The USS Yorktown has often "acted" for Hollywood movie companies and TV production companies. Even after the Yorktown became a floating museum in Charleston South Carolina harbor, she has been used as a backdrop in April 2002 for an hour long television show about the Battle of Midway on the Fox News Network. The show is called "War Stories with Oliver North."
In the "twilight" of the Yorktown's acting career, in the late 1960's the Yorktown was used to film an episode of the TV show "Get Smart." It was a comedy series, a satire of the James Bond movies popular at the time. As of 2001, the episodes are showing again on cable TV on the TV Land network.
Here are some crew recollections;
"Get Smart" memories from Public Affairs Office of Yorktown
Lt. jg Dale Potts
I got a unique insider’s view into TV sitcoms when “Get Smart” filmed one show aboard the YORKTOWN.
We had just returned from a WESTPAC western Pacific cruise and were berthed at Long Beach.
The filming only took a couple of days. Don Adams and Barbara Feldon were the featured stars.
Adams was portraying a young man but looked to be in his fifties at the time. So he spent more than an hour every morning in makeup to make the transformation, taking more time than his co-star.
Television did not do her justice--Barbara Feldon was a sexy beautiful woman but the show seemed to bring out her more wholesome features. (One sailor commented about her model's figure, "She sure has skinny legs.")
As everyone probably recalls, the YORKTOWN CO [Commanding Officer] usually had a Marine with him for security reasons. I had the same type of job with Barbara Feldon, everywhere she went (except the ladies restroom and makeup), she had me tagging along. That was certainly tough duty. We did some personal PR with her. One day she ate lunch in the mess hall with the crew and I moved her around to different tables. The next day we had lunch in the Captain’s inport cabin and of course, I was her escort there also.
Part of the show had Don Adams being helo’ed [helicoptered] off the YORKTOWN flight deck. The helo came from North Island and its crew had no desire to sleep on the YORKTOWN again after getting using to shore accommodations. Arrangements were made for the crew to spend the evening in Hollywood. Since I had a neat Chevy convertible, I was assigned to take care of them for the evening. The TV production crew gave me cash and I paid for dinner at the Brown Derby and a night’s stay at the Knickerbocker Hotel. I remember being able to sleep in at the Knickerbocker (not having to do morning muster) because production did not resume the next morning until 10 AM, largely because of Adam’s required makeup time. Being able to miss morning muster while on duty was almost as much a treat for me as staying at the Knickerbocker because I was never a morning person. I had to give the TV company receipts for all the expenses but didn’t think to ask for gas money.
click here Get Smart on the Yorktown photo gallery
Cold War Spying Plot: CONTROL, Max’s employer and spy agency of the West does battle with KAOS, the spy agency from the East.
Characters: -Maxwell Smart played by Don Adams (wounded US Marine at Guadalcanal, joined Marine Corps at 16)
-Agent 99 played by Barbara Feldon
A Popular Catch Phrase of the Show that has been added to common speech: “And Loving It.”
-Chief: “Max, you realize you'll be facing every kind of danger imaginable.”
-Max: “And loving it!”
also when Maxwell was telling a story that his Chief didn't believe, he would change the story and say "Would you believe..."
also when Maxwell messed up he would say, "Sorry 'bout that Chief..."
Trivia:
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in "Temporarily Out of CONTROL" the Chief's Navy uniform has him as JOHNDOE. |
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Barbara Feldon was known for her sultry look. She claims she wasn't trying to look sexy but that she looked that way because she was nearsighted and was concentrating while looking at the camera. |
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Gadgets that debuted on the Yorktown episode; Knife throwing suitcase - if not opened properly, knife springs out at opener. Bubble-screen briefcase - it shoots out a stream of bubbles instead of smoke because smoke may be hazardous to your health. |
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The OOD (Officer of the Deck) and Marine on the quarterdeck were not actors but were from the Yorktown ship's company. The US Navy helicopter crew with their unique berets hats were also included on the Get Smart episode.
The production company did its best to keep the identity of the Yorktown a secret. But you could see a sign off the right of the the quarterdeck that spelled out YORKTOWN.
The Get Smart Episode showed an enlisted man coming aboard the Yorktown by way of the Quarterdeck. But in real Navy practice, enlisted men generally boarded on the afterbrow, (another entrance to the ship at the aft part of the Yorktown) which was manned by the Junior Office of the Deck, a First Class Petty Officer or Chief Petty Officer.
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Yorktown Episode: "Temporarily Out of CONTROL"
Airdate: Saturday, December 14, 1968, 8:00 PM 4th Season
Writers: Arne Sultan, Leonard Stern, Alan Burns, and Chris Hayward
Director: James Komack
Max and 99 are preparing to leave on their honeymoon, a two week Caribbean cruise, when he gets a telegram calling him to active duty in the Navy. He rushes to the office to get the Chief to intercede, but the Chief has been called up too. Even worse, in the Navy, Max is the Chief's superior officer. While painting a battleship, they realize that they must get back to the office to prevent a KAOS spy from getting the Obermeyer Papers. They're unable to convince the captain that they're spies and Max and the Chief are sent to the brig. Max, a confined space, and an inflatable raft make for trouble in this episode.
click here Get Smart on the Yorktown photo gallery
the script:
(While preparing to go on their honeymoon, Max and 99 receive a telegram.)
99: Who's it from, Max?
Max: The United States Navy.
99: My goodness! I knew you had some friends in high places, but ... a congratulatory note from the United States Navy?
Max: Yes, well it's not exactly congladula ... congladua ... it's not what you said,
99, it's mandatory.
Max: You see, I've been called up for active reserve duty. I have to report in 24 hours.
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