Irene and Bobby...
My
Great Columbia Ranch Experiences
With Bobby Sherman 1969-1971
By Irene
My fondest memories of Bobby Sherman started when I was about 12 years old. Like so many girls the world over at the time--I think our main goal in life was to meet this cute babe of a guy. I was one of the lucky ones. As a faithful reader of all the teen magazines, I collected a lot of information and set out on my quest to find Bobby with a lot of help from my mother and my uncle. My first break was when I found out how close my uncle worked from 'The Ranch' in Burbank, CA. - at Lockheed Aircraft. Around Christmas time of 1969, we set out for the 30+mile drive to Burbank-one way. I went very prepared.Went shopping a few days before this journey with my mom and bought a few of those puffy sleeve shirts in different shades of blue. There were other gifts, but because of time and memory, I cannot remember all the goodies I got for him (I must have thought my parents were rich as these shirts were $15.00-$25.00 each and mom gladly helped purchase them. We were not rich, I put my parents in hock on account of these shirts). When the big night came and we finally made it to The Ranch, we proceeded to wait for Bobby to come through the gate after asking the Guard if Bobby was still there and if we could please wait for him. Finally, the big moment had arrived-Bobby came driving through the gate in the huge midnight blue Rolls Royce. You talk about excited? He did stop immediately as I had this big box in my arms full of these presents for him. Talk about a thrill? Bobby was very surprised and got out of his car to accept these shirts and trinkets. I got a hug and a kiss on the cheek as did my mom (she used to always tell him 'Oh you are just so handsome!' and put her hands on his face - made him blush every time!) and Bob also shook my uncle's hand and patted him on the shoulder. I am sure we had a conversation that night, but I cannot remember that. I just knew I was the luckiest girl in the world at that moment as I found him and the best part of it was--there were no other girls there that night. Contrary to what has been written, there were really never any more than 4 or 5 girls there at any given night, if that many.most nights it was just my mom, uncle and I. My mom also took me once to Bobby's parents house in Reseda/Van Nuys to drop off still more gifts (Yes, I was a real smart cookie at 12-found their address in the phone book. His mom, Juanita was very nice to us when we went up to the door to present still more shirts).
After the holidays of 1969, my mom and I continued to go on what I remember as a nightly basis to The Ranch to see Bobby until they cancelled Brides. I was fortunate to meet Bridget Hanley (yes, she did drive a gray Thunderbird). I once gave her a bottle of Kiku cologne (popular at the time) and she was so gracious and sweet - also gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek. Henry Beckman was nice-he drove one of those classic 'Woody' type station wagons that were popular in the 50's and 60's? Hardly recognized him without the facial hair they used on him for his role of Clancy. Robert Brown--What another GORGEOUS man! He drove out in a 2 seater red Mercedes, dressed in a nice dark blue blazer with a coat of arms on the breast pocket of the jacket, tie. I remember he was very tall and had gorgeous blue eyes! I saw Joan Blondell only once. She waved and gave a big smile as she drove by. Wish now I stopped her to get a picture-when you are 12, you don't know who these people really are. I never knew she was such a big movie icon of her time, not until I became much older. Also met David Soul-not much I can say about him except he wasn't very nice, did not want to sign autograph books or pose for pictures.
Anyway, getting back to Bobby.he did invite me to come and visit the studio once, but unfortunately the day my mom and I went there for our tour of the Western Lot where Brides was filmed; something was going on at the Studio and they had to cancel our tour. Not too long after that, Brides was cancelled, I resigned myself to the fact that I'd probably never see Bobby again--until The Partridge Family started to film there and then...wonder of wonders. Bobby was back in Getting Together, filming at the same studio-so this gave me still another reason to pick up where I left off and continue to make the drive with mom to Burbank just to see him and say 'Hi'. By this time; 1971, Bobby was driving a Blue and White Chevy van or his Porsche.
Yes, I do have very special and happy memories of that era. I was so lucky to be a part of all that and when I go web surfing and see Officer Sherman, all these wonderful memories come flooding back like it happened yesterday. I only hope one day soon I will be able to once again meet Bobby face to face and maybe sit with him and talk about 'the good old days'. I am now 48 and have 1 son who is 28 and is a licensed Lab Technician. I can almost kick myself for missing out on all these 'Bobby Sightings', the car shows in Rialto that Bobby attends as all of these events are sort of with-in driving distance to where I now live in Orange County, CA. I'm pretty sure if I knew then what I know now, I would have hot-footed it over for old times sake. Hopefully one day real soon, there will be another event where he will be and hopefully, I will be there too, as I just want to say 'Hello, remember me?' I'm pretty sure he would remember.
I hope you all enjoy reading my story as much I as I enjoyed writing and sharing so late in my life and in cyberspace no less.