun. He was also an expert with a whip and a tomahawk.
Rod was often a visitor to our home when we were kids. He told lots of stories, one being that he didn't know how to swim. If he needed to cross a river, he'd just go underwater, hold his breath and walk on the bottom until he reached the other side.
According to some, though Redwing is reported to have been a Full-blooded Chikaswa Indian born in New York City, he really was born in India.
All I can say is he certainly looked like and spoke like a Native American, and everyone thought he was.
Later, when I was married to my SeaBee husband who was overseas at the time, and we lived near the Port Hueneme Seabee base, Rod Redwing was a special guest for some special occasion at the base (possibly the Seabee birthday). He invited me and the kids (we had three at the time) to come share the day with him. Though I don't remember much about it, I know at his request we sat up on the stage with him. I'm sure everyone wondered who the heck we were, and if anyone asked. Redwing merely said we were his friends.
He died in 1971.
I'm glad I got to meet Rod Redwing.
Marilyn
That didn't keep him from loving the movies as entertainment though, and as a family, we went to the local theater nearly every Friday night, no matter the movie. We stayed for both of the double features, and there was always a comic, the news (scary because it was during the war), and Keno during the intermission.
One of dad's favorites, and a friend was the Indian star, Rodd (we spelled his name Rod) Redwing. Besides being an actor, he was a stuntman, and expert in firearms and trick shooting. He acted in over 300 feature films and many television shows. Often, the gun and shooting special effects seen in Westerns were actually done by Redwing rather than the star. Among those he taught the art of fast draw were Charlton Heston, Jerry Lewis,, Alan Ladd, Ronald Reagan, and Fred McMurray. He also could throw a knife faster than a man could draw a gun. He was also an expert with a whip and a tomahawk.
Rod was often a visitor to our home when we were kids. He told lots of stories, one being that he didn't know how to swim. If he needed to cross a river, he'd just go underwater, hold his breath and walk on the bottom until he reached the other side.
According to some, though Redwing is reported to have been a Full-blooded Chikaswa Indian born in New York City, he really was born in India.
All I can say is he certainly looked like and spoke like a Native American, and everyone thought he was.
Later, when I was married to my SeaBee husband who was overseas at the time, and we lived near the Port Hueneme Seabee base, Rod Redwing was a special guest for some special occasion at the base (possibly the Seabee birthday). He invited me and the kids (we had three at the time) to come share the day with him. Though I don't remember much about it, I know at his request we sat up on the stage with him. I'm sure everyone wondered who the heck we were, and if anyone asked. Redwing merely said we were his friends.
He died in 1971.
I'm glad I got to meet Rod Redwing.
Marilyn
Comments
Later in life I became quite a movie buff. I collected over 1500 movies that I taped from the TV. I sold all of them at a yard sale. I'm still a big fan of Turner Classic movies which plays a lot of the older movies and Encores Western channel. Neither have commercials.
The movies of today don't interest me, although I have watched a few. I love the Bruce Willis movies where he plays John McClain, the "Die Hard" series. I guess to the youngins' today they are considered old movies.
I truly enjoyed your story and Mr. Redwing sounded like quite a guy.
Mike B
I didn't realize it at the time, but a lot of Indians, especially those having a lead role, were portrayed by white actors. One that comes to mind was Jeff Chandler in "Broken Arrow." And a few years ago, Johnny Depp played Tonto. Probably a couple who everyone is familiar with is Iron Eyes Cody, a child of Italian immigrants, and Michael Ansara who was American-Syrian.
Were you living in Ventura County during the '60s? Do you know about the old movie lot in Santa Susana (Simi Valley) called "Corriganville"? Interesting history. I went there in 1964. Here is a link...FYI.
https://www.conejovalleyguide.com/welcome/the-corriganville-movie-ranch-site-in-simi-valley-is-a-ventura-county-historical-landmark
Ron C.
John