Friday, July 18, 2025

 

 I broke the story for the Californian newspaper about Chuck Roberson in Bakersfield. I believe they may have run it on the front page. It was one of the first uses of color photos in the newspaper. Later on, I was on the set of the film "The Shootist" in Carson City and that coverage was also in the Cal. After that first article was published, Bodie Thoene called me and asked how she could get in touch with Chuck. She followed up with a book, The Fall Guy, a phrase taken from my article because I found I was being too repetitive using the word "stuntman" and I chose "fall guy," since the article focused much on taking stunt falls. Shortly after came a TV series with that name and I believe a movie as well. "Where do you think they got the idea for that title?" Chuck asked me, knowing fully well the answer and which I would know as well. "We thought of suing but were advised it wouldn't stand up." So, in a circular trip I was the one who titled the TV series, The Fall Guy, starring Lee Majors.