M*A*S*H Commemoration 23 February 2008
The eleven year TV series M*A*S*H debuted 17 September 1972 and had its final episode on 28 February 1983, a finale that drew an audience of 105 million viewers. M*A*S*H parties were held all around the world to bid M*A*S*H farewell, with about 77% of the American viewing public tuned in, an all time record. Twenty five years later, a large crowd gathered at the site of the M*A*S*H outdoor set in Malibu Creek State Park, Malibu, CA (the 20th Century Fox Ranch at the time of filming), near Los Angeles, for a commemoration ceremony.
Many of the original cast, crew, producers, directors and others associated with the long-running, award winning series attended along with enthusiastic fans, military vehicle owners, and re-enactors. The weather was perfect and the mood upbeat.
Actress Loretta Swit signs autographs, M*A*S*H Commemoration 23 February 2008. Photo: Olive-Drab.com
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Today in WW II: 15 Nov 1943 German SS leader Heinrich Himmler orders Gypsies and those of mixed Gypsy blood to be 'on the same level as Jews and placed in concentration camps'.
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M*A*S*H 25 Year Commemoration 23 February 2008
Among those attending the 25th anniversary of the last M*A*S*H episode were:
- Gene Reynolds (Producer)
- Burt Metcalfe (Co-producer and Director)
- Charles Dubin (Director)
- Mike Farrell (Capt. B.J. Hunnicut)
- Loretta Swit (Maj. Margaret "Hotlips" Houlihan)
- William Christopher (Capt. John Francis Patrick Mulcahy)
- Jeff Maxwell (Pvt. Igor Straminsky)
The photos on this page were taken at the ceremony, in the morning and early afternoon of 23 February 2008.
Overview of the M*A*S*H site, from the helipad, 23 February 2008. Photo: Olive-Drab.com
M*A*S*H cast reunion, 23 February 2008. Photo courtesy Brian Rooney, MalibuCreekStatePark.org
Gene Reynolds addresses the crowd as Burt Metcalfe stands by, 23 February 2008. Photo: Olive-Drab.com
Mike Farrell remembers his years with M*A*S*H, 23 February 2008. Photo: Olive-Drab.com
The M*A*S*H signpost has been faithfully reproduced and set in the original location, 23 February 2008. Stakes and yellow tape mark the original tent locations. Photo: Olive-Drab.com
Mike Winters arrives with his Willys MB jeep, equipped with stretcher racks. An M37 3/4 ton Dodge is in the background. Many other military vehicle owners and re-enactors were present. 23 February 2008. Photo: Olive-Drab.com
William Christopher being interviewed on camera, 23 February 2008. Photo: Olive-Drab.com
New friends surround the hulk of the original M*A*S*H WC-54 ambulance, newly cleared of brush, 23 February 2008. Photo: Olive-Drab.com
The story of the Malibu Creek State Park M*A*S*H site and its restoration is presented at the linked page.
More photos at the LA Daily News.
More about M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H web site has everything you want to know (and more) about the MASH TV show. See also Wikipedia.
The real Korean War MASH units are described on the linked page of Olive-Drab.com.
