Movies Way Back When: No Permit, No Problem, Oops!

By Betsy J. Green

Way back when, movie crews did not need permits to film out in the open, and this sometimes caused a problem here. “An unsophisticated milkman, out in Santa Barbara, precipitated a whole wagonload of blue-coats upon the sleepy troupe which was working in Margarita Fisher’s forthcoming American picture “Trixie from Broadway” [see photo above].

The local paper reported, “They were making some night scenes out in the open, behind the stages at the ‘Flying A’ studios, and at 5 a.m., a new milkman passed on an adjacent street. He promptly detected burglars and notified the police. Ten minutes later, Santa Barbara’s finest swooped down on the unsuspecting director and his players.” Oops!


Betsy’s Way Back When book — 1919 — is now available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com. This is the sixth book in her series of the history of Santa Barbara, one year at a time. Learn more at betsyjgreen.com​.

bjgreen

Written by bjgreen

Betsy J. Green is a Santa Barbara historian and author. Her books are available in local bookstores, and at Amazon.com. (Shop local if you can.) Learn more at betsyjgreen.com.

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