One of Tom’s heroes growing up was Knute Rockne as portrayed on screen by Pat O’Brien, so Pat became a double hero. In 1971 Tom and Delores bought a house in Brentwood, CA, that had been…
Pat O’Brien in Billy Jack Goes to Washington
Billy Jack Goes to Washington: Grand Canyon Shoot
Billy Jack Goes to Washington is an updated remake of the Frank Capra classic Mr Smith Goes to Washington, with James Stewart. Most of the film takes place in Washinton, D.C., but there are early scenes in the film that are set in the typical Billy Jack setting of the Southwest. In this scene…
Tom’s Totally Terrific Talks
Also part of every promotional circus that visited a town were the appearances. I showed Julie Webb and others making their appearances (everyone usually would not come at the same time in order for there to be many, many, many events for the press to report on, rather than just one big one - smart!). Here Tom Laughlin is making his rounds that almost always included local colleges, audiences, radio stations, newspapers, TV, etc., etc., etc. It never stopped.
The ‘Billy Jack Show’
The shots below are from what would be probably one of the world’s first infomercials, a show selling Billy Jack. As you can see from the ‘BJ’ hanging on the wall, this was the Billy Jack show (I don’t know actually what it was called, but it was expressly to promote the film and nothing else). Tom’s group arranged for the stage, hired the…
Billy Jack ‘Round the World
Delores Minneapolis Tour
The family was on summer vacation in Wisconsin (Tom’s home state, and home to a big chunk of relatives — Hi Koeppens and Fossums!). Delores, TC, Christina, Stacy Manolakas, and a babysitter (who I’m sorry I don’t remember) traveled out by the Cessna push-pull prop plane. Way to go, girls!
Totally Funkadelic Delores
There weren’t many photo shoots, because, believe it or not, there wasn’t much (normal) publicity for the films. But there were a few photo shoots, some of which I’ve posted here on the blog. This is one I actually don’t remember. I’m not sure what this was for. I also don’t think these pictures were ever used. Pity. Austin Powers, eat your heart out.
Billy Jack Day, Dayton, OH (part 1)
As I mentioned in the previous posts about the re-release of Billy Jack in 1972-1973, the promotion of the film was a blitzkrieg of publicity. Radio, TV, newspapers, news reports, live bands, karate demonstrations, girls with lettered cards, it literally never ended. For weeks before the film…
Billy Jack Southern California Box Office Results
Tom was one of the best friends newspapers (and radio and TV) ever had. He placed ads constantly… everywhere. But his favorites were the show business journals Hollywood Reporter and Variety. The combination of the overwhelming success of Billy Jack (and later the Trial of Billy Jack) and the lack of industry acknowledgment…
Billy Jack Day, Kansas City (part 3)
Leading up to the premiere in each city, was the same Billy Jack circus: karate demonstrations, live bands, and the girls holding the cards that spelled B-I-L-L-Y-J-A-C-K. Below the circus is staged out front of the Glenwood Theaters outside Kansas City, Kansas. The picture on the bottom shows some of the incredible turnout.
