Daredevils Of Hollywood 38-04-29 ep02 Cliff Lyons

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – "Daredevils Of Hollywood 38-04-29 ep02 Cliff Lyons"

Release Date: May 29, 2025

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Introduction

In this riveting episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, titled "Daredevils Of Hollywood 38-04-29 ep02 Cliff Lyons", host Kurt Foreman delves deep into the perilous yet exhilarating world of Hollywood stuntmen. Featuring an exclusive interview with renowned stuntman Cliff Lyons, the episode sheds light on the behind-the-scenes bravery, meticulous planning, and unpredictable dangers that define the profession.

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Meet Cliff Lyons: Hollywood's Unsung Hero

Cliff Lyons is introduced as one of Hollywood's top stunt performers, whose contributions have brought countless on-screen action sequences to life. Kurt Foreman sets the stage by highlighting Cliff's extensive experience and willingness to share firsthand accounts of his most daring stunts.

Kurt Foreman [06:38]: "Ladies and gentlemen, it is our pleasure to present the courageous young man who daily laughs in the face of death and who made that scene, Cliff Lyons..."

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The Daring Train Scene

One of the episode's focal points is Cliff's recounting of a high-stakes train stunt orchestrated by director Francis Ford. The scene required Cliff to navigate a car alongside an oncoming train, culminating in a heart-stopping transition from the vehicle to the train itself.

• Planning and Precision: The stunt was meticulously rehearsed three times, with precise timing essential to ensure safety.

• Execution Under Pressure: As the director cues the start, tension mounts. Cliff describes the intense moments as two trains approach head-on, barely allowing him the time to execute the maneuver.

Cliff Lyons [06:56]: "All I was interested in was getting through that window."

Director [05:02]: "That was a sweet jump, Bill. You got out just in time. You all right?"

Despite the chaos and the near-miss moment when the roof nearly collapses, Cliff successfully completes the stunt, underscoring both his expertise and the inherent risks of the profession.

Cliff Lyons [06:09]: "He's all right."

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The Treacherous Stagecoach Gag

Cliff further shares a harrowing experience involving a stagecoach stunt gone awry. Set in Calabasas, California, the scene was intended to showcase a runaway stagecoach navigating a steep mountain curve before plunging off an embankment.

• Unexpected Complications: Mid-action, the horses controlling the stagecoach become uncontrollable, leading to a dangerous descent.

Cliff Lyons [09:34]: "Oh, I guess somebody got excited and didn't pull the cable soon enough."

• Aftermath and Reflection: Fortunately, Cliff sustains only minor injuries—scratches and a bruised arm—but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the thin line between success and disaster in stunt work.

Cliff Lyons [09:24]: "No, just scratched up a little. The wagon run over my arm and bruised a little bit, but I was okay."

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The Grim Reality: Dangers and Statistics

The conversation shifts to the broader dangers stuntmen face in the film industry. Cliff reveals startling statistics about fatalities and the precarious nature of the job.

Cliff Lyons [10:10]: "Well, I'd say about 300 have been killed since motion pictures started."

He elaborates on the limited number of active stuntmen—approximately 30 recognized professionals—and the concept of "bumpsmen," who perform less dangerous tasks but still face risks.

Cliff Lyons [10:31]: "When a bumpsman makes a mistake, he breaks an arm or a leg. But when a stuntman misses, it's curtains."

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Insurance and Financial Realities

Cliff discusses the financial aspects of being a stunt performer, particularly the challenges related to insurance.

Cliff Lyons [10:44]: "Well, now, there's where you're wrong. The cost is terrific..."

He recounts an incident where a producer balked at his stunt price, leading Cliff to offer a significant discount contingent upon the producer securing life insurance. This anecdote highlights the financial burdens and negotiations stuntmen must navigate to ensure their safety and livelihood.

Cliff Lyons [10:56]: "Since that time, we very seldom have any trouble in getting the prices we request."

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Final Thoughts and Reflections

As the interview concludes, Cliff reflects on his 17-year career, expressing a sense of resignation mixed with passion for his craft.

Cliff Lyons [10:06]: "Oh, I guess you get used to it."

Despite the dangers, Cliff's dedication to performing high-adrenaline stunts, particularly horse-related feats, underscores his commitment to the art of filmmaking.

Cliff Lyons [07:26]: "That's right. But my favorite is horse stunts. You know, high jumps, falls and dives into water, on horseback, things like that."

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Conclusion

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio offers an unflinching look into the high-octane world of Hollywood stuntmen through the eyes of Cliff Lyons. From meticulously planned train sequences to unforeseen stagecoach disasters, Cliff's stories illuminate the bravery, skill, and resilience required to perform tasks that push the boundaries of safety and creativity. The interview not only honors these unsung heroes but also serves as a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

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For listeners seeking a deeper appreciation of the dangers and dedication behind their favorite on-screen action sequences, this episode is an essential listen.

Transcript

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[Narrator]

Introducing the daredevils of Hollywood.

[Director]

All right, boys, keep those cameras turning.

[Stunt Coordinator]

Keep those sirens going. Gonna jump. Hey, you fellas with the net.

[Director]

Come in a little closer, Joe.

[Stunt Coordinator]

Make that spotlight a little hotter.

[Director]

That's a piece of a fire, Mr. Baker. This ought to make a swell scene. Yeah, well, it's costing enough money.

[Cliff Lyons]

Holy cats.

[Stunt Coordinator]

Look.

[Director]

The whole roof is about to fall in.

[Stunt Coordinator]

Good heaven. Jump, Bill, jump. Look out. Run. There he comes. Steady with the net, men. He made it okay for Cameron on that? Okay here? Sure, he got it. It's okay for me. Print that one.

[Director]

Say, that was a sweet jump, Bill. You got out just in time. You all right?

[Narrator]

Sure, sure, I'm okay.

[Director]

That's all for tonight. Call for 8 o' clock in the morning, everybody.

[Stunt Coordinator]

Stage nine.

[Narrator]

From the motion picture capital of the world, we bring you the thrilling true life experiences of those men behind the scenes. Those daring, unsung heroes whose breathtaking adventures on the screen have thrilled millions. Whose daily jobs bring them face to face with death. Those men who comprise the strangest fraternity on earth. The Suicide squad, the movie stuntmen, the daredevils of Hollywood.

[Kurt Foreman]

Ladies and gentlemen, in bringing you this copyrighted feature, we are privileged to have as our guest one of the top notch stuntmen of Hollywood, Cliff Lyons. It is through his cooperation that we are able to reenact some of the highlights of his dangerous profession. The thrilling scenes you are about to hear are his own actual experiences. Cliff Lyons is here in the studio right now. And later in the program. We will bring him to the microphone. But first let us learn something of his job.

[Narrator]

It is a Beautiful afternoon in 1924. The Ben Wilson Company is on location near Inglewood, California. They have been shooting scenes all day, but the big moment is about to arrive. The story calls for a very dangerous scene. And the man who is to do that scene, Cliff Lyons, is just coming on the location set. Francis Ford, the director, greets him.

[Director]

Well, how are you, Cliff?

[Cliff Lyons]

Hello, Mr. Ford.

[Director]

Just about on time. We're almost ready for your scene.

[Cliff Lyons]

Okay, what's the gag?

[Director]

Well, you see that train standing down there about a half a mile?

[Cliff Lyons]

Yep.

[Director]

And there's another one waiting down there a half mile in the opposite direction. Now, we're going to start this train coming toward us. You're supposed to drive a car along the highway there, parallel with the tracks.

[Cliff Lyons]

I see.

[Director]

Now, the train will beat your car to the crossing by about 50ft. So you turn down the tracks and run alongside the train.

[Cliff Lyons]

I get it. You mean drive between the double tracks with the train.

[Director]

That's right. Now, the idea is to transfer from the car to the train. You just crawl through a window in the coach and let the car go.

[Cliff Lyons]

Yeah, I see. But what about the other car?

[Director]

Now, that'll be coming from the opposite direction on the other track. Your job is to get through that window just before the two trains meet.

[Cliff Lyons]

Okay, that's good enough for me. But that car, it's going to be a mess.

[Director]

Yes, it'll fold up like an accordion between the trains. But let's hope you're out of it by that time. We're ready for the test with the trains, Mr. Ford. All right, I'm right with you. Well, Cliff, you all set?

[Cliff Lyons]

Yeah, but there's a little timing I want to do first.

[Director]

Okay, but be sure your watch doesn't stop.

[Narrator]

Three times. The scene is rehearsed. Speeds of the moving train are carefully checked and rechecked. Time to the split second. The engineers, obviously nervous, are instructed by Mr. Lyons and Mr. Ford in each minute.

[Cliff Lyons]

Details.

[Narrator]

Everyone is stationed at his post. Cameras are set. Tension dominates the scene. The slightest mistake will cost a human life. Far apart, facing each other, the two trains stand motionless, puffing like two spirited horses, tense with apprehension. While far down the highway, Cliff Lyons calmly, almost nonchalantly, crawls into the car and sits relaxed, awaiting the signal to start. The director is giving last minute instructions.

[Director]

Okay, we're ready to shoot. Everybody on their toes. This is a take.

[Stunt Coordinator]

This is a picture already.

[Director]

Everybody, we're all set. Mr. Ford. All right, give him the signal. Here they come. Yeah, so far, so good. And that train bowling the jack. Afraid it's coming too fast.

[Stunt Coordinator]

Keep those hammers going.

[Director]

Chris. Got that bus wide open. Looks like it's about to fall apart. Making the pellets crossing.

[Stunt Coordinator]

Look at him. Bumping alongside that train he goes.

[Director]

But look at the other train coming like a bullet. He'll never make it. He won't have time.

[Stunt Coordinator]

He's got to make it. Get in that window, Cliff, quick. He's got his hands on the windowsill. Climb in that window, Cliff. Hurry, Hurry. If that boy's alive, it's a miracle. Come on, let's run down there. There he is, getting off the train.

[Cliff Lyons]

He's all right.

[Stunt Coordinator]

Come on.

[Cliff Lyons]

Was that all right, Mr. Ford? Did you get a good shot?

[Director]

I'll say we got a shot. We lost two cameras in the crash, but we got a beauty with the other one. I thought you were a goner for a minute. That was too close.

[Cliff Lyons]

Yeah, it was plenty close, all right. I guess those engineers got excited. They were a little heavy on the throttle.

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen, it is our pleasure to present the courageous young man who daily laughs in the face of death and who made that scene, Cliff Lyons, interviewed by Kurt Foreman.

[Kurt Foreman]

That certainly was a thrilling stunt, Cliff. And I'd say you were pretty lucky.

[Cliff Lyons]

Yeah, I guess I was at that.

[Kurt Foreman]

Tell me, what was your reaction when you saw the trains approaching each other so fast?

[Cliff Lyons]

All I was interested in was getting through that window.

[Kurt Foreman]

Were you scared?

[Cliff Lyons]

Oh, not exactly. I was too busy to be scared. But I felt a little funny when it was all over.

[Kurt Foreman]

Say, Cliff, have you ever been really scared?

[Cliff Lyons]

Well, now, do you want the truth, the whole truth? Well, yes, I have been scared.

[Kurt Foreman]

And when was that?

[Cliff Lyons]

Right now.

[Kurt Foreman]

You mean this microphone?

[Cliff Lyons]

Yeah, it's. It's almost got me.

[Kurt Foreman]

Well, I wouldn't let that get you down. Now, you do all kinds of stunts, don't you?

[Cliff Lyons]

That's right. But my favorite is horse stunts. You know, high jumps, falls and dives into water, on horseback, things like that.

[Kurt Foreman]

Did you ever have any close calls while doing these stunts?

[Cliff Lyons]

Yes, I have. I remember once on a stagecoach. Gag.

[Kurt Foreman]

Just. Just a minute. Did you say gag?

[Cliff Lyons]

Yeah, we call them gags. Well, this stagecoach was supposed to run down a steep mountain road and on a sharp curve, the horse is to break loose and make a turn while the stagecoach goes over the embankment, drops about 200ft. I'm supposed to drive, but have we got time to hear about it?

[Kurt Foreman]

We certainly have, Cliff. And we're going to hear about it in just a moment. But first a word from our sponsor. Okay, Cliff, now let's hear about that stagecoach gag.

[Cliff Lyons]

Well, it was down on location at Calabasas, California. That's about 20 miles from Hollywood. Johnny Mac Brown was making a western picture. Henry McRae, the director, was explaining to me how the gag worked.

[Stunt Coordinator]

Now, you see, Cliff, we've got an airplane cable tied to the doubletree. And when the coach gets the turn, we'll pull the cable and release the horses.

[Cliff Lyons]

And that's when I jump, huh?

[Stunt Coordinator]

Right, but don't hesitate. That hack is going to sail off into space like a bird. Okay, I'm ready. Okay, boys, we're ready to go. Row em. Go ahead, Cliff.

[Narrator]

Hey, look, Mac, something's gone wrong.

[Stunt Coordinator]

The coach is making the turn. Yes, but the horses are loose. Look, the stage is running wild down the hill.

[Narrator]

Gosh, I'd hate to be in that guy's shoes. Watch him, he's going to jump.

[Stunt Coordinator]

He's all tangled up in the lines. There he goes. Look, the horses are dragging him. Stop those horses, man. Stop them. There goes the coach over the bank. Look at that.

[Kurt Foreman]

You must have been pretty badly hurt in that scene, weren't you, Cliff?

[Cliff Lyons]

No, just scratched up a little. The wagon run over my arm and bruised a little bit, but I was okay.

[Kurt Foreman]

And how far did the horses drag you?

[Cliff Lyons]

Oh, about 200ft, but it seemed like a mile.

[Kurt Foreman]

Tell me, something went wrong there. Whose fault was that?

[Cliff Lyons]

Oh, I guess somebody got excited and didn't pull the cable soon enough. Things like that often happen. People on the ground make mistakes. Maybe they cut a rope too soon or something like that.

[Kurt Foreman]

What usually happens to you stuntmen when your helpers make a mistake?

[Cliff Lyons]

Well, it just puts us in a tough spot, that's all.

[Kurt Foreman]

And what happens when you make a mistake?

[Cliff Lyons]

Well, in that case, we just have to do stunts for St. Peter.

[Kurt Foreman]

Cliff, how long have you been doing stunts for the movies?

[Cliff Lyons]

A little over 17 years.

[Kurt Foreman]

Say, that's quite a long time to be taking chances for a living.

[Cliff Lyons]

Oh, I guess you get used to it.

[Kurt Foreman]

I understand there have been quite a number of stuntmen killed. What about that?

[Cliff Lyons]

Well, I'd say about 300 have been killed and motion pictures started.

[Kurt Foreman]

And what about the fellows who are working now? How many are there active?

[Cliff Lyons]

Well, there are about 30 recognized stuntmen. Of course, sometimes the stand ins and a few extras will do easy things such as falling down stairs or rolling down a cliff. We call those bumps men.

[Kurt Foreman]

Tell me, Cliff, what's the difference between a stuntman and a bumpsman.

[Cliff Lyons]

Well, when a bumpsman makes a mistake, he breaks an arm or a leg. But when a stuntman misses, it's curtains.

[Kurt Foreman]

Say, I imagine you stuntmen carry considerable insurance.

[Cliff Lyons]

Well, now, there's where you're wrong. The cost is terrific. Why, I recall an incident where a producer balked at a certain price I'd given him for a stunt. I told him I'd reduce the figure 90% if he'd take out some life insurance for me. He called Lords of London and found that the premium covering the one stunt that I was to do was greatly in excess of the price that I'd given him originally. Since that time, we very seldom have any trouble in getting the prices we request.

[Kurt Foreman]

Well, Cliff, you certainly entertained us. And on behalf of our listeners, I want to sincerely thank you for coming here. I know that everyone joins me in hoping that we may have you on this program again very soon. Good luck, old boy.

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