Famous people who were hams.

 Some famous people who were ham operators.


The XYL, who is in the hospital, has been watching movies on her portable DVD player. Some of her favorite movies include: the King and I, West Side Story, South Pacific, Pillow Talk, The Sound of Music, Yours, Mine, and Ours, Hello Dolly and Five Pennies. Yes, virtually all of the stars are now SK's. 

But what caught my attention were two guys whose names appear in the credits. Those names are Ernie Lehman and Mel Shavelson, and you will see their names as the Director, Producer or Screen Writer. I think Lehman has 6 Academy Award nominations.

But aside from their day jobs both were active hams. Lehman's call was K6DXK and Shavelson's was W6VLH. Both are SK's.

Shavelson made a movie starring Kirk Douglas and John Wayne called Cast a Giant Shadow, with most of the movie shot in Israel. Shavelson chronicled the movie in a book entitled "How to make a Jewish Movie". 

Part of the book describes how he set up his ham station in Israel. I can recall a passage where they had a break in shooting, and he enlisted an Italian set construction crew to erect his tower. Shavelson describes how the crew walked up the tower and when it was erect got so excited, they got it in the air that they let go! Boom it kept going only to tilt back over on the ground. Then there was a bit of tongue in cheek dialog about the "Jewish bargain Soldering Iron he bought locally." Shavelson did several tours as president of the Screen Writers Guild and if he were alive today probably would be on the picket line.

Regrettably that book now out of print, costs $100 so don't go out and buy it!

Let us not forget Joe Walsh of the Eagles. I think Ronny Milsap and Tim Allen are also licensed hams. Marlon Brando is also rumored to have had a ham ticket linked to his private island.

You never know who is at the other end of the call sign.

73's
Pete, N6QW

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