The Santa Paula Police Department staged a faux shoot of the filming kind overseen by director, AKA Chief, Steve MacKinnon, who had to take two takes of an exciting pursuit where robbers firing blanks tried to elude and then take on cops and K-9s - and lost.After the demonstration the curtains were raised and the crowd invited to step behind the Limoneira headquarters to the Big Band tunes of “Swing Shift,” where the second venue featured more props, plenty of twinkle lights, and 35 restaurants offering tasty treats and wine tasting, all loomed over by a faithful recreation of the huge, gleaming Hollywood sign.“It’s wonderful!” sisters Anita Herrera, Marty Bracamontes, both wearing vintage looking dotted dresses, and Genevieve Anderson, glammed out in Hollywood black, cried in unison.Master of Ceremonies John Chamberlain - posing as a realistic Groucho Marx - oversaw the “Moonies” award ceremony and introduced Limoneira President/CEO Harold Edwards, who thanked the crowd for their support and strong sense of community and fun. The evening ended on a high-energy note with plenty of dancing to “The Spirals,” who switched off between Latin and rock and roll beats.“I’ve never seem anything like this,” said Chamber President Blanchard, who chaired the “Moonlight at the Ranch: The Sequel... Hollywood Nights” committee. “It’s like a dream... just like Hollywood.”
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King Kong scares Fay Wray on the Moonlight At The Ranch movie set last Saturday evening. Hollywood came to Limoneira Ranch including many movie stars (actors), including Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and many others. The stars rubbed elbows with the audience and even had their picture taken by the paparazzi, all in good fun. Moonlight At The Ranch was a fundraiser for the Santa Paula Police and Fire Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Don Johnson) |
Moonlight At The Ranch turns Hollywood
August 20, 2008
The stars come out for ‘Moonlight at the Ranch’
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesIt was “Hooray for Hollywood!” Saturday when more than 1,000 supporters of the Santa Paula Police and Fire Foundation and Chamber of Commerce activities walked down the red carpet at the 2nd Annual “Moonlight at the Ranch” fundraiser.Held at historic Limoneira Ranch - changed to the Limoneira Filming Company for the celebration - the theme “The Sequel... Hollywood Nights” brought out a crowd who got into the swing of things by dressing the part, whether it be glamour queen, debonair male lead or taking a career breather ex-scandal magazine cover boy or girl. Those favorite characters portrayed in films were also well represented, as were those who arrived casually dressed as if they had just left their Malibu enclaves.“It’s unbelievable... they just keep coming!” said Chamber of Commerce President/CEO John Blanchard, AKA Cecil B. DeMille, dressed to the nines - and the knees - as the great director, including DeMille’s signature jodhpurs.“This is just fantastic, a wonderful party,” said period picture-hatted Supervisor Kathy Long, who said her only regret was arriving too late for red carpet introductions. Also spotted in the star studded crowd were Santa Paula Mayor Bob Gonzales in an elegant tuxedo, incognito Vice Mayor Ralph Fernandez, and action hero John Procter, the latter “schmoozing” Hollywood style with former Ventura Mayor and Councilman Carl Morehouse (with wife Santa Paula Planning Director Janna Minsk) and former Port Hueneme Mayor and Councilman Jon Sharkey (with his Elizabeth Taylor look-alike wife, writer Beverly Kelley).Everyone was a star at “Hollywood Nights,” where the front of the craftsman Limoneira headquarters featured a display of military vehicles, including an amphibian holding that 8th Wonder of the (Movie) World, King Kong and a screaming Fay Wray, one of Paula Maxwell Production’s celebrity look-alikes that interacted with and delighted the crowd all evening long.The paparazzi were kept busy snapping photos of all arrivals, who waved at the “little people” - bleachers full of excited fans, many who sought autographs - as they made their red carpet entrance between two giant Oscars. Once introduced, the stars strolled past vintage cars - including a sleek black convertible Rolls Royce - into the party, where they mingled with other guests as well as Santa Paula Police and Fire personnel at the ready for public safety... and public fun.
