In the late 1950's Everglades City was host to Hollywood. A major film, Wind Across The Everglades, was in production. Stars included Burl Ives, Gypsy Rose Lee, Peter Falk, and Christopher Plummer. Other's with small roles were clown Emmett Kelly and heavyweight boxer Tony Galento. And, there were bit parts for local's Chief Cory Osceola and Constable Joe Hunter.
Mike Gideon, retired CCSO Deputy, lived there then and said the filming and Hollywood crowd were a unique and fascinating divergence for the fishing village folks.
He remembers that Burl Ives, a man of generous proportions, wore long-handle underwear as part of his costume. Mike and the other youngins loved wash day when the huge long Johns were displayed on the clothes line. Mike said they were as big as the sail on the Santa Maria.
And that Peter Falk slept quite often on his screened-in porch. He said Falk, later TV's Columbo, was painfully shy. He did like to play chess with Mike and showed young Mr Gideon several moves.
But Mike said everyone's favorite was Gypsy Rose Lee. Gypsy had arrived in Everglades in a maroon and black Rolls with 28 cats. She took two rooms at the Rod and Gun Club. One for her and one for her cats. Or so it is said in news reports. Mike said he remembers her having two Afghan hounds, but no cats.
Mike lived upstairs over the Youth Center. The inside had been converted to Wardrobe and the porches Make-up. He said you could tell when Gypsy arrived each morning as her loud and friendly voice soon had everyone laughing at her jokes.
Burl had one other small problem. His character "Cottonmouth" carried one of the critters around in his pocket. Trouble was Burl was terrified of snakes. Even movie snakes that just looked like cottonmouths. Those were always interesting scenes to film.
He remembers that Burl Ives, a man of generous proportions, wore long-handle underwear as part of his costume. Mike and the other youngins loved wash day when the huge long Johns were displayed on the clothes line. Mike said they were as big as the sail on the Santa Maria.
And that Peter Falk slept quite often on his screened-in porch. He said Falk, later TV's Columbo, was painfully shy. He did like to play chess with Mike and showed young Mr Gideon several moves.
But Mike said everyone's favorite was Gypsy Rose Lee. Gypsy had arrived in Everglades in a maroon and black Rolls with 28 cats. She took two rooms at the Rod and Gun Club. One for her and one for her cats. Or so it is said in news reports. Mike said he remembers her having two Afghan hounds, but no cats.
Mike lived upstairs over the Youth Center. The inside had been converted to Wardrobe and the porches Make-up. He said you could tell when Gypsy arrived each morning as her loud and friendly voice soon had everyone laughing at her jokes.
Burl had one other small problem. His character "Cottonmouth" carried one of the critters around in his pocket. Trouble was Burl was terrified of snakes. Even movie snakes that just looked like cottonmouths. Those were always interesting scenes to film.
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