Tag Archives: Robert Short

Revisiting the U.N.C.L.E. Car, 50 years later

One of this month’s highlights was attending the opening of the Petersen Automotive Museum’s “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy” exhibit — especially because they are showcasing the Man From U.N.C.L.E. Car that was such a favorite of mine during the series’ final two seasons in 1966-68 (I later produced seven CDs of original music from the series and its spinoff films). My old friend Robert Short restored and owns this futuristic-looking, one-of-a-kind spy car, and he has loaned it to the museum for the next few months. Bob was there for the opening, too. The U.N.C.L.E. car, fascinatingly, is displayed between two other iconic 1960s vehicles: The Green Hornet‘s Black Beauty and Batman‘s Batcycle. I wanted to get in/on both of them but security would surely have thrown me out.

At “U.N.C.L.E.,” D23 weekend events

JBwithCarlosGarzaUNCLEIt was a pleasure to participate in Saturday’s event celebrating The Man From U.N.C.L.E., old and new, with fans and friends at Creature Features in Burbank, Calif. Veteran special-effects artist Bob Short showcased dozens of original props, costumes and behind-the-scenes photos from the original series, and regaled us with tales of being on the set as an extra — along with his later work as consultant and gun designer for The Return of the Man From U.N.C.L.E. I was happy to sign copies of my book The Music of James Bond and talk about producing the U.N.C.L.E. soundtrack albums.

D23 EXPO 2015 - D23 EXPO, the ultimate Disney fan event, brings together all the past, present and future of Disney entertainment under one roof. Taking place August 14-16, this year marks the fourth D23 EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center and promises to be the biggest and most spectacular yet. (Disney/Image Group LA) JON BURLINGAME, MARK WATTERS, DAVE BOSSERT

(Disney/Image Group LA)

Then on Sunday it was down to the D23 Expo in Anaheim, where I was delighted to join composer Mark Watters and Disney historian and filmmaker Dave Bossert to talk about music for animation. Bossert screened his award-winning documentary The Tunes Behind the Toons, in which Watters and I appear. Earlier in the day we attended a concert of music from Disney’s Silly Symphony series, hosted by Leonard Maltin. Here is my review of that event.