Posts by Richard

My first director, Steve Terrell, is someone special. (Steve was a busy movie and television actor in the 1950s and early 1960s, starring in many films, as well as roles in many popular television series, including one of my old favorites, “Maverick.”)  Steve and his troupe stop by my place.  Steve says, thrilled with the…

Apprehensively, I’m standing next to Douglas behind Sensei and Chuck Norris when I hear. “You have something to say to me?” growls Norris. Disrespectfully, still sitting on the floor, Gabriel snaps back, “I have nothing to say to you!” “Stand up when you address me!” barks Norris. Gabriel, with three of his fighters and Lloyd…

“Sitting at my table is Lamb’s Players director and former TV and film personality Steve Terrell.  Steve can you share when you met Richard and some of his early characteristics?” “Well, sure, Jon, It was in 1972 when I was introduced to Rick. It’s no doubt that meeting a hippy was a culture shock for…

Norris is fed-up; he has had enough of all the disrespect! He stops everything and approaches Gabriel. Murphy sees that trouble is brewing and sidles up next to Norris. Douglas quickly moves in behind Norris. I stand on Douglas’s left, following behind Murphy. We are not even sure if Norris knows we have his six.…

Sensei Murphy is hosting a tournament at the Tijuana Forum, and he has invited the great Chuck Norris to be our Master of Ceremonies. (Master Norris started learning martial arts after joining the Air Force in 1958, one year after Sensei Murphy started his fighting career. Once Norris began competing, he was a nonstop fighting…

I ask Sensei, pleading, yet trying to show no fear, “Can I fight opponents my own size when testing for my brown belt? I am aware that I am outclassed by Crook, Douglas, Napoleon, along with many of your other big fighters down south in Tijuana.”  Murphy considers my request and is empathetic, so he…

Sensei said I must beef-up by putting on muscle. My weight training for my brown belt is coming from Gene Fisher. I’m getting bigger and harder; heavier and stronger. At 145 pounds, I hit 250 pounds on the bench-press, I can pull-down 220 pounds, although Fisher has to get me started, as the stack is…

Jim, Jerry Morris and I are on our way to the desert of Palm Springs, California to go BB gun hunting.  Our prey are offbeat, as we hunt each other. We all have goggles to guard our eyes and Daisy BB guns. The BBs sting, but not penetrate the skin too deeply. I say to…

After the diving crash, a sharp pain drills through my skull. Amazingly I am still conscious, at least conscious enough to know that a wave of water will soon crash into me. In a panic, thoughts flood my mind. “Start swimming! If you don’t, you will be engulfed by a wave and body-slammed against the…

Cliff diving has elements of risk smart people are unwilling to take. But as far as I am concerned, those risks are an opportunity to test one’s will and pit my mind against the fear-triggering asthma attacks. Jim Blowers, his friend Jerry, and I arrive at the Diver’s Cliff. There’s a fellow standing on the…

The officer says sternly to me, “I want you to produce your license, and I’m telling you I want it now!”  So I hand over my identification card that boldly states, “Not an authorized driver’s license.” But what causes me to go breathless with worry, is it clearly states that I am both “Asthmatic” and…

I’ve now driven my motorcycle into construction signs, had my tail light clipped turning in front of an oncoming car and driven my right leg into the bumper of a parked truck. I realize I have to figure out a safer way to blindly drive my motorcycle. An opportunity presents itself. My friend Roy Otterman…