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| Right below this door was the place that the studio audience, with ticket in hand, waited (many times for hours) for the doors to open and the live audience to be admitted. The tickets plainly stated that "ticket distribution is in excess of studio capacity." Translation: Having a ticket did not guarantee you to be admitted to the audience. |
ALICE taped before a studio audience on Tuesday nights at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank at 4210 West Olive Avenue. During weeks the sitcom was in production, the cast would show up a day or two after the previous Tuesday's taping and begin working on another episode. By Tuesday night, everyone was (or should be) ready for taping to happen.
I managed to see THREE episodes of ALICE taped in 1981, 1982 and 1983. The first year, I knew absolutely nothing about how it all worked, but had received an autographed photo from Linda Lavin inviting me to see the show taped. I took her up on that invitation for sure, though it wasn't so personal that I believed I was one of only a few people who had received such an invitation. After all, CBS-TV gave away thousands of tickets of ALICE and many other shows each year, and beyond that, anyone connected with the show invited people to the tapings.
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| I received this autograph and brief letter from Linda Lavin in 1980. The idea to see the show taped popped into my head with this "invitation". By 1981, I managed to make it there and even met Linda on my first trip there! |
I had called CBS and asked where/how to get tickets to ALICE. They
told me that the tickets had to be picked up at CBS (7800 Beverly Blvd.
in Los Angeles), but that the show itself taped at Warner Brothers
Studios in Burbank. I was 16 at the time, and my parents, who did the
driving, knew practically nothing about driving in Los Angeles. We
did get tickets!! Here is a scan of a couple of the episodes I saw taped in 1982 and 1983. It never occurred to me in 1981 to ask for an extra ticket ... which was stupid! They were FREE!
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| ALICE tickets! Note the disclaimer about arriving early! Trust me, I did! |
Somehow, we managed to make it to CBS on May 18, 1981, then drove over to Burbank to see the show taped on Tuesday, May 19th, 1981.
Though I'm sure I've forgotten a lot of details, I do remember that we stayed in a somewhat run down motel within walking distance of Warner Brothers. Sometime around 1 p.m., I walked over to WB's stage 3 and began hanging out at the door. I was the very first person in line! My family joined me a few hours later, and by that time, there were a number of other people waiting.
I recall on the first episode that I saw in 1981 that the people waiting immediately behind me were from Utah. They were rather ... umm ... "backwoodsy" to say the least. It was a chunky 30s or 40s couple, and his name was Ken Thomas. He told me that he had been in several movies as an extra and insisted that I take his autograph. Well, he had a captive audience to be sure. I wasn't giving my place up in line! Beyond the obligatory autograph, I recall his hillbilly laugh and that he and his wife were dressed a bit out of place for Hollywood. She had more of a Mother Hubbard-type dress and he had faded overalls and an odd hat.
Though I'm sure I've forgotten a lot of details, I do remember that we stayed in a somewhat run down motel within walking distance of Warner Brothers. Sometime around 1 p.m., I walked over to WB's stage 3 and began hanging out at the door. I was the very first person in line! My family joined me a few hours later, and by that time, there were a number of other people waiting.
I recall on the first episode that I saw in 1981 that the people waiting immediately behind me were from Utah. They were rather ... umm ... "backwoodsy" to say the least. It was a chunky 30s or 40s couple, and his name was Ken Thomas. He told me that he had been in several movies as an extra and insisted that I take his autograph. Well, he had a captive audience to be sure. I wasn't giving my place up in line! Beyond the obligatory autograph, I recall his hillbilly laugh and that he and his wife were dressed a bit out of place for Hollywood. She had more of a Mother Hubbard-type dress and he had faded overalls and an odd hat.
After an eternity of waiting, at some point (maybe 6:15 p.m.?), young kids probably 17 or 18 working for WB opened the door and began the process of taking tickets and directed you to the studio audience area. It was rather interesting to note that VIP people got VIP tickets! Translation: There were TWO levels of tickets ... VIP tickets and regular tickets. Celebs, friends of the cast or crew, guests of the guest stars, etc., all got the VIP version. On one occasion, I BARELY made it into the audience even being the first in line. That episode was the Joel Grey two part episode and the number of VIP tickets (and well knowns in the audience) was staggering.
To make it clear, the general ticket folk WAITED while the celebs marched in front of the line, presented VIP tickets, and were seated preferentially. I managed to get VIP tickets one year, 1983, I believe.
Once inside, the audience was greeted by an emcee (I couldn't tell you his name now). He would go over a bit of the ground rules for the audience, introduce the producers and the director for the show, and then begin introducing the cast. I recall that when the cast was introduced, they would come out of the ladies' room, men and all, and wave at the audience. I remember Marvin Kaplan being cheered when introduced as Henry, and of course, Vic, Beth, Celia, Phil and (I believe), finally Linda. It's kind of a blur now!
During taping, the gags usually took care of themselves in terms of generating laughter, but at times, it was apparent that the joke didn't go over as strongly as the writer had hoped. There were also occasionally retakes ~ that is, shots of a particular scene or more a second time. The director would make suggestions to those in the scene and the shots would be taped again. Or on other occasions, someone would forget his or her line, or say it incorrectly! This happened on my first taping in 1981: Doris Roberts, who played Alice's mother Mona Spivak, was discussing why she brought her own tea bags from New Jersey to Phoenix. The line was "Anything south of Atlantic City is in question," but Doris said instead "Anything south of Phoenix is in question." She then grimaced and said "...and so am I!". The audience applauded, the scene was retaped, and in the final, the correct dialog was put in.
Once inside, the audience was greeted by an emcee (I couldn't tell you his name now). He would go over a bit of the ground rules for the audience, introduce the producers and the director for the show, and then begin introducing the cast. I recall that when the cast was introduced, they would come out of the ladies' room, men and all, and wave at the audience. I remember Marvin Kaplan being cheered when introduced as Henry, and of course, Vic, Beth, Celia, Phil and (I believe), finally Linda. It's kind of a blur now!
During taping, the gags usually took care of themselves in terms of generating laughter, but at times, it was apparent that the joke didn't go over as strongly as the writer had hoped. There were also occasionally retakes ~ that is, shots of a particular scene or more a second time. The director would make suggestions to those in the scene and the shots would be taped again. Or on other occasions, someone would forget his or her line, or say it incorrectly! This happened on my first taping in 1981: Doris Roberts, who played Alice's mother Mona Spivak, was discussing why she brought her own tea bags from New Jersey to Phoenix. The line was "Anything south of Atlantic City is in question," but Doris said instead "Anything south of Phoenix is in question." She then grimaced and said "...and so am I!". The audience applauded, the scene was retaped, and in the final, the correct dialog was put in.
MEETING THE "ALICE" CAST AT TAPINGS
(Okay, some of this is redundant from other blogs!!)
(Okay, some of this is redundant from other blogs!!)
In 1981, I was smart (or perhaps stupid ass) enough to bring my 10 pound scrapbook to the tapings. Yep, carried it in line for HOURS! It did make good conversation with the people in line behind me, such as Ken Thomas. Somehow the scrapbook got the attention of someone who asked me at the end of the show if I'd like to meet Ms. Lavin. To say I was thrilled was an understatement. I walked behind the set and Linda came over, looked at my scrapbook, said some wonderful things to me, and kissed me on the forehead. The moment went quickly and we left, but I pretty much floated out.
The second taping in 1982, my family and I were scouting out the area and we happened to eat at El Chiquito Mexican Restaurant, which was right across the street from Warner Brothers on West Olive Avenue. The waitress told us super valuable information ... the cast would frequently socialize there after the show taped on Tuesdays. In '82, I met Vic and Linda, and in '83, I met Celia, Vic again and Philip, along with some other celebs and regulars who were also poking around with the cast. What a special night both of those occasions were! Several of the cast members signed my scrapbook and all of them looked at it. It was a pretty unique experience to have something that gathered the attention of celebrities. Vic made the statement, "CBS doesn't have this material. Warner Brothers doesn't have this material. Who has it? This kid from Oklahoma!".
The second taping in 1982, my family and I were scouting out the area and we happened to eat at El Chiquito Mexican Restaurant, which was right across the street from Warner Brothers on West Olive Avenue. The waitress told us super valuable information ... the cast would frequently socialize there after the show taped on Tuesdays. In '82, I met Vic and Linda, and in '83, I met Celia, Vic again and Philip, along with some other celebs and regulars who were also poking around with the cast. What a special night both of those occasions were! Several of the cast members signed my scrapbook and all of them looked at it. It was a pretty unique experience to have something that gathered the attention of celebrities. Vic made the statement, "CBS doesn't have this material. Warner Brothers doesn't have this material. Who has it? This kid from Oklahoma!".
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| Right on West Olive Avenue there was a massive billboard advertising ALICE. It was just a block or two from where ALICE taped at Warner Brothers Studios. The characters were 3D and were a foot or so in front of the rest of the billboard. |
I might add that my family and I made a FOURTH trip the summer of 1984 to see another episode taped. Unfortunately, we didn't do our homework, and there was no episode taping that week. I lost my window of opportunity that year, sadly. I think we did see a couple game shows taped though, "The Price is Right," and something called "Child's Play," both at "Television City," as CBS was then billed.
EPISODES I SAW TAPED:
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| "Alice's Big Four-Oh?", Sixth Season episode featuring Doris Roberts (1981). I would meet Linda right after this taping for the first of several times. |
Sixth Season: "Alice's Big Four-Oh?" Guest Star Doris Roberts
Seventh Season: "Alice at the Palace" and "Joel Grey Saves the Day", two part episodes Guest Star Joel Grey
Eighth Season: "It Had to Be Mel" Guest Star Florence Henderson
Another recollection from a longtime fan of "ALICE"!
Seventh Season: "Alice at the Palace" and "Joel Grey Saves the Day", two part episodes Guest Star Joel Grey
Eighth Season: "It Had to Be Mel" Guest Star Florence Henderson
CELEBS AND NOTABLES IN THE AUDIENCE:
Kasey Kasem, Nancy McKeon, Lisa Whelchel, Sonny Shoyer, Michael Bell, Ron Kuhlman and Beth Howland's daughter Holly, Vic's wife and son (Sheila and Chris Tayback), Linda's fiance at the time, Kip Niven, and others.Another recollection from a longtime fan of "ALICE"!
