Column: TV thriller is slaying them in Claremont, Pomona

“Based on a True Story” mentioned Pomona the other day, says a reader from Claremont, who adds that a similar series, “Rookie Feds,” mentioned Claremont. Also: Jimmy Carter once dissed in print a speech written by an aide from Redlands, a West Covina resident confirms what the mayor of Riverside said about the gratitude of Koreans to America, two readers praise Dan Bernstein, I note my upcoming anniversary and request feedback (which I hope I will not regret) and a Pomona man’s dining habits are remembered. All this in my Wednesday column.

And btw, I’m on vacation, but I wrote three columns ahead to avoid depriving anyone! And also to use up some material.

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Column: Cucamonga winery was once shot by ‘Cannon’ for TV episode

“Shot by ‘Cannon,'” get it? If you do or if you don’t, the column will explain to you or remind you about “Cannon,” the 1970s detective show, which once filmed scenes at this column’s old friend, the Virginia Dare Winery. Also: some lighter news from a Moreno Valley council meeting involving seniors and a clutch of brIEfly items from Pomona and Perris, most of which have been on hold for a while. I threw together this column last Friday before leaving for a short vacation — which ends today!

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‘Mannix’ in Pomona

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This undated Progress-Bulletin clipping was scanned and sent to me by Ren. Actor Mike Connors was in Pomona one summer day to film a scene for a “Mannix” episode in which his private eye character Joe Mannix returns to his hometown, Sumner Grove, to help an old friend in trouble.

Filming was done in front of the old City Hall, since torn down. “Cries of ‘hey, there’s Mannix’ were common as secretaries left the office for an extended coffee break,” the story relates. The Prog office would have been only a block or two from the filming.

“Mannix” aired from 1967 to 1975 on CBS, lasting eight seasons. It looks likely that this was the third season episode “Return to Sumner Grove,” which aired Oct. 11, 1969. Here’s the IMDB summary.

* Never mind: Microfilm research by the Pomona Public Library’s Allan Lagumbay pins the date of the article as June 16, 1971, which means the filming was for a fifth-season episode.

I don’t know that I ever watched the series; at one point it aired the same time as “The Night Gallery,” which I watched when allowed to. The AV Club wrote an appreciation of the series here.

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‘White Sheep’ in Pomona

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Three vacant spaces in downtown Pomona were being prepped Friday for filming for an ABC pilot, “White Sheep.” Roving photographer Ren sent me these images. Above, the former Bunny Gunner storefront at 266 W. 2nd St. was transformed into Kim’s Academy Martial Arts. Below, a former Mexican restaurant (and prior to that, Chung King) at 280 W. 3rd St. was being turned into Land Lock Lobster. Crews were just getting started on a third storefront at 2nd and Parcels streets.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the family comedy “follows a teenager’s struggles to be the one nice guy in a family full of jerks.”

It’s impressive the amount of effort that can go into Hollywood productions. Thanks, Ren.

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