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: 27 Mar 1933 Japan gives notice of withdrawal from the League of Nations. More ↓
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27 Mar 1941 Anti-Axis coup d'etat in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, with British support, forces Prince Paul into exile.
27 Mar 1941 Battle of Cape Matapan began, on Greece's Peloponnesian peninsula. British Commonwealth fleet intercepted and damaged/sank ships of the Italian Navy [March 27-29].
27 Mar 1941 Japanese spy Takeo Yoshikawa arrives in Honolulu, HI, and begins to study the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.
27 Mar 1943 British Escort carrier HMS Dasher destroyed in the Firth of Clyde by an accidental aviation fuel explosion, killing 379 of the crew of 528.
27 Mar 1945 Final German V-2 rocket attacks of the war, one on Antwerp, killing 27 people, and one on England, which seriously injured 23 and killed one.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.
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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.
