I have a Rockford Files story very similar to Ted's. In the summer of 1976 (just after I graduated from high school), a friend and I were driving on Malibu Canyon Road and we spotted a film crew shooting something at a small restaurant on the side of the road. We stopped to check it out and we immediately recognized Rockford's iconic Firebird. A few seconds later, we saw James Garner and Stuart Margolin doing a scene. "Jim" was very angry at "Angel" as they exited the restaurant and got in the car. "Jim" continues yelling at "Angel" after they get in the car, then "Jim" steps on the gas and shoots backwards out of the parking space. No one told us to leave, so we stayed and watched them film the scene five or six times. I've hunted it down and it's actually a pivotal scene from a great episode titled "Drought at Indianhead River". I wish I had a camera with me but I didn't, darn it.

"The Rockford Files", my favorite theme song for a TV show ever.

This is really cool. When I was a little girl we were always at Paradise Cove. I believe I was 9 or 10 when we walked up to the filming trailer and got James Garner's autograph. I still have it, written on a small piece of spiral notebook paper. My mom had the hots for James Garner (hee hee) but she had him make the autograph to me. Pristine penmanship and a super nice man. I can still remember that day.

James Garner was one of the legitimate ‘men’ in hollywood. Few surpass his persona.

My favorite television series of that genre. One of the reasons I liked it so much was because of the comedic element that was part of almost every episode, especially with Stuart Margolin. My all time favorite Episode was Drought At Indianhead River. It saddens me that James Garner is gone. I really liked him alot, and I will always cherish the wonderful memories he gave me through this show. Thanks for sharing your memory of this special day in your life.

Thanks for posting this brought back some nostalgic memories from childhood. My father was a Hollywood stunt man and worked with Jim on a few jobs, and he said that Jim Garner and another friend, Jack Lord were the two hardest working guys in Hollywood. I met Jim and Jack once when I was a kid and my impression was that they were both very dedicated professionals.

I loved everything James Garner was ever in and I think he's the only actor I can genuinely say that about.

I recall at 16 driving my dads big 84 Buick Le Sabre in the parking lot of local ski hill down the road. It was winter time and I was practicing the J turn when I was interrupted by a cop who must of witnessed 6 or 7 practice runs he strolled up and said "Nice job Rockford ..lets see your licence" . I did not receive a ticket and only realized years later how cool that cop was as I could have been in a heap o trouble . Thanks copper

The opening theme of the Rockford files was just so cool it really showed just how nice Southern California was. I grew up in the Orange County area just south of Malibu near the beach cities. I miss it so much but had to move away due to cost of living was just way too high.

In 1975 I was 15 years old , and i could not miss a episode of the Rockford files, all-so had to watch Sanford and son, and barney miller. Wish I could go back it was a better time..

Luv the Rockford files. My dad use to watch it when I was a kid. I'm now catching up with episodes on Hulu.

I just love this show...I feel young again when I see this..

Great show, wonderful man. James Garner was one of a kind. 💖

By the latter seasons you sometimes could catch James Garner hobbling threw some scenes, His knees were in terrible shape and used to have surgery's between seasons so the rest of the cast and crew could keep working , A true gentlemen.

I absolutely loved The Rockford Files growing up.

What a great story ! Love the Rockford Files in the UK !

I was 16 when the Rockford Files came out. To this day it remains my favorite TV show. I learned a lot of my driving skills from watching the Rockford Files. I was doing J turns and Rockfords (reverse J turns) in a 1967 Mustang. Never got caught by a cop.

Best P.I. show ever. Thanks!

those things on the hood of the car are lights , meaning several thousand watts of light were streaming at eye level right into Garners face while he drove , and rattled off all the dialogue. Today that car would probably be mounted on a low slung trailer and towed behind a camera car for safety. Garner really had his hands full driving on a public road with all that going on

I was a tour guide at Universal in late 1979/early 1980. We got sheets that told us who was shooting on set that day and whether or not we could point them out. We were told specifically and in no uncertain terms the standing rule that if we EVER saw James Garner, do NOT point him out or mention him. Other actors were more than happy to work the crowds on the trams. Claude Akins was a real champ. But not James Garner. Amongst other things, he was in a constant legal battle with MCA/Universal for the residuals of Rockford Files and they didn't want him to get any free publicity. Moreover, for personal reasons, he also did NOT like being bothered while he was at work. Hence the angry face when Ted took the picture. Garner had been wounded in Korea and also had very bad knees so he was frequently in some discomfort, if not pain. In fact, toward the end of the Rockford files run, he had a private nurse who accompanied him when they shot his scenes. I met her at a party one time. She was there to make sure his knees got the right heat or ice or limbering exercise. With too many retakes, his knees were bound to give out at some point. You can see in that episode with the bikers that he had to climb up on the tow truck. Not an easy job for a 45-something with with bad knees. I'm always surprised to see how fast he moves in the show. However, Universal kept his mobile home and gold Pontiac on the lower lot where we would drive past and we COULD point these out. They hauled the trailer out to Paradise Cove in Malibu for exteriors and shot the interiors on sound stages or on night sets on the lot when there was no background to be seen.

I grew up during the 60's and 70's at 21507 PCH in Malibu. My dad was known around Malibu as the grey fox. He married Nellie Escobar of Casa Escobar Restaurants. One in Santa Monica where she owned it with the brothers Chopo and Peter. Great people. The kids not so much and they ran it to the ground. My father introduced me to James Garner when I got out of the US Army in 1977. They knew each other well. Lee Marvin, James Coburn, Martin Sheen also use to come our home. Amazing years. Lots of drinking was involved with my dad so we didn't get along well most of his short life. He died of Cancer and Alcoholism at age 61 in Las Vegas 1991, sadly. Really traumatized me. Anyway, this video brought back memories of PARADISE COVE where I use to see James Garner a lot during his filming days, We owned a Meat company which sold food to the restaurant at the Cove and we'd get a chance to see James on those days we'd see the Chef. James G was a wonderful man, actor, family man, father and friend. You did a GREAT JOB bringing this human being out in this Video, and brought this Army Sergeant to tears. Mr. Garner had a bad back and many other health issues so filming tough physical scenes was almost impossible. He got through it though due to his toughness. He had quite a history. RIP Mr. Garner. And THANK YOU TED

Garner was mad at the studios for putting him in every scene, then hiding the profits of the show to not share with him, as written in his contract, and he later sued Universal Studios to receive his justly earned compensations. In His book, "Garner Files", he said how early in his acting career, Marlin Brando (who he was working with at the time), taught him a secret how to remember his lines perfectly, word for word. Now they're both gone, and we'll never know that secret. But every line that came out of James Garner's mouth, was word for word as was written in the script, he never improvised, and expressed in the book his displeasure for actors who did.

Very cool story.

I remember that episode! I loved that show when i was a kid. I used to take my hot wheels cars and do the Rockford turnaround with them haha.

Every time I drive by that 76 station at PCH and Corral Canyon I think of this episode of Rockford Files!

Now watching Rockford files on Peacock...one of my favorite shows ...

I loved watching that show growing up Rockford was the best'

Rockford ruled, so did his dad Rocky, and his pal, Angel, and last but not least his Lawyer with benifits Beth

I always loved ,and still do, James Gardner.

What a class act. So sad to see him gone.

Opening theme song would stick in your head for week.

Living in Los Angeles, is an experience unlike any other. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else. It's the best place to be.

WOW! Just, WOW!!!

Another interesting thing is that the whole "Paradise Cove"/parking lot area and beach was used as a location before, in such shows as Mannix, and afterwards in shows including Knight Rider. The 2 circular windows in the restaurant by Rockford's trailer, seem to be in the background of a lot of things. Garner stated he didn't like fame,& i don't blame him one bit.

Loved the Rockford Files, we got in the UK where it played for years and years. Jimmy Garner was a legend.

this was my dads favorite show, and is one of mine too!!!!

One of the best TV shows ever. Just watching it now. Battle of Canoga park....

I heard about this a long time ago. It was in the news. I used to go to the beaches in Malibu.

very well maybe my favorite TV show & actor . Jame Garner & The Rockford Files.

Always neat to see the equipment on movie cars.

Not sure why Ted taking a picture would make Garner upset, Garner was a very mellow down to earth, Real average approachable guy. Not like other Hollywood actors who make it big and their Ego balloons to the Stratosphere and they think they're aloof now. Garner didn't think of himself as a Big Deal. I'll bet if you had 4 Studio lights mounted on the hood facing you at full Halogen Blast in your face would make you squint and grimace too.

Awesome Video!

The Return of the Black Shadow guest starred the great Bo Hopkins and was probably the most tragic story in the series.

Such a great shot of the equipment on the car and the story that went with it. The show was so good that its as good today as it was then, Jim getting into trouble but never backing down. I know its Hollywood but to make it believable you get the idea that he was Rockford in real life. Thanks to everyone sharing their own experiences.

rockfords the man

I watch this show every night on Peacock . I still love it. It reminds me of when I was 7 sitting on the couch with my dad in 1978. It represents my time with my dad during childhood.

i was on rockford set in 75' couple days at riviera country club. Noah & jim had drill jig erected on front grass episode. l caddied on pga tour, when it went to n.e. usa l caddied at brentwood c.c. and riviera c.c.. Rockford crew nicest people l ever been around in my life. Memories give me energy. In 70's L.A. was heavenly.

I've been watching this show over and over I can remember watching when I was really young

Fantastic video! One rarely sees behind the scene photos of that classic gold Firebird, let alone with the star of the show behind the wheel. My friend and I were in high school in St. Petersburg, FL, in early 1979 when James Garner was in town to shoot "Health", a stinker of a movie directed by Robert Altman. The entire movie was shot at the Don Cesar Hotel at neighboring St. Pete Beach, so we visited during a break in filming. Of all the stars, and there were plenty, Jim Garner was the only one to walk the rope line and meet each fan. My friend and I both got to say hello and shake his hand. While Lauren Bacall reclined poolside refusing to interact with anyone other than an assistant who was literally fanning her, Mr. Garner was walking the beach greeting the public. What a great guy!

This bikers episode is one of my favorite Rockford Files episode. Sort of a Born Losers theme.

The camera car had the plates registered to it mounted on the car; the exterior shot car more than likely had its registered plates in the trunk.

I lived in LA back in 1981 and used to go to Paradise Cove a lot as it didn't have the "riff raff" element that Santa Monica Beach had. The series was over by that time and they had built bathrooms where Rockford's trailer used to be, but the restaurant and pier were still there. I loved the series and James Garner (still do!) and he's why I bought my beloved '74 Firebird Formula. 47 years later and I still wish I had held onto that car!

Ok, now I have watched everything on you tube...

Rockford Files is my favorite TV series, followed by The Rifleman. James Garner was a great actor and a very nice human being.

I just watched a gag-reel yesterday of The Rockford files, had the scene of he and Gail over and over because they had a hard time with the lines lol... totally worth a watch 👍🏼

You always do great historical accounting of cars long gone. This video is outside of your usual field of discussion and shows how versatile you are at educating us on anything to do with cars. I grew up watching this show and loved it. I’m thinking about buying a set now. I’ll probably enjoy it far more as a guy in his late 50’s. Garner was one of the best and also underrated. To think he could be Jim Rockford and also be in a movie like victor Victoria which is hilarious. Thanks again for another great lesson

Shows like Rockford and Columbo and many others when I was a kid, are what inspired me to seek work at Universal Studios , and I was fortunate enough to be able to do that!! I felt like it was my destiny to work there and I enjoyed every minute of it!!

Yeah the Rockford car always had the 853 OKG plates, it was his manager or agent or someone like that who came up with that, for the eighth month of 1953, Garner's first professional acting job, and OK for his home state of Oklahoma and of course G for Garner

I remember that episode well. One of the most intense and unsettling episodes of TRF. Great photo shot.

Photo of a lifetime

じっくり1人で観てました！😂

The Trees the Bees and TT Flowers, a Rockford Files episode, is listed as movie No. 138 in the Humanities Film Forum Must See List.

Show"s being played several times a week here and I've been recording it as I have from the start. My favorite thing is watching the Firebird's identity crisis. Jim frequently starts a trip in the 77 and arrives at his destination in the 74 and vice versa. I think jim said there were only 4 or 5 cars used in total. They kept one really nice and pretty for closeup work but the accidents were filmed for real so the other cars frequently needed repair - sometimes quite major. You can occasionally see some pretty ordinary repairs when the camera gets one of the rougher cars at the wrong angle. The reason for the change in models in one episode or even one trip is that the second unit film crew car didn't match the main film unit car. The continuity guy is responsible for that sort of stuff but I guess most wouldn't notice. Kind of adds to the charm anyway. Even in later series ( 1978/79 ) episodes you frequently see the '74 car. Watch for it next time !

This is my favorite show....James Garner was the best.

Fantastic story

There is a blooper video here on KZfaq that has a lot of shots of his in-car scene with Laurie Jefferson.Both Jim and Laurie were having trouble with there lines and it looked to me as if Jim was getting pissed doing the whole scene.

Loved the interaction between Rockford and Angel.

The gentleman in the red coat and Cowboy hat is Andrew Jackson-Director of Photography. Wonderful man.

At least there were no stolen BBQ Grills.

The answer to what happened in filming that sequence that day can be found on YT in the production company's series "Gag Reel" for "The Rockford Files", what would be called a "blooper reel" today, mostly outtakes of actor errors, with a lot of it outtakes from that scene of Jim driving Coop's sister up the PCH. There were quite a few mistakes, and some of them had to do with the fact that they were filming the scene in actual traffic, without police blocking off the road for the filming. At one point he had to quit trying to say dialogue to let a garbage truck pass. Far from ideal conditions. The clip runs about 18 minutes and was narrated by Garner's friend, Dennis Weaver. If you're a series fan it's worth a look. Also, there is more recent YT video of what was probably that particular 1978 Firebird being sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction for $105K. They said it was the "sound car" from the later years of the series, which fits. It was in immaculate condition.

James Garner is Jim Rockford timeless

Angles death episode will always be my favorite. Funeral seen; The Right Not to Bear Arms mentioned during the Eulogy.

I Loved James Rockford.James Garner was a sweartheart

One of my favorite TV shows of all time!

At 1:16 is where my piano teacher lived. The little Spanish house. The family still owns that house, except now there is a high fence blocking coastal view, and public access from PCH. The road going off PCH is Rambla vista. My best friend (who has since passed) grew up there in an A frame house. Malibu was still a modest laid back place to live up until the mid 80s. They lost the home in the 93 fire that basically burned the whole neighborhood of modest 1930s Spanish, and ranch style homes. Its all been rebuilt since then with enormous monied monster houses. I love watching old Rockford Files mainly for the LA that I remember. I yearn for those simpler calmer LA days. Life is fleeting. Never take what you are given for granted. Be safe 😷

James garner was the first character to drive a firebird on an NBC show,1974-80 the other NBC show was knight rider 1982-86.

A rare peek into the past.

Interesting ....

It looks like that car sold at auction for just over &100,000! I saw a comment from Ted about this video in the auction video and the mention of Old Car Memories. Glad he was able to be there for the filming and get those pics.

The Rockford Firebirds changed every season to the New Model year, they just kept them the all same Color after the 2nd Season. The only thing that changed was the front end design. '74 had the black rubber bumpers front & back & the fastback style rear window. '75 integrated the L shaped wraparound rear window & parking lights integrated into the grilles. '76 got rid of the black rubber bumpers for a cleaner body colored, Urethane Fiberglass Bumpers front & back. And the last year for the dual round headlights. '77 Saw the front end changed into the aggressive 4 squared headlights on the front inside the curved grilles. '78 was the same exterior as the '77 with minor interior changes in the seat pattern and door panel handles. '79 models were not used as Garner didn't like the new design with the headlights on top and the grilles moved down into the bumper.

Jims sports jacket is a shocker old mans

Very very good! Thank you!

I get the biggest laughs watching all the players following the intricate plot. By far the best ever smarly acted out plot shows ever and ❤ James Garner is an actor that can never be replaced ❤

This was definitely one of the RF episodes, where you could tell it was filmed in the California "winter". One of the darkest episodes of the series.

From what I have heard , the "Firebirds" used in the Rockford files were , actually de-badges trans-am,s or formula,s and were all painted that shade of gold because the Pontiac gold came out orange on film. I have no confirmation on this, just a video I seen years ago. any thoughts or facts ?

I liked the show especially the car. James Garner was the greatest

LOL Garner lived 'til age 86!!!

1978 , i was at work, poor boy had to work , weekly rotating shift..it sucked , so i never saw these shows but the poor boy has to go to work .

First Car was a shiny 77 Firebird

If I happened to be in another room in the house when Rockford Files was on, my Dad would always call for me when a chase scene started as they were my favorite part of the show.

The best show.

I'm surprised the film crew even let him get that close to the shooting to take a picture; it should surprise no one that James Garner would be annoyed at the intrusion.

I beleive 853 OKG had something to do with Garner's Oklahoma roots.

What the Name of the Theme Music that's playing when the clip began on here.? Anyone?

The producers of Rockford Files didnt care about James at all. They tried to sue him on multiple occasions after Mr. Garner had suffered from major injuries. James Garner is one of the few actors that was not full of himself and as result was walked all over by the assholes in the industry. You can see episodes when he was limping after having a knee as purple as a plum.

There are two episodes of The Rockford Files I have a difficult time watching just because they’re too rough or creepy for my taste. One is the one you speak about in this video (The Return Of The Black Shadow) and the other is Black Mirror.

James Garner during the Rockford Files had bad knees and needed multiple orthopedic procedures. He had a lot of pain. Had his knees later replaced.

awesome story

Trivial, but the official factory color of the Firebird was apparently Copper Mist...

Hey I got a question for you, with the rockford car was it always an auto, as in 77 that was the last year you could get a pontiac 400 with an auto, and I kinda wonder if maybe that was the reason why they never updated the car beyond that.